Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Canadian Brass concert

$25 per ticket unless you wanted better seats which meant $35. Still, I do not miss the Canadian Brass when I get the chance to hear them. Taking some students and 2 of my boys with me, we headed to Abilene for the concert. Much to my surprise, not having researched the group, 4 of the 5 members are new.

Let me back up. The Canadian Brass began in 1970 with founding members Chuck Daellenbach and Gene Watts, both of which were extraordinary talents. Over the years the horn players came and went and aside from many years of the same trumpet players, it seems the last several years we have seen some rotation. Yet two things have remained true: 1) incredible players and 2)entertaining style. They often begin in the back of the auditorium playing Just a Closer Walk with Thee as they move toward the stage. This is usually followed by some running around on stage, eventually settling in stools with no music in front of them. Comfortable in a variety of physical positions, they use physical motion to add the musical experience. I recall seeing Chuck play the tuba in a lying down position!

Their ability to capture an audience, using musical humor, stories, antics, and musical eclecticism, was always equal to their remarkable musicianship and talent level. Wearing tuxedos and tennis shoes, they would bounce around with Bach or the Beatles or jazz or folk songs or just about anything that would reach an audience. Concert attenders would leave with good feelings having been treated with lofty academic music as well as fun entertainment. The musicians in the audience would quickly recognize the immense talent on stage and the non-musicians would find themselves smiling and charmed by the overall experience.

The identity of the Canadian Brass was one of uniqueness, talent, and joy. Now to the recent concert. Maybe their identity has altered some. Maybe they no longer have quite the same cohesion and unified spirit. Maybe a couple of members are a little shy or socially uncomfortable, not an unusual quality in gifted musicians who have spent several hours a day in the practice room. Maybe they are not entirely comfortable being the Canadian Brass or perhaps the odd melding of entertainment and academia is not well-suited to each member. Consider this--one member is about 65 years old while the others are in their mid-20s. This disparity is bound to create some philosophical and yes personality differences. Truthfully the concert was a little heavy in academic music and generally stuffier than I have experienced from them.

But in some ways I am being a little picky myself. The players in the group are just simply amazing. Their talent level is extreme and each member is a prodigy of the highest order. The trumpet players were absolutely phenomenal and the horn player was playing at a level that is only in my dreams. Remarkable musicians at the pinnacle of brass playing.

Maybe the heyday of the Canadian Brass occurred 15 or 20 years ago in some ways. Maybe they have outlived their own success in some ways. But in other ways they are still vital, active, and certainly significant in the musical world. Sadly, this particular concert garnered approximately 400 audience members. The decline in audiences at live concerts continues. Makes me wonder where we will be in 20 years. A little scary for musicians these days.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Effort gone, what else?

No, this is not necessarily a pessimistic, cynical diatribe against progress or the modern era, but is merely pointing out some sad history. Can we learn from the past? Is there a lesson in here somewhere?

Inheriting a French Horn and a stack of sheet music several years ago, I recently decided to go through the music, deciding what to discard and what to keep. I discovered in this stack of music several manuscripts. Excited at first, after all perhaps this was a gold mine, I quickly realized the author had merely copied and compiled previously published music into a notebook. A further look showed some nice warm-up exercises and a very scholarly performance edition of musical excerpts from symphonies. Meticulous handwriting and precise musical manuscript formed the documents which were of the highest order in accuracy and scholarship. Very fine work indeed but not original. Still, impressive.

A few weeks ago a lady retired from public school music teaching and brought her materials to the church for anyone interested. Years of collecting, of sweat and strain, of compiling music, and of writing out children's songs were included in this vast collection representing a lifetime of music teaching and compassion for children. Children's songs, games, materials, crafts, all contained within a few boxes. Magic for anyone about to start a teaching career.

Except for this one little truth. Everything found in the boxes, every manuscript of sheet music, every song and every pencil mark is found online for free. Just a click or two and voila--there it is in perfect form. All the horn excerpt music, all the children's songs, and even the games and materials--all available on the internet. The years of writing music, putting things together, meticulously copying music as a resource, is now available through searching on Google.

While there is great merit in the discipline required to write music, to compile certain things, to apply effort in putting things together, overall it now seems a waste. If 40 years of hard work by someone can now be acquired in a few seconds, does it negate the past effort? Maybe in some ways, perhaps most ways.

Mainly it makes me somewhat sad although I suppose the technology did not exist at the time nor the ultimate awareness of the inherent fruitless effort down the road. Yet it did all have value at some point, and it could be argued that any application of a discipline makes us better human beings. It could also be said that progress builds on past efforts with the aim of learning from history and growing out of those things that are essentially obsolete. In fact, maybe our goal should be, as a refined and continually progressing society, to make certain items and practices antiquated and even extinct.

Not sure though. Next could be books, pianos, paintings, pens, paper, staples, even desks, and the list goes on and on. Do I worry about it? In a way. Do I embrace the new? To an extent. But I do miss the old at times.

So I toss the past efforts of those who created something that is now at our fingertips with a click. But I give a moment pause, reflecting albeit briefly on the work, smiling too that in some sort of way, someday someone will likely toss my own work. I hope that person pauses and gives me a touch of credit!

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Texas Music Educators Assocation Convention

It came and went and what a glorious experience once again. Thousands of musicians gather to experience music in every form and fashion. Elementary music teachers, parents, college students, professionals, high school band directors, choir directors, jazz musicians, church musicians, ethnomusicologists, hymnologists, and every kind of ist in music! On the floor in the exhibit hall we saw clothes, food, sheet music, technology, keyboards, and every kind of instrument. Plus music products ranging from huge towers down to the latest in flash drives.

There is something for everyone at this convention and it makes me proud to be a Texas music educator. I saw friends from my Louisiana days, my public school teaching days, my church world, my school world, and even my time as a professional musician. I visited with conductors, elementary music teachers, professionals, and fellow composers. I heard harps, saxophones, orchestras, choirs, pianists, and several bands.

Wow--The Swingle Singers. What a remarkable concert that was. Precise, beautiful, energetic, fun, deep, and mostly enchanting, The Swingle Singers continue their journey toward the musical sublime. What an absolute treat!

It was different seeing my friend the biologist Jack Stanford. He was there helping his son who manages a large music store. Also visited with my good friend over at Hardin-Simmons Lawson Hager. He is such a class act and will be retiring soon. Almost seems like the end of era with his retirement.

Also spent some time with my good friend George Strickland, a fine Christian man and one of the officers of University Interscholastic League. He is quite a person and I consider myself fortunate to call him a friend.

We had a terrific evening at our alumni reception honoring two wonderful people, George and Sara Baker. We presented them with a plaque and a beautiful scrapbook. They are very deserving of our time and it was our privilege to spend a few minutes acknowledging their illustrious time at Howard Payne University.

I further enjoyed my time in Phi Beta Mu, a professional band fraternity. I was reminded of the noble and illustrious calling to be a music educator. What a great profession. Unlike some jobs, I get to do that which I love--music.

Proud of my student Karley. She is just a freshman in high school but she made the top all-state group this year. I am thinking the whole thing made her nervous but I am still quite proud of her accomplishments.

It was especially rewarding to see many, many friends and share our common bond of music. Lots of smiles and good feelings this year. Kind of felt like a big group hug of musicians! Reminds all of us that the daily grind of teaching and performing has a higher calling and a greater purpose. Our interconnected world is not just our own but is part of a larger whole.

Tuesday, February 08, 2011

Joel and Money

As we have discussed before, Joel has a hard time dealing with the concept of money, of value, of how dollars work together to form a total cost and what that means. I recall asking him if he could have anything in the world, what would it be? He thought a minute and said he needed some hand sanitizer! To him that was his immediate need and the value of the hand sanitizer was greater than the value of anything in the world. Of course a man with 10 million dollars needing a drink of water for sustenance would take it over another 10 million dollars (assuming of course he was unable to purchase the water with the money!).

To Joel, all things have the same inherent worth and they may or may not be worth something to him regardless of the market value in the world. Yesterday, he used his last check in his checkbook to pay for the City bus ride. Although several more checks were in a drawer, to his mind he had run out of money. Later in the day when he usually walks from the library to school in order to get a hamburger, coke, fries, and cookies at the little cafe, he was concerned that he had no money. Thinking through that, he realized he could call in his order, walk to get his food, and then not need to provide money for the meal.

Admittedly, I do not understand the thinking on this one. How can calling in your order preempt the requirement to pay for it? But to Joel's mind, it did. So he walks to the cafe, happily receives his food, sits down and eats every bite, and leaves without paying. I can imagine the scene with his big sweet smile, looking dressy in his tie, being polite and respectful, and just assuming it was all okay. The workers, not being sure what to do since they were responding positively and emotionally to Joel's demeanor and countenance, probably just shrugged and let it go.

Reminds me of the old Marvel comic strip "The Nicest Guy in the World." This was a little blonde boy named Sunny Sparkle who walked around smiling. People were so drawn in, they gave him things, free things, anything he wanted. He lived his life smiling and charming people and never had to pay for anything. Reality? No, but a little true for Joel? Maybe!

Joel's little Sunny Sparkle routine is not contrived but rather natural. He does not intend to manipulate anyone or anything (at least we don't think so) but it does tend to happen. Part of the reason we have to watch out for him. This protects others from his charm and allows the economy to function the way it is designed. All this free giving would likely end up with some sort of shared environment where we simply live our lives to make others feel good. This ironically would be in direct opposition to the diatribe against altruism that Randians extol! How awful that would be?

But back to the problem. Joel does not understand the abstraction of having money in the bank and needing to pay for the goods and services he receives. Luckily we manage his money for him as much as possible and try to teach him the value of money and of objects. Just another challenge in the Joel journey of life.

Thursday, February 03, 2011

Charles Ives--Fiercely Independent

It has been said, and for the most part is true, that a composer's music is reflective of his/her personality, value system, world-view, passions, and emotional state. The same can be said of writers, artists, dancers, and to an extent actors. Of course it is a dangerous practice and often erroneous to assume that because something sounds dramatic, the composer was in a dramatic emotional condition. Or conversely that a happy, light hearted composition implies frivolity within the creator's psyche. A classic example of this anathema is Mozart who as he was in pain and nearing death composed The Magic Flute and several other bright, energetic works.

Often a young, creative artist pushes the envelope early in his career only to find a more conservative style in his later years. Yet a careful but broad look, without the inanity associated with microanalysis, at a composers body of work does usually reveal a general philosophical approach to life. Such is the case with the odd genius of one of our great American composers, Charles Ives (1874-1954).

Growing up as the son of a creative and experimental band leader and a product of rigorous church devotion, Charles found himself in the tenuous and exciting world of conservative tension--that tug of war that causes a creative person to desire to change the world, find something new, express originality, yet within a traditional kind of model of his forebears. He sees the world as dull, listless, and sluggish, but also likes some of the world as it is while constantly criticizing complacency. He wants change but resists it at the same time. His is one of inconsistency, charm, emotional extremes, intelligence, but also heritage without conformity.

So in the music of Ives we find a love of folk music, a sophisticated brilliance, a complex confusion, an unbridled joy, deep introspection, and mostly great moments of personal expression. While disdaining academia, he embraces it. While shunning the elite world of cultured musicians and their inherent stuffiness, he cannot help but to be one. His originality propelled his music to new heights of musical creativity while retaining a sense of love of the past. In other words, Ives created his own brand of music with an odd desire to be accepted by the masses while battling for fierce independence. Kind of a populist approach but only to a niche market. Perhaps his utter brilliance could not reign victorious over his insecurity. Or maybe it did! Did he want to be popular and go the pathway of musical success? Or did he purposely take the road less traveled, caring not for public opinion? Or both?

Much of Charles Ives' music seems to make fun of the elite although most of it is quite sophisticated and advanced. His songs, symphonies, chamber music are all incredible crafted, stunningly expressive, wildly inventive, but ironically anachronistic. New in many ways, unpredictable most of the time but drawing from his religious background and folk influence. A philosophical forerunner to the eclecticism of Leonard Bernstein. Ives' music is difficult to define, impossible to categorize or pigeonhole, disturbing to the tonal folks, conservative to the experimental folks, and in the end--just Ives.

It has taken me 50 years to reach a point of liking his music, but today I declare an Ives day. His songs are on youtube and they are simply wonderful in all respects. His piano works can be found there as well and each piece is pure joy and magnificence. It is all Ives in the throes of great creativity and originality. Like it or not, you can hear his fiercely independent nature shining forth in the notes.

Wednesday, February 02, 2011

Iced in World

2nd day now and we are still iced in. Our world is frozen. The roads around our house have a layer of ice, making transportation virtually impossible. Hunkered down in the house with the heater going non-stop, snacking on limited food, doing computer work, writing music, playing piano, and yes, even watching television.

Finally in a fit of utter stupidity, I decided to go get the mail and go to the grocery store. Headed out slowly with Joel, slid around a little but got the mail, got some groceries and headed back. Yikes, the road back was worse. Slid around and ended up in a ditch near Dollar General. No going forward, no going backward, no going. A man shows up in a large pickup and hauls me back to the highway. Took off again and it happened again!

This time a different truck showed up. Towed me to the Dollar General parking lot. Grabbed a couple of the sacks of groceries and got a ride back home in a four-wheel drive truck. Now my truck is at a parking lot in Bangs.

Big pain of a journey. Ill-conceived, unintelligent, no sense, price paid. Truck lonely without a garage for protection tonight.

But we are blessed to have our family, our home, comforts, enough food, entertainment, and heat. We are happy, just not all that productive. Oh well, the frozen world is out there. The warm world is in here.

Tuesday, February 01, 2011

Childhood Books

Today is a snow day. Staying at home, drinking coffee, getting caught up on work, relaxing in my robe, smiling, but also hoping others are warm and comfortable. Days such as this, with a blanket of snow outside, a slight brisk but mystical wind, and a harsh though somehow enchanting chill, remind me of days gone by and the magic of children. My childhood was frothy with joy and bold adventures, many of which were found in the pages of books. And we loved to read.

Easy to remember Pat the Bunny, a book where you could feel the soft bunny, and touch the rough sandpaper of Daddy's scratchy face. Of course we had the standard Where the Wild Things Are and the Ramona books. But perhaps my favorite books were and many times still are the Dr. Seuss books. Go Dog Go, Bartholomew and the Oobleck, Yertle the Turtle, and the little book called Snow.

In this story, it snowed and the children gathered to play. Snowball fights, sledding, snow angels, and the inevitable snowman. The children made an awesome snowman, rolling 3 large balls on top of each other to make a man, and adorning him with a nose, mouth, eyes, and a hat. He was handsome and we were proud of our work--excuse me, I mean they were proud of their work (I often projected myself in those pages to where I was one of the children in the snow!). It was pure joy making that snowman and being in the snow with my friends. But the sun came out.

The sun, that evil object in the sky with its rays guaranteed to warm everything, arrived and began its occupation--melting the snow. It knew no discrimination and without bias it attacked our snow with consistent tyranny, unending destruction of that which we had enjoyed. We watched our creation the snowman being reduced to nothing but a hat, a nose, and a mouth. But wait, could we save any of the snow?

Can we bottle up our fun for another day? Is there a way to save the snow for later? Quick. Grab some. Run, Run, Run. Put the snow in the freezer at home. We worked hard to get a little snow and packed it into the freezer before it was all gone. Soon the snow, including our snowman, was gone. But with a gleam of pride and cleverness, we knew we had done a special thing and saved a little! Snow day was over but the memories would last.

I sometimes feel this way about the past. It was fun and the events were great. But life moves onward and the events of today are great as well. Rather than try to recreate the past, I prefer to move onward to new creations. Yet I do miss that snow and it was fun to put a little in the freezer, but deep down I know that the snow day and that particular snowman was fun and fleeting. I treasure the memory and I grew from the experience, but as Larry McMurtry says, "Yesterday's gone and you can't get it back."

You can, however, make today and tomorrow even better. By the way Mom and Dad, thanks for reading to us! Those books helped shape my life.