Trill: A quavering or vibratory sound, especially a rapid alternation of sung or played notes.
If you play or sing music from the classical repertoire, there is a better than average chance that you will come upon a marking of tr~ . This means a trill. Trills were very common for many centuries. Here are some examples for you:
Giuseppe Tartini wrote a famous violin sonata in the 1700's (it was published in 1799). It is know as The Devil's Trill.
Here are two examples of trills by Beethoven, first is his Violin Concerto in D major (1806):
and now is Piano Sonata no. 30 (1820).
Vocalists can also trill. It is very common in the operatic world. Check out Joan Sutherland, soprano:
Somewhere along the way, the trill must have fallen out of favor. I don't know about you, but I don't ever hear anyone in the world of popular music using trills. Howlin' Wolf didn't trill. Hank Williams didn't trill. Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra didn't trill. Where did the trill go? and Why did it go? Beats me. B.B. King said The Thrill is Gone. He could also say The Trill is Gone.
But not completely. I found a couple of examples of trills being used fairly recently outside of classical music.
Here is Pete Townshend, guitarist for The Who from their famous 1970 Live at Leeds recording:
And just this month, guitarist Extraordinaire, Paul Gilbert, released a new album of Christmas Songs, one of which opens with a trill:
So there are still a few trills out there, maybe more than I realize. I would welcome your input. If you come upon any trills in non-classical music, drop me a line and let me know! Otherwise I will continue to echo....The Trill is Gone.
Even though baseball is my favorite sport, I also love football. Being from Kansas City, my parents became Chiefs fans when the Dallas Texans moved to KC in 1963 and joined the AFL as the Chiefs. Naturally, I became a Chiefs fan too. In those days, there was no ESPN or social media. There were one or two games a week to watch on TV each Sunday, and in 1970, Monday Night Football was born which added a third opportunity to see NFL football. The only way to see highlights of each game was to watch This Week in Pro Football, a production of NFL Films. Watching TWIPF was a must for me. NFL Films used dramatic music, slow motion action and vivid narration that brought each game to life in a theatrical way. The players and coaches seemed larger than life...almost mythical. But it was the music that caught my attention and did the most to create the story for each segment.
Sam Spence (1927-2016) was the composer who brought these films to life. He used a wide array of styles and instrumentation to fit the mood of the game. Here is a tune he wrote called The Ramblin' Man from Gramblin' being used for a Chiefs-Dolphins game from 1974:
Here is the music without the narration:
And here is my arrangement of Ramblin' Man From Gramblin' on the guitar:
Here's another great tune called The Over the Hill Gang by Sam Spence:
These two works and many others filled my childhood with great memories. Thank you Sam Spence.
It seems ironic that the tag line for this Bose Earbuds commercial is "rules the quiet." The music you are hearing in this ad is the second movement of Beethoven's Symphony no 9. I'm sure you are aware that Beethoven was tormented with hearing loss, tinnitus, and eventually total deafness. Despite this cruel fate, he continued to write music. And as the story goes, while conducting the 9th Symphony at it's premiere, he didn't hear the audience's applause when it was over so the musicians had to turn him around to see how well it had been received.
Beethoven sought medical attention throughout his life to deal with his hearing issues. But he certainly didn't have anything like the amazing technology we have today such as these earbuds being promoted by Kansas City Chiefs' quarterback, Patrick Mahomes. And I don't know if the creators of this commercial chose Beethoven's music just because it is incredible music, or if they were tapping into the story of Beethoven's hearing tragedy as a way to emphasize the power of their technology.
I wrote about my hearing challenges in this blog a few years ago, and I called it "This is My Quiet." When the room is quiet, I don't just hear "nothing." I hear whirring and buzzing. My hearing has been damaged over the course of my lifetime from exposures to loud music and other everyday loud noises. Now I keep earplugs with me at all times and for all environments, be it in a crowded-noisy restaurant, a concert, vacuuming, or playing my violin.
I like this commercial a lot because I love the KC Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes, and Beethoven.
When I saw a string quartet at my elementary school in 1972, I knew the violin was the instrument for me. And that was the path I pursued...no regrets. I love playing more now than I did almost fifty years ago. But while the violin was my first love, it is not my only one. A few years after starting to study the violin, I had an affair with the guitar, and that love too still burns in my soul.
I remember where it started... this affair. I of course knew what guitars were...they were everywhere. I learned of the Beatles in 1978 and was instantly hooked by their sound. And I had a desire to play that kind of music, so learning to play the guitar seemed like the way to do that. But even before that point in my life, there was an equally profound introduction to guitar music thanks to Liona Boyd.
Liona Boyd released this album in 1974...her debut album. On one of my regular trips to the record store with my dad that year, I saw this record displayed on the "new release" shelf. I told my dad I wanted to buy it...well, I wanted him to buy it for me....which he did. I had heard of Andre Segovia at this point....we listened to some of his music in the music literature class I was taking (the program I was in at the University of Texas String Project provided students with an instrument and private instruction, as well as weekly classes in music theory, literature and ensemble play.) The sound of Segovia playing all of those notes on only one instrument was pretty amazing to me. Violins, at least at that point in my studies, only played one note at a time. My dad supported my interest in classical guitar because, even though it wasn't his "thing,' he recognized that it was classical music. So the record was mine. Disclaimer...I can't lie, I know I was smitten by this beautiful woman holding a guitar....it wasn't just the guitar that got my attention. I read the liner notes on the back of the record a thousand times, and listened to this record over and over and over. I could sing along with every note. The first cut on the album became my favorite: El Colibri by Julio Salvador Sagreras. Here is the full album.
Later that summer, Liona Boyd came to Austin to promote her album and played a live concert at the record store where we bought it. My dad took me. We got there pretty early, and I saw her coming out of a door at the back of the store...she was setting something up in the area she would be playing in. Then she went back. I followed her. The door was open so I poked my head in and there she was...she smiled and said hello. I said hello and told her we were looking forward to seeing her play. She was very kind and thanked us for coming. I noticed she had one of those big red, rubber, hot water bottles on her hand. I asked what was wrong? She laughed and explained that she was fine... her hands get cold easily, so before she plays a concert, she warms them up. I retreated from the room feeling awestruck. I had met a celebrity!
The concert she gave lasted about an hour as I recall. She was very friendly and open with those of us who showed up to hear her play. And play she did.....it was mesmerizing watching her fingers splay and stretch all over the fingerboard. And the fingers on her right hand as she picked, strummed and fluttered the strings. She even tapped and knocked on the body of the guitar (you can hear this on the last cut of the album: Le Muletier des Andes by Tomasi.)
Liona Boyd was hailed by the great Christopher Parkening as "one of the most excellent guitarists I have heard." She is alive and still performing.
That's me at the top of the page. I bought my first guitar in 1980 and started to teach myself how to play. I haven't ever had any lessons....I was too busy studying my first love, but that's OK. The guitar continues to give me joy every day.
I'm not in a super good mood at the moment. I am trying to fly home to Kansas City from Phoenix and my flight has now been delayed by 3 hours...I hope it does not get cancelled! I am projected to arrive in KC at 1:59 am. Then I have a 45 minute drive home. Oh well, I have a lot of time to kill, and watching people offers a ton of entertainment. What stands out to me as I sit here watching people walk by is....people are sloppy. Very few people I see make any attempt to dress nicely when they travel. Dudes wear flip flops, basketball shorts, t-shirts. Ladies wear shorts, flip-flops, leggings. Most of these folks look they just rolled out of bed and came to the airport. Occasionally a well dressed man wearing a sport coat, slacks, and a dress shirt will stroll by. Or a woman wearing a skirt or dress and nice shoes walks by. But these people are by far the exception. The rest of them probably argue that they want to be comfortable. Sure...but you look like a slob too. It is possible to be comfortable AND look sharp at the same time.
Another annoying reality of people is their lack of self awareness, especially in crowded spaces. Some are talking on their phones with the speaker on, seemingly oblivious that I can hear what they are saying and what the person they are talking to is saying. Others walk, stop, turn, walk and move all over the place without recognizing that they are in the way of the rest of us. Hello! The guy next to me is also at his computer. I am typing this and listening to music (Chopin) with my headphones on. He is watching some show without headphones and I can hear the words of his program through my headphones. He seems clueless that he's being a dick.
I was reflecting on my earliest memories of playing the violin this week. We are having our bathroom renovated...new flooring, tile, shower door and vanity. I was practicing my violin in my office when one of the workers stuck his head in to ask a question...but first he said I sounded great and asked how long I had been playing. I had to stop and think a second and add up the years...48 I answered...the number hit me pretty hard. That seems crazy when I really think about it. So I started to reflect on the beginning. 1973. I was transported back to the University of Texas Music Building. It was an old building even then. I spent so many hours there taking lessons, practicing, studying and dreaming. I remember hearing one of the advanced string orchestras playing a piece of music by Vivaldi. I was spellbound by the the sound I heard. And the kids in that group looked so much older and cool as they dug into the music. I was hungry to play that music someday. And they didn't have tape on their fingerboards either! I also remember learning about politics in the men's room. The walls above the urinals and the stalls were covered in graffiti. One phrase that appeared often was "Impeach Nixon." Another was "No More War." Those were the days.
It's been at least fifteen years ago...my son Jack went to one of those do-it-yourself pottery places and made me a coffee mug for Father's Day. I have to say, it remains one of my most prized possessions. Father's day came on a Sunday that year, and since then, every Sunday, I drink my coffee from this cup alone. Not on any other day...just Sunday. Every Sunday.
I love everything about this mug...my name, a running shoe (New Balance)...I don't recall every wearing New Balance, but that's irrelevant...and his signature with a smile inside. Welcome to my Sunday ritual.
The other day, my wife told me that in one of her dreams, she heard the song Billy Don't Be A Hero. I instantly asked Alexa to play this song, and then it was stuck in my head. We all go through that at times...a song or melody becomes imbedded in our heads and it plays constantly, driving us crazy. I have found a cure for this phenomenon...it is Debussy. His Arabesque no. 1 specifically. Something in this beautiful work kills the annoying tune in your head.
Yesterday, May 9, 2021, was Mother's Day. I am so blessed that my Mom, Judith Elnora Welker Hazlett, is alive and well...and amazing! She celebrated her 81st birthday last weekend. Aside from some minor aches and pains, she is fit as a fiddle. And as much as I love her as my mom, I cherish her friendship and company. We still have coffee/breakfast at Panera every Friday, text or call pretty much every day, attend the KC Symphony regularly, and get together for special events and holidays. The picture here is from my great-aunt's memorial service last month. My mom and I flew to Houston for it and had a wonderful time with family...despite the rain.
Next up for milestone events in my life; my wife Cheryl is retiring! She has been a teacher for thirty-three years. Her school district had a dinner for all retirees, so my mom and my oldest son, Jack, went to celebrate with her. The dinner, drinks and conversation were wonderful. Memories were shared. And the dedication and passion for her work was recognized. I am so in awe of her. We estimate that she taught more than 1000 students during her career. Everyone of them was lucky to have her as a teacher. Well done baby....I love you.
The same week of my Mom's 81st Birthday and Cheryl's retirement dinner, my son Ethan graduated from the University of South Dakota with a BA in Sports Marketing and Media. Four years that seemed to fly by. Ethan worked so hard. He proved to himself that he is capable of great things...hard things. I am so proud of him. The future is his.
So much has been going on. I confess I have been an emotional basket case the past few weeks. Life is speeding by. I can't always keep up. But I reflect on this daily and work to place things in perspective. Music helps me do this. Today, about three hours ago, I heard a piece of music on Sirius XM - Symphony Hall Channel 76 that hit me like a ton of bricks. I had been examining my life these past few weeks and concluded that all of these wonderful life events were truly special and joyous...I am a very blessed soul. But even before any of these events occurred, I was ultimately blessed in so may ways. These events were the cream at the top of the cup. I have "double happiness." And so this music, entitled Double Happiness by Christopher Cerrone, affirmed this tonight, and I share it with you here. I have Double Happiness in my life.
I've written about and shared many experiences I have had over the years attending concerts of the Kansas City Symphony...my home town orchestra...my favorite orchestra. Yes, I've seen Berlin, Vienna, Philadelphia, Boston, Los Angeles....and others...but my favorite of all is Kansas City. So you can imagine how excited I was when Michael Stern, Conductor and Music Director, agreed to have a conversation with me for this blog. He has been here in KC since 2005, and under his leadership, we now have a world class orchestra.
I have been a member of The Summit Church here in Lee's Summit for more than twelve years now. Pastor Jim Preisig is the reason my family and I selected this church in the first place when we were looking for a church to call "home." Pastor Jim is a brilliant speaker. His enthusiasm and passion are boundless and inspiring. Our church is blessed to have strong musical traditions and exceptionally gifted musicians and singers who serve. I know how important music is to Pastor Jim from many of his messages over the years, and I was so very happy he agreed to have a Zoom conversation with me to talk about his personal relationship with music, the role music plays in worship, and many other topics.
I hope you enjoy it! And below are two wonderful quotes Jim shared during our conversation.
“God has given us music so that above all it can lead us upwards. Music unites all qualities: it can exalt us, divert us, cheer us up, or break the hardest of hearts with the softest of its melancholy tones. But its principal task is to lead our thoughts to higher things, to elevate, even to make us tremble…
The musical art often speaks in sounds more penetrating than the words of poetry, and takes hold of the most hidden crevices of the heart… Song elevates our being and leads us to the good and the true.
If, however, music serves only as a diversion or as a kind of vain ostentation it is sinful and harmful.” Friedrich Nietzsche, Twilight of the idols or how to philosophize with a hammer
If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph:
I've known Jim Murray since 2005 when he became the Conductor and Music Director of the Heritage Philharmonic. I have played the violin in this orchestra for more than 20 years now...man, it's hard to believe it has already been that long! Jim took over for another great conductor, Jack Ergo, who occupied the podium for 25 years prior to his arrival. There are so many wonderful things about Jim, but what stands out to me is how much he truly loves music. It's not just his job. Maestro Murray is also the Conductor and Music Director for the Northland Symphony Orchestra, and the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of Kansas City. And if that isn't enough, he also teaches music at the Metropolitan Community College-Maple Woods. I have linked his bio below.
Maestro Murray and I have talked for years about doing an interview for my blog. Well, we finally got it done. Here is the first of what I hope are many conversations.
We said good-bye to a very special person last month...my great aunt, AnnaLou Parker. She was my grandmother's sister. AnnaLou was born in 1929, meaning she was 13 years younger than Mary Quinn. They were very close, and had many things in common, including a love for music. Her daughter Jan, whom I am closest too of her 4 children, shared this list of songs that AnnaLou loved. During her lifetime, she played the piano and sang. She was THAT person who lit up a room when she walked in...a light of laugher and love. My Dad was very fond of her, and they had a special bond. She and Jan came to his funeral in 2006. I know he saw her there from above and smiled.
So to pay tribute to her, I will be listening to these wonderful hymns and thinking of her in Heaven. I love you AnnaLou.
John Svoboda is a guitarist, composer, arranger, teacher, performer, philosopher, coffee aficionado, runner, baseball fan.....he is also my friend. He and his wife, Myra, are a duo known as No Bow Tie, and they are spreading the blasphemy of classical music played on steel string guitars, banjos, electric bass....and God knows what else. John can meld Dvorak with Rush or Mozart with Albeniz. He's like a mad scientist creating musical Frankensteins in his laboratory. But, Mr. Svoboda also plays "legit" classical guitar, loves opera, and can play the violin (yes John, I remember!) He is quite a tornado of creativity.
I am opening this blog up to incorporate the "spoken word." I have a YouTube page where I post music I have recorded. I have done many interviews for this blog in the last 6 years, but the one thing I don't like is the process of transcribing the interview...it takes me forever. So I recorded my Zoom conversation with John and am going to share it here. It is not produced nor edited...I don't know how to do that yet. At one point, I realized my computer was not plugged in, so I had to dive under the desk to find the power chord and plug it back in. But what the hell. It is honest and authentic. I hope you enjoy it.
I like to share examples of classical music being used in popular media. The problem lately for me has been that except for sports, I don't watch much TV, so I am probably missing quite a bit. But I did catch this one the other day...a commercial for Squarespace. The music here is from the first movement of Mendelssohn's Fourth Symphony, known as the Italian Symphony (1833).
My Dad, whom I have spoken of many times here, had the gift of being able to hear music...let me unpack this a bit. There's a difference between playing music and making music. Musicians who play notes are not necessarily "making music." They may just be playing notes. That's the easy part. Turning those notes on the page into an emotional connection...or reaction...is a different thing, and can be elusive. My dad appreciated anyone or any ensemble who could make music, at any level of proficiency. He would come to my school orchestra concerts with open ears and an open heart, ready to have the music speak to him. Clunky notes, shaky entrances, or wobbly tempos did not stand in the way of him recognizing a sincere attempt to say something musical. He was patient and thoughtful, and when I came out to meet him after a performance, knowing that we had sucked on a technical level, he would be smiling ear to ear, happy to share that we had "made music" despite any of the aforementioned imperfections. On another occasion, we went to see the world famous Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1988 at Orchestra Hall. The best musicians in the world....the greatest repertoire. And on this night...believe it or not...nothing magical happened, The notes were perfectly played. The sound was perfect. But for some unexplainable reason, we were not moved. Something was missing. So I learned to be open to hearing music anywhere and everywhere. A dingy blues bar...a honkytonk country bar, or a middle school gymnasium, are all places you may hear something special. Be open and ready. And for the record, we did go back to Orchestra Hall to hear the CSO the next night, and they blew the roof off the joint...which they usually do. Even the CSO can have a bad night.
If I had to tell you what piece of music I have probably listened to the most over the past 40 years, it would likely be "It's for You" by Pat Metheny. It was featured in the 1984 film Fandango, a great "off the beaten path" movie that I still love that was Kevin Costner's first starring role. The tune is from the 1981 album called "As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls," a collaboration between Pat Metheny and keyboardist Lyle Mays. This music has penetrated my DNA. The entire album is a true masterpiece.
Happy 2021 to you, and thank you for reading my blog. I have been doing this since February of 2014, so almost my 7 year anniversary. I still love listening to and playing music more than ever. And I still feel passionate about sharing it with others. This year I plan to introduce more videos via my YouTube channel where I am able to talk about, share, and play music. Stay tuned. 2020 was a very challenging and difficult year for many people. I hope that we all have good health and joyful times ahead in 2021. And a lot of great music too.
I finished 2020 listening to Bruckner's 9 symphonies in order. I know them all very well, but I never get tired of them. This go round yielded an even deeper appreciation for his music. Number 6 has taken the top spot currently as my favorite of his symphonies. But Nos 1-3, so often overlooked, also emerged as very enjoyable works that I was not as familiar with. If you are looking for a place to start with Bruckner, I still recommend his 4th symphony.
I also finished 2020 with a deep dive into Schubert. I listened to all of his string quartets in order 1-15. No particular favorite, but his later quartets rival Beethoven's in my opinion. Take that dive....you won't regret it.
I was reading a biography about Prokofiev recently, and one excerpt really hit home. Prokofiev, and his wife Lina, came to the United States in 1930 and met Arturo Toscanini in New York. They attended a rehearsal and this happened:
""They watched, entranced, as the temperamental maestro would "break his batons and shout vergogna! (shame). At one point, Lina recalled, he stopped and made each violinist play a phrase from the Mozart symphony they were rehearsing. Finally he lost his temper, "grabbed is head and started pointing his finger at one of the violinists (apparently the first violinist) shouted at him and called him a 'shoemaker,' making him repeat the passage several times. Then, the violinists, who submitted without a murmur, played it together, and he calmed down."
I played violin in the Terre Haute Symphony while I was in college at Indiana State University from 1983-87. The conductor was Ramon E. Meyer. He was a fiery man who had very high standards and demanded perfection. It was never a question of when, but rather who he would make cry or humiliate during rehearsals with the same approach used by Toscanini. I remember being on the spot several times having to play a passage all alone in front of the entire orchestra. You never knew when he would blow up...and then you were were grilled. It was terrifying, but it made me a better player because it made me want to practice so I could play the music well enough to endure such an inquisition. Reading this section about Prokofiev brought back vivid memories.
We said good-bye to Eddie Van Halen in 2020. He was such a wonderful musician, and a true game-changer. He redefined what the electric guitar was all about and influenced everyone who has picked up a guitar since he burst on the scene in 1977. But what I remember most about him is his smile. This man who was blessed with such vast talent had a smile that illuminated the world. You could see how much fun he was having...and why not?!?? God bless his soul. Thank you Eddie for the joy and love you shared through your music.
Here's a great video for you to check out. About five years before Prokofiev watched Toscanini undress the first violins in New York, in 1925, Sweet Georgia Brown was composed by Ben Bernie. This tune is a standard in the world of jazz...I am sure you have heard it. Here is a great performance by an All Star band that includes, Wynton Marsalis, Marc O'Connor and Frank Vignola. I saw O'Connor and Vignola in Kansas City a few years ago and they tore the house down with their Hot Swing jazz concert.
