I like Mark Swed’s writing a lot and find I normally agree with his tastes but I can’t make sense out of his review of the Carl Orff/Jefferson Friedman concert at Hollywood Bowl that we hyped a little last week. I am particularly baffled by this line: As in “Carmina,” there is much to like musically in “Throne,” as long as you hold your nose. The political implications in both scores are troubling. Orff was, if not a Nazi sympathizer, at least a National Socialist opportunist. Okay, but I can’t for the life of me see a parallel in anything
Read moreDaniel Wolf, who hangs around these parts from time to time, has written a terrific piece about our resident tech adviser Jeff Harrington who, in addition to knowing how to do a 301 redirect, is also a composer of some talent. Daniel applauds Jeff for being the first composer to put all of his bets on the web rather than the traditional ways composers try to get their works heard. Daniel also has some nice things to say about Jeff’s work. Check it out. And while we’re praising Jeff, now might be a good time to thank him for all
Read moreJefferson Friedman, one of our favorites among the young turks out there, has a couple of nice gigs coming up next week. On the 13th, 15th and 16th, the Chiara Quartet will be playing his sublime String Quartet No. 2 at Miller Theater, with choreography by Brian Reeder, as part of its New Ballet Choreographers series. And on Thursday night, Leonard Slatkin will lead the LAPhil at the Hollywood Bowl in Friedman’s The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations’ Millennium General Assembly. Something called Carmina Burana fills out the program. The fact that Friedman mentions Sequenza21 rather prominently
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