We sometimes make listening to classical music seem like a more complicated thing than it really needs to be. True, you can always know more about such a rich subject as classical music; but some simple listening tips can go
Chopin meets Liszt
A scene from “A Song to Remember” (1944), with Cornel Wilde as Chopin, Stephen Bekassy as Liszt, and Paul Muni as Chopin’s teacher, Prof. Joseph Elsner. I laughed out loud the first time I saw this, many years ago. When
Leonard Bernstein: 99
Today is Leonard Bernstein’s 99th birthday. We remember him as a composer and conductor, of course, but we sometimes forget he was an exceptional pianist too. Here he is with the New York Philharmonic, playing and conducting Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in
Costco find
Spotted this pile of books at Costco yesterday and snapped a shot with my phone. Has music theory gone mainstream? Has the world gone mad?
Lesson Seven: Eclipse and flow
My penultimate piano lesson … Lesson Seven: Eclipse and flow. OC Music & Dance blog, Aug. 24, 2017.
Classical cover: Schubert’s ‘Erlkonig’
I love a good cover song. The term usually applies to a pop or rock song — some of my favorites in that category include DEVO’s “Satisfaction,” Cake’s “I Will Survive” and The Clash’s “Brand New Cadillac.” But broadly speaking,
Video: Yekwon Sunwoo plays Mozart
I had the pleasure of talking the other day to Van Cliburn gold medalist Yekwon Sunwoo (article to come). Here he is playing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 during the semifinal round of the competition. It’s beautifully done. He’ll perform
Lessons Five and Six: Pain and gain
My piano lessons continue at OC Music & Dance … Lessons Five and Six: Pain and gain. OC Music & Dance blog, Aug. 16, 2017.
Monster of a movie: Kaufman and Pacific take on ‘Jurassic Park’
By TIMOTHY MANGAN Richard Kaufman, Principal Pops Conductor of Pacific Symphony, answered the door of his classic Encino ranch house the other day in his bare feet and khaki shorts. When he’s not conducting symphony orchestras around the world in
Video: Great moments in film music: ‘The Hudsucker Proxy’
The famous hula hoop sequence from “The Hudsucker Proxy.” Music by Aram Khachaturian.