Traveling With Trumpets

Hello, all,

First, a big thanks to the Tucson Concert Band and everyone out in Arizona who hosted me on March 14. I played Philip Sparke’s “Manhattan”, which is a beautiful piece of music that sounds really wonderful in its original (concert band w/ soloist) format. It was also a treat to get to drive back and visit with friends in Phoenix for an afternoon, so thanks to all who made it possible.

Summer is approaching (school ends the first week of May), and there is lots going on. I’ve been teaching music appreciation (“Into to Listening”) all year, which turns out to be a very strong interest for me. I find that nearly everything I do these days (sitting in class, attending a concert, programming a recital) gets me thinking about how to introduce the world of classical music to more people. Many thanks to my students, who have served as my guinea pigs in trying to accomplish this goal. (This semester, there are 133 of them, and I am in the thick of grading!)

I have also developed a serious love for opera. If you have never seen an opera before–PLEASE, go rent “Carmen” or “Der Rosenkavalier” or “Lohengrin” and watch it all the way through. Operas are wonderful because they reflect so much of the depths of human existence. Are they realistic in their portrayal of life on earth? Surely not! Many are romanticized, idealized, politicized. Some are downright scandalous. But the beautiful thing about opera is the value that they place on life experiences. When someone dies in an opera, or falls in love, or has some other momentous experience, there is not laughter. It is not flippant. It may be welcomed, or inevitable, or quite sudden, but the music nearly always treats it with sobriety. This is a beautiful thing.

This summer I hope to spend at least some time in Chicago, Dallas, and Chattanooga (Dallas gets a recital), though mostly I will be at home in Tuscaloosa with my Slappy Tail. In particular, I’m looking for opportunities to keep lecturing about classical music (or any other music appreciation-esque topic) to groups of any age, because I’ve found that the more excuses I have to study composers and their music, the more I enjoy playing it. In my leisure time I’m also expanding my exploration of other art forms, including visual art and creative writing, so look for more information about that in the next few weeks. One of my first projects over the summer will be to add a media page to this site, so stay tuned.

Thanks for reading, and I hope to see everyone soon!

-Brittany :)

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