Category Archives: Beginnings

Entries related to my biography and development as an artist.

Happy Birthday, Ed, Here’s Your New Viola/Piano Duet!

Posted on July 12, 2022 by dannyashkenasi

Ed’s birthday is today, and, as every year of the past 29 years that we’ve been together, I compose a viola/piano duet for him on his birthday. He plays viola, I play piano. Each one of these duets is called … Continue reading →

Posted in Beginnings, Chamber Works, Notes in the News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Thank You from Hair We Share

Posted on July 17, 2021 by dannyashkenasi

Dear Danny, On behalf of the staff and the board of directors of Hair We Share we want to thank you for joining our “Track Your Ponytail” program. It means so much to us and the person who will receive … Continue reading →

Posted in Beginnings, Notes in the News | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

EVOCATION XXVIII – for Ed’s 62nd Birthday

Posted on July 12, 2021 by dannyashkenasi

Today is Ed’s birthday. And like every year since our first together, I will present him with a viola/piano duet I composed. They are all called Evocations. This year it’s Evocation XXVIII. Ed will probably blanche at the double stops, … Continue reading →

Posted in Beginnings, Chamber Works | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

LOOK, MA! NO HAIRS!

Posted on July 9, 2021 by dannyashkenasi

(More about all that to be posted soon … )

Posted in Beginnings, Notes in the News | Tagged | Leave a comment

EASTER KNICK-KNACK HUNT

Posted on April 4, 2021 by dannyashkenasi

A Game of Hide and Seek in Photos What I enjoy most about Easter is the hiding and seeking of treats. I best like hiding and having my loved ones do the seeking. It’s just Ed and me together today, … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts-a-Poppin', Beginnings, Two-fisted Touristing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

CINS CHAT CORNER INTERVIEW

Posted on November 15, 2020 by dannyashkenasi

Friday, November 13th, I recorded an interview with Cindy Mich from Art is Alive, which she has now posted on her Blog Talk Radio webpage and YouTube (see below). We talked for nearly 90 minutes about my short film musical … Continue reading →

Posted in Beginnings, Literary Lyricism, Musicabilia, Notes in the News, Poe Musicabres, The Speakeasy Chronicles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Diana Rigg and the 3rd Happy Song for Dark Times

Posted on September 10, 2020 by dannyashkenasi

I just learned that Diana Rigg passed. Rest in Peace, Diana Rigg. Diana Rigg was probably my first childhood celebrity crush. I likely first loved Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins the way tots love their nannies, but I had my … Continue reading →

Posted in Beginnings, Cinema Scope, Live! On Stage, Melodies Linger On, Notes in the News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

4/25/20

Posted on April 25, 2020 by dannyashkenasi

  Today is Ed and my anniversary. 27 years together.  22 years married. And it’s a Saturday.  Last time our anniversary fell on a Saturday was five years ago.  It won’t happen again for another six years. So of course … Continue reading →

Posted in Beginnings, LGBTQ Alphabet Soup, Notes in the News | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

DROPPING NAMES

Posted on April 12, 2020 by dannyashkenasi

  A Collection of Mini Memoir Memories You may have seen this going around on Facebook or Twitter:  People listing names of celebrities they have met in their life times, but including one name that is a lie.  Then people … Continue reading →

Posted in Beginnings, Cinema Scope, Musicabilia, Notes in the News, The Teaching Artist | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

DREAMS and MEMORIES

Posted on April 3, 2020 by dannyashkenasi

  A Dream Memory for the Grand-Niece   Our niece Linden is homeschooling her children since the shelter-at-home order took hold in her state, just as it has done for millions of families all over the planet. She sent an … Continue reading →

Posted in Beginnings, Literary Lyricism, The Teaching Artist | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Belligerent Homophobe Who Ruined Rocketman For Us

Posted on June 1, 2019 by dannyashkenasi

  The three or four loud sneezes that erupted behind us during the 20 minutes of previews were a warning shot that all would not turn out alright for us during this screening of “Rocketman” in midtown Manhattan. But the … Continue reading →

Posted in Beginnings, Cinema Scope, LGBTQ Alphabet Soup, Notes in the News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Knight Marries the Prince

Posted on May 26, 2019 by dannyashkenasi

  A Kindergarten Original Blesses a Quaker Wedding   Friday morning I heard a wedding song I realized I would have to sing that night at an actual wedding.  Class K-1 at the Brooklyn Children’s School was the third kindergarten … Continue reading →

Posted in Beginnings, LGBTQ Alphabet Soup, The Teaching Artist | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

HAPPY SONGS FOR DARK TIMES #2: Miss Marple, Tatu, and the Chipper Harpsichord

Posted on August 22, 2018 by dannyashkenasi

Theme from Miss Marple – Ron Goodwin and his Orchestra A while back I promised there would be a series of Happy Tunes for Dark Times to highlight what I consider sure fire musical mood boosters. What with ever escalation Twitter … Continue reading →

Posted in Beginnings, Cinema Scope, Melodies Linger On, Notes in the News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

WEDDING MUSIC – 25 Years Together, 20 Years Married

Posted on April 25, 2018 by dannyashkenasi

“So, where did the two of you meet?” we are often asked. “In the back of a Greyhound bus,” we respond by rote, and await the inevitable follow up question. It was exactly 25 years ago, April 25, 1993, on … Continue reading →

Posted in Beginnings, Melodies Linger On | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Notes on Myself

Posted on January 17, 2018 by dannyashkenasi

Sometimes I am asked, in applications for grants or music competitions for example, to write about myself.  It is a certain special torture to have to act as your own greatest champion in writing (or in person), but that is … Continue reading →

Posted in Beginnings, Notes in the News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment