I have always that thought that the legend of Sisyphus was an apt metaphor for all human endeavors especially creative ones. For those unfamiliar, Sisyphus is a character from Greek mythology who was doomed to push a boulder up a steep hill for eternity only to see it roll back down and therefore begin the frustratingly futile and laborious process […]
A pretty sure sign that your having “writers block” is when you commence making lists of your favorite compositions much like I did in my last blog. I have had “blocks” before and I don’t much let them upset me like I used to. S. J. Perelman (perhaps my favorite writer) explained them as being the natural consequence of having
Writers Block etc. Read More »
According to the BMI catalog (and they should know) I have written and recorded 233 songs thus far. This number surprised me a little but also got me to thinking on the subject. Of course many of the 233 pieces are forgotten even to me. So I thought I would compile a list of songs that I have written and
My original repertoire Read More »
I recently saw the film of the William Luce play “Barrymore.” Christopher Plummer reprises the central (and nearly only) character. The play depicts the great American actor John Barrymore in the last year of his life. Plummer, as usual, is great. My interest in the film is natural since I did see the play at the Music Box Theatre in
Barrymore (Christopher Plummer) Read More »
As I get older, and hopefully wiser, it has become apparent to me how the best solution to any given problem is simplicity. As a musician and writer of songs it has become self evident that the key to any memorable piece is the “tune.” Simplicity is a primary ingredient in this case but because the public has heard nearly
It’s about the “tune” Read More »
This is the central question I have pondered my entire life. It is (in my opinion) the central theme behind all theology, science and physics as well. Brevity and concision (my main two rules of musical construction) also derive from my drilling down on this essential and existential question. I am certain that my life’s vocation as a musician and