IMPORTANT! Addendum to yesterday’s contest post

Hi guys! So, I’m afraid I’m going to have to make a tweak to my contest from Tuesday (check it out here). Turns out that a lot of you are subscribing via the RSS feed, and I’m having trouble getting access to the list. Therefore, I’m going to have to make this change, which I’m going to render in large type so that you don’t miss it:

In order to be entered in the contest, you MUST reply with your email address or WordPress ID to either this post or Tuesday’s contest post. This applies to EVERYONE.

Because of this issue, I’m extending the double-entry option to tomorrow, Friday, at midnight. Subscribe and post before then and you’ll be entered twice! After that, you’ll be entered once, but regardless, you MUST comment on either this post or Tuesday’s contest post. I know I’m getting redundant, but I just want everyone to be absolutely clear. Remember, the contest closes on June 21 EXTENDED! JUNE 24 at midnight, so subscribe and comment before then to enter to win an adorable prize!

Sorry about that list minute addition, guys! But you’re all subscribers, so I’m sure you’ll see this. 😉

Don’t know what I’m talking about? Check out the contest here.

All right! Who’s ready to win something?

It’s about time we had a contest around these parts, don’t you think?

A few weeks ago I noticed that I was nearing 100 blog followers; I originally conceived this as a push to make that number. But, uh, I already got to 101. So we’re going to do things just a bit differently.

But first! What exquisite prize is up for grabs? Oh, just an ORIGINAL, SIGNED ARTWORK:

Click to enlarge

This is not a print. This is a hand-drawn, hand-painted piece entitled – wait for it – Eroicat! Why wander around merely saying you love Beethoven when this beautiful, clever bit of art can do it for you? (Yes, that’s a real snippet of Eroica up top.) Suitable for framing, it would look smashing in your music room or studio.

Bone up on your Symphony No. 3, then lean in, because I’m going to tell you how you can lay claim to the crown this amazing painting:

1. Subscribe to this blog.
2. ?????
3. PROFIT!

Okay, that’s not QUITE everything. Here are some additional notes:

• You have until TOMORROW NIGHT (JUNE 19) AT MIDNIGHT to subscribe to the blog and be eligible for TWO entries (see below).
• You have until MIDNIGHT ON FRIDAY, JUNE 21 to subscribe to the blog and be eligible for ONE entry.
• How can you be eligible for two entries? Simple! I think it’s unfair when a contest is only open to new subscribers; if you’ve been a loyal reader for awhile, why should you be punished for being ahead of the game? However, there might be subscribers out there who, for whatever reason, don’t, y’know, actually read the blog. So, if you’re a current subscriber or subscribe by the June 19 midnight deadline above, you can garner TWO contest entries simply by replying to this entry with your email address or WordPress ID for confirmation (so make sure you use the one you’re subscribed under).

Got it? Okay! Don’t have it? Feel free to ask me questions! Contest is open to everyone, everywhere, but any winner outside of the continental U.S. may be asked to pay their own shipping (sorry, guys, but that sucker’s a bit pricey). There’s no age minimum – or maximum, for that matter – but if you’re under 18 make sure you check with your parents that it’s okay to enter and such. All usual additional contest rules apply.

Incidentally, if you’re in love with that kitty image (and why wouldn’t you be?), the artist does sell additional works, both pre-made and commissioned. Check out her tumblr for more info. You can also contact her via email here.

Let’s take a look at what you could win!

Yet another week passes with no concert in sight, not even a smattering at Strathmore. Truly dead space, my friends. But take heart – even now a few brave souls reach their hands out across the void to offer you musical stuff.

• First up, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra would like you to know that if you become a BSO Ambassador, you could win prizes. It’s actually less intensive than some other “ambassador” programs I’ve seen floating around – all you have to do is share news and information on your social media networks. They’ll periodically send you updates, you post it, done. The prize part has to do with how many times you post, how many people click to the BSO’s site, etc. etc. Worth checking out if you’re a BSO fan.
• Speaking of the BSO, Rusty Musicians is back! For those of you not aware of the program, the BSO offers amateur musicians – specifically targeting those who haven’t played in years – the opportunity to come rehearse with the BSO. Yes, the actual professional musicians – neat! I say “rehearse” and not “perform,” however, because as far as I can tell they’ve eliminated the actual performances of past years. All the same, it’s a great excuse to bust out your high school trumpet if it’s been gathering dust since commencement; vocalists may apply as well. There are two slots on November 13 only, so I’d act fast if you’re interested.
• Are you a fan of Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion? (I know I am!) Do you sing? Well then why not audition to sing a duet with Keillor on the October 20 show? All genres accepted, and your odds are actually not so bad as all that – five or six finalists will be chosen to perform. Deadline to submit your audition is September 21, so get cracking!

No more calls; we have our winners

Last week I asked you to submit nominations for a Medal of Violar recipient. This week I award two — one reader-nominated and one me-nominated. Because I can.

The reader-nominated winner is Daniel’s cat Gir, because when I suggested you nominated your pets I was mostly joking and he went there anyway. Well done, sir, well done. Says Daniel: “My cat, Gir, likes to sing along with Amanda and myself when certain songs are playing.  For example, we can be playing Rockband 3 and she’ll walk onto our laps and meow and paw us in the face.” Congratulations, Gir! Maybe Daniel will engrave you a new tag to commemorate the occasion.

The me-nominated winner is Mr. Stephen P. Brown, conductor extraordinaire who can always be counted on to chime in on discussion posts with a well-thought-out reply. He last popped up responding to my post about my dislike of children’s classical music programming, but he has made many excellent comments. Thanks for your readership and replies, Mr. Brown (Can Moo. Can You? Sorry, I couldn’t help myself)!

Congratulations! Of sorts! Your names will be added to the wall later today. Thanks to all my readership — keep reading, submitting, and commenting, and you, too, may one day be the ashamed proud recipient of a Medal of Violar. And then you can buy yourself a mug! I like to encourage people to dream big, y’know.

I can see just fine, thanks!

I said there was no BSO concert this week. I didn’t say there was no BSO-related news.

I encourage all you student-types to go out for this. Heck, put your kid in there — no worries if he can’t sing; humiliation builds character, right? And if you do audition/have your kid/niece/cousin/whatever audition let me know! I want to a) get an interview and b) know who to root for.

Oh, and regarding the Medial of Violar contest from yesterday, you have until Monday, April 25 to get your entries in.

Charlie Chaplin, composer

Until I helped put together the 2010-2011 BSO season web presence last year, I had no idea!

Turns out Charlie Chaplin wrote, directed, starred in, and scored his 1925 film The Gold Rush. Well, the BSO is playing that music, and while they do that, they’re going to show the whole darn movie. Apparently it contains the famous “dance of the dinner rolls.” So I guess Beauty and the Beast didn’t do it first after all.

See it Friday, April 15 at 8 pm at Strathmore, or Saturday, April 16 at 8 pm and Sunday, April 17 at 3 pm at the Meyerhoff. Or if you’d like to get in free and can work REALLY FAST because unfortunately I suck and forgot to put this up earlier:

Win Tickets to The Gold Rush!

Create your own silent film to win tickets to Charlie Chaplin’s The Gold Rush!  Get your inspiration from the master himself for your own silent film scene at http://www.charliechaplin.com/. Submitted film shorts can re-create famous moments in Chaplin’s beloved movie, or you can channel your inner-screenwriter and create something entirely new!  All films must be under 1:30 and posted to facebook.com/BSOmusic by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 13^th.  The top 10 will receive a pair of tickets—simple as that! One lucky winner may even get the chance to have her or his film short viewed before the concert! (Please note: The BSO reserves the right not to choose any videos for pre-concert display.)

Fire up the webcam and get cracking!

What Douglas Adams might call a “Whole Sort of General Mish-Mash”

I know you all love an eclectic collection of unrelated bullet points.

– I think, based on the fact that a lot of the profile photos show people with instruments, that some of you are friending me on Facebook. Which is totally cool and I’m down with being your internet buddy, except if I don’t know who you are or why you’re friending me I am generally disinclined to accept. In short, if you friend me, or you did friend me and I never reciprocated, send me a message explaining that you’re a fan of Ain’t Baroque and we shall carry on in peace and love.

– You can still win a Symphonic Voyage cruise if you purchase a BSO subscription package!

– The consensus among my friends is that if The Golden Girls was recast with composers, Bach would have to be Sophia. I don’t know, we’re weird. We also need help with the rest of the cast, if you have any ideas. I’d love to do a whole post on this; it’s the sort of thing I’d do, but I worry my long-suffering audience would finally rebel.

– There is a fire drill exclusive to the summer camps that have moved into Strathmore going on right now (have I mentioned the summer camps? I have been inundated by an unusually large number of children and I disapprove of children in groups as they revert to their baser instincts in the herd). No one else is required to evacuate, but I’ve spent the last five minutes listening to a recorded message requesting me attention about a fire emergency on repeat. I am dangerously close to spontaneous combustion. Talk about your self-fulfilling prophecies. Anyway, did anyone go to a music/arts summer camp as a kid? What say you of the experience?

– Updated to add: The BSO Academy needs more fans so that Facebook will recognize it! Become a fan now! NOW!

That’s all.

The Well Played! Ain’t Baroque Medal of Violar

I told you I’d get to it.

The Well Played! Ain’t Baroque Medal of Violar is a dubious honor. I mean it’s an honor I just made up. I mean it’s an honor! No need to qualify that. You can only get it by performing above and beyond the call of duty in the form of regular commentary and contribution and general awesomeness. Learn more and read the current list of honorees here.

There are occasionally shortcuts, however. For example, you have until 9 am EST tomorrow (Wednesday) to enter the “define music major” contest. The author of the most clever excerpt automatically makes it onto the list. Think of prestige!

Duly intrigued? Click here!

It’s time to face a dead cabbage

Here are some things I think are nifty.

• If you buy a BSO subscription package, you could win a luxury cruise from Symphonic Voyages, which is exactly what it sounds like: a cruise with concerts.
• I was going to post a link to the BSO’s new Musician’s Concierge program, but as it turns out the form isn’t ready so I’ll have to put it off for a bit. Here’s a teaser: BSO musicians choose your season for you.
• This old Dave Barry article popped into my head the other day. Having finally thought to post on it, I can’t think how I ever didn’t think of it before.

Something is causing Americans to chant “air ball” in F. But what? I believe that the most logical explanation – you probably thought of this – is: extraterrestrials. As you know if you watch the TV series The X Files, when anything weird happens, extraterrestrials are almost always responsible. In this case, beings from another galaxy are probably trying to communicate with us by transmitting powerful radio beams that penetrate basketball fans’ brains and cause them to “spontaneously” chant in the key of F. I imagine that eventually the aliens will switch the fans to another key, such as A, and then maybe C, and so on until the aliens have musically spelled out some intergalactic message to humanity, such as “face a dead cabbage.”

Read the whole article here and rejoice.

• Here is a joke just risque enough to be placed behind a cut. It is ever so slightly dirty, but it has not failed to elicit delighted laughter and a wild need to pass it along from a single person I’ve told it to.

Q. What’s better than roses on your piano?

Continue reading →

Embrace the ides of March

Important! I’m extending the raffle deadline to Tuesday (tomorrow) at noon with recipients to be informed of their luck by 4 pm. I want to make sure everyone who filled out the survey gets the chance, so make sure you send me an email with the subject “Circus Maximus” and your name to bsointern@bsoatstrathmore.org. Each winner will get 2 tickets to the March 18 Strathmore performance. Enter now!

This week’s concert is, as I already mentioned, entitled “Circus Maximus,” with performances at Strathmore on March 18 and at the Meyerhoff on March 19, 20, and 21. It includes Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf (see the below post) with narration by Scott Simon of NPR or, on the 21st, Rheda Becker.

There are two other pieces on the bill, both somewhat obscure, at least from where I’m standing. There are no program notes, so I’m not sure what to tell you about David Little’s Screamer (where is your Wikipedia page, sir?), except that the brochure describes it as “[imagining] a circus very nearly out of control.”

I would be just as clueless on John Corigliano‘s Circus Maximus if not for the helpful words of one of my Twitter followers: “It was more ‘event’ than music I would listen to over and over. Much like sports, better live than ‘on TV.'” Well, you heard the man. Better live than on TV. So you should buy tickets, and/or enter the raffle.

He was also kind enough to send me this link to an article from a music publisher wherein Corigliano himself describes the piece and his impetus and thought process. Don’t miss the illumination. Thanks very much, Mr. Carney Dr. Carney! (Er, not Jonathan Carney. I thought I should clear that one up proactively.)