Current Events

Phoning it in!….

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If you don’t yet have an iPhone/iPodtouch then you are still hearing the hype no doubt.  I have the touch and if it’s possible I think Apple is ahead of the hype and the curve.  How about the ultimate musician’s accessory, no joke….

Phone, IM, Email, Games, Browsing etc…all great stuff but what sets the gizmo apart is the application store.  Sure there’s the bubble wrap program, the marble games, tons of silly apps and also great reference and info apps that all utilize the on-line capabilities as well as the accelerometer (tilt feature).  For literary junkies (and for free) you can even get the complete works of Shakespeare!

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Legacy

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Donald Erb has died. I am saddened to hear about the passing of this very interesting American composer. I have the feeling that there is a certain passing of an era going on these days, and it’s confirmed by Mr. Erb’s biography. This is a “first generation” that is saying their last goodbyes, and I wonder if my fellow Americans realize how much this generation, and American music in general, owes to one woman.

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What’s really going on in Oregon?….

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A war of words is being engaged in Portland right now between the press and the administration with an emphasis on who’s facts are correct.  Accusations and assertions followed by rebuttals and damage control, it’s familiar stuff , pro sports teams go through it daily!  There is also a note being sounded by executive director Elaine Calder that is hopefully not a signal of things to come.  Their board has the real power to affect the orchestra’s future and a statement by their chairperson needs to be heeded and examined, and not dismissed!….

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On and on about Oregon

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One thing about being busy – sometimes someone has the same idea as you but gets it out there faster. Poor old Elisha Grey is known as the also ran of the telephone because he was a couple hours late to the patent office. It happened to me this weekend. I had this great “Chicken Little” comment that was going to be my lead-in to my thoughts on the recent Oregon Symphony article, but then someone beat me to it. None-the-less, I’m betting that the blog from the Oregonian is a lot closer to the truth. But even that blogger doesn’t dwell on the symphony’s secret weapon.

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Sticking it in the (buck)eye!……

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I want to piggy back onto what Bill wrote.  I completely agree with him and want to add that even when a conductor moves to their orchestra’s community, that alone wont guarantee an orchestra’s success!   I moved to Springfield but I wasn’t required to, I made a personal choice.  The board of an orchestra can negotiate the terms of employment and my guess is that Columbus didn’t require Junichi to be a resident….so it’s his fault that he didn’t move there, and that’s why they are in their current situation?  Please!

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Pull up the Roots…..

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Well, it seems that our friend Junichi in Columbus is taking some fire for “not putting down roots in the community.” On the opposite side of that coin one of the Columbus musicians has come to his defense by noting that the Executive Director, Tony Beadle, hasn’t put down any roots in Columbus either. While I appreciate the defense on behalf of Junichi I’d like to make another point – it is time for orchestras to drop this outdated idea of the Music Director In Residence. Starting right now.

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Got Arts?…..

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The NPAC conference received mixed reviews, I didn’t attend and as with any large conference there was bound to be both accolades and criticisms.  I was disturbed to read about the last town hall meeting, and in my mind it brought up a question that the arts must face in the future:

Which is more important: That the Arts matters to people or that the Arts cares about people?…….

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The Long and Winding Road……

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So here in Syracuse, having a wonderful time and as of Yesterday, three concerts down, two to go, I read the news today oh boy…(I will explain the Beatles references), there is news to report and I’m tremendously excited as an old friend and myself have once again Come Together giving me a Ticket to Ride to Get back to where (I )once belonged……

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