When in high school and college I was a music major. I have had a long and deep interest in music of all kinds. We grew up with “folk music” in the house. We lived not far from the KFAC broadcasting antenna and when I got a crystal radio the only station I could pick up was that one. At the time the station played only classical music. I would go to sleep with the earphones on, or hanging directly above, my pillow listening to the opening strains of Tchaikovsky’s piano concerto No.1 in B‑flat minor, Op. 23 which was the theme music of “The Gas Company Evening Concert”. I credit this with my interest in Western Classical Art music.
Here I’ll share thoughts about music and some of the music that has been important in my life.
performing
My parents told me often that they gave me a recorder when I was two years old and they were amazed that I was able to make melodies on it.
I’m amazed too… and, I don’t believe the story.
In any case, the recorder became “my voice” for much of my youth. And music became one of my primary modes of expression.
composing
When I was in high school I learned about Arnold Schoenberg and his Twelve-tone technique of composing. I went home and, created a few tone rows of my own and began composing.
I have had a couple of my own compositions performed:
- December 1968
- February 1969
I have had a composition published:
- שרק …for solo alto recorder
My brother and I had a radio program on KPFK in Los Angeles (which is described (slightly) in the “December 1968” link above).
our family’s music
When Avigail was born I asked my parents to make a recording of the lullabies they had sung to us. Finally, on July 4th, 1987, our mother recorded a tape. When she was about 90 years old Noam digitized the tape and I burnt it onto a CD.
