http://tuckermusicworks.com/blog.html Christopher Tucker: Blog Jannis' PHPRss class - http://www.jannis.to/ Thu, 12 Aug 2010 22:19:14 -0700 http://tuckermusicworks.com/blog.html/short_summer_flashback_and_making_major_website_changes
The summer has been busy and, in the tradition of Texas culture, HOT!!! Much of my summer's attention has been on the Lone Star Wind Orchestra - recording a half disc in June (none of my music on this session; the group recorded three fine works including Turina's "La Procession du Rocio") and a performance at the Texas Bandmasters Association convention in July (performing to over 3500 attendees). Eugene Corporon commanded the group, Frank Ticheli and Fred Hamilton were star guest artists, and the LSWO musicians played the best they have ever played. The LSWO Clarinet Choir (a group I conduct) performed at the International Clarinet Association convention in Austin and turned some heads (in a good way). Kim and I enjoyed the summer, but its back to the grind.

To start off the Fall, I am focusing on updating my website. It needs it...badly. I have new works needing to be added, I have expired links needing to be refreshed, and there are new tools and functions to add that are quite exciting. Many of my composer buds including Steven Bryant are doing some great web design, so I thought it was time to join the club. At this point, the site has a new web design look and a number of pages have been modified. I am extremely proud of a new social banner that I created and added to the head code of each web page (it's at the top of each web page and it took me hours to create).

The next step (especially for those who have an RSS feed on my rarely used blog) is to transfer my journal entries to blog posts. This will take some time and in the end, the journal page will go away. You will receive a large number of RSS feeds in the next week. Prepare!

I truly hope you like the new changes. If there's anything new I could add to enhance my site, let me know.]]> http://tuckermusicworks.com/blog.html/short_summer_flashback_and_making_major_website_changes Thu, 12 Aug 2010 19:08:56 -0700 Tucker Music Works - Christopher Tucker - Blog http://tuckermusicworks.com/blog.html/gulf_breezes_on_wind_and_rhythm_tonight
Episode 79: Rivers, Pools, Storms, and Fountains

"A recent article in "Listen, Life with Classical Music" quoted a friend of mine, Mark Morette proclaiming his Roman Trilogy is the best band CD ever! I know and trust him and so we'll hear from him and from the album this week. Also we finally find a way to get all of the BCM composers into one show; Whitacre, Bryant, Newman, and Bonney. This show might be a perfect one if it chooses to rain while you listen. We hope you can join us this week.

By the Rivers of Babylon: Ed Huckeby
The Rivers of the Bowery: Jonathan Newman
Reflections in a Tidal Pool: James Bonney
Ecstatic Waters (Ceremony of Innocence): Steven Bryant
Cloudburst: Eric Whitacre
The Fountains of Rome: Ottorino Respighi
Gulf Breezes, Kt 14/2: Christopher Tucker
Ye Banks and Braes o’ Bonnie Doon: Percy Grainger

The program is available tonight on KWTU Classical 88.7 in Tulsa at 7pm on Sunday.

And, if you're out of the listening area, you can listen to the broadcast on the internet. Just go to our website www.windandrhythm.com and click on the "listen live" button on the front page. It will open the Public Radio Tulsa site where you can choose from the second group (KWGS is listed first) but the correct choices are listed as Classical 88.7, KWTU. There are three choices depending on your computer and software preference.

So, please join us and bring along a friend who loves band music!

Doug Brown, host
Wind and Rhythm"]]> http://tuckermusicworks.com/blog.html/gulf_breezes_on_wind_and_rhythm_tonight Sun, 21 Mar 2010 19:06:24 -0700 Tucker Music Works - Christopher Tucker - Blog http://tuckermusicworks.com/blog.html/a_tour_down_the_niagarain_texas
Last week, I worked with the third band at Mesquite High School. They were a fine band and responded well to instruction. They adapted quickly and even helped me with new ideas on how to interpret the piece. A highlight of this clinic was the opportunity to work with their director, Melissa H. Behne. We had history before we even got started as her mother was my Spanish teacher in high school...in Columbus, GA. What a pleasure it was to meet Mrs. Harding's daughter in an artistic collaboration a half a nation away here in Texas.

Next week, I am working with two middle schools on "Journey down Niagara" and cannot wait to see what they bring to the table. It looks to be a great week next week followed with a trip to Ithaca, NY for a residency with Horseheads High School and Ithaca College for the world premiere of my "Cement 13."]]> http://tuckermusicworks.com/blog.html/a_tour_down_the_niagarain_texas Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:07:18 -0700 Tucker Music Works - Christopher Tucker - Blog http://tuckermusicworks.com/blog.html/danzas_de_viento_es_muy_bueno http://tuckermusicworks.com/blog.html/danzas_de_viento_es_muy_bueno Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:07:48 -0800 Tucker Music Works - Christopher Tucker - Blog http://tuckermusicworks.com/blog.html/heat_seeps_out_in_the_season_of_cold http://tuckermusicworks.com/blog.html/heat_seeps_out_in_the_season_of_cold Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:09:35 -0800 Tucker Music Works - Christopher Tucker - Blog http://tuckermusicworks.com/blog.html/shopping_for_a_shower_head
After being dismayed by the lack of insulation products from the hordes of customers before me buying them out, I found myself in the plumbing section looking at showerheads. Not sure why; maybe because I longed for a massage after a long day or maybe I was thirsty. No matter the reason, I was thrown back by the massive selection available to me. Each showerhead was different. You had your basic old-y, but goody, showerheads that imitate a rain shower and even ones with tentacle-like hoses and sprays. Then there's the middle of the choice pool with multiple settings, 3, 5, 7 - like pulsating massage, concentrated center powerspray, fine mist, massaging swirl, refreshing spray, etc. The list goes on. And then there's the mythical, kind-of "World of Warcraft" character brand names - like the elegant maiden "Waterpick," the hunter "Delta," and the wizard "Moen." So many choices, it drove me to the brink of crazy. I wished Kim was there shopping with me to sort it all out. At this point, I just wanted something new that sprayed water.

By the time I made it home with my new showerhead, I realized that I had no opportunity to install it because of the impending artic blast. To install a showerhead, it's always a good idea to shut off the water before removing the old head. And for subfreezing temperatures, I need the water on and dripping to keep the pipes from freezing.

I guess I'll wait a week to enjoy the new Tucker rain shower...with multiple settings including the basic spray...with an additional tentacle-like hose. HEY!...I couldn't decide, so I just bought a showerhead that had it all. Easy decision, right?]]> http://tuckermusicworks.com/blog.html/shopping_for_a_shower_head Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:10:11 -0800 Tucker Music Works - Christopher Tucker - Blog http://tuckermusicworks.com/blog.html/youtube_heaven Journey down Niagara seems to be a popular YouTube video upload.

Recently, I uploaded live performances with myself conducting "Anunkasan, the Sky Spirit" and "Earth, the Gentlest Mother." I am particularly proud of "Earth" and hope you'll take the time to listen to it and let me know what you think.

Plus, if you were unable to attend the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic and hear the Dobyns-Bennett High School Symphonic Band perform my "Gabrieli's Trumpet." It's available to see on YouTube through my site. They did a great job!

My YouTube site is http://www.youtube.com/user/tuckermusicworks. Subscribe to my site if you have a YouTube account. Enjoy!]]> http://tuckermusicworks.com/blog.html/youtube_heaven Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:11:08 -0800 Tucker Music Works - Christopher Tucker - Blog http://tuckermusicworks.com/blog.html/gabrielis_trumpet_at_midwest_2009 Gabrieli's Trumpet by the Dobyns-Bennett High School Symphonic Band directed by Lafe Cook. "Gabs" has seen a number of high exposure performances of which I'm honored, including Texas Bandmasters Association (TBA), American Bandmasters Association (ABA), World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) and now, Midwest (all that is left is for a group to perform the piece at a CBDNA convention...anyone?).

Kim and I flew up on Thursday morning, which is a first in a long time (we usually fly up on Tuesday a part of Southern Music Company, setting up the booth, etc.), but because of a shift in the company's focus, we came in later and represented Shattinger Music Company as they were selling Gabrieli's Trumpet. Thanks, Jim.

The Doybns-Bennett Symphonic Band consists of great kids and marvelous performers. Along with my friends and colleagues, Andrew Tucker, Bruce Moss, Sam Hazo and Timothy Mahr, we were able to attend the dress rehearsal.




They were primed with "Gabs" energy and all set to storm the Midwest Clinic stage.




The concert was Friday at 10 AM and was even broadcasted on Chicago's classical radio station, WFMT. Along with Gabrieli's Trumpet, the concert included Timothy Mahr's concert opener Blue Sky Day, Sam Hazo's exotic Arabesque and Alfred Reed's Russian Christmas Music. I've been to the Midwest Clinic a number of years and I gotta tell you, this concert was one of the best - well-programmed and well-performed.



(Me, Lafe Cook, Timothy Loest, Sam Hazo)

After the concert, I met my gender opposite - Chris Tucker, a wind conductor from Nebraska. I have run into her from time to time on my google searches, so it was pleasure to meet her in person. I look forward to the "All-Tucker" program with works by Tucker, conducted by Tucker!!!




A shout out to friend and fellow composer, John Mackey, for taking home the NBA Revelli award and ABA Ostwald award for his work, "Aurora Awakes." I am quite taken with the work along with his "Kingfishers Catch Fire" and the awards are well-deserved. Congratulations, John!

Note: The Lone Star Wind Orchestra plans to perform "Aurora Awakes" this April and again in July at the TBA convention in San Antonio. Check the group out and hopefully we'll see you at a LSWO concert.]]> http://tuckermusicworks.com/blog.html/gabrielis_trumpet_at_midwest_2009 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:12:57 -0800 Tucker Music Works - Christopher Tucker - Blog http://tuckermusicworks.com/blog.html/midwest_clinic_performance_of_gabrielis_trumpet www.wfmt.com, follow their instructions for listening live, and you can hear the performance from anywhere in the world. Let me know what you think.]]> http://tuckermusicworks.com/blog.html/midwest_clinic_performance_of_gabrielis_trumpet Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:13:46 -0800 Tucker Music Works - Christopher Tucker - Blog http://tuckermusicworks.com/blog.html/lone_star_wind_orchestra__all_the_good_things_this_spring
We are in our fourth season and this spring the organization will present four exhilarating concerts from chamber music like Dvorak's Serenade for Winds, a Latino cultural concert with works like Turina's La Procession du Rocio to a remarkable program inspired by Angels featuring composer Frank Ticheli. Plus, the organization will unveil the newly-formed LSWO Youth Winds, a honor group featuring some of the best high school student musicians in the DFW area, led by their conductor, Dr. Bradley Kent.

Why am I telling you this? Well, if you're a band lover, you gotta check them out. A premier wind band in two world-class halls led by the cream-of-the-crop conductor. ...plus, I'm working on Lone Star Wind Orchestra stuff right now and I thought I'd boast for a minute. Well, back to work.

BTW, check out the Lone Star Wind Orchestra at http://www.lonestarwindorchestra.com. Become a Facebook fan at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lone-Star-Wind-Orchestra/205720865003.]]> http://tuckermusicworks.com/blog.html/lone_star_wind_orchestra__all_the_good_things_this_spring Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:14:57 -0800 Tucker Music Works - Christopher Tucker - Blog