The "neo-classical" movement

“…simplification may be a necessity. The “neo-classical” movement had its inception in a reaction against over-complexity; but neo-classicists failed to see that the real necessity is to clarify the materials belonging to this age, not to attempt to return to the use of materials which not only have no specific relation to the present time, but were more perfectly handled by classical masters than is possible today. No renaissance in art has ever been entirely successful.”-

Henry Cowell-(New Musical Resources, 1930)

Check out the interview with purple witch of Culver.

Interesting name, don’t you think. This is a fairly new project based in Los Angeles with two very interesting people, Evan Taylor and Sarah Safaie. They have been putting out about one new single a month. Available on their band camp page

Purple Witch Culver

The interview is here…

New separate page with all collected Banjo Studio podcast episodes

Have you checked out the cool series of interviews I have conducted for Banjostudio.com. A place for epically great guitars and banjos.

The interviews are with some very amazing musicians: players of banjo and guitar and incredible songwriters, grammy winners, people with ideas. They are now collected on this page.

So far the list of posted interviews includes Joe Henry, Mary Gauthier, Valerie June, Adam Levy, Steve Khan, Jens Kruger, Riley Baugus, Alison Brown, Rob McCoury, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Ryan Cavanaugh, Danny Barnes, Adam Levy and Jens Kruger.

If you don’t know who they are and you are interested in a wide variety of music, you will be boosted in to some very fascinating new musical and cultural (are they the same?) areas.

The Page is here…

Interviewed by Jeff Albert for the Scratch my Brain podcast

Jeff Albert runs an intriguing podcast. He also recently ditched Facebook because he is better at being decisive about the losing direction than many. Jeff is a hell of a musician, educator, and music event conspirer. This series is worth listening to. But why not start with me as an induction.

It is different than the ones produced over here.

Here is the episode…

Podcast – “Here’s the thing…” a conversation with Jonathan Freilich

Toru Takemitsu- Confronting Silence

Just finished this book of writings by Takemitsu.  Really worth the read.  I used to post stuff about interesting readings in music.  Maybe it will start up again.  

     "For several years I have been fascinated by traditional Japanese instruments such as the Biwa and Shakahuchi...
     "The sounds of such instruments are produced spontaneously in performance.  They seem to resonate through the performer, then merge with nature to manifest themselves, more as presence than as existence.  In the process of  their creation, theoretical thinking is destroyed.  A single strum of the strings or even one pluck is too complex, too complete in itself to admit any theory.  Between this complex sound–so strong that it can stand alone–and that point of silence preceding it, called ma, there is a metaphysical continuity that defies analysis.  Like itchō in Noh music, this ma and sound do not exist as a technically definable relationship.  It is here that sound and silence confront each other, balancing each other in a relationship beyond any objective measurement.
     "In its complexity and its integrity a single sound can stand alone.  To the sensitive Japanese listener who appreciates this refined sound, the unique idea of ma–the unsounded part of this experience–has at the same time a deep, powerful, and rich resonance that can stand up to the sound.  In short, this ma, this powerful silence, is that which gives life to the sound and removes it from its position of primacy."

Great stuff.  Check it out.  Libraries are a great thing.  So was a lot of Takemitsu's famous music.