tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2008:/collections/special/columns/comparing_notes//22 2008-07-18T21:38:40Z Personal perspectives on the world of classical music. Movable Type Open Source 4.1 tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2008:/collections/special/columns/comparing_notes//22.19728 2008-07-18T21:33:50Z 2008-07-18T21:38:40Z

Not classical at all. . . . but if you ever wondered what radio staffers email around to each other: This is a collection of station identifications, theme songs and the like, from all over the world. Curious how the...

here.]]> tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2008:/collections/special/columns/comparing_notes//22.19620 2008-07-18T17:46:52Z 2008-07-18T17:52:33Z

Ten years ago I was finishing a master's degree in theater history just as my mom was finishing her master's degree in nursing. I had to explain to her several times why my master's degree did not automatically grant me...

Gillian Martin Here's a report from Denver about the situation for musicians there--I assume the situation is similar here. Am I right?]]> tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2008:/collections/special/columns/comparing_notes//22.19525 2008-07-16T18:05:13Z 2008-07-16T18:17:45Z

I've heard of music being used to make people smarter (the Mozart Effect)--also to stop crime. But here's a new one: a study that suggests that it can make wine taste different. Maybe something for The Splendid Table to follow...

Mozart Effect)--also to stop crime. But here's a new one: a study that suggests that it can make wine taste different. Maybe something for The Splendid Table to follow up on?]]> tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2008:/collections/special/columns/comparing_notes//22.19466 2008-07-15T16:26:58Z 2008-07-15T16:38:27Z

This story caught my attention on-line today. A British composer sued the London Evening Standard for libel when it printed a negative review of his opera. The composer claims that by casting aspersions on his artistic choices (the opera had...

Gillian Martin This story caught my attention on-line today. A British composer sued the London Evening Standard for libel when it printed a negative review of his opera. The composer claims that by casting aspersions on his artistic choices (the opera had a political theme, apparently) the reviewer had curbed his rights to free speech. The court disagreed. As a one-time actor, I've felt the sting of bad reviews of productions I've been in. I remember one that was downright cruel. But to sue? That seems extreme. Bad reviews are just part of the game.]]> tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2008:/collections/special/columns/comparing_notes//22.19445 2008-07-14T19:11:32Z 2008-07-14T19:35:54Z

Just got back from vacation..... While I'm no fan of extended drives along most Interstate highways across the U.S., I experienced a most enjoyable one along I-5 from central Oregon into northern California. It was Independence Day. Rolling south through...

Ward Jacobson Just got back from vacation..... While I'm no fan of extended drives along most Interstate highways across the U.S., I experienced a most enjoyable one along I-5 from central Oregon into northern California. It was Independence Day. Rolling south through the Willamette Valley with the Cascades to my left and the Coastal Range to my right, there was classical music found on the radio! From Copland (Rodeo) and Ives ("America" Variations) to Bernstein (Candide Overture) and Gould (American Salute), the soundtrack for my drive was made-to-order for the day. Okay, the average price of gas along the way was about $4.75 per gallon, and nothing about that excites me. But hearing that wonderful American music, on that day, in that oh-so-beautiful region of our country made me feel pretty good....and yes, patriotic! Wish I knew who was responsible on the programming side - to whomever it might have been, thanks! tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2008:/collections/special/columns/comparing_notes//22.19443 2008-07-14T18:48:12Z 2008-07-14T18:57:01Z

Thomas Nee may have left the Twin Cities more than 40 years ago, but his legacy continues. He co-founded the Minnesota Opera in 1963, and was an assistant conductor to Antal Dorati back when the Minnesota Orchestra was still the...

Gillian Martin here. Read a brief history of the Minnesota Opera here. Did you know Thomas Nee? Post your remembrances in the comments section below.]]> tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2008:/collections/special/columns/comparing_notes//22.19423 2008-07-12T15:36:43Z 2008-07-12T15:46:55Z

Following Friday's thrilling Final Round of the Minnesota International e-Piano Junior Competition, the judges and Artistic Director Alexander Braginsky found they were faced with a slight dilemna. When the competition was established, the rules stated that, no matter what, only...

Following Friday's thrilling Final Round of the Minnesota International e-Piano Junior Competition, the judges and Artistic Director Alexander Braginsky found they were faced with a slight dilemna. When the competition was established, the rules stated that, no matter what, only ONE First Prize would be awarded. No questions asked! At yesterday's Award Ceremony, Braginsky said that since he made the rule, he had the power to break it. So, here are the results: First Prize went to two contestants: Frank Duepree, 16/Germany, played Tchaikovsky Concerto #1 in the Final Round Nansong Huang, 14/China, played Rachmaninoff Concerto #3 in the Final Round Second Prize -- not awarded Third Prize went to two contestants: Osip Nikiforov, 14/Russia, played Beethoven Concerto #3 in the Final Round Jan Lisiecki, 13/Canada, played Chopin Concerto #2 in the Final Round Fourth Prize -- not awarded Fifth Prize: Vladimir Levitsky, 16/Russia, played Tchaikovsky Concerto #1 in the Final Round Your thoughts? tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2008:/collections/special/columns/comparing_notes//22.19320 2008-07-11T18:54:00Z 2008-07-11T18:55:02Z

I came across this website the other night while trying to find some biographical information about Russian composer Alfred Schnittke. To my surprise, it contains no information about Schnittke at all, though it does have a few photos of him....

Gillian Martin this website the other night while trying to find some biographical information about Russian composer Alfred Schnittke. To my surprise, it contains no information about Schnittke at all, though it does have a few photos of him. What it does contain appeals to my Dada-esque sense of humor, and perhaps yours.]]> tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2008:/collections/special/columns/comparing_notes//22.19325 2008-07-09T22:40:05Z 2008-07-09T22:54:16Z

The first-ever e-Piano Junior Competition is in the Semi-Final Round this afternoon at Hamline University's Sundin Hall. Beginning at noon, each of the nine remaining contestants presented a 40-minute program. Lots of Lizst, Prokofiev and Chopin. Right now, a 16...

competition website. Later this evening, they'll provide the names of the five finalists. ]]> tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2008:/collections/special/columns/comparing_notes//22.19274 2008-07-08T16:08:48Z 2008-07-08T16:57:54Z

After catching Round Two of the Minnesota International e-Piano Junior Competition I'm beginning to wonder about the capacity of the human brain. Not mine, but the brains of these young pianists who are somehow able to play at such a...

competition website. Just look for the Live Stream link under Current Competition. ]]> tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2008:/collections/special/columns/comparing_notes//22.19251 2008-07-08T05:00:01Z 2008-07-08T16:09:06Z

Today is actor Kevin Bacon's 50th birthday. Bacon is the subject of the trivia game "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon." The premise: due to his prolific screen career, any Hollywood actor can be linked to another in six steps or...

Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon." The premise: due to his prolific screen career, any Hollywood actor can be linked to another in six steps or less. A person's number of degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon is that person's "Bacon Number". Leonard Bernstein's Bacon Number is 2: Bacon's co-star in "Footloose" was Lori Singer, a Juilliard-trained cellist who knew Bernstein. Leopold Stokowski's Bacon Number is 3: Lori Singer's father was conductor Jacques Singer, who was a protege of Stokowski. Arturo Toscanini's Bacon Number is also 3: Lori Singer studied with Leonard Rose, who was hired by Toscanini to play in the NBC Symphony Orchestra. Gustav Mahler's Bacon Number is 4: Leonard Rose was a friend of conductor Bruno Walter, who was a friend of Mahler's. Yo Yo Ma's Bacon Number is 2: He and Lori Singer both studied with Leonard Rose. Joshua Bell's Bacon Number is 3: His friend John Corigliano (who composed "The Red Violin Concerto" for Bell) taught orchestration to Michael Bacon, who is Kevin's big brother (Michael and Kevin performed together as "The Bacon Brothers"). Any others we should add to the list? What's your Bacon Number? You might want to consult The Oracle of Bacon! (props to Fred Child for the tip!)]]> tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2008:/collections/special/columns/comparing_notes//22.19248 2008-07-07T22:12:12Z 2008-07-08T16:08:18Z

I spent much of my weekend at Hamline University's Sundin Hall listening to 18 extraordinary young pianists, invited to the Twin Cities to participate in the first-ever Minnesota International e-Piano Junior Competition. The e-Comp isn't new to the Twin Cities,...

competition website. Just look for Live Stream under Current Competition. ]]> tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2008:/collections/special/columns/comparing_notes//22.19223 2008-07-07T04:31:48Z 2008-07-07T04:50:08Z

She's fallen, and I imagine she couldn't get up. Dame Joan Sutherland was walking through her garden when she fell and broke both her legs. (Ouch!) No way to know if she sang an aria expressing her grief at this...

Gillian Martin here.]]> tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2008:/collections/special/columns/comparing_notes//22.19215 2008-07-05T09:05:09Z 2008-07-05T09:16:33Z

I had a voice teacher in college who asserted that almost everyone can be taught to sing well. Now science has proved it--well, something like it. New research (albeit with a fairly small sample) suggests that 90% of the general...

Gillian Martin here. Personally, I've always had a certain admiration for those who don't sing well, but still sing lustily and loud. To me, it demonstrates the sheer joy of singing.]]> tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2008:/collections/special/columns/comparing_notes//22.19160 2008-07-02T19:27:01Z 2008-07-02T19:43:35Z

Speaking of opera and sportwriters (see Gillian's blog posting below), here's another piece along similar lines. Jon Carroll of the San Francisco Chronicle takes a humorous (and appreciative) look at the extravagant art. It's not strictly a sports column, though...

humorous (and appreciative) look at the extravagant art. It's not strictly a sports column, though he does work in Tiger Woods....]]>