It’s 6:20 AM on New Year’s Day. I’ve seen the flurry of “Happy New Year!” texts from family and friends (who made it to midnight, unlike me) and I pause, thinking, “another year, a new year ahead.” I imagine the countless resolutions being made around the world in this moment and though I am pretty positive by nature, I […]
Off The Podium
The Conductor as Yogi: Our Olympic Journey
I love watching the Olympics. Summer or winter, sports I like or those I have little knowledge about—it doesn’t matter, because it is always the human-interest element behind the athlete’s journey that draws me in. The summer Olympics occur when I am not teaching or conducting full time. I am in big picture mode then, […]
The Conductor as Yogi: Know Thyself
“Know Thyself” Ancient Greek maxim The new year traditionally brings resolutions—you know, the same ones we make most years and which, in about two weeks, sort of disappear . . . ? It’s hard to avoid the idea that we “should” be doing something new when the calendar rolls over. And yet, January 1st can […]
Off The Podium: The Boar’s Head Carol
The Boar’s Head in hand bear I,Bedeck’d with bays and rosemary;And I pray you, my masters, be merry,Quot estis in convivio. Caput apri deferoReddens laudes Domino. The Boar’s Head, as I understand,Is the bravest dish in all this land,When thus bedeck’d with a gay garland,Let us servire cantico. Caput apri deferoReddens laudes Domino. Our steward hath provided […]
Off The Podium: In Dulci Jubilo
In dulci jubilo is a famous medieval Christmas carol. It is a macaronic carol (i.e. the text is in a mixture of languages): the original text alternates between German and Latin. The words are attributed to the German mystic (and student of Meister Eckhart) Heinrich Seuse (1295 – 1366), and describes his vision of singing angels dancing with him. […]
Off The Podium: The Blue Bird
Although he is little recognized today, the English composer Sir Charles Villiers Stanford (1852 – 1924) was one of the most prominent musicians in the English-speaking world at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries, and he had considerable influence on the work of many composers and musicians whose work is better known. […]