Haydn the Subversive

There is an interesting piece in Slate magazine today comparing Haydn and Mozart, which is well worth a read. The author, Erik Tarloff, has some very nice and valid points, however I still think that looking at Haydn primarily as a composer of reason and balance...

Redneck Mahler Post Game Show

I’m enjoying a fairly quiet day between concert sequences- Our redneck Mahler 4 is now history and tomorrow rehearsals start up for the Rose City Chamber Orchestra performance on Sunday. Later today I’ll take the evening to study and make sure I’m focused on the right...

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...