I’m doing a presentation of my music and the topic of musical influence today, 08/30/2009, at 1PM PST in Second Life. The talk will be held at the Music Academy Online main stage - you can IM Tanku Kaligawa for more information. You can also download the Second Life client for free at www.SecondLife.com.
Please check out my most recent interview on the web show Music Academy onLive. We discuss the topic of influence, and I talk about how influence affected my own works.
I was sitting around revising Synaesthesiac today, and my fiancee Jenn showed me this amazing video of a 4 year old drummer. We watched a bunch of them and they’re amazing and hilarious at the same time. It got me thinking about what makes a kid this young able to do things like this? What makes a prodigy? Is it something in the brain? Is it some kind of divine gift?
We both agreed that it has to be a combination of an ultra supportive parent and the kid having whatever it is that makes someone naturally gifted at something (see Mozart). I used to teach very young kids classical guitar at a school in Austin, Texas. These kids ranged from 3-16 - but most were in the 6-9 year range. The lessons were taught in classroom style - usually 3-4 kids per class. A few times, I did have one kid in the class rocket ahead of the others. I always wondered what it was inside him or her that allowed them to just “get it”, while the other kids struggled.
Anyway - an interesting question I’m not even going to try to answer. Here are a few of the videos of the 4 year old drummer. The first is him playing Chop Suey by System of a Down, the second playing with a live band - he’s 4!!!!!!!!
(edit - they have embedding disabled - BOOO - I’ll post the links)
I just received a recording of one of my John Dowland arrangements, and I thought I would share it because it’s really cool! This arrangement of In Darkness Let Me Dwell, a song, or aire for lute and voice was done for oboe, violin, viola and piano. The performers are David Weiss, oboe - Izabela Spiewak, violin - Xi Yang, viola - Alpha Walker, piano.
AUDIO: In Darkness Let Me Dwell
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The second arrangement is one I did back in 1998 for myself and some friends while I was at the University of Texas. This arrangement of the aire Come, Heavy Sleep was done for soprano saxophone, classical guitar, electric guitar, vibraphone and bass. The performers are Valerie Vidal, soprano saxophone - Anthony Lanman, classical guitar - Bryan Clark, electric guitar - Todd Meehan, vibraphone - Henry Lugo, bass.
AUDIO: Come, Heavy Sleep
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I have recently become involved in a great new project - the Symphony of a Million. I’ll copy the official release info below:
I am extremely excited and optimistic about our new project, the “Symphony of a Million.” The potential for commissioning new works by terrific composers, involving fantastic performers and ensembles to premier these works, and best of all, to involve all of us in the creative process for each of the works, is unique.
Our goal is simple. To sell 1 million notes. Each note will be used in new works that we will commission along our way toward 1 million total notes. So far participating composers include Anthony Lanman, Alex Shapiro, and me, Dave Schwartz. Musicians we will be working with include pianist David Phillips, and saxophonist Dr. Noah Getz. But the list is growing.
The “Symphony of a Million” is an interactive process:
* Buy a note for $1 here: http://www.musicacademyonline.com/shop/home.php?cat=111
* Each note becomes part of a piece of music composed by award winning composers. Throughout the process we will be commissioning composers to write new works of varying lengths using the notes that you purchase.
* A special “Symphony of a Million” concert, sponsored by Music Academy Online and featuring world-class ensembles, will premier all of the works created using the notes you buy. The concert will be held May 18, 2011, the 100th anniversary of the death of Gustav Mahler, the man who composed the “Symphony of a Thousand.”
* Buy as many notes as you wish. Dedicate the notes to someone special. Help to shape entire sections of new music with the notes you select! Your name (and theirs) will forever be part of the final scores.
Our goal is 1 MILLION NOTES.
As Gustav Mahler famously said, “A symphony must be like the world. It must contain everything.”
Be a part of this musical world. Help create something that will last for generations.
$1 is less than the price of a cup of coffee. It is less than the cost of a burger at McDonald’s. And yet, each note is worth vastly more than 100 pennies.
The “Symphony of a Million.”
Join the movement. Help us create new music with the purchase of a note. Help us spread the word and create something new and unique.
Don’t hesitate to contact me for more information and to get involved.
Warm wishes,
Dave Schwartz, Ph.D.
