Tag Archives: music

ELEGANT PRIMITIVISM or ELEGIAC ENERGY – On the Conclusion of the Public Vote in the Carl Orff Competition

Posted on May 1, 2018 by

The public voting phase of the Carl Orff Competition concluded yesterday.  Now I guess the public ratings of the 115 entries are being weighted and tabulated to determine five finalists.  Five more finalists will be chosen by a select jury.  … Continue reading →

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HAPPY SONGS FOR DARK TIMES #1 – A Grand Hotel Extravaganza

Posted on April 8, 2018 by

Sometimes the right slice of music can be a sure fire happy picker upper. These are dark, soul depressing, body wearying times we live in.  More than once I have been hearing people talk about how they feel sick in … Continue reading →

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NIGHT and SNOW in CENTRAL PARK

Posted on December 16, 2017 by

  Secret Snow Song #1 (Can’t guess the song titles and artists?  They can be found alphabetically tagged at the bottom of post, which should help.)        Secret Night Song #1       Secret Night Song #2 … Continue reading →

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THE COW BELL CANTATA – and a Splatterrific Intermezzo

Posted on September 13, 2017 by

Wild Emperors, Coxcombs and Horny Mountains in Tirol Plus Heidi-centric Encores!   COW BELL CANTATA – CANTATA DA CAMPANA MUCCA registrato da maestro Daniello Ashkenasi 1. Movimento – Allegro con Forte Subito   Encountered some musical cows on the slopes … Continue reading →

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SECRET GARDEN SONGS or The View From My Lawn Chair

Posted on August 31, 2017 by

Secret Garden Song #1 The other day I was lying in my lawn chair under the Japanese maple tree in my little back yard in Brooklyn and I got intrigued by the variety of colors and shapes and shades catching … Continue reading →

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WATER LILIES (Pics and Tunes)

Posted on August 8, 2017 by

Testing out the new camera at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Lily #1 (for details on the “Lily” songs, check on the “tags” at the bottom of the post) Lily #2

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New Categories for Movies, Theater and LGBTQ Themed Articles

Posted on January 15, 2017 by

Three new categories have been added to the Notes from a Composer archives:   Cinema Scope – For the love of movies, and not just the musicals   Live! On Stage – Live performances / a life in the theater … Continue reading →

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The 23rd Evocation for Viola and Piano on the Occasion of Edward’s 57th Birthday.

Posted on July 12, 2016 by

  Today that handsome fellow pictured above, who also just happens to be my sainted husband, Edward Elder, turns 57.  And, as has become tradition in our 23 years plus together, one of the birthday presents he receives from me … Continue reading →

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NfaC Repost and Update – Mister Danny and His Most Sung Song

Posted on May 5, 2016 by

Today I repost one of my first and still most popular “teaching artist” posts, featuring the Pre-K standard “We’re Singing” (well, standard in my Pre-K curriculum).  This year’s Pre-K classes at the Children’s School have taken to the tune with … Continue reading →

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NfaC Repost: THE DAY I BECAME A COMPOSER

Posted on April 2, 2016 by

I have not yet written much about my parents on this blog so far, but this piece from last June includes one of my favorite anecdotes about my father: “My parents were always supportive of all my creative endeavors, but … Continue reading →

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ORFEO – Richard Powers composes beautiful music with his words

Posted on September 12, 2015 by

I just finished reading Orfeo by Richard Powers.  I have never before read literature that so beautifully and evocatively captures music, describing actual works of music, conjuring imaginary works, evoking the process of composing, with such detailed brilliance and clarity … Continue reading →

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ANTHONY TOMMASINI RATTLES ME – On the Importance of Music in a Musical

Posted on August 30, 2015 by

Today the New York Times published an excellent dialog between its classical music critic and avowed musical theater enthusiast Anthony Tommasini and its pop music critic Joe Caramanica about the musical Hamilton. The exchange included this from Tommasini, which has … Continue reading →

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EVOCATION I – Happy Birthday, Ed, Now Pull Out Your Viola!

Posted on July 12, 2015 by

Today is my husband Edward Elder’s birthday.  He is the mustachioed fellow in the picture above.  One of my birthday gifts for him is a new viola/piano duet.  He plays the viola, I play the piano.  It has become a … Continue reading →

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FIRST GRADE OPERA #1: Astronaut Alice and the Moon Aliens

Posted on April 25, 2015 by

ALICE: I told Lollipop I would never ever forget him or leave him and now he is gone.  I  can’t find him. DIGGER: Alice, we will find him together, just like we found the moon rocks. Don’t give up, we … Continue reading →

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Mister Danny and His Most Sung Song

Posted on April 18, 2015 by

I am a teaching artist. Which means that I freelance as a visiting music and drama teacher to conduct arts education projects in the classroom for limited time periods, usually 8-12 weeks, in schools all across the New York metropolitan … Continue reading →

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THE FIRST “NOTES FROM A COMPOSER“ BLOG POST … Or Why am I doing this, really, why?

Posted on April 11, 2015 by

Why am I starting this blog? Did I really have this great need to share my views on the arts in general, music and theater in particular, and my own experience in creating music theater very particularly? Um, actually no, … Continue reading →

Posted in Beginnings, Cinema Scope, LGBTQ Alphabet Soup, Live! On Stage, The Speakeasy Chronicles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment