…not “that cigarette”, as the lyrics go — but smoke from numerous fires currently raging throughout Northern California.
The local paper advises that outdoor activity should be avoided today because of heavy smoke from fires surrounding Nevada County.
The news article went on to say that if you can see and smell smoke, you are most likely [...]
On Saturday afternoon, ominous black clouds filled the sky over the Nevada County Fairgrounds where James and I are staying in our Airstream trailer.
We are currently being hosted by the Fairgrounds management; the summer music festival is going on right here. It’s a much more convenient commute than from our place in The Woods. In [...]
Since June 3rd, I have been immersed in the eight-shows-a-week routine with my former employer, the national touring company of “The Phantom of the Opera”, currently playing in Sacramento. I am playing as a horn sub to fill in for the final half of the run, sixteen shows in a row without a day off.
The [...]
Lately, I have been busy making music rather than making words.
Last week I spent in the San Francisco Bay area, playing a very challenging concert set with Symphony Silicon Valley. The program: Copland “Appalachian Spring”, Vaughan-Williams “Tuba Concerto”, Richard Strauss “Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks” and “Rosenkavalier Suite”.
This ambitious program was demanding for all the instruments [...]
It’s always a surprise to drive on the hectic, congested highways after spending days on end in the peace and solitude of The Woods.
People are nuts. Why is everyone in such a hurry?
It takes three hours to get to R.A.’s house in Lafayette from our place. Traffic wasn’t horrible, but it’s always stressful on some [...]
I’ll pop in briefly here before even more time slips away without a post.
First of all, Spring really does seem to be coming now, and fast. The snow is nearly gone and the birds and bugs are already making an appearance. There are tiny buds on some of the trees, and the croaking of frogs [...]
Last night, James and I got together with a group of recorder players in Nevada City. There were seven other players in attendance at their weekly meeting on Wednesday nights. They hail from all around the area.
There were a couple of occasions in the past when our friend M.A. joined us in playing recorder trios, [...]
A year ago today, I played my final two shows of “The Phantom of the Opera”.
Middle Bro’ had called to tell me about Dad’s passing at 11 p.m. the night before. I was rather in a daze when I dragged out of bed the next morning, as I didn’t sleep very well. I had the [...]
My four-day playing stint with the Modesto Symphony is now over, so we are back In The Woods.
Whenever I return home after the intensity of playing in an orchestra, it feels anti-climatic. This usually lasts for a few days until the rhythm of my tranquil home life settles back into my bones.
I am living [...]
I just got back on Wednesday from playing Youth concerts with Symphony Silicon Valley, an excellent orchestra based in San Jose, CA. It’s considered to be one of the best orchestras in the San Francisco Bay area, after the San Francisco Symphony, Ballet and Opera ensembles.
Here’s a link about the orchestra: SYMPHONY SILICON VALLEY
The first [...]
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