Michael AllenAug 10, 2019PaletteI'll admit that I'm a movie music nerd and a fan of the usual suspects (Williams, Horner, Howard, Zimmer, etc.). Some others on the less...
Michael AllenApr 3, 2019AtmosphereIn early 1914, Holst heard a performance of Schoenberg’s Five Pieces for Orchestra. This seminal experience along with a suggestion from...
Michael AllenMar 21, 2018Trumpets - a primerI've played on the same mouthpiece since I was in high school - my teacher handed me an old Conn Helleberg style mouthpiece when I was...
Michael AllenNov 9, 2017Bass DoublingI wrote something yesterday that was confusing even to me when I read it again today. Mea culpa. The offending sentence was: Wright notes...
Michael AllenSep 24, 2017Farnaby's ConceitThe Fitzwilliam Virginal Book comprises nearly 300 works composed for keyboard by notable English court composers from the time of Queen...
Michael AllenSep 15, 2017Breaking up the RomanceToo soon? I'm having too much fun with these titles. I promised to talk about the decision to transpose this movement of Robert...