I hope that every music school in the country is a subscriber to this substack and recommends it to their students. Your analysis of composition, musicianship, and performance skills is inspirational and a lesson for us all--thanks for the great reads.
I feel like I’m in a marvelous school of music when reading Joshua’s thoughts and evaluations. In fact I’m simply an unschooled, passive — though passionate — observer who believes in the necessity of an attentive audience for art to be realized. But I learn so much from each post here!
I read this right after seeing the New Century Chamber Orchestra perform live on John Mulaney's Netflix show! When's the last time a talk show host booked a classical music performance?
Sometime between my college graduation 6/76 and beginning grad school 9/78 I sang Steve Reich’s music. He organized a group of 6-8 singers to learn and perform what — for me — was a hideously intricate and fast-moving composition of arpeggios, and each of us had to also play a kalimba. We were all volunteers, but the music — and he — demanded many, many hours of work. I was possibly the weakest member of the group and definitely the most miserable. He was impatient with us — doubtless on a deadline and wishing he could pay professionals. This was all in Santa Barbara and our performance — NOT flawless, I assure you — was for an audience that included Jane Fonda. She came up on stage afterwards and asked if we were holding Bibles. “No, these are kalimbas.” Ah, the wild things we do in our youth…
I hope that every music school in the country is a subscriber to this substack and recommends it to their students. Your analysis of composition, musicianship, and performance skills is inspirational and a lesson for us all--thanks for the great reads.
I feel like I’m in a marvelous school of music when reading Joshua’s thoughts and evaluations. In fact I’m simply an unschooled, passive — though passionate — observer who believes in the necessity of an attentive audience for art to be realized. But I learn so much from each post here!
I read this right after seeing the New Century Chamber Orchestra perform live on John Mulaney's Netflix show! When's the last time a talk show host booked a classical music performance?
Sometime between my college graduation 6/76 and beginning grad school 9/78 I sang Steve Reich’s music. He organized a group of 6-8 singers to learn and perform what — for me — was a hideously intricate and fast-moving composition of arpeggios, and each of us had to also play a kalimba. We were all volunteers, but the music — and he — demanded many, many hours of work. I was possibly the weakest member of the group and definitely the most miserable. He was impatient with us — doubtless on a deadline and wishing he could pay professionals. This was all in Santa Barbara and our performance — NOT flawless, I assure you — was for an audience that included Jane Fonda. She came up on stage afterwards and asked if we were holding Bibles. “No, these are kalimbas.” Ah, the wild things we do in our youth…
We had to buy our own kalimbas and I believe I still have mine around somewhere.