Mozart, Haydn, Gluck, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Strauss, Mahler, Bruckner, Schoenberg – it reads like a roll call of the great and good in classical music – but the amazing thing …
Read MoreRunning Commentary
Running commentary (A few light-hearted lessons learned training for a half marathon) When you tell people you’re going to train for a half marathon they divide into two groups: the …
Read MoreComedy Classical
A look at the funnier moments in music…. SOMM Recordings have just issued a CD taken from a live performance by my instrumental group at the Turner Sims Concert …
Read MoreGorman’s Iconic Slide
The clarinet player who could arguably be said to have had the most influence on the history of twentieth century classical music is not a household name, nor even remotely …
Read MorePlanes, Shower Curtains and Clarinet Reeds
Planes, Shower Curtains and Clarinet Reeds…… This may seem a disparate list of objects, but all of the above have an important thing in common: the Bernoulli principle. Bernoulli realised …
Read MoreStanislavski and the Musician
Recently at a pre-concert talk a young clarinettist asked me how she could begin to express more emotion in her playing. This set me thinking and in fact the best …
Read MoreThe Robots are Coming…
For years scientists have been predicting that computers will eventually take over all the work in the world. Visions have been painted of humans in the future putting their feet …
Read MoreHow to Make Beethoven Angry
Towards the end of his life, a sure way to make Beethoven angry was to tell him how much you admired his Septet Op.20, according to the English composer, Schultz, …
Read MoreIn Praise of Skipping
15 minutes jogging: 120 calories 15 minutes walking: 50 calories 15 minutes swimming: 105 calories 15 minutes vacuuming: 53 calories 15 minutes climbing stairs: 120 calories 15 …
Read More