by Kenneth Woods | Feb 16, 2021 | A view from the podium, Piano, pianists and pianism
Gunnar Johansen was a legendary figure in my home town of Madison, Wisconsin. He retired from the University of Wisconsin in 1976, when I would have been seven, so he was practically the stuff of legend throughout most of my youth (we never met). He died in...
by Kenneth Woods | Jul 31, 2014 | A future for music
The music world has seen many well-deserved tributes over the last several weeks for the author, musicologist, composer and critic Malcolm MacDonald, who passed away recently after a long battle with cancer. I never had the good fortune to meet Malcolm (although we...
by Kenneth Woods | Jan 3, 2011 | Repertoire Reports
Next up in our 2010 Repertoire Report listings is one of the top youth orchestra conductors in the United States, Troy Peters. Troy brought the Vermont Youth Orchestra to national acclaim during his tenure there, and has had his ensembles play alongside leading rock...
by Kenneth Woods | Jan 7, 2008 | A view from the podium, Favorite posts, Nuts and bolts
I’m a bit concerned that this sudden outpouring of advice is making me look even more like a pompous gasbag than I do simply by virtue of being a conductor (and worse yet, a conductor who writes), but then there was this…. In the comments on More Tips...
by Kenneth Woods | Aug 21, 2007 | A view from the podium, Mahler, Nuts and bolts
Yes, composition is analysis. Let’s start by remembering I didn’t say composition is only analysis. Take for a moment Sibelius’ Fifth Symphony, which I wrote about here. If one sits down and carefully analyzes the piece in its final form, you can’t help but be struck...
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