Several times this last Sunday, when I mentioned the fact that I write a blog on Aaron Copland people looked at me a bit perplexed. There was a momentary slightly puzzled expression as if to say, Are you sure you’re in the right place? I was at the latest BBC Total Immersion event at the Barbican celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Pierre Boulez. Throughout his life Boulez was a provocative firebrand of the avant garde. His music was always...
100 years and two months ago Aaron Copland’s Symphony for Organ and Orchestra was premiered by the New York Symphony Orchestra. At the end of the concert the conductor Walter Damrosch turned to the...
Here’s a New Year’s Resolution for you! Check out Sound World’s brilliant podcast series called A Land Without Music? If like me, you love classical music and believe that it provides a force for...
Even though I have been to plenty of superb performances this year there are a few good ‘uns that I’ve missed. Work, the Olympics and a family holiday have scuppered John Wilson at the...
I bet you didn’t realise there was a link between Aaron Copland and Muhammad Ali? Neither did I, but sometimes the stuff I turn up seems to be like buried treasure that is just...
Like most people I have plenty of Bucket List entries that I want to tick off in my life. Many of these are of course associated with the music of Aaron Copland and one...
I love my city – Bristol. For sure, there are things that annoy me – the lack of a mass transit system – why? And certain derelict buildings that have stood like eyesores for...
At heart I’m a city boy. Even though my job involves working with farmers and I love country walks and nature spotting, I feel the need to be close to where culture is. I...
A couple of weeks back I started wondering about the number of monthly listeners on Spotify that Aaron Copland gets. It was a short hop to comparing this number with that of his modernist...
I really like contemporary dance and I love modern classical music. It’s not often I see them combined as it’s hard to keep one’s eyes peeled on all the listings and besides many events...
Total Immersion: Pierre Boulez
03 April 2025
Music for a Great City: The Outcry Ensemble at Smith Square – Review
29 September 2024
