Coming Next on Patreon
August
10th,
2018
It has been a week since my roll out at Patreon, and I have been awed and no small bit humbled by the response. I thank each and every one of you who have signed on. As per my listed Patreon benefits I would take this opportunity to list my “Principal” patrons and “Deities”: Principals:…
Dr. Bob Prescribes
August
7th,
2018
Welcome to my new series, “Dr. Bob Prescribes”, in which I will “prescribe” recordings, books, events, videos, websites, etc. on a weekly basis, with the intention of improving our musical health and thus raising our spirits and making happier our souls. Brahms in 1853 In conversation with my Patreon patrons Jane Varkonyi and Frank Schmidt,…
Music History Monday: Chubby Checker, Dick Clark, and the Power of the Tube!
August
6th,
2018
On this day 58 years ago – August 6, 1960 – the 18 year-old singer and dancer Chubby Checker performed The Twist on American TV for the first time on the rock ‘n’ roll variety show American Bandstand. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmR00cErBdw Dick Clark in 1961, looking young For reasons we will discuss, American Bandstand was, both artistically…
Music History Monday: The Other Mozart Kid
July
30th,
2018
[caption id="attachment_3878" align="alignright" width="227"] Nannerl Mozart in 1763, at age 12, by Pietro Antonio Lorenzoni[/caption] Today we mark the birth – 267 years ago, on July 30, 1751 – of the “other” surviving Mozart child. Four-and-a-half years older than her brother Wolfgang, her full name was Maria Anna Walburga Ignatia Mozart; she was known as…
Music History Monday: Domenico Scarlatti
July
23rd,
2018
[caption id="attachment_3873" align="alignright" width="238"] Domenico Scarlatti in 1739 by Domingo Antonio Velasco[/caption] We mark the death of the composer Domenico Scarlatti 261 years ago today, on July 23, 1757 in the Spanish capital of Madrid. The year 1685 was something of an annus mirabilis - a “miraculous year” – in the history of Western music…
Music History Monday: Émigrés
July
16th,
2018
[caption id="attachment_3864" align="alignright" width="173"] Fritz Mahler[/caption] We mark the birth – on July 16, 1901, 117 years ago today – of the Austrian composer and conductor Fritz Mahler. While we might not recognize his first name, we surely recognize his surname, and Fritz’ father was indeed a cousin of the great composer and conductor Gustav…
Music History Monday: A Decidedly Politically-Incorrect Rant
July
9th,
2018
[caption id="attachment_3850" align="alignright" width="225"] Rachel Amy Greenberg Shahvar with her proud poppa at her wedding in 2013[/caption] As events in music history go, July 9 is definitely on the lighter side. (Although, for me – personally – it is an important day, and I would use this opportunity to wish the happiest of birthdays to…
Robert Greenberg Joins Cole Cuchna on the Break It Down Show
July
4th,
2018
Robert Greenberg joins Cole Cuchna of the Dissect Podcast on the Break It Down Show. Part One Part Two Related Courses
Music History Monday: Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Enlightened Opera
July
2nd,
2018
[caption id="attachment_3831" align="alignright" width="300"] Pastel of Jean-Jacques Rousseau drawn by Maurice Quentin de La Tour in 1753, the year in which Rousseau wrote his seminal “Letter on French Music”.[/caption] 240 years ago today – on July 2, 1778 – the Swiss-born philosopher, novelist, educator, music theorist and critic, and composer Jean-Jacques Rousseau died at age…
Music History Monday: The Firebird
June
25th,
2018
[caption id="attachment_3779" align="alignright" width="216"] Stravinsky in 1910, at the time of the premiere of The Firebird[/caption] On June 25, 1910 – 108 years ago today – Igor Stravinsky’s The Firebird received its premiere at the Paris Opera House, in a ballet performance produced by Serge Diaghilev, staged by the Ballets Russes, and conducted by Gabriel…