I thought we might talk about what musical goals y’all have for the New Year. I know I have some. Last year, inspired by Jay Batzner, I resolved to send out two scores every month–to competitions, calls, or just musicians with whom I have some sort of connection. I am happy to say I met the goal of 24 scores in November and exceeded it by a few this month. I plan to continue this practice in perpetuity. This year, I have three new resolutions. 1) Write some pieces that are easy to play. My last three pieces–a string quartet,

Standing, left-to-right: Garth Sunderland, Emily Brausa, Thomas Piercy, Samuel Andreyev, Jeremy Podgursky, Alex Kotch, Rodney Lister, Rusty Banks, Samuel Vriezen. Kneeling, left-to-right: Christina Perea, Galen Brown, Miranda Cuckson, Laura Barger, David Salvage. The hall was cold; the music was hot. We hope to share the sounds with you soon.

It was clear: the times, they needed a-changin’.  And they needed not just any change, but change folks could believe in.  And so it fell unto the musicians of the Lost Dog New Music Ensemble to stand astride history and say “Yes.”  Generations from now, it will be to this week that historians point as the moment in which Music Got Much Better.  For them, and us, we thank Laura Barger (piano), Emily Brausa, (‘cello),  Miranda Cuckson (violin), Christine Perea (flute), and Thomas Piercy (clarinet).  They are led by the great Garth Sunderland.

Did you learn anything in music school? Or does the phrase “circle of fifths” mean nothing to you? How does one learn “anything”? Doesn’t one learn “something”? “Something” and “anything” really aren’t the same thing, are they? Could you help me out here? What’s your favorite “bad” piece of music? And briefly justify your crappy taste. Would my favorite “bad” piece of music be “better” or “worse” than my next-favorite “bad” piece on my list? Just trying to get oriented. . . . Your five-composition-long playlist for Schoenberg would contain: Huh. I was not aware “composition” was a unit of measurement.

Y’all know the song. “Down. Town. Galen Brown… Meaner than a–” Galen’s meaner than a… um… he’s meaner than a Boobah. Yes, Galen is meaner than a Boobah.  As you’ll see from his incendiary responses below. Did you learn anything in music school? Or does the phrase “circle of fifths” mean nothing to you? Yes. Actually, the worst music theory teacher I ever had managed to teach me that the only legitimate chord progressions are derived from the circle of fifths, which of course isn’t true. That was in undergrad, though. In conservatory I learned that homework generally doesn’t have

Rusty Banks.  Composer. Did you learn anything in music school?  Or does the phrase “circle of fifths” mean nothing to you? Circle of fifths?  I remember that.  Never cared for how it sounded, but it looked good on a T-shirt.  Kinda like Glam Rock Super-group KISS. What’s your favorite “bad” piece of music?  And briefly justify your crappy taste. Bad Music?  Oooh.  I LOVE bad music.  There are just too many.  I cite three from different parts of my life. As a pre-school age boy my favorite song was Sam the Sham and the Pharaoh’s “Whooly Bully” played at too

We continue with Alex Kotch.  Composer. Did you learn anything in music school?  Or does the phrase “circle of fifths” mean nothing to you? Sure, there’s plenty to learn. Orchestration and taking apart scores are essential, and stuff I sometimes put off if I don’t have an institution to force them on me. But probably the most important thing I’ve learned from school is what we need to change. The status quo needs to be purged. Development, counterpoint, linearity need to be options, not requirements. We’re being given a standardized set of tools, which inevitably produce homogeneity. And pop music needs

The Countdown continues. Samuel Vriezen.  Composer.  From The Netherlands. Did you learn anything in music school? Or does the phrase “circle of fifths” mean nothing to you? Louis Andriessen taught me to use a double barline whenever there is a tempo change. Later, though, I started writing pieces in which performers have gradual tempo changes independently of one another all the time, and I hardly use double barlines anymore. What’s your favorite “bad” piece of music? And briefly justify your crappy taste. Wish I had one! I actually think all of my favorite music is quite good. Or is it

Samuel Andreyev.  Composer.  From Paris.  The photo is copyright Philippe Stirnweiss 2008. Did you learn anything in music school?  Or does the phrase “circle of fifths” mean nothing to you? I learned much at the Paris Conservatoire: beyond the obvious technical competence which everyone must acquire in their own way, I was given the freedom and time to develop my fledgling ideas in the most extraordinarily fruitful and stimulating atmosphere.. What’s your favorite “bad” piece of music? And briefly justify your crappy taste. I consider a lot  of the oboe repertoire I play to be bad music, for instance, Pasculli