2008's "News of the Weird" in music

[The Big Ben]

This morning's fishwrap had a list of weird happenings in the world of music for 2008.

1. A fellow is so happy that he is named to the Julliard String Quartet that he promptly breaks his wrist...

2. Another fellow leaves the stage and then falls down a flight of stairs, landing on his Stradivarius, effectively ruining it even after an estimated $100K repair...

And there's more...

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/t ... cal25.html" target="_blank

[tubaguy9]

It IS John Cage, after all…

Exactly...Same guy who wrote 4'33"...
I'd like to try performing 4'33" on Tuba... That'd be fun.

[Kevin Hendrick]

Oh, man! If I could only be present for the performance of that Cage piece! Of course, I would be dead by the end of the exposition section… if there IS an exposition…

It IS John Cage, after all…

Six-hundred-thirty-nine years? Sheesh -- sounds more like an imposition than an exposition to me ...

[windshieldbug]

Oh, man! If I could only be present for the performance of that Cage piece! Of course, I would be dead by the end of the exposition section… if there IS an exposition…

It IS John Cage, after all…

Six-hundred-thirty-nine years? Sheesh -- sounds more like an imposition than an exposition to me ...

If you buy a ticket to the concert, are your kids and their kids allowed in for the finish? Can they use your stub, or do they have to get new tickets?

[Tuba Guy]

It IS John Cage, after all…

Exactly...Same guy who wrote 4'33"...
I'd like to try performing 4'33" on Tuba... That'd be fun.

I actually did that for an audition once. It was at summer camp, and I was guaranteed lead tuba in the band and orchestra, so I went into the audition room and told them "I will be playing for you today, the tuba solo version of 4'33""...
Needless to say, I got lead.

[ken k]

It IS John Cage, after all…

Exactly...Same guy who wrote 4'33"...
I'd like to try performing 4'33" on Tuba... That'd be fun.

If you want, I will gladly write an arrangement for you....
k

[JB]

It IS John Cage, after all…

Exactly...Same guy who wrote 4'33"...
I'd like to try performing 4'33" on Tuba... That'd be fun.

If you want, I will gladly write an arrangement for you....
k

Would it be in the original key?

[windshieldbug]

I'd like to try performing 4'33" on Tuba... That'd be fun.

If you want, I will gladly write an arrangement for you....
k

Would it be in the original key?

Yes, but there would probably be a lot of new material added

[TMurphy]

It IS John Cage, after all…

Exactly...Same guy who wrote 4'33"...
I'd like to try performing 4'33" on Tuba... That'd be fun.

I had a friend in college who actually bought the score to that piece. Inside the cover, under the title, it listed three movements, with the exact timing for each movement. Under each movement header, it just said, "TACET." He wanted to perform it, and another friend of mine begged to be his page turner.

[Tuba Guy]

My brass quintet/ear training/history/perfect pitch guy who knew anything bought it too.
He's now teaching at New England Conservatory and is a composer...though I'm not sure any of his stuff is that brilliant (profound? yes...amazing? yes...4'33"?..not quite)