Comments for My Ears Are Open http://myearsareopen.net Dedicated to Contemporary Composers and Performers Fri, 17 Feb 2012 06:19:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Miranda Cuckson – Violin by Kewin Williamson http://myearsareopen.net/2012/miranda-cuckson-violin/#comment-224 Kewin Williamson Fri, 17 Feb 2012 06:19:11 +0000 http://myearsareopen.net/?p=1322#comment-224 Very good podcast, Miranda had quite a bit to say. It was interesting to hear her points. Very good podcast, Miranda had quite a bit to say. It was interesting to hear her points.

]]> Comment on Contagious Sounds: Streaming Live. January 26, 2012 by Chris http://myearsareopen.net/2012/contagious-sounds-streaming-live-january-26-2012/#comment-186 Chris Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:52:44 +0000 http://myearsareopen.net/?p=1291#comment-186 James, Thanks for having this on here! I'm so glad the shows are archived! James,
Thanks for having this on here! I’m so glad the shows are archived!

]]> Comment on Donald Nally – Conductor by Stephen Mead http://myearsareopen.net/2011/donald-nally-conductor/#comment-139 Stephen Mead Tue, 25 Oct 2011 19:15:03 +0000 http://myearsareopen.net/?p=1192#comment-139 Dear Crossing Choir: I began creating mp3 files somewhat by accident, or as an experiment. A few years ago I received a note from Frank Moore of Love Underground Visionary Revolution in regards to a few poems I mailed him. He asked if I'd be interested in recording them on a tape for him to play on his show. At the time I was just figuring out how to record my own voice and poetry as soundtracks for short collage-films I'd begun to make, yet the idea of using even a thirty minute tape for a number of poems seemed like I'd be wasting a lot of tape time. Thus, I got the idea of adding music to accompany my words. This eventually resulted in the CD "Love Lullabies". Using my own voice as background for my writing, in the past year I worked up the nerve to attempt singing the poems entirely. Actually, since so many of my poems are narratives, I've often thought of them sort of as choral, operatic or folk pieces, feeling influenced by such works as “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” in addition to the librettists for John Adams and Phillip Glass. I thought I'd be working on yet another DIY project, (eventually entitled "Whispers of Arias"), but luckily came across Kevin MacLeod and his royalty-free music site, Incompetech.com. With his permission to use and play with samples from his site for this esoteric project, I’ve been fortunate to find a working collaboration. I was wondering if you might find any of this material to be of interest for you in regards to potential librettos. I can send as MP3s and Zip Files to save on postage unless you would prefer the discs. Thank you for considering this, Stephen Dear Crossing Choir:
I began creating mp3 files somewhat by accident, or as an experiment. A few years ago I received a note from Frank Moore of Love Underground Visionary Revolution in regards to a few poems I mailed him. He asked if I’d be interested in recording them on a tape for him to play on his show. At the time I was just figuring out how to record my own voice and poetry as soundtracks for short collage-films I’d begun to make, yet the idea of using even a thirty minute tape for a number of poems seemed like I’d be wasting a lot of tape time. Thus, I got the idea of adding music to accompany my words. This eventually resulted in the CD “Love Lullabies”. Using my own voice as background for my writing, in the past year I worked up the nerve to attempt singing the poems entirely. Actually, since so many of my poems are narratives, I’ve often thought of them sort of as choral, operatic or folk pieces, feeling influenced by such works as “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” in addition to the librettists for John Adams and Phillip Glass. I thought I’d be working on yet another DIY project, (eventually entitled “Whispers of Arias”), but luckily came across Kevin MacLeod and his royalty-free music site, Incompetech.com. With his permission to use and play with samples from his site for this esoteric project, I’ve been fortunate to find a working collaboration.

I was wondering if you might find any of this material to be of interest for you in regards to potential librettos. I can send as MP3s and Zip Files to save on postage unless you would prefer the discs.

Thank you for considering this,
Stephen

]]> Comment on Andie Springer – Violin by Sandy Jones http://myearsareopen.net/2011/andie-springer-violin/#comment-39 Sandy Jones Mon, 07 Feb 2011 04:39:27 +0000 http://myearsareopen.net/?p=863#comment-39 Andie Springer is a breath of fresh air! Andie Springer is a breath of fresh air!

]]> Comment on Jennifer Kloetzel – Cello by Jennifer Kloetzel http://myearsareopen.net/2011/jennifer-kloetzel-cellist/#comment-31 Jennifer Kloetzel Tue, 18 Jan 2011 20:38:39 +0000 http://myearsareopen.net/?p=833#comment-31 Jim, thanks for the clarification. That's exactly what I remember saying....any live recording is better than a midi realization, for us to hear a composer's 'voice'. We're certainly not asking that the Berlin Philharmonic record your music, but simply that we hear a live musician playing something that you wrote (and not a computer---nothing wrong with computer music, but it's not what we do!). I firmly believe the following--and have seen it happen time and again: if someone believes in what they have to offer, they will find a way. I have known composers who borrow recording equipment and do favors for friends in order to get their music recorded in SOME fashion. A live performance recording, or even a rehearsal is fine. When I was a student at Juilliard, people asked me for favors ALL of the time---playing on their recitals, playing their compositions, etc. I never was paid for those, but considered it part of being a musician and building musical friendships....(and often I did it for a free meal or a beer! :-) You know musicians...) When we choose a composer to work with, we are committing to raising a lot of money and also to spending an incredible amount of time and energy with the composer AND the music. This has a lot to do with whether a composer's voice speaks to us. We often will be working on a piece for hundreds of hours before we will premiere it, so it is important for us that we believe in the music that we are playing. Jim, thanks for the clarification. That’s exactly what I remember saying….any live recording is better than a midi realization, for us to hear a composer’s ‘voice’. We’re certainly not asking that the Berlin Philharmonic record your music, but simply that we hear a live musician playing something that you wrote (and not a computer—nothing wrong with computer music, but it’s not what we do!). I firmly believe the following–and have seen it happen time and again: if someone believes in what they have to offer, they will find a way. I have known composers who borrow recording equipment and do favors for friends in order to get their music recorded in SOME fashion. A live performance recording, or even a rehearsal is fine. When I was a student at Juilliard, people asked me for favors ALL of the time—playing on their recitals, playing their compositions, etc. I never was paid for those, but considered it part of being a musician and building musical friendships….(and often I did it for a free meal or a beer! :-) You know musicians…)
When we choose a composer to work with, we are committing to raising a lot of money and also to spending an incredible amount of time and energy with the composer AND the music. This has a lot to do with whether a composer’s voice speaks to us. We often will be working on a piece for hundreds of hours before we will premiere it, so it is important for us that we believe in the music that we are playing.

]]> Comment on Jennifer Kloetzel – Cello by James Holt http://myearsareopen.net/2011/jennifer-kloetzel-cellist/#comment-30 James Holt Tue, 18 Jan 2011 15:55:03 +0000 http://myearsareopen.net/?p=833#comment-30 Hi Scott - thanks for listening to this episode. I really think that Jennifer's comment may be a little out of context. When I recorded her interview she was talking about how she would rather hear an unpolished recording of live musicians rather than a midi realization. You are right, most musicians like to get paid - and they should. However, it is also possible to find musicians who are willing to read a piece a couple times without monetary compensation... I think this is what Jennifer was trying to say. Hi Scott – thanks for listening to this episode. I really think that Jennifer’s comment may be a little out of context. When I recorded her interview she was talking about how she would rather hear an unpolished recording of live musicians rather than a midi realization. You are right, most musicians like to get paid – and they should. However, it is also possible to find musicians who are willing to read a piece a couple times without monetary compensation… I think this is what Jennifer was trying to say.

]]> Comment on Jennifer Kloetzel – Cello by Scott http://myearsareopen.net/2011/jennifer-kloetzel-cellist/#comment-29 Scott Mon, 17 Jan 2011 22:37:55 +0000 http://myearsareopen.net/?p=833#comment-29 I was rather surprised in places. If a composer can't get other musicians to record their music then maybe the Cypress String Quartet shouldn't record it, either? I have noticed that musicians like to get paid. The policy of accepting submissions only from people who can afford to really smacks of elitism and an elitism based on class and not merit. I was rather surprised in places. If a composer can’t get other musicians to record their music then maybe the Cypress String Quartet shouldn’t record it, either? I have noticed that musicians like to get paid. The policy of accepting submissions only from people who can afford to really smacks of elitism and an elitism based on class and not merit.

]]> Comment on Satan’s Pearl Horses – Video, Film by madeleine toor http://myearsareopen.net/2010/satans-pearl-horses-video-film/#comment-11 madeleine toor Sat, 27 Nov 2010 21:35:48 +0000 http://myearsareopen.net/?p=764#comment-11 not just because I'm Nik's mom...they are the best! not just because I’m Nik’s mom…they are the best!

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