Tag Music

Symbiotic Suffocation

Symbiotic Suffocation: Many people have suffocating relationships. When they extricate themselves from these, many fall into the hands of dubious Consultants and Psychiatrists – ‘out of the frying pan, into the fire.’ *** David Russell is a resident of the UK. He writes poetry, literary criticism, speculative fiction, and romance. His poetry includes the collection Prickling Counterpoints (1998); various poems published in online International Times; and the eco-poetry collection An Ever River, published by

Continue reading…

A Full-Tilt Tribute to the 1896 Harmonica

A harmonica? The thing’s only four inches long! All kinds of notes are missing! Harp players have to show up with a briefcase full of different keys, just to play! They’re so tinny and shrill! So why would a serious musician ever choose the harmonica to play music on? Admittedly, this is good question. But a large one. American harmonica has a long and venerable tradition. For now, this means

Continue reading…

The Little Giant of Blue-Eyed Soul

I saw the danger, yet I walked Along the enchanted way. . . . “On Raglan Road” More than three months now and I just can’t get the music of Van Morrison out of my heart and feet. After five full decades his voice, his songs, his high-art approach to backstreet blue ballads and stonegood rocking continues to astonish and humble and anchor. When I was young, I heard his

Continue reading…

The High Art of Vocal Interpretation

It started out with Bob Dylan, I think, the grand concept of the sensitive and confessional singer/songwriter. And he was very good at it, as were Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, Randy Newman, Phil Ochs, even Carole King. Some of these folks were VERY good singers and others made do with the voices they had. But it became the mark of “authentic” to write your own songs and sing only those songs.

Continue reading…

Ten Reasons to Support Live Local Music

Many studies have shown how music makes people smarter, but did you know that supporting live local music has many more benefits than just increasing your brain power? Colorado Springs has a thriving music scene, and many burgeoning as well as seasoned musicians love getting out there to show off their talents in front of a live audience. Here are ten reasons to get out there and see them: It

Continue reading…

The Shostakovich Fifth: Revealing the USSR

When Gary Nicholson, conductor of the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony, first announced what our major project would be for the second semester, I admit that I wasn’t overly thrilled with playing the Shostakovich Fifth Symphony. At the time, I viewed the composer as one who drifted in limbo between the romantic era of classical music. This has long been my favorite genre, and I detested the contemporary age for its

Continue reading…

  • 1 2 … 5