Arts

Concert Review – Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Project

August 22, 2010

For the past two mornings, I have woken up thinking about the concert I attended on Friday of the Silk Road Project, an ensemble organized by Yo-Yo Ma. It was the first time I was able to attend a Silk Road Project concert and if I can help it, I won’t miss future concerts when [...]

Read the full article →

Smithsonian Channel Explores The Influence of the Electric Guitar

August 14, 2010

I was quite surprised when I received information about a Smithsonian Channel in my inbox. That is because the channel isn’t available everywhere yet…ahem…Comcast. With 19 museums, 9 international research centers and over a 168 million artifacts, it shouldn’t be a surprise. The amount of information stored in the underbelly of each museum is unbelievable. [...]

Read the full article →

Could Chicago Guitar Festival in October 2010 Boost Local Scene?

August 1, 2010

The classical guitar scene in Chicago doesn’t feel like much of a guitar scene at times. At least not compared to other major cities like Los Angeles and New York City. Yes, there is a Chicago Classical Guitar Society, but the society part is weak. There is the Segovia Guitar series, but the lineup is [...]

Read the full article →

A Little About Kertsopoulos Æsthetics For Guitar

March 23, 2010

The aural aesthetics of today’s instruments has evolved over time. Pick your favorite instrument and I guarantee that what it sounds like today is different from even 30 years ago. Musicians and instrument makers constantly find new ways to improve upon existing instruments. Whether it is exploring how to improve the construction of an instrument [...]

Read the full article →

GRAMMY Camp For Kids, Deadline Approaching

March 21, 2010

I often give the Grammys grief for the awards, but the organization does have an important role when it comes providing a musical experience for kids. GRAMMY Camp® is a ten-day residential summer camp for high school students with a focus on the music industry. The Camp is hosted in Los Angeles by the University [...]

Read the full article →

Grammys Debate: Are They Out of Touch?

February 11, 2010

A week and a half has passed since the Grammys were awarded. It is hard for me to respect the Grammys because I can’t stand, don’t listen to, or frankly don’t care about the majority of artists, bands, or albums that have received accolades in recent years. The vast majority of popular music just doesn’t [...]

Read the full article →

Classical Music For Metalheads

November 23, 2009

Whether you‘re a diehard classical music fan who’s trying to get your favorite metalhead to branch out a bit, or a metalhead who’s just looking for something new, check out this list. Contrapuntist and I are both classically trained musicians and metal fans. We thought this would be a good way to share our two [...]

Read the full article →

You Can Help Dilettante Choose Its First Digital Composer-In-Residence

October 20, 2009

For several months, I’ve had my eyes on Dilettante, a classical music community; think Last.Fm but for classical music enthusiasts. I joined the community in its infancy, and I wasn’t sure what to make of it at first. I can’t say I’ve been an active participant, but I do read the emails I get from [...]

Read the full article →

Emilie Autumn, “Anarchy Violinist” Returns to the Stage

October 10, 2009

The other day, I turned on the WGN morning news to be greeted by a pink-haired, corset-clad violinist and her bandmates singing a version of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”. I was glued to the TV. In a day of cookie-cutter pop music, this was certainly nothing I’d ever seen before. I had missed the beginning of [...]

Read the full article →

My Love Affair With The Tango

October 5, 2009

Do you have an “odd” musical obsession? By odd, I mean something that could be considered out of character for you – even a tad? In case you missed the obvious by this post’s title, let me be more literal. I have had a long time love affair with the tango. No, I don’t mean [...]