The "neo-classical" movement

“…simplification may be a necessity. The “neo-classical” movement had its inception in a reaction against over-complexity; but neo-classicists failed to see that the real necessity is to clarify the materials belonging to this age, not to attempt to return to the use of materials which not only have no specific relation to the present time, but were more perfectly handled by classical masters than is possible today. No renaissance in art has ever been entirely successful.”-

Henry Cowell-(New Musical Resources, 1930)

Check out the interview with purple witch of Culver.

Interesting name, don’t you think. This is a fairly new project based in Los Angeles with two very interesting people, Evan Taylor and Sarah Safaie. They have been putting out about one new single a month. Available on their band camp page

Purple Witch Culver

The interview is here…

Interview with songwriter, producer, Joe Henry, for Banjo Studio

It was a privilege to speak with with, Joe Henry. His work covers a lot of ground. The accomplishment is quite staggering. Through all that though, he has very lucid and articulate awareness of the work and the subjects and fields in which he is involved. He is also very philosophically engaging which makes for a great and special interview. He speaks a lot about music, producing, poetry, songwriting, literature, and other things too. Enjoy!

The Banjo Studio says:

Joe Henry is a prolific songwriter, guitarist, producer, and author. He has won multiple Grammy awards, has 15 studio albums under his own name, and has produced countless artist’s recordings. His production credits include Elvis Costello, Allen Toussaint, Rhiannon Giddens, Aarron Neville, Soloman Burke, and many, many more. 

This is a fascinating interview with one of the great creative forces in American music of our time. Listen to Joe Henry go into depth about his songwriting process, production process, and more. If you’re a fan of music of any kind you will enjoy and learn from this interview.

THE INTERVIEW IS HERE…

Interviewed by Jeff Albert for the Scratch my Brain podcast

Jeff Albert runs an intriguing podcast. He also recently ditched Facebook because he is better at being decisive about the losing direction than many. Jeff is a hell of a musician, educator, and music event conspirer. This series is worth listening to. But why not start with me as an induction.

It is different than the ones produced over here.

Here is the episode…

Podcast – “Here’s the thing…” a conversation with Jonathan Freilich

The Language of Music: Jonathan Freilich

Before the month is out, I should remember to say a few words about this on the website.

Offbeat put some words in on the subject of the interviews.  Really the first they have printed about my musical endeavors since the 90s.

Laura DeFazio wrote the article.  When she did the interview I had no idea what it was for, so I was pleasantly surprised to get a mention in the current climate.  It was also nice speaking to Elsa Hahn while she shot the portrait pictured here.

Elsa Hahn

Here is the article...

The Itunes podcast, 'Interviews with notable New Orleans musicians' is back

Go directly to the new feed...

The itunes feed was down for some time while this site was revamped.  Now the old interviews are slowly going back up.  The podcast was initially conceived to ask deeper questions of musicians than what the standard music press, in its often genre-based, marketing centric, 'false-omniscience', tends to presume.  When these interviews  started several years ago, I had a distinct sense that musical awareness and interest was perhaps declining because questions were not being asked.  Things may actually have gotten even worse in music journalism than a few years ago when these interviews started.  

If you are interested in New Orleans's musical drivers plow on.  There are many that I haven't had the opportunity to interview yet but I hope to.  I try not to bias specific groups or styles but I have only had access to these figures so far.  Connections are unintentional as far as preference goes but sometimes it does expose a network or community which is of interest.

The podcast features notable figures that relate in some way to the current vibrancy of the New Orleans music scene and community.  It seeks to form a dialogue between ideas and motivations behind the music and the relationship of those ideas to the sound artifact being presented.  The podcast also addresses what the audiences' state of understanding is about the music and whether understanding is relevant to the "success" of the musical artwork at all.  

The real podcast had to be slightly renamed because of obscure problems with the iTunes store.  If you search and find two podcasts under the name, Jonathan Freilich,  the operational one will be 'Interviews with notable New Orleans musicians'  The podcast features the material from this site's 'Interviews with Musicians' page and showcases in depth interviews with well known and lesser known contributors to New Orleans musical life. To get there on itunes click here...

Observation

"Truly fertile Music, the only kind that will move us, that we shall truly appreciate, will be a Music conducive to a Dream, which banishes all reason and analysis.  One must not wish first to understand and then to feel.  Art does not tolerate Reason."

-Albert Camus 1932

This from Johann Sebastian Bach

What if he's right?

"The thorough bass is the most perfect foundation of music. It is played with both hands on a keyboard instrument in such a way that the left hand plays the written notes, while the right hand strikes consonances and dissonances, so that this results in full-sounding Harmonie to the honour of God and the permissable delight of the soul.  The ultimate or final goal of all music, including the thorough-bass shall be nothing but for the honour of God and the renewal of the soul.  Where these factors are not taken into consideration, there is no true music, rather, a devilish bawling and droning."

- J.S. Bach in Precepts and Principles for playing the thorough-bass or accompanying in four parts.

 

Promotion, and music sales early 20c style

Music-Poetry?Music-Poetry!Music...Poetry...Music...

"All poetry comes into being in respect to its sounds, tormented into perfection or near-perfection by the logical and prosaic resistance of language in response to the disturbance of occasion."- Mary Kinzie from A Poet's Guide to Poetry

It could just as easily be about music with a couple of noun re-arrangements.

Interviews Podcast is up on itunes

You may find it easier to listen this way. Check it out!

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/interviews-with-musicians/id437164924