Some thoughts on “thoughts and prayers”

Jabberers I RISE out of my depths with my language. You rise out of your depths with your language. Two tongues from the depths, Alike only as a yellow cat and a green parrot are alike, Fling their staccato tantalizations Into a wildcat jabber Over a gossamer web of...
Do you get how to Carnegie Hall?

Do you get how to Carnegie Hall?

At the beginning of March, I had the chance to play at Carnegie Hall for the first time. I have had music that I’ve written performed there before, but I’ve never been there when it happened. I’ve also never been playing on the concert. The old saw...
Bach, Beauty, and a new Rilke translation

Bach, Beauty, and a new Rilke translation

On Tuesday’s in Holy Week, I usually present a half-hour program of music. This year, it’s Bach’s Partita No. 2 on the harpsichord. I wrote the following essay for the program. It includes a new translation I made of Rilke’s “Archaic...
Sonata for Flute and Piano

Sonata for Flute and Piano

I was back in Lincoln for a concert a while back, and I wondered over to the music building. I ducked my head into John Bailey’s office to say hello. John is a brilliant flutist and scholar and someone I’ve always admired. I first met him when I was a...