What I’m Listening to This Month
Easter Morning Music Blog
I have had the privilege to make a lot of music on Easter Sundays during the past 25 years as a part-time church musician and to lead dedicated and hard-working choral and instrumental ensembles for those more festive holiday services. During the past few years, I’ve put more time into preparing original music or arrangements […]
Read MoreWhat I’m Listening To This Month (December): Jerry Leake’s Latest Album
A Review of Jerry Leake’s latest album, Crafty Hands (2016) Stan Pelkey December 13, 2016 Boston-based world-rock-fusion percussionist Jerry Leake is a special kind of musician. He deftly moves in and through numerous traditions from around the world – with deep respect and gratitude – yet also comfortably resides in contemporary styles and forms. But […]
Read MoreMusical Musings
One of the best part of my new job at the College of Music at Florida State University is getting to sit in on some amazing master classes and guest presentations by leading figures in the world of classical music. Here are some of the ideas that I have distilled from a number of master classes […]
Read MoreDecember 2015 Music: It’s Beginning to Sound a Lot Like Christmas
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Ok, so it’s really not… at least not for this boy from the North who is now living in the South. But to be honest, I really do not miss the snow, and I am acclimating to the vision of Christmas lights coexisting with palm trees. I […]
Read MoreThinking About Star Wars Music
I only occasionally read “top 10” type posts on Facebook, but I could not resist writing a little along that line tonight. I drove to Sarasota today from Tallahassee. It’s about a 5-hour drive south (for all of you readers who live outside of Florida)—barring traffic jams around Tampa! I was asked to attend a […]
Read MoreNovember 2015 Recordings
This month finds me revisting recordings of Shostakovich symphonies as well as exploring recordings of his piano concertos. I am also listening again to several recordings of music by William Schuman.
Read MoreOctober 2015 Recordings
Here are a few of the things I am listening to repeatedly this month: Elmer Bernstein’s score for the film The Magnificent Seven. Bernard Herrmann’s score for the film The 7th Voyage of Sinbad. William Walton’s Piano Quartet and String Quartet. Ralph Vaughan Williams’s Symphony No. 8.
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