It's always fun for us to get feedback from our patrons, like you. Here are a few thoughts shared during a recent informal poll, plus my own "can't wait" concert:"The Sunday night program will embody the essence of Ojai's legacy with works by Boulez, Ligeti, and Messiaen along side works by George Benjamin and Knussen. Ending with the Messiaen will be another transcendent experience." -- Jeff Haydon
"I'm very fond of Vingt Regards so I am looking forward to that concert and Benjamin's West Coast premiere of Into the Little Hill. Plus, having a bit of Ojai for a few days is a perk!" -- Cheryl Lew
"I've had many 'a-ha' experiences in Ojai that shook me to the core, and this year I expect the same with Haddad's work, Zappa, and Benjamin's music." -- Hal Myers
TELL US WHAT YOU ARE EXCITED TO SEE AT OJAI 2010! ADD YOUR COMMENTS TO THIS POST.
Plus, view a video taken at our Festival Preview in 2009 (Thanks to Bruno and Lena!)
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I am so happy and excited to be returning to Ojai! It is, indeed, a very special place. I'll never forget my debut there with the Festival Orchestra in 2005, nor will I ever forget the debut there of my ensemble, SIGNAL, in 2008. Not only am I looking forward to returning to Ojai, but I always welcome the opportunity to work with the Ensemble Modern. We go back a long way (I started working with them in 1997) and I have always felt a close connection with them. On top of all those wonderful things is the repertoire I'm conducting, which I also enjoy very much: Varese and Zappa. The music of Varese was one of the first experiences I had of hearing contemporary music when I was just a teenager (it was Boulez's recording with the New York Philharmonic of Arcana, Ameriques, and Ionisation). Although I had listened to many Stravinsky and Bartok works, Varese's music seemed to really look into the future in a way that made it seem more "contemporary" and "modern". I was completely intrigued and became and immediate fan!
I first heard Zappa's music as a Freshman in college. The percussion ensemble had performed Zappa's The Black Page #1 the previous year and were playing a videotape (it was 1980) of the performance. Even though I grew up listening to a lot of rock music in the late '60s and early '70s, I hadn't heard a note of Zappa. So, this too was a great discovery. Soon after that, Boulez's recording of Zappa's works for ensemble was released, so naturally I immediately bought that and added Zappa to my list of favorites!
-- Brad Lubman
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( 3 / 567 )Recently, a new Festival board member of the Ojai Music Festival asked me where she might find some good information on contemporary music -- something to give her a good overview of what is going on, who is hot, what's been going on over the last several years, a list of music to listen to, and information about performers and composers to know about. I sent her some information but
also asked a few other resources, including American Music Center's Frank Oteri, with good knowledge for more suggestions. Here is what was compiled.
1. The American Music Center, which promotes contemporary and American composers, has two extraordinary tools for building knowledge and gaining insights. The first is its web magazine, New Music Box. The site is full or information and articles of interest. Its second activity is Counterstream Radio. This is a 24-hour 7-days a week web based radio station which only play contemporary music. The music is identified and there are ways to click through to get further information. It makes for fascinating listening.
2. As for books, the best is probably Alex Ross's incredible The Rest is Noise. The book is a lively journey through the 20th century, with pungent descriptions that make you want to listen to all the music. On his blog, Alex has posted examples of the music described.
3. There are several other books wrth tracking down. The first is Kyle Gann's American Music in the 20th Century , published by Schirmer Books but now out of print (you can usually track down a copy), and the second is John Warthern Struble's The History of American Classical Music, published by Facts on File. Both of course deal only with American classical music. Somewhat outdated but useful is H. H. Stuckenschmidt's Twentieth Century Music published by World University Library. This fills in for the Europeans where Gann and Struble leave off. For the interpid, there is the final volume of Richard Taruskin's massive History of Western Music.
-- Tom Morris
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Ojai Festival’s tradition of inviting a different music director for each season is guaranteeing variety and vitality across festivals. After eighth blackbird’s commitment to young American composers last year, we return this year to a more European focus, albeit with plenty of surprise, adventure, and energy thrown in. I’ve wanted to get George Benjamin to Ojai for several years now, first as a composer/conductor in 2005 when his friend Oliver Knussen was music director, and again in 2007 when Pierre-Laurent Aimard, a great supporter of his music, was in charge. And George was eager to come, having talked about Ojai many times with his very close friend, Betty Freeman. Dates were the problem, so back in 2007, I invited him to be the 2010 Music Director.
Since then we’ve been hard at work planning what promises to be a splendid Festival in the best Ojai tradition with works by our own luminaries from Stravinsky and Messiaen to Boulez and Ligeti…with a few surprises thrown in!
Read about George on our web site or listen to Into the Little Hill which he will conduct in its West Coast premiere. We have also posted an archive article from The New York Times by Vivien Schweitzer who wrote about Little Hill's American premiere in 2007.
-- Tom Morris
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Well, here's your chance to learn more about it. Come to the Ojai Art Center November 10th at 5:30 to learn more about what makes it so truly unique.The Festival is sponsoring the event along with Darakshan Farber. There will be wine and appetizers and good company!
Please RSVP to: flutesacrosstheworld@yahoo.com
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