(Mario Sarto) If you already know the classical repertoire, none of these are hidden. If you hate classical music, “You’re in the wrong place my friend, you better leave.” (B. Dylan, a classicist of another sort.) But if you’ve heard some classical stuff and like it –maybe Beethoven’s 9th , or the 5th, the Brandenburg…
Joni’s Blue
I’ve heard it said that it’s easier to learn from art that’s less than great. The same is true of criticism. It’s easy to describe the machinery in flawed works. Works of genius are tougher – the very things that make them great are those leaps beyond what’s been done before, beyond what follows the formulas…
Interview with Producer of new Chicago Album
John Van Eps, longtime composer for the Manchester Music Library has been working on a new project for the band Chicago. You can here some of his music here. Luminous Muse – John, Tell me how you got involved with this project. John Van Eps – The band Maroon Five had done Latin versions of…
My Affair With Ms. Ambien
My Affair with Ms. Ambien Posted by John Manchester on September 1, 2010 at 3:00pm View Blog SEPTEMBER 1, 2010 2:25PM EDITOR’S PICK RATE: 44 Flag “I started out on Burgundy, but soon hit the harder stuff” –B. Dylan, Just Like Tom Thumb Blues Johannessen – Femme Fatale We met in the dark days after my father’s…
Song of the Century
What’s the greatest song of the 20th century? Rolling Stone says it’s “Like a Rolling Stone.” Many days I’m inclined to agree. But it depends on the day, on my mood. When I’m down and want commiseration it’s “A Case of You.” When I’m up it’s “Chelsea Morning.” And “Let’s not forget the motor city!”…
Practice Makes….More Practice
FLOW I’ve long been fascinated by the mystery of creativity. I witnessed the home births of my sons, the uncanny, inexplicable, OK, miraculous fact of holding against your chest a being that a half hour ago was invisible, silent, sightless, unbreathing. Something you helped make, that’s part of you, yet also completely separate. The ultimate magician’s…
Nothing’s Good Enough
Nothing’s Good Enough Posted by John Manchester on August 11, 2010 at 3:00pm View Blog EDITOR’S PICK AUGUST 11, 2010 7:02AM RATE: 24 Flag I quit. I give up. Nothing’s good enough for anybody else it seems. -Edie Brickell, “Circle of Friends.” Everyday just as I was getting to work composing my boss came in and started…
Dusty Springfield
The oldest stained glass windows of Chartres Cathedral, made in the 12th century, glow with panes of a deep special blue. It’s a color whose formula no artist or scientist has been able to recreate…
Music Maker
Music Maker We are the music makers, And we are the dreamers of dreams – O’Shaughnessy, Elgar When I was young I burned with desire to make things with my hands. I wanted my father to teach me to hammer and saw but he showed me his big hands and said, “All I can do…
Unfashionable Music – The Genius Of Burt Bacharach
It’s hard in the heat of any given moment to tell flash-in-the-pan hits from songs that will last. But from the distance of almost fifty years it’s safe to ask: who were the great songwriters of the 60’s? Dylan, Lennon/McCartney, Marvin Gaye and all the Motown guys, Joni Mitchell. And Burt Bacharach, who may be…
Luminous Muse
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