Wicked Ends

_{Photo: Flickr user wallyg}

The Chicago Tribune is running a small series of articles about Wicked closing this past weekend in Chicago. An estimated $10M production, Wicked was able to stay in Chicago for 1,500 shows at the Oriental Theater and gross an estimated $60M. Say what you want about the show, but that's a huge number of faces seeing a live stage production here in the Windy City.

Congratulations to the cast and to the musicians who made the show successful. We wish you the best of luck in your next venture, whatever it may be.

NY Times Article on the Rich, Warm Marimba

The New York Times ran an article titled The Marimba, Rich and Warm, Makes Itself Heard a few months back. While there's nothing or earth-shattering in the article, it does contain a few good quote snips from Steven Mackey, Gunter Schuller, William Moersch, and others. Also, Nancy Zeltsman is displaying her affinity for mallets in varying hardness.

The Fantastic Machine

Thanks to George Brown of the Utah Symphony for finding this one! Is it real? Is it fake? Who cares...it's fun.

Music Was There

History was made today in the United States of America when Barack Obama was elected the countries first African American president. Months, years, decades, and centuries will pass with continued reflection on this day and the words spoken by President Obama. As a musician, I wish to give thanks and rememberance towards the music performers of the day: Aretha Franklin singing God Bless America, the United States Navy Band 'Sea Chanters' performance of the National Anthem, Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Gabriela Montero, and Anthony McGill's delivery of John Williams' Air and Simple Gifts, and the United States Marine Band's excellent overall performance throughout the day.

My personal favorite? The first movement of Ralph Vaughn-Williams' Folk Song Suite being played by the Marine Band for the introduction of former president Bill Clinton. A great selection!

Thanks to all the women and men who made sure music was there while we were making history today.

Lazy, Lazy

Last night I attended a rehearsal for an upcoming Big Band concert with the Bensenville/Wood Dale Concert Band. This was the best "drum set" that I could come up with... note the lack of even a snare drum stand.

Me = lazy.

A New Music Education Blog

Bonnie Brown, a clarinetist from the Bensenville/Wood Dale Concert Band, recently joined the blogosphere with her writings at Music Teaching, Learning, and Performing. While she is just getting started with her posts, stop by and give it a read.

Good luck, Bonnie!

Fabian Theory

Happy new year! I'm a proponent of new music that includes both analog performance and digital accompaniment. Australian composer Nigel Westlake's composition Fabian Theory, composed in 1987, presents the performer with a nice variety of both technical and musical requirements that merge analog and digitally replicated sound samples taken during performance.

Here's an accurate performance given by percussionist Justin Stolarik. Nice job Justin!