An Hour of Hallowed Peace is now published by Augsburg Fortress Press! They have produced a wonderful recording of the piece - you can listen and view the music in this YouTube video:
Happy Birthday, Gustav Mahler
Mahler will always be one of my favorite composers. Very few composers have created music with as much beauty, depth, and power as Mahler. I remember sitting in my college dorm room, listening over and over to the Adagietto movement from his 5th Symphony, which is still one of my favorite pieces of music of all time. Another favorite has to be the finale of his Symphony No. 2 – perhaps the most glorious music I know! I love Mahler’s lyricism, his power, and his directness. His music has always inspired me and I know it will always be a huge influence on me and my own compositions. Here is the great Leonard Bernstein conducting the Adagietto from Symphony No. 5:
Here is Bernstein conducting the last few minutes of Symphony No. 2:
Magnolia Star Video Recording from 2015 OBDA High School Select Band
Check out this new recording of Magnolia Star on YouTube - a live performance video of the 2015 Oahu (Hawaii) Band Directors Association High School Select Band conducted by Eugene Migliaro Corporon. February 15, 2015.
New Video Recordings on YouTube!
Live concert recording of the University of North Texas Wind Symphony performing Magnolia Star:
Live concert recording of the Iowa State University Symphonic Band performing Goodnight, Goodnight:
Live concert recording of the Texas Tech Concert Band performing Adagietto: http://youtu.be/aM6jIk1YohE?t=25m49s
Obsidian Quartet Recording of "Saxophone Quartet No. 2"
In March I had the privilege of visiting and working with the saxophonists in Dr. Paul Nolen's fantastic saxophone studio at Illinois State University. Here is a beautiful performance they gave in studio class of my Saxophone Quartet No. 2. Enjoy!
Joy
There is so much joy here - beautiful to watch.
It's Fun to Laugh
There are several pieces from the 2nd Viennese School (Schoenberg, Berg, Webern) that I like and certainly respect as being important. Still, it's fun to laugh and poke fun at art sometimes. Here is a hilarious segment:
Dude Plays a Mean Harmonica!
Check out Buddy Greene playing some amazing harmonica at Carnegie Hall. He really makes the tiny little handheld instrument sing and is able to produce a variety of colors. Great stuff!
Garbage Trucks that Blast Classical Music!
Yes, I thought the same thing - AWESOME! In Taiwan, garbage trucks play music (mostly classical!) to let residents know the truck is en route to pickup their garbage. Residents need to hand deliver the garbage to the truck instead of leaving it on the sidewalk. So, the music alerts them that it is "time to take out the trash." Great stuff!
Music continues to make the world a better, cleaner place!
Watch the action below and Read more here.
Flash Mob
Well, yes, it is the season for flash mobs. And yes, I agree (I assume that you and I are on the same page about everything) that they are sometimes sort of cheesy. But they are festive and joyous and bring smiles to peoples faces - all great stuff. Here is one that a friend sent me that's pretty cool... and it includes saxophone, so how could I not post it?