FOMC House Party for NOLA musicians

On December 3rd 1 Comment covering Culture, Leadership, Music

Last night the Future of Music Coalition threw a fundraising party for Sweet Home New Orleans. It’s an organization that helps musicians in New Orleans. Guests of honor were Al “Carnival Time” Johnson and Mike Mills of R.E.M.

There’s a lot of concern on the long-term impact on our culture from the Katrina debacle — the loss of the next generation of musicians that might not be nurtured in NOLA. This is consistent with the FOMC mission of creating economic and policy conditions that will allow musical culture to thrive.

It was a very relaxed affair, with informal but nice food and drink and easy mixing with the headlining guests. After a while Mike mounted the little bandstand and played a few songs supported by local musicians, including a lovely one about baseball — I believe it’s the one he composed for the Roberto Clemente tribute titled Gift of the Fathers. He finished with a stirring Don’t go back to Rockville, in tribute to our proximity to the suburban Maryland town. Then Mike stepped down to the edge of the bandstand to play backup when Al “Carnival Time” Johnson took the stage. Read more »

iTunes is looking out for me

On December 2nd covering Music

I got this dialog box today — I had to laugh. The warning seemed especially meaningful. “Are you sure?”

Igor Stravinsky said that…

On December 1st 2 Comments covering Music

“To listen is an effort and just to hear is no merit. A duck hears also.”

Terminology of music groups, con’t

On November 30th 2 Comments covering Music, Music Ensembles

Yesterday I wrote something about small groups we call “bands” vs. small groups we call “chamber music groups”. And today this video comes online. Spooky.

The link will take you to a heavy metal band fronted by a violinist and a cellist. Chamber metal?

Terminology of music groups

On November 30th 1 Comment covering Culture, Music, Music Ensembles

When I write and speak about the human dimension of music groups, I usually fall back on calling them “bands”, an unsatisfactory and misleading term. I’m afraid it leaves out a lot of people, particularly chamber musicians.

I’m about to launch a project that I call “BandStories” but I really want it to be about any music groups. My main focus is on self-led groups, though I’m also interested in the social dynamics of orchestras. Read more »