by Kenneth Woods | Apr 11, 2008 | A view from the podium
For regular readers who have been irritated and distressed at the relatively slow pace of posts this month, take heart- a proper blog post full of wonky musical nonsense is on its way. However, while reading the paper this afternoon, I came across this gem in today’s...
by Kenneth Woods | Apr 7, 2008 | A view from the podium
It is snowing in Cardiff- are we having April fools day a week late this year? I tried to keep a window of time clear this year to have time to help out with Sam after his arrival. Since I travel so much of the time, I always tend to enjoy extended interludes at home...
by Kenneth Woods | Apr 7, 2008 | A view from the podium, News and Reviews
For those of you who followed the suprising controversy surrounding my interview with composer Gordon Downie with interest, his orchestral work “forms 6: event aggregates” will be the featured work on this week’s Pre-Hear on BBC Radio 3. The show is at 9:45 PM GMT on...
by Kenneth Woods | Apr 1, 2008 | A view from the podium
I thought it would be appropriate in celebrating Gerhard’s accomplishments as both a performer and composer to cobble together a podcast showcasing some of his recordings. This is by no means a comprehensive selection, but more of a grab bag of some of my favourites...
by Kenneth Woods | Apr 1, 2008 | A view from the podium
I learned this evening that Gerhard Samuel, composer, conductor, violinist and teacher, has passed away at the age of 83. Gerhard is a man I am very proud to call my teacher and my friend. Gerhard had a career and a life that would have made a fine novel, and...
by Kenneth Woods | Mar 22, 2008 | A view from the podium, Nuts and bolts
If it seems to the regular Vftp reader that I have lavished unprecedented coverage on last week’s CMEW concert, I apologize for any perception of favouritism that may cause. For instance, lost in the all of this was any mention of the fact that I had already begun...
by Kenneth Woods | Mar 22, 2008 | A view from the podium
A quick reminder that today, Sat Mar 22nd is the priority application deadline for the 2008 Rose City International Conductor’s Workshop. You can apply online via the RCICW website. The RCICW is now the first conducting institute to go post free- applicants may submit...
by Kenneth Woods | Mar 21, 2008 | A view from the podium
Hi everyone- I usually eschew the autobiography here, but wanted to just put the happy word out that Samuel Miles Woods (our first) was born on Monday, the 17th of March at 5:30 PM. His Irish grandfather was very proud of him coming on St Patrick’s Day. ...
by Kenneth Woods | Mar 17, 2008 | A view from the podium
I’ve decided to remove the discussion and comments from the individual segments of my interview with Gordon Downie, and to anthologize them all here in a single post. Regrettably, a few comments did not measure up to our house standards of civil discourse and have...
by Kenneth Woods | Mar 15, 2008 | A view from the podium
It seems a bit of a bum deal to be the first piece on a program. If I was an overture, I would have serious jealousy issues. Often, the overture ends up being the best played piece on the program, and if it is a piece like Leonore 3, it might well be the best piece on...
by Kenneth Woods | Mar 15, 2008 | A view from the podium
We’re on our break. Not many surprises so far, and most of the surprises are for the good. B5 is an especially hard piece to rehearse on the day of a concert, because it is very hard to “mark” it at all, especially for the strings- you often really have to go all out...
by Kenneth Woods | Mar 15, 2008 | A view from the podium
Well- I’m here, live-blogging the final concert of the Guildford Spring Music Festival. It wasn’t by any means a foregone conclusion that I would be here- Suzanne is 11 days past her due date, and looked ready to burst at any moment this morning (more worrying she...
by Kenneth Woods | Mar 15, 2008 | A view from the podium
For those of you who think that I am just picking on living composers when I stress the importance of easily readable materials (pace Kyle Gann), I thought I would pass along to Vftp readers our experience tonight with Schumann’s Genoveva Overture, which we are...
by Kenneth Woods | Mar 14, 2008 | A view from the podium
Time limits are mitigating against me writing too much this week about B5 preparations with the Surrey Mozart Players, but I am getting excited about the concert and hoping that I’m able to be there for it (more on that next week). There is good news for the...
by Kenneth Woods | Mar 13, 2008 | A view from the podium
I’m sorry not to have written sooner about my weekend with the Contemporary Music Ensemble of Wales, something I can only attribute to the combined effects of being very tired from it and very busy since it. In the end, I loved every piece on we did- it was a great...
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