Comments on: An Alarming Document, Bibimbap, Vibraphone

By: Tyler

Tyler — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 00:37:17 +0000

Nico, your involvement in Andrew Solomon’s latest book (farfromthetree.com, y’all) got me to take notice of it, and I’m reading the book and it is excellent, so thank you for that. Also I saw somewhere that you are recording Peter Pears things and I’m seriously looking forward to hearing it. !

By: Zach

Zach — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 01:58:31 +0000

The tendency you mention, to try and include everything and pine nut dressing in a piece, is not, I think, uncommon. As you say, with orchestral pieces it can be an almost crushing desire to want to stick all the best ideas into one tasty work.

I still have this issue, and I am not sure it ever goes away really. Maybe it just becomes easier to control with time. David Lang, who most certainly should write a bass clarinet-organ duo work, seems to manage to always explore musical ideas with just the right amount of obsession and inspiration. Never too many ideas and never too few.

Having followed your music for some time though, I don’t think this tendency has ever undermined anything you’ve written. The result has never been “potpourri” music.

P.S. A few years ago (2007, 2008 maybe) I had the pleasure of attending the premiere of a piece you wrote for the Chicago Symphony’s MusicNOW series, Step Team. I’ve been wondering if a recording will appear ever since. Possible?

[Hi Zach – there is, in fact, a recording of Step Team on this album, and thanks for your kind words!!!]

By: Daniel

Daniel — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 06:10:16 +0000

Have you ever thought in having a silence weekend?

By: Grandfather

Grandfather — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 20:42:57 +0000

No one has a more curious or capacious mind, and that book will be in demand! Cannot wait.

By: killian

killian — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 15:39:24 +0000

Book: YES! Waiting deeply for the advent wailing >bated breath<

By: Julia

Julia — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 21:09:33 +0000

Went to The Wigmore Hall to hear ‘My Days’ wonderful, contemplative piece. Any plans to record it so we can hear it again?

[J — yes, and thanks!]

By: Christian

Christian — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 20:05:24 +0000

Yes god! David Lang bass clarinet/ pipe organ. I would lurve that so much!

Also, you should eventually write a book.