September 23, 2011

Hans Christian Andersen (1805 – 1875)

I found this quote as I'm doing research on 19th Century Danish music.  I'm composing music for the upcoming Portland Stage production of Snow Queen, authored by Andersen, and adapted by Anita Stewart.

He also said, "life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale."  I could use some help buying into that one at the moment.

July 9, 2011

- Igor Stravinsky

This is one of the many mantras that I live by.  I find it more and more true as the range of projects I endeavor becomes more diverse.  This idea, that the more restricted you are in making something, the more free you are to make it, is as true now as it was in 1939 when Stravinksy delivered the Norton Lectures at Harvard.  

It uncouples the composer's ego from the music, and allows us to free ourselves from any kind of responsibility to "express" ourselves. Instead our guide, our main deity, is that of the creative box we've put ourselves in and to creating solutions to make our way out.  Expressing myself is not my job. It is to help realize the vision of a collaborator.  And that comes down to placing restrictions on the music.  Deciding what the music ISN'T, through process of elimination and whittling away at a vast array of ideas, reveals what it is destined to become.

May 31, 2011

Bob Brookmeyer

May 31, 2011

Manny Albam

May 31, 2011

- Richard Hoffman