WWW.ARTSOPOLIS.COM
Artsopolis is the "Silicon Valley's ultimate guide to arts & culture - theatre, music, dance, art and more." That quote is how the Arts Council of Silicon Valley describes their web-based initiative. I personally believe they do a fantastic job of showcasing what is happening around here. QUADRE is a registered ensemble on the web site. Our page is here.
Check out the web site and all it has to offer.
TEACHING ARTIST JOURNAL
In 2003, Eric Booth, Julliard professor & thespian, began this quarterly periodical. It is a professional journal for Teaching Artists. The field of teaching artists is an emerging one. Simple put a TA is an artist that teaches - someone who bridges the gap between the everyday and the work of art. QUADRE very actively immersed itself in this field while in residence in Selma, AL. In particular, the work done with Civics, Math, and History classes in Selma Middle School stretched the definition for what connections we thought we could make. We essentially started to think and express ourselves outside of the boxes we had built around us during our training. Currently, the journal comes out of Columbia College Chicago. We have received every issue since its launch. If you're interested in reading the latest issue, let me know. I'm happy to send it on or bring it to a meeting/rehearsal. One caveat - just want to get it back.
On a related note, The Montalvo Arts Center (the umbrella organization for Villa Montalvo and their other projects) recently announced that it is accepting competitive applications for their first ever Teaching Artist Fellowship. Lasting from 3-6 months, the 2 accepted teaching artists in residence will work with local schools, universities and the community to increase awareness for the arts, expand creative posibilities in individuals, and encourage a life centered around creativity.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Global Musicians for Peace; Horn Call Review of "Citrus"
GLOBAL MUSICIANS FOR PEACE
By Andrea Shalal-Esa
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Thirty young musicians from 18 countries including Iran, Mexico, Denmark and South Korea are fanning out across the United States this month to perform in the hope of teaching cross-cultural understanding.
To view the entire article, click here.
HORN CALL REVIEW of 'CITRUS'
By John Dressler
What could possibly be new for horn quartet? We've got the American Horn Quartet and the Transatlantic Horn Quartet. Doesn't that just about sum it up? Not on your life! Here are four amazingly talented young hornists with some very hip music for audiences of all ages, not just the musically-trained hornist! These are peppy, jazz-based pieces with some sort of dance element in nearly all of them. As the variety of titles suggests, one will encouter Latin/Spanish rhythms, American idioms, and other contrasts of setting. There are movements of slow tempi with some beautiful cantabile melodies as well. The quartet's blend, intonation, and musical interpretation are excellent. In many spots, they almost sound like one person doing a multi-track recording. There are moments of inspiration, sorrow, silliness, love, virtuosic display, but above all: just plain fun. I wish the group had chosen to open their disc with Wiggins' Fanfare rather than close it since it is the only more "academically-sounding" work and showcases each of the players well. It is idiomatic writing at its finest. It was commissioned in 2000 as "something brilliant" for the opening of QUADRE's concerts - they certainly go it! QUADRE feels passionately about arts education. Their interactive programs for children and adults combine music, choreography, and drama in a wonderfully positive musical experience. Check out this disc for some fresh sounds from this up-and-coming professional quartet.
(Appeared in 'The Horn Call' May 2006 issue. The magazine included musician names and listed the contents of the disc. This periodical is a journal for the International Horn Society. QUADRE has been posting news items and advertisements in the journal since 2001.)
By Andrea Shalal-Esa
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Thirty young musicians from 18 countries including Iran, Mexico, Denmark and South Korea are fanning out across the United States this month to perform in the hope of teaching cross-cultural understanding.
To view the entire article, click here.
HORN CALL REVIEW of 'CITRUS'
By John Dressler
What could possibly be new for horn quartet? We've got the American Horn Quartet and the Transatlantic Horn Quartet. Doesn't that just about sum it up? Not on your life! Here are four amazingly talented young hornists with some very hip music for audiences of all ages, not just the musically-trained hornist! These are peppy, jazz-based pieces with some sort of dance element in nearly all of them. As the variety of titles suggests, one will encouter Latin/Spanish rhythms, American idioms, and other contrasts of setting. There are movements of slow tempi with some beautiful cantabile melodies as well. The quartet's blend, intonation, and musical interpretation are excellent. In many spots, they almost sound like one person doing a multi-track recording. There are moments of inspiration, sorrow, silliness, love, virtuosic display, but above all: just plain fun. I wish the group had chosen to open their disc with Wiggins' Fanfare rather than close it since it is the only more "academically-sounding" work and showcases each of the players well. It is idiomatic writing at its finest. It was commissioned in 2000 as "something brilliant" for the opening of QUADRE's concerts - they certainly go it! QUADRE feels passionately about arts education. Their interactive programs for children and adults combine music, choreography, and drama in a wonderfully positive musical experience. Check out this disc for some fresh sounds from this up-and-coming professional quartet.
(Appeared in 'The Horn Call' May 2006 issue. The magazine included musician names and listed the contents of the disc. This periodical is a journal for the International Horn Society. QUADRE has been posting news items and advertisements in the journal since 2001.)
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Northwest on Tour; Define: Self-Produced Concerts & Curating Presenters
NORTHWEST ON TOUR
Congratulations to us! QUADRE has been accepted into Northwest on Tour - the acclaimed juried roster book of touring and performing artists, that Arts Northwest produces bi-annually. NW on Tour is used extensively by presenters west coast wide. Publication is targeted for summer 2006. In addition to attending booking conferences & advertising in trade magazines like the Horn Call, being part of Northwest on Tour is another great way to get our name out there to presenters.
DEFINE: SELF-PRODUCED CONCERTS & CURATING PRESENTERS
Both of the above terms are bandied about a lot in our industry. And they can be confusing because sometimes they are used together. Self-produced concerts refers to any event that an organization puts on themselves. In the case of a performing music group like QUADRE, the events that we have done at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts count as self-produced concerts since we rent the hall, raise the grant money to help pay for it, advertise the event to sell tickets, and produce the artistic product. Curating presenters are people hired by a university, community or concert hall itself, to create a season for a venue. Often they have a budget - that they help raise - to pay to bring in particular artists for their season. A curating presenter helps produce concerts for a venue. From QUADRE's perspective, we want to get as many curating presenters to notice us and hire aka 'book' us on their season.
Simply put, QUADRE is always performing a form of self-produced concerts. When we produce them, we do all the work. When we get a curating presenter to produce them, they do most of the work.
Congratulations to us! QUADRE has been accepted into Northwest on Tour - the acclaimed juried roster book of touring and performing artists, that Arts Northwest produces bi-annually. NW on Tour is used extensively by presenters west coast wide. Publication is targeted for summer 2006. In addition to attending booking conferences & advertising in trade magazines like the Horn Call, being part of Northwest on Tour is another great way to get our name out there to presenters.
DEFINE: SELF-PRODUCED CONCERTS & CURATING PRESENTERS
Both of the above terms are bandied about a lot in our industry. And they can be confusing because sometimes they are used together. Self-produced concerts refers to any event that an organization puts on themselves. In the case of a performing music group like QUADRE, the events that we have done at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts count as self-produced concerts since we rent the hall, raise the grant money to help pay for it, advertise the event to sell tickets, and produce the artistic product. Curating presenters are people hired by a university, community or concert hall itself, to create a season for a venue. Often they have a budget - that they help raise - to pay to bring in particular artists for their season. A curating presenter helps produce concerts for a venue. From QUADRE's perspective, we want to get as many curating presenters to notice us and hire aka 'book' us on their season.
Simply put, QUADRE is always performing a form of self-produced concerts. When we produce them, we do all the work. When we get a curating presenter to produce them, they do most of the work.
Tuesday, May 9, 2006
New Element Found; CA Arts Council Funding
NEW ELEMENT FOUND
Investigators at a major research institution recently discovered the heaviest element known to science and have tentatively named it 'Administratium'. Administratium has no protons or electrons, thus having an atomic number of 0. It has, however, 1 neutron, 125 assistant neutrons, 75 vice neutrons and 111 assistant vice neutrons giving it an atomic mass of 312. These 312 particles are held together by a force/farce that involves the continuous exchange of meson-like particles called morons. They are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons. Since it has no electrons, Administratium is inert. However, it can be detected chemically, as it impedes every reaction it comes in contact with. According to the discoverers, a minute amount of Administratium caused one reaction to take over four days to complete when it would have normally occured in less than a second.
CALIFORNIA ARTS COUNCIL FUNDING
Received from the California Lawyers for the Arts on April 26
Knowing about everyone's concern for the future vitality of California in the wake of the California Arts Council's funding demise, we are writing to ask you to take immediate action to help at this significant juncture.
It's time to contact members of the California Assembly to encourage them to support restoration of funding for the California Arts Council. The Board of California Lawyers for the Arts has passed a resolution calling for funding the Council at the level of at least $32 million, which was the General Fund appropriate for the CAC in 2000-01, and the Community Services Committee of the League of California Cities has recommended that the League's board take a position calling for full restoration of funding. The California Sheriffs Association is also in support.
At full tilt, the non-profit arts community has generated as much as $5.4 billion annually in economic impact for the State, while delivering programs which prevent juvenile delinquency, bridge ethnic differences and spark innovation in all sectors. The arts also celebrate diversity, promote lifelong learning, promote cultural tourism, revitalize our cities, and preserve historical legacies.
New York spends $2.20 per person for the arts. Why can't California do better than three cents per person from the State's General Fund?
Please ask your elected representatives in the Assembly to support restoration of California State Arts Council funding.
You can get a complete list of Assembly members' profiles and contact information here.
Feel free to pass this on to your e-networks and others. Please let us know about your results by e-mail to advocacy@calawyersforthearts.org or call California Lawyers for the Arts at (415) 775-7200 x 333. Thanks for your help,
Alma Robinson, Executive Director
Investigators at a major research institution recently discovered the heaviest element known to science and have tentatively named it 'Administratium'. Administratium has no protons or electrons, thus having an atomic number of 0. It has, however, 1 neutron, 125 assistant neutrons, 75 vice neutrons and 111 assistant vice neutrons giving it an atomic mass of 312. These 312 particles are held together by a force/farce that involves the continuous exchange of meson-like particles called morons. They are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons. Since it has no electrons, Administratium is inert. However, it can be detected chemically, as it impedes every reaction it comes in contact with. According to the discoverers, a minute amount of Administratium caused one reaction to take over four days to complete when it would have normally occured in less than a second.
CALIFORNIA ARTS COUNCIL FUNDING
Received from the California Lawyers for the Arts on April 26
Knowing about everyone's concern for the future vitality of California in the wake of the California Arts Council's funding demise, we are writing to ask you to take immediate action to help at this significant juncture.
It's time to contact members of the California Assembly to encourage them to support restoration of funding for the California Arts Council. The Board of California Lawyers for the Arts has passed a resolution calling for funding the Council at the level of at least $32 million, which was the General Fund appropriate for the CAC in 2000-01, and the Community Services Committee of the League of California Cities has recommended that the League's board take a position calling for full restoration of funding. The California Sheriffs Association is also in support.
At full tilt, the non-profit arts community has generated as much as $5.4 billion annually in economic impact for the State, while delivering programs which prevent juvenile delinquency, bridge ethnic differences and spark innovation in all sectors. The arts also celebrate diversity, promote lifelong learning, promote cultural tourism, revitalize our cities, and preserve historical legacies.
New York spends $2.20 per person for the arts. Why can't California do better than three cents per person from the State's General Fund?
Please ask your elected representatives in the Assembly to support restoration of California State Arts Council funding.
You can get a complete list of Assembly members' profiles and contact information here.
Feel free to pass this on to your e-networks and others. Please let us know about your results by e-mail to advocacy@calawyersforthearts.org or call California Lawyers for the Arts at (415) 775-7200 x 333. Thanks for your help,
Alma Robinson, Executive Director
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Horn Range; Board Perks
A HORNS RANGE
An old joke - A composer asks a music teacher what the range of the horn is. The music teacher replies, About 60 feet if you have a good arm. Seriously, the horn has a four octave range and then some. Some professionals even have a five octave range. That is 61 notes!! This is one of the reasons the horn quartet genre works so well. We are capable of playing in the range of a soprano and a bass.
BOARD PERKS
The primary duty of a board of directors is to maintain fiduciary responsibility for the organization. Being focused on long term goals for the most part (while staff focus on short term duties), board members are keenly aware and in tune with the resources of an organization. They help prevent an organization from getting in trouble financially and create a plan for long-term growth and security. The next board meeting on May 11 in Foster City will focus on next years budget with this in mind.
An old joke - A composer asks a music teacher what the range of the horn is. The music teacher replies, About 60 feet if you have a good arm. Seriously, the horn has a four octave range and then some. Some professionals even have a five octave range. That is 61 notes!! This is one of the reasons the horn quartet genre works so well. We are capable of playing in the range of a soprano and a bass.
BOARD PERKS
The primary duty of a board of directors is to maintain fiduciary responsibility for the organization. Being focused on long term goals for the most part (while staff focus on short term duties), board members are keenly aware and in tune with the resources of an organization. They help prevent an organization from getting in trouble financially and create a plan for long-term growth and security. The next board meeting on May 11 in Foster City will focus on next years budget with this in mind.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Music Publishing; Quotes About Citrus
MUSIC PUBLISHING
Every piece on Citrus is going to be published by Emerson Horn Editions based in Colorado over the next two years. To get a work published you have to proofread the heck out of it. Not only are you looking for spelling mistakes, but every single dot, line, and letter have to be in the right place. Often the music that QUADRE plays in performance is readable by us, but it is not in state where it can be published yet. We often make all sort of corrections and because we know or are the composer, there is always someone listening for mistakes. Once you get something published, you have to leave that decision up to whomever purchases your music.
QUOTES ABOUT CITRUS
I like your (Nathan's) music. QUADRE sounds fabulous. The group is just really, really great.
Thomas Bacon, SUMMIT BRASS, Professional Hornist - Yamaha Artist
Thank you so much for the copy of your newest CD, Citrus. It is an excellent disc, and clearly shows how much your ensemble has grown over the past decade. I was so impressed by the playing throughout the group, and I think your (Daniel's) composition was great, too.
Michael Thornton, COLORADO SYMPHONY, Principal Horn
I just wanted to write to tell you that I've been listening to the QUADRE CD with great pleasure. What a beautiful program, and fantastic playing. Well-recorded, too. I'm really impressed, and I'm very pleased that ACF could play a small part in bringing this to the world.
Tod Brody, AMERICAN COMPOSERS FORUM, Flute Player
Your CD is great. The level of virtuosity caught me offguard. You guys are playing your asses off. Holy cow. Nice writing too Daniel!! I heard echoes of all kinds of things I like, plus a lot that
I didn't expect in a score for four horns. Nimble is right.
Todd Sickafoose, TODD SICKAFOOSE GROUP, Jazz Composer & Bass Player
Every piece on Citrus is going to be published by Emerson Horn Editions based in Colorado over the next two years. To get a work published you have to proofread the heck out of it. Not only are you looking for spelling mistakes, but every single dot, line, and letter have to be in the right place. Often the music that QUADRE plays in performance is readable by us, but it is not in state where it can be published yet. We often make all sort of corrections and because we know or are the composer, there is always someone listening for mistakes. Once you get something published, you have to leave that decision up to whomever purchases your music.
QUOTES ABOUT CITRUS
I like your (Nathan's) music. QUADRE sounds fabulous. The group is just really, really great.
Thomas Bacon, SUMMIT BRASS, Professional Hornist - Yamaha Artist
Thank you so much for the copy of your newest CD, Citrus. It is an excellent disc, and clearly shows how much your ensemble has grown over the past decade. I was so impressed by the playing throughout the group, and I think your (Daniel's) composition was great, too.
Michael Thornton, COLORADO SYMPHONY, Principal Horn
I just wanted to write to tell you that I've been listening to the QUADRE CD with great pleasure. What a beautiful program, and fantastic playing. Well-recorded, too. I'm really impressed, and I'm very pleased that ACF could play a small part in bringing this to the world.
Tod Brody, AMERICAN COMPOSERS FORUM, Flute Player
Your CD is great. The level of virtuosity caught me offguard. You guys are playing your asses off. Holy cow. Nice writing too Daniel!! I heard echoes of all kinds of things I like, plus a lot that
I didn't expect in a score for four horns. Nimble is right.
Todd Sickafoose, TODD SICKAFOOSE GROUP, Jazz Composer & Bass Player
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Attending Symphony Concerts; Showcases
GOING TO A SYMPHONY CONCERT
From: John Steinmetz (bassoon player in LA; past mentor for QUADRE)
[mailto:steinmetz.mail@gmail.com]
A wonderful essay by Alex Shapiro (composer in Los Angeles) about bringing newcomers to symphony concerts. Scroll down after hitting the link.
SHOWCASES
Did you know that QUADRE applies for four showcases every year. It is a competitive process to see whether you can get a chance to perform at a booking conference. If you're one of the lucky ones selected, you still have to pay for the privilege. It usually costs between $500-650. You also have to have a booth at the conference - another $500-650. Not to mention the cost for flying all the artists to the conference as well as paying for hotel, ground transportation, and food. The opportunity to perform for presenters can be great, but you better have some disposable income ready.
From: John Steinmetz (bassoon player in LA; past mentor for QUADRE)
[mailto:steinmetz.mail@gmail.com]
A wonderful essay by Alex Shapiro (composer in Los Angeles) about bringing newcomers to symphony concerts. Scroll down after hitting the link.
SHOWCASES
Did you know that QUADRE applies for four showcases every year. It is a competitive process to see whether you can get a chance to perform at a booking conference. If you're one of the lucky ones selected, you still have to pay for the privilege. It usually costs between $500-650. You also have to have a booth at the conference - another $500-650. Not to mention the cost for flying all the artists to the conference as well as paying for hotel, ground transportation, and food. The opportunity to perform for presenters can be great, but you better have some disposable income ready.
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