More redneck Mahler

It’s generally accepted that if you want an orchestra to improve, you should rehearse and perform a great deal of Haydn and Mozart. True! However, one thing I’ve been surprised at is what an effective orchestral etude Mahler 4 is. Perhaps it’s not surprising, since...

Schubert’s Thirds

It’s been a quiet, rainy afternoon at Vftp Intl Headquarters. I’ve mostly been perched at the piano going through the score of Schubert’s Fourth Symphony (in C minor, “Tragic”). It’s a piece I’ve been wanting to do for some years since I covered it in Cincinnati in...