Alexandra Gardner | Building Noises

One of the things I adore about the Baltimore Contemporary Museum’s Mobtown Modern concert series is how much thought and creativity directors Brian Sacawa and Erik Spangler put into the themes of the concerts. Of course there is a thread weaving the pieces on the program together, but what makes the concerts extra special are [...]

….because I think I may have died and gone to new music heaven. Are we still in DC???
(Jonathan gets full credit for the title of this post, btw)
Sadly I will be out of town for more than half of this glorious contemporary music week at the Kennedy Center, but you all better get over there [...]

We actually talk about these things! Place a group of artists together in a beautiful rural setting, provide optimal working conditions, amazing food, treat them in every way like gold, and the most amazing dialogue is bound to happen. Every artist here has inspired, surprised, challenged and delighted me in one way or another – [...]

It’s totally 150% cliche, but… I love New York! Honestly. When I’m there I buy into the frenzy and run around from meeting to meeting to friend visit to concert to meeting to another friend visit to whatever else comes up to….! I always return to DC completely exhausted and oversensitized and inspired and buzzing [...]

Already the leaves are changing big time in Maine!! I always feel clearer after a trip up north – like I’ve been internally realigned. Maybe it’s the air…or the lobster!
The concert in Baltimore went very well! Full house, good music. I particularly enjoyed Ingram Marshall’s Sea Tropes – his music, which is very sparse and [...]

Thanks to Bernard for pointing me to his video on the New York Philharmonic website. That our musical institutions are providing a deeper look into the creative process through media and technology is a Very Good Thing. I like B.’s description of the significance of bells and how that plays out in the piece he [...]

Those years working in public radio have finally come in handy! My podcast, or rather Mobcast, is available on the Mobtown Modern website, and on iTunes. It’s a little tour through my composition Tourmaline, which Brian Sacawa will be performing on Mobtown’s October 1 “Sound Ecology” program. Look forward to seeing you there!
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Here are a [...]

The onslaught of September reminds me that my “body clock” is still tuned far more to the academic year than the calendar year. Moving from summer to fall always feels like a Significant Event, and clearly I am not the only one in this boat, because suddenly the phone is ringing and the schedule is [...]

The wonderful Steve Smith has written a lovely profile of composer Kaija Saariaho, whose rising success is heartwarming. Her music has been a great inspiration to me for many years; it makes me think of the most finely wrought gold cloth, shimmering in moonlight. As a lefty, I especially like the extra bit Steve included [...]

This is turning into a deliciously summery summer, with plenty of exercise (jogging and tennis are my favorites!), fresh vegetables and fruit, spontaneous friend gatherings, sunsets watched from the roof deck.
I am heading out once more to North Carolina, this time for a little beach romp at Blackbeard’s home. Having spent nearly every summer of [...]