Flowers for Linda Eder
This story is also available in a video version.
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Ahhhh! Ahhhh!
My focus shattered, I looked up from my music and all around me. Where was that yelling coming from? We were just starting the second half of an orchestral pops concert in a vast arena-like theater out by the airport in metro [...]
You’ll never play in this orchestra again!
A colleague of mine passed along this entertaining (and true!) tale from a concert in a local per-service gig orchestra. I know a lot of musicians who perform in this orchestra (which I’ll refrain from naming here), which makes it even funnier to me.
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A regional orchestra in metro Chicago was recently rehearsing a piece [...]
Panic on the Podium
When you think about it, isn’t it amazing that a group of musicians can ever play together in a symphonic setting? Honestly, having all those different instruments, from tuba to tympani, with all those methods of sound production, from blowing to plucking, situated across either a vast resonant expanse of stage or a subterranean [...]
Staring at a Sea of Surly Violas
Though it chagrins me to admit it, I’ve recommended friends and colleagues for musical activities that are simply impossible. Whether passing a wretched gig to an unsuspecting bassist hungry for work or giving out a colleague’s name to a bass student who will almost certainly be nothing but trouble, I’ve done my share [...]
Jason on shrieking fans at orchestra concerts
I chat on this video about an overly enthusiastic fan at a recent concert featuring Broadway singer Linda Eder. Notice my cat Angel right behind my head–I was completely unaware of her there.
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Great reporting on the latest in the world of cats
I love The Onion (America’s Finest News Source), and I love cats (as you can see from my dozens of blogged cat videos here), so how could I resist this story? This was forwarded to my by my good friend Tim Pearson:
Kitchen-Floor Conflict Intensifies As Rival House Cats Claim Same Empty Bag
MAPLEWOOD, MO—”It [...]
…and everything faded to black
Even in a ‘classic’ art form like music, one that existed well before the advent of electricity, we performers now completely and utterly depend on the power grid for our performances. While hospitals and other such foundational services may have emergency generators, I’ve certainly never seen a concert hall with one. When the power goes [...]
Crossing Biscayne Bay on a pod and a prayer
Though I’ve never been a member of the New World Symphony (only subbing in the past), I have had dozens of friends and colleagues who’ve spent time in this exciting and educational South Florida orchestra. Serving as the training orchestra for the United States (sorry, Civic Orchestra of Chicago–you’re just not the same thing), [...]
Motobass
Ah, the joys of Photoshop! This picture was sent to me by bassist Vito Liuzzi. You can also check out video of Vito playing Nino Rota and Bottesini here.
Duets with, er… yourself
Lyric Opera of Chicago bassist (and Contrabass Conversations guest) Greg Sarchet sent me a link to what is pretty much the greatest bass video of all time. I’m not sure whether to put an ‘explicit’ warning on this one–let’s just say that you may want to skip this one if you have delicate sensibilities.
For [...]
