blog | timelines...

i gave a presentation on the great composers yesterday at 317 main st.

coming off several non-stop weeks, i had to 'wing it'.. i had spoken with the guys coordinating all the workshops that were being given, and they asked me if there was 'anything i could talk about for an hour..?'

'well..' i said, 'i suppose i could give a talk about great composers and play a few things on violin..'

'great!!'

done deal.

i decided to start back as far as i could (3500 BC) and work though a timeline up to the present, giving some relative (though not necessarily musical) highlights along the way.  what else was going on in the world when Beethoven was composing? was Haydn's seclusion a blessing or a curse?  how is it that while the violin was undergoing it's peak in perfection of design and was reaching it's ultimate form in italy in 1690's (not to mention players like Vivaldi), we were burning 'witches' (i.e. innocent teenagers) at the stake right here in new england?

the whole thing makes for quite an extraordinary perspective on history, and i've decided to try and turn it into a full blown interactive lecture series.

umm..  

in all my spare time..