A Few Opinions and Reviews


I care if you listen--(Excerpt)  Thirty five years ago composer Milton Babbitt wrote an article in High Fidelity/Musical America describing the state of composition that began with the end of World War ll and is still continuing to be a problem for composers today. His article, "Who Cares if You Listen?" not only described the modern condition of the composer but attempts to justify why a composer no longer has a need for an audience. Before the end of this century it is imperative to finally answer Milton Babbit and ask our audience to come back. I want the "who cares" generation of composers to set this philosophy aside and join a new group of composers who are reaching out to their audience. I CARE IF YOU LISTEN!

So long Academia--(Excerpt)  A history of Western music has been a history of finding patrons, the Church, the Aristocracy, and finally, the Academics. The difference between the previous two patrons and the academic ones, is a musician was responsible to someone other than their own artistic values. An academic would claim that it was not possible for these other groups to allow musicians to be true to themselves. (I can see Bach, Beethoven and Mozart cringing at the thought that an academic would challenge their musical integrity!)

Life of Mozart--(Excerpt) Much has been written about Mozart's life from a variety of perspectives. However, none of the books I have read reach the depth of psychological insights not only his life and personality, but his father's, his sister 's and his wife, Constanze. Usually, historians focus on the tragic life of Wolfgang because his life was so short. After reading this book, I understood the tragedy is not only Wolfgang, but also Leopold and his wife, Nannerl, and Constanze.

Who Killed Classical Music?--(Excerpt) Have you ever thought about getting a music degree or discovered after completing your degree you don't have a concert career? Well, READ THIS BOOK! Learn to understand how the music world works. Not the fantasy fed to you by music teachers, friends, and others that you are the greatest talent since Beethoven, but how careers are really made and the state of the art as it exists today. This book does not live up to the title but it does get one thinking about the business aspect of music.

Indiana School of Music-A History--(Excerpt) Imagine what it would be like to be Dean of a music school. Where would I go to learn how to build a successful music program? What makes a program great and how would I avoid what happens to most music schools where everyone on the faculty has a different view of what is good or why their own school isn't?

Schubert--The Music and the Man--(Excerpt) We often refer to the first Viennese School as consisting of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. Schubert is overlooked partly because many musicologists classify him as a Romantic composer and not a member of the Classical school. The problem, Schubert is both as in many ways, as was Beethoven.

 

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