Links
People are often discussing the future of "classical music."
Some people like what they hear and want to know more.
Some people claim it's dying.
Others just
don't know what direction it's heading.
Some wish it stopped with Mozart.
Still others don't even know what it is.
I was once telling my dentist that I was giving a recital in New Mexico.
He was puzzled at first, then asked,
"Oh, are you playing at a friend's house?"
It was now my turn to act puzzled.
It took just a bit of conversation to learn that
He had no idea active performing pianists even existed.
Ironically, my old orthodontist could never quite figure out what I did either.
He
always thought I wanted a career like Lorie Line.
I gave up trying to explain the difference between playing in a mall and playing on a concert stage.
Granted, he did a heck of a great job on my teeth.
These links do not exhaust all that is new and great in classical music.
They hardly scratch the surface.
They do represent what I deem to be samples of what promises to be an amazing generation of composers.
So, for those who want to hear more, these links are exactly what you're looking for.
For those who say it's dying, I beg to differ. Check out these links.
For those who don't know where the future lies, I assure you, it lies in able hands. Find out for yourself below.
For those who wish it stopped with Mozart, I'm sorry. But still look at these links and you may change your mind.
And for those like my dentists, please look at these links.
It will open your mind in ways you didn't know possible.
This is a remarkable cross-referenced database of every living composer internationally. The website, maintained by Dan Albertson and Ron Hannah, is always being updated as they learn of more composers to add. On the site, one can search for composers by name or country; TLCP then links you to the composer's website. If the composer does not have a website, Albertson and Hannah actually make one for them. I have used this resource on countless occasions, and I encourage everyone to check it out.
The Werner Icking Music Archive
Looking for the music of Frederic Rzewski but can't seem to find it anywhere? This is likely be the bulk of it is self published and only available from the composer. Thankfully, however, much of it was uploaded into the Werner Icking Music Archive and it is available for free download. While you're there, check out the dozens of other composers's scores that are also downloadable for free.
A Chicago based ensemble, the Fire Wire Ensemble is a new-music ensemble dedicated to bringing outstanding contemporary music to the widest audience possible, through unusual programming and collaboration with exciting performers, composers, multi-media artists and scholars. They recently performed some of my work, and their project is worth a look.
Need a break from all this music? Check out Kyle Baker's website. He's an Eisner award winning cartoonist whose work is some of my favorite. I got hooked on him after reading Plastic Man: On the Lam
Not only can you buy my own commercially released CDs here, you can also buy everything from handsoap to typewriters (I mean this literally). The best part is, all your purchases on amazon.com through this link help support my upcoming CD releases.
