Here is a link to a New York Times' video, "A Wind Among the Reeds". This is a rather interesting video, which focuses on Liang Wang, the principal oboist of the NY Phil. In it, he discusses the unique challenges he has faced as a musician who has emigrated from China, particularly as a wind player (the first of Chinese nationality in the New York Phil.). Also of interest may be his comment regarding what happens as he looks in the mirror everyday: He asks himself to on a dai

We'll take just a brief pause from Husa, to enjoy John Adam's commencement address to the 2011 Julliard graduates on May 20th. In it, he speaks about the pains and rewards of being an artist in this day and age. Follow the link to the Nonesuch website. #blog

Perhaps the most important living composer, Karel Husa has been a true friend to the wind band. His body of works has raised the level of seriousness of music written for winds, in terms of meaningful content and emotional feeling. Throughout his long career his music has been a gift to the wind community, indeed the music community in general. This August marks the composer's 90th birthday, and UMWO will be celebrating this occassion in the most appropriate way: by playing h

As always, UMWO is on the cutting edge of contemporary music! See the article below from the LA Times on Sofia Gubaidulina whose Hour of the Soul we performed earlier this year. Enjoy! Sofia Gubaidulina's spiritually musical journey -------------------- The 79-year-old composer, scheduled to be on hand Thursday when the Los Angeles Philharmonic performs her work Glorious Percussion, still espouses music's heavenly heart. By David Mermelstein, Special to the Los Angeles Times

While James Levine battles his health issues and has been forced to resign from the BSO and withdraw from touring with the MET, it seems that New Yorkers are thinking about the New York Music scene- where it has been and where it might go in the future. The below Op-Ed Piece from the New York Times talks about Gustav Mahler’s role in the development of both the NY MET and the NY Phil. New York Times: When Mahler took Manhattan Peter G. Davis New York has always held its condu

Here is some more ukiah (or haiku) from Dr. Votta. Man with stick wave to and fro Orchestra baffled May we have downbeat? they ask -- Saxophone hums like hummingbird Or perhaps like saw Skill of player is crucial -- Weather turns humid: reeds die Woodwind players weep Must play Mahler symphony -- A Mozart development: Changing keys, brass rest. Graveyard for concentration -- Bows go up, down, up, down, up Harmony prevails Sowing discord, one starts down. #blog

Given our recent concert with Pulcinella, today's Composers Datebook seemed appropriate. Audio for Composers Datebook 5/15/2011 Stravinsky and Rochberg start trends Today we celebrate two premieres and one three-letter prefix: "neo," meaning "new." On today's date in 1920, Igor Stravinsky's ballet "Pulcinella" was produced for the first time in Paris by Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. Stravinsky incorporated into the score some instrumental pieces attributed to the 18th century I

Percussion make much banging Drums, cymbals, toys all sound Too loud and out of tempo -- Second violins slumber When they should make sound Dreaming of concerto glory -- Flutes: always inaudible Until they play high Then they are always too loud -- Oboes turn bright red like beets Playing a short phrase Beautiful sound but eyes bulge #blog

Over the next few days, we will be posting some of Dr. Votta's musical "ukiah" on our blog. We can't really call it haiku since the syllables are 7-5-7 instead of 5-7-5, but they're entertaining all the same. Trombones sitting in the rear So loudly annoy But better than in the front -- Violas why can’t you count? We follow they say You must cue us for safety -- Clarinets’ arpeggios Flying everywhere Sometimes even are correct #blog

Below is the text and the audio link for Composers Datebook from Sunday, May 8. Andrew Boysen Jr.'s Symphony No. 1, a piece for winds, was the featured composition. Composers Datebook Audio-5/8/2011 On today's date in 1998, a new symphony for winds and percussion had its premiere performance at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. It was the first symphony -- and first major commission -- for American composer, Andrew Boysen, Jr., who was 30 years old at the time. "