by Kenneth Woods | Sep 30, 2009 | A view from the podium
Now, that’s a program…. It’s a Bloch anniversary year, but you wouldn’t know it in most of the musical world. He deserves better! Strauss 2nd Horn Concerto= Heaven. Beethoven 7- perfection…. Be there...
by Kenneth Woods | Sep 16, 2009 | A view from the podium
It probably won’t surprise too many readers to learn that on the relatively rare occasion I get to sit down and veg out with the television, I’m as likely to watch cooking shows as anything. Given that, I should start today by saying a sincere “rest in peace” to...
by Kenneth Woods | May 16, 2009 | A view from the podium, Performing Life
I’m back in the UK after a memorable week at the Ischia Chamber Music Festival in Italy. For me and my colleagues in Ensemble Epomeo, the focal point of the week was our concert on Thursday in the Church of Mary Magdeline in Cassamicciola. It’s a stunning church, and...
by Kenneth Woods | Jun 20, 2008 | A view from the podium, Explore the Score, Nuts and bolts
On my desk today is Schumann’s 2nd Symphony. If you had assembled a panel of experts, including every major composer from 1825 to 1899, at the end of the 19th century to pick the most important symphony after Beethoven, Schumann 2 would probably have been the one,...
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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