Bill Eddins – Page 22 – Sticks and Drones

Waving the Magic Wand

November 19, 2008 by Bill Eddins

A pop survey –

What is the most common gripe among orchestra players?

In my experience it’s “Boy, this conductor sucks!” I have heard it from several angles, including from inside the orchestra (I spent many years playing Orchestral Keyboards, probably the performance opportunity I miss most with having a conducting career) and from when I’m on the podium (word of advice to young conductors – just because you hear something that doesn’t mean you have to listen to it; you are out there to do job and you have to have a thick skin). And speaking of young conductors –

Caveat Emptor!!!

November 14, 2008 by Bill Eddins

Conductors are like reverse ostriches. We are constantly popping our heads up out of the sand, looking around, and trying to determine what orchestras are coming available, who’s looking for a new Music Director. We want that next job, the next claim to fame, etc. Buried deep on the New York Times website I noticed a little ditty. It seems that an orchestra that I am familiar with is parting ways with their M.D. Perhaps I should…….

Go West Redux…

November 8, 2008 by Bill Eddins

Here I am again on the West coast where for some reason my sleep disorders love to haunt me. This weekend I participate in a series called Inside The Score with the Oregon Philharmonic. You know the gig – pick a big piece of music, talk about it, play it, go drinking. It’s Brahms Symphony #1 on the docket. But something else has caught my ear and my eye this weekend. Portland is one of those towns where there’s a whole lot of other stuff going on.

Field Dressing the Arts

November 6, 2008 by Bill Eddins

By this time I would expect anyone who doesn’t live in what is the Last Bastion of Civilized Man in America – AKA the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul – to be utterly tired of my relentless promotion of this area. Those who are indeed tired might want to skip over this post.

The Aftermath….

November 5, 2008 by Bill Eddins

Now that the election is finally over, it would seem a good time to reflect on what the election of Barack Obama to the highest office in the land means for those of us in the Arts, as well as what it may mean for the rest of American society and our position in the world today.

The Coming Storm

November 3, 2008 by Bill Eddins

More fabulous news on the Arts front – from the daily updates from organizations around the U.S. that suddenly they’re looking at multi-million dollar deficits due to the worsening economy (muchas gracias, Señor Bush!) to the wonderful news that even the government of that bastion of Liberalism – Australia – has lost it’s collective mind. One wonders if you should start building the bomb shelter.

Connections

October 29, 2008 by Bill Eddins

The show that got me hooked on cable TV was called “Connections.” This madman historian, James Burke, produced this fabulous show on science and history that was absolutely riveting. His premise was that history does not proceed in a straight line. So he would talk about one invention and then somehow connect it to something that you wouldn’t believe had any relation to it. It’s hard to describe, but it’s still one of the best shows ever.

The Scourge

October 23, 2008 by Bill Eddins

I’m here in beautiful Berkeley, Ca. I’ve been having a good time hanging out with the various riff-raff, assorted hippies, left-wing nuts, college students (remember those days?), the record stores (remember those days?), the head shops (remem…… ok, never mind), and of course the Berkeley Symphony. But one thing has raised its ugly head and I must denounce it. The Scourge has returned……