From an article in the Huffington Post:
A case study presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology shows that it’s possible to develop allergic pulmonary disease, known as “Saxophone Lung,” in response to the mold that collects over time in woodwind instruments. Saxophone Lung is really a type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, which is the inflammation of the lung tissue, according to the Mayo Clinic.
So, clean your horns out every now and then guys!
Launch Equity Acquires MakeMusic:
Today, MakeMusic announced that Launch Equity will purchase the company. You can read MakeMusic’s press release here. Launch Equity proposed the buyout last July (July 15, 2012), with the intent of taking the company private and then investing money into the company for a new CEO as well as updating software (particularly Finale’s base code).
(Via Technology in Music Education)
This is great news considering Avid is falling off a cliff and the development team of Sibelius was sacked and have started a new project with Steinberg.
However, this did crop up. Seems everyone isn’t happy about this.
“SAN FRANCISCO, CA (February 28, 2013) – The San Francisco Symphony is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Principal Oboist William Bennett. Mr. Bennett had been hospitalized since Saturday, February 23, 2013, after suffering a brain hemorrhage during his performance of the Strauss Oboe Concerto with the San Francisco Symphony at Davies Symphony Hall.”
Another Jazz Legend has left the house.
Dave Brubeck, jazz legend, dies at 91 – latimes.com:
Dave Brubeck, the jazz pianist, composer and bandleader behind the legendary Dave Brubeck Quartet, has died at age 91.
(Via www.latimes.com)
Jim Snidero’s new site: jazzimprovisation.com:
Jim Snidero’s new site, jazzimprovisation.com, is now live. The site offers a variety of instructional videos on jazz improvisation, features top New York players, and uses cutting-edge technology.
(Via UNT Division of Jazz Studies)
I heard about this on the Klarinet list this morning, and now it is verified. Sad. He made and complied a lot of wonderful things.
Himie Voxman (1912-2011)
Influential music educator and longtime University of Iowa faculty member Himie Voxman has passed away at the age of 99. If you are a woodwind player, you have almost certainly used, at some point in your musical studies, something written or edited by Professor Voxman.
Check out the Iowa City Press-Citizen’s tribute for a nice overview of his life and career.
(Via Bret Pimentel, woodwinds)
Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes.
The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them.
About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They invent. They imagine. They heal. They explore. They create. They inspire. They push the human race forward.
Maybe they have to be crazy.
How else can you stare at an empty canvas and see a work of art? Or sit in silence and hear a song that’s never been written? Or gaze at a red planet and see a laboratory on wheels?
We make tools for these kinds of people.
While some see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.
I think this would be a GREAT idea for all makers of Oboes to do.
“For the last two years I have been working with the oboe maker Howarth of London on the redesign of some of the key-work of the oboe. The aim has been to develop an oboe which is specifically designed for the performance of contemporary repertoire. The photos here and the description below offers an overview of the new instrument.”
Seems that the Philadelphia Orchestra, the same orchestra under the baton of Stokowski recorded the soundtrack to Fantasia 70 years ago, is filing for Chapter 11 and is going to reorganize.
Well, it is sad, but what is even more sad is that people don’t seem to care. Gas prices are on the rise thanks to yet another military action (which seems to be quagmiring), unemployment is still high, and we are facing proposed tax hikes. So, the same people who might have given some money to keep the Orchestra alive are now going to have to give the money to the government for all the politicians to decide on what to use it for.
It is great to live in America……this wasn’t the change I voted for.
Over December, my sites were hit with a TON of spam users registering. And they post stories about viagra for sale and whatnot. I decided to purge any users without any comments or posts, and implement a CAPTCHA for new registrations to help cut down on the spam.
Thanks for understanding.
