In June I attended the 98th annual convention of the Music Teachers’ Association of California held in Riverside, California. The theme of the convention was “Celebrating the Music of America” and included lectures and performances of American music from the late nineteenth century through the twenty-first century.
I attended a contemporary music seminar that demonstrated a variety of musical styles and techniques and featured piano music by Emma Lou Diemer (b. 1927), Lowell Liebermann (b. 1961), Robert Muczybski (b. 1929), and music for wind ensemble by Andre Previn (b. 1929) and Paul Chihara (b. 1938). At a special concert the world premiere of Paul Chihara’s Fantasy Trio for violin/flute, cello, and piano was performed.
A lecture/performance featured composer Louis Gottschalk (1829-1869) who was born in New Orleans, studied in Paris, moved back to the United States, and spent his later life in South America. His “Union” Paraphrase de Concert (1862) quotes many melodies associated with the Civil War.
Other lectures focused on the life and music of Charles Ives (1874 – 1954), John Cage (1912 – 1992), George Crumb (b. 1929), and Aaron Copland (1900 – 1990).
In addition to American music, I also attended lectures and performances of music of the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Early Twentieth Century, and Contemporary periods of musical history. Included were” Baroque Dances in the Keyboard Works of J.S. Bach,” “The Rewards and Challenges of the Middle-period Beethoven Sonatas,” “Anton Bilotti: Burlesque Dance,” and “Memories of Glen Gould: His Technique and Artistry.”
The convention also included recitals and concerts by well-known artists.
Featured soloists were Gary Glaze, tenor with Kevin Fitz-Gerald, piano; Gary Gray, clarinet; Frank Almond, violin with Michael Schneider, piano; and Oxana Yablonskaya, piano. In addition to recitals by concert artists, there were also recitals performed throughout each day by students.
I also participated in a discussion of how music therapy affects the body and the brain. The elderly seem to benefit the most from therapy–especially Alzheimer and Parkinson’s patients.
The convention had much to offer musicians and music teachers. Because of the way the lectures and recitals are scheduled, it was easy and acceptable to attend a part or all of each of the presentations. I was therefore able to attend a part of most of the lectures and presentations of those that interested me. Since contemporary music is of great interest to me, this convention was a winner.
