Stephen Paulus (1949–2014)
Three years after the passing of Stephen Paulus, and I still can’t believe he’s gone. Whenever I need to be reminded of the beauty of simplicity in music, I turn to Stephen’s Pilgrims’ Hymn. It never fails to move me:
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Soundbreaking Stories on PBS
PBS presents Soundbreaking: Stories from the Cutting Edge of Recorded Music. Produced in association with the late Sir George Martin, the series features more than 150 artists, including Paul McCartney, Bonnie Raitt, RZA and many more sharing behind-the-scenes stories in a music-driven celebration of the art of recording. Watch the Trailer Beginning November 14 @ 10:00pm on PBS Episode One: The Art of Recording Episode Two: Painting with Sound Episode Three: The Human Instrument Episode Four: Going Electric Episode Five: Four on the Floor Episode Six: The World is Yours Episode Seven: Sound and Vision Episode Eight: I Am My…
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The Music of The Beatles
Did you know that Ringo Starr is left-handed, or wonder how that might affect his drumming style? Ever wonder who wrote more Beatles songs – Paul or John? Or who wrote the Beatles song based solely on a circus poster? All the above are topics for discussion in the course, The Music of The Beatles, which I will be teaching again for the Butler County Community College (BC3). We will be studying the music of the Beatles across their 13 albums from 1963 to 1970 exploring the group’s writing style and creative approach to recording. Classes will be held on…
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On the Passing of Robert Page
Three men contributed to my development as a singer and choral conductor; John Elliott, my high school choir director, Elmer Thomas, my college choir director, and Robert Page. With the recent passing of Bob, they’ve all left us now. Bob’s influence on me as a singer and composer of choral music cannot be quantified. I spent ten seasons singing for Bob in the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh. For all but my first season, I was a member of the professional core and for my last season, was privileged to be one of his conducting assistants. For several years, I was…
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On the Passing of David Stock
It’s that time in my life when one by one, the teachers, musicians and friends who influenced me most are starting to pass away. Some time ago, my undergraduate composition teacher, Dr. T. Scott Huston passed. More recently, in 2014, my high school choral director, Jack Elliott passed, and the choral composer I admire most, Stephen Paulus, succumbed to the effects of a stroke and left us. Yesterday (November 2, 2015), David Stock, my graduate composition teacher unexpectedly passed, as well. When I enrolled at Duquesne to begin my Masters degree in 2007 at the age of 56, I had…
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On the Passing of Stephen Paulus
When I started this blog, I never anticipated writing this kind of post. But the impression Stephen Paulus made on this composer (and many others I’m certain) and my learning today of his passing yesterday compels me to do so. I first learned of Stephen’s music when I sang several of his traditional Christmas Carol arrangements with the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh. At first, they struck me as a bit odd – not harmonically conventional at all. But I soon found that “oddness” turned to “freshness” and they quickly became my favorite arrangements of those carols. I later met Stephen when…