I have to say, my ears are still ringing with the sounds of Christmas music and I am not so sure I want to give that up just yet. Yep, I am one of the few that love Jingle Bells! Another thing I really love is the new year. Clean slate and all that. It is kind refreshing and like a kid looking forward to what is yet to come. 

Yesterday, I was in my music library looking through music and thinking, "Oh, that would be fun to play. No! Look at this one!" Or, "What was I thinking when I bought this?!" Luckily, there weren't many tunes like that. I found a lot of gems and I am hoping you will like them, too!

I'll bring a smattering of selections in a variety of styles that will range from the Renaissance to the 20th century.  We will start with some easier four part setting of Suzanne un jour and Fors Seulement, both huge hits during the renaissance and put to music by such composers Ockeghem, des Prez, Pipelare, Verbonnet, Obrecht, Pirson, Brumel and Agricola. And that's just to name a few!
 
If you want music ahead of time, please let me know ASAP! It is going to be a great year and I am excited to share it playing music with all of you!

See you all come:

Friday, January 8, 7 p.m., Dining Room in the basement! Bring a stand light if you need more light!

Play on!

Laura Kuhlman

shawm1550@gmail.com

I like to be exposed to new ideas, new recordings, new ensembles, new shoes...really just about  anything new fascinates me. I thought I would share just a couple new to me items.

While driving home from a ROO rehearsal, Susan Campbell and I started talking about "wrong notes" and how they can sometimes derail a practice session, a rehearsal and dreadfully, a performance. Some people are so terrified by the prospect of making a mistake that they actually give up playing music all together! How dreadful! Now, personally, I could never give up music but I am plagued by self doubt and beating myself up for mistakes.

Susan introduced me to a book that leads us down the path of musical training and learning to unburdening ourselves of constant self-criticism. The book, The Perfect Wrong Note by William Westney explores traditional teaching and learning practices that have taken away the free spirit and magic we knew as early learners. Now, this is not to say that we should never strive for artistry, however, we are human after all. There are some wonderful practice room techniques that I am going to try myself and with students. The book is available on Amazon and you can get it used for under $10. Or you could probably get it at Powell's and even that building called a Library!

Just this past week, I had a superb experience playing with the Oregon Renaissance Band. Playing with me for the first time was Portland's own Hideki Yamaya on lute, guitar, and tiorbino. What an absolute treat for me and the audience. I was so enamoured with his playing, I bought one of his four CDs on sale at the concert. I chose, Ludovico Roncalli: Works for Baroque Guitar. The CD is packed full of enchanting Italian works for baroque guitar by this relatively unknown composer. Hideki brings to life these works, one after the other (all 46 tracks!), with thoughtful artistry. The liner notes are well written and also full of carefully researched historical information by Hideki, which is another reason I love to buy CDs rather than download. Roncalli is a wonderful CD to have playing while doing most anything. I look forward to purchasing more CDs from another Portland gem! Visit his website so you can get a copy for yourself!

What is your something new? Do you have a CD, a book, a piece of music you have discovered? Write a short review and I will print it here in the PRS newsletter. Next month, I will review some music I found in my library while trying desperately to get the piles off the floor! I know you know what I am talking about! ;)

 

Sheet music for sale, never published before :  Baroque recorder music by Babell, Carissimi, Corelli (attrib.), Fede, Finch, Fiocco, Paisible, Rosier, Schickhardt, Steffani, Torri, and Vinci.  Edited and published by PRS member David Lasocki , recipient of the American Recorder Society's Distinguished Achievement Award.  Also books on recorder history.  Go to www.instantharmony.net.

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