Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman

The focus of this episode is violinist Winston Webber’ss wonderful book “ Best Seat in the House: love letters to a profession” and you’ll be hearing Winston read from the book, and share memories with us of musicians such as Pinchas Zukerman, Karl Ancerl, Ida Haendel and Greta Kraus. He also shared his experiences of violin lessons with Lorand Fenyves and conducting lessons with Sixten Ehrling, many moving experiences on tours, and insights into composers. We also exchanged ideas about programming and concert presentation, and his experience of quitting the Toronto Symphony to go to University of Toronto to study pre-med science while conducting several orchestras, before he borrowed a violin to change directions again to audition for NACO. Winston has been my colleague for decades, and has recently retired from his position as Assistant Principal Second Violin of Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra (NACO). Show notes with the book, suggested episodes, newsletter sign-up, podcast merch, podcast version, transcript: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/winston-webber(00:00) Intro(02:47) “Best Seat in the House”(09:22) Helmuth Rilling(12:32) CBC radio, NACO, Pinchas Zukerman, Trevor Pinnock, Mario Bernardi(16:33) advice for conductors, John Storgårds(21:17) reading from the book Sir Henry Wood, Musicians’ Chapel, Winston’s father (29:16) childhood love of orchestra in Detroit (31:34) decision to leave Toronto Symphony Orchestra to apply to medical school (38:07) reading from the book about Karel Ančerl(46:52) other linked episodes with many NACO musicians(47:56) conducting lessons with Sixten Ehrling, borrowing a violin to audition for NACO(54:26) Steven Staryk, Lorand Fenyves(57:19) prominent musicians Detroit, Jewish refugees(01:04:05) Ida Haendel (01:10:18) concert hall as a safe space, connecting with audiences (01:18:29) Michael Steinberg, the essence of the book(01:26:04) J.S. Bach (01:27:46) Flentrop organs at the NAC from the Dutch community(01:30:32) structure of the book, highlighting final section, Salisbury Cathedral concert (01:34:24) tour to Japan 1985 (01:40:38) Greta Kraus

The composer Stanley Grill joins me for a conversation about his beautiful compositions with a focus on some of his award-winning albums including The Mystic Trumpeter and Two Symphonies. Every composer’s path is unique and I was curious to learn about his personal career and creative choices which have sometimes gone counter to what people expect of a composer, and why his accidental career outside of music helped him in many ways. You’ll hear about some of his formative experiences and influences, including the legacy of Abby Whiteside’s piano pedagogy, the songs of Charles Ives, and some interesting lesser known composers he’s been researching including Gernsheim and Mayakovsky. All the music you’ll hear is Stanley Grill’s and is linked on his web site including scores. ALL THE LINKS! Show notes take you to Stanley's music, scores, suggested episodes, podcast merch, newsletter sign up, YouTube video version, transcript on my blog, and how you can support this independent podcast. (00:00) Intro(01:30) The Mystic Trumpeter with clips, Walt Whitman(09:04) Schenker and the importance of musical architecture, Abby Whiteside(15:47) Two Symphonies album with clip of 4th mvt Symphony for Peace music for peace project (19:48) writing for brass, Bruckner orchestration, Summer with clip of 3rd mvt(22:43) Stanley’s contrapuntal style, emphasis on getting his music recorded(28:57) chamber music including string trios with clip of Sinfonia 4, tribute to Bach(31:26) childhood love of music(34:50) suggested episodes and ways to follow and support this independent podcast(35:36) Abby Whiteside pedagogy(40:03) Charles Ives, Mahler, studying composition, decision to get a job outside of music(46:17) New York Transit Authority and other work outside music(54:14) Symphony of Sighs with clip (58:15) family background, Gernsheim, Mayaskovski, AI scraping blog post, composing

Andrew Arceci is an Early Music Specialist who performs on the viol family and is also a founding member of Floyds Row ensemble. You’ll be hearing music excerpted from their new album The Carlisle Sessions and also from Andrew’s earlier album with soprano Elizabeth Hungerford Love and Lust of wonderful music from the 16th and 17th centuries. Andrew also speaks about the tragic loss of his father, a prominent paediatric oncologist and how Andrew established the remarkable Winchendon Music Festival in Massachusetts, which features series of free concerts of jazz, early music, classical, and world music with established artists.It was fascinating to learn about Andrew’s path from jazz and classical bass to art history and early music scholarship which he studied at the Peabody Conservatory, The Julliard School and the University of Oxford. Andrew got into some fascinating specifics about the intricacies of reading different forms of notation while playing in different temperaments on many different instruments. On a personal note, he shared the joys of his nomadic life with his wife the violinist Asako Takeuchi, and some of the experiences they have shared living in Italy and Japan with their children.For Andrew's projects, the music featured in this episode, other suggested episodes, YouTube video, transcript, podcast merch, newsletter and more: All the links(00:00) Intro(02:34) Italian heritage(03:23) Floyds Row “The Carlisle Sessions” with clips from tracks 1, 5, 2(12:20) Andrew’s art history background, discovering early music and viol family(18:37) Floyds Row “The Carlisle Sessions” with clips from track 3, and 4, balancing family life, George Lernis percussion(23:25) background in jazz, improv elements in early music, lute tablature, continuo(27:25) Winchendon Music Festival, loss of his father(36:20) Love and Lust with Elizabeth Hungerford with clips of Tobacco, Death, Life(44:38) suggested episodes and ways to support this podcast(45:35) Hume, Mark Cudek, Love and Lust project with clip of Amarilli track 5(48:21) viola da gamba and viol family with clip of She Loves it Well and Chi Passa Per ‘sta Strada(01:00:28) languages, Japan, Italy(01:05:11) composing and arranging, music direction, art, Floyd’s Row(01:14:35) balancing touring, projects and home life

Rupert Guenther is an Australian improvising violinist and pedagogue. Some of the music you’ll be hearing is excerpted from his 5 albums commissioned from the ABC. You’ll hear stories from his varied career, in both Australia and Vienna, and influences and mentors from Melvyn Cann, Terje Moe Hansen, Igor Ozim and Allan Zavod. He shares his approach to creating fully improvised music as a classically trained violinist and how he teaches his students to ground their playing with his reflective approach.You can also watch the video on my YouTube. Have a look at the show notes of this episode on my website, where you’ll find all the links, including different ways to support this podcast, and other episodes you’ll enjoy: All the links!photo: Anne Errey(00:00) Intro(01:43) Guildhall experience with clip of track 2 from New Letters to Esterhazy Sonata I(07:09) Terje Moe Hansen, Rupert’s first teachers(11:50) ABC commissions, remembering Melvyn Cann with clips track 3 and 1 from Sonata I The Moxbournienna Sonatas(19:03) playing with amplification with clip Sticks and Branches from Amplified Soundscapes for solo violin, benefits of improv(24:30) Igor Ozim, Brian Finlayson, Helfried Fister, Vienna(39:17) linked episodes and ways to support this independent podcast(40:30) Rolling Stones, Melbourne exposure to global music with clip of track 2 The Moxbournienna Sonata I(46:33) how busking helped connect with audiences with clip “Meeting Lao Tau from New Sacred Music vol. 2(52:03) approach to teaching, getting over stage fright through improvisation, Conservatorium of Intuitive Music, with clip of track 4 New Letters to Esterhazy Sonata I(01:07:32) Allan Zavod(01:23:52) Cosmology projects, teaching improvisation(01:23:52) meditation and teaching

Ashley Kahn is a Grammy-winning music historian, author, professor and producer. He joins me to discuss his wonderful new book, Days of Miracle and Wonder: Paul Simon and the Trials and Triumphs of Graceland. You’ll hear about Joseph Shabalala and Ladysmith Black Mambazo, with whom Ashley toured, and many of the musicians who helped define the Graceland sound, including Bakithi Kumalo, Ray Phiri, producer Ray Halee and insights into Paul Simon’s songwriting process. You’ll hear Ashley read several excerpts from the book and reflect on how Graceland the album and later as a touring project affected the musicians living under Apartheid, and also those in exile like Hugh Masekela. He also speaks about several of his other projects including his books about the music of Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane and as co-writer of Carlos Santana’s award-winning autobiography “The Universal Tone: Bringing My Story to Light “. A recipient of many awards and honours, Ashley has a broad and fascinating career in the music industry and is a professor at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU TISCH. In the show notes, there’s a gallery of photos, so you may want to check those out. All the links in the show notes! You can also watch the video on my YouTube, the show notes also linked several suggested episodes. (00:00) Intro (03:17) Paul Simon, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Joseph Shabalala(11:37) Ashley reading from “Days of Miracle and Wonder” about Paul Simon’s songwriting process(13:56) Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Isicathamiya, Apartheid (20:01) defining sounds of Graceland, Bakithi Kumalo fretless bass, Isaac Mtshali, Vusi Khumalo, Ray Phiri(24:34) Ashley reading from “Days of Miracle and Wonder” about what makes an album a classic(26:42) Paul Simon’s lyrics (33:14) Ashley reading from “Days of Miracle and Wonder” about Paul Simon(34:00) Verna Gillis(37:11) Lorne Michaels, Ladysmith Black Mambazo on Saturday Night Live, Ray Halee(47:54) suggested episodes and ways to support and follow this podcast(49:11) cultural boycott, anti-Apartheid movement and Graceland(58:40) Ashley’s career as a music historian and author, Miles Davis, John Coltrane (01:05:50) Carlos Santana with Ashley reading from “The Universal Tone”(01:14:13) professor at NYU, advice for his students and young musicians