Aweigh in A Major
A composer's thoughts about music and musicians
Word extensions…. Who needs ‘em?
“Our engraver had a strong opinion against word extensions.” ach musical family has its own technical language. A slur is a universal and effective symbol, but slurs mean different things to different families. To a string player, a slur...
“I needed to hear someone singing tonight”
Listening to Anna Tivel don't remember how I discovered the songs of the Portland-based folk-singer Anna Tivel. It was probably through Folk Alley, an internet radio station that keeps me company while I’m doing computer work. I admired...
Addio Argento
One month ago, on February 20, 2019, we lost master composer Dominick Argento. The affection I felt for the man and the respect I had for his art can’t be neatly summarized, but here is an appreciation adapted from words at a concert of his music at Hill House in...
Remembering Poet Donald Hall
I had been thinking about Donald Hall, wondering how he was getting on. That usually means: pay attention. Twenty years ago, I wrote a song cycle for soprano and piano based on Hall’s baseball writings. In the Country of Baseball, a title I borrowed from one of...
Young Man with a Cross
In two recent and marvelous Schubert Club International Artist Series recitals with harpsichordist Richard Egarr, cellist Steven Isserlis played Bach’s 5th Cello Suite, BWV 1011. That work includes a singular sarabande, shown here in in Anna Magdalena Bach's hand:...
That Sweet Man, John Clare
Jeremy Huw Williams and Paula Fan Present Clare Cycle October 30, 2017 6 PM Ultan Recital Hall, University of Minnesota Acclaimed Welsh baritone Jeremy Huw Williams (Welsh National Opera) and pianist Paula Fan (University of Arizona) will present a recital...
“Estrellita,” Heifetz’s Little Star
When Augustin Hadelich and Joyce Yang played Manuel Ponce’s “Estrellita” as an encore at a Schubert Club International Artist Series recital in Saint Paul last week, I remembered that the song had also graced Renée Fleming’s IAS recital in October. In that program...
A Thousand Eyes
BOBBY VEE IS DEAD didn't know he was a Minnesotan, born in Moorhead. According to Chris Riemenschneider’s obituary in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Robert Thomas Velline and his band “were recruited to fill in for Buddy Holly at the...
Things I Learned En Route to Other Things
August, 2016 s a kid, I enjoyed the syndicated column of Sidney J. Harris (1917-1986), which appeared on the same page with Ann Landers and Erma Bombeck. Like those writers, Harris helped you navigate the real world with insight and humor....
An die Musik Award
From The Schubert Club David Evan Thomas received the An die Musik Award "in recognition of outstanding dedication and commitment to the work and mission of The Schubert Club" at The Schubert Club Annual Luncheon on June 8, 2016 at the Ordway Center for the...
Ladyslipper and Chives
Now! Hear the songs! I know not what are the words But they sing in my soul of the things our Fathers loved. number of the American modernists developed their art under the aegis of another profession. Poet William Carlos Williams...
On Another’s Sorrow
Recently I attended a memorial service, a beautiful service for a man I didn’t know. That was my loss. He was dear to all present, had died suddenly and too young, and I wish I had known him. I knew his widow but a little; we had sung together in a choir. On this...
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