Did You Say ETHEL? There’s only one question you can start with, when you interview the violist of a string quartet called ETHEL (yes, all caps). Ralph Farris: The name “ETHEL” comes from the film, Shakespeare in Love. The Bard was struggling to complete a play called, Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate’s Daughter. Hilarity ensued. Thank… Read More
Music For Writers: John Luther Adams – ‘To Become An Aeolian Harp Myself’
‘The Sheer Sensuous Pleasure Of Sound’ Having heard and re-heard the three movements of John Luther Adams’ The Wind in High Places many times in its new recording from Cold Blue Music, I knew exactly what I wanted to ask the composer about it. John Luther Adams His speed. These ineffable tempi. Like Robert Wilson’s… Read More
Music for Writers: JACK Quartet + Four áltaVoz Composers
‘The Ride Of Our Repertoire’ “What was that term you used? ‘Screechy?’” John Pickford Richards is laughing at me as he takes a question about how reachy — “not at all screechy, John,” I assure him — some of the music on the JACK Quartet’s new album may be for these artists. As personable a… Read More