Another Good Critic Gone

Adaptistration Guy Out The Door

This post is getting out later than it should but I wanted to take a moment to point out the field has lost yet another first class music critic. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette music critic Andrew Druckenbrod said his official goodbye on 6/23/13 with reflection on his 13 years with the paper and words of advice about unnecessarily conservative programming at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Andrew authored a wonderful contribution for the 2007 …

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…And We Didn’t Even Get A Kiss

ADAPTISTRATION-GUY-058

The always sharp Joe Patti published an excellent article on 6/24/2013 that examines just little some governments care about culture. In particular, he examines the state of New Jersey’s hate-hate relationship with the arts by way of their decision to pilfer a dedicated arts tax. Instead of providing more funding as more revenue comes in to the dedicated tax, the state is raking the excess revenue into the general coffers. “…the tax …

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Way To Go Hawks!

Even though the NHL strike obliterated most of the season, it’s good to have a hard fought Stanley Cup match featuring my local team, the Chicago Blackhawks. Each game of the playoffs was a roller coaster of excitement and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra decided to get into the spirit by releasing their own version of the Blackhawks goal song, Chelsea Dagger featuring their team Captain Ricardo Muti, although it’s curious why …

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Happy Memorial Day!

Whether you’re home all day enjoying the holiday with family and friends or your orchestra is putting on a performance today, try to take a few moments to remember the reason for the holiday. Furthermore, take a moment to remember that the single largest employer of full-time professional musicians is the United States Armed Forces… [ilink url=”http://www.usafband.com/” style=”tick”]The United States Air Force Band[/ilink] [ilink url=”http://www.army.mil/armyband/” style=”tick”]The United States Army Band[/ilink] [ilink …

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Such A Touching Tribute

cello

On 5/1/2013, cellist Lynn Harrell published what has to be one of the most touching tributes to Janos Starker that have flooded the internet since news of his passing became public. Words fail to capture what Harrell accomplished in his tribute to one of the greatest musical figures of the last century. The entire field is better off for having someone of Harrell’s genteel sensibility play a regular role in elevating …

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