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Derek Reaban · 02-02-2007, 02:55 AM

Glenn,

A pretty good start on this! I hope you have a copy of the CD "An American Portrait" with James Thompson and Rebecca Wilt from the ITG several years ago.

If this would have been a "vinyl" album, I would have worn the grooves off of it by now (thank goodness for CDs and iPods!). I listened to the Ewazen and the Halsey Stevens on this CD everyday on my drive to and from work for months! I would suggest that you start flooding your musical mind with his sound.

As Manny suggested, "Let your instrument vibrate obnoxiously on each tone." Jim's sound on this album is literally ringing the bell off! Spend a lot of time with it and you will get this sound in your head.

There are several entrances where I feel you are waiting for the accompaniment instead of pushing ahead. You will fix this by listening to this CD everyday for a week. The excitement in this movement is generated by this urgency. When you sit back, it just loses the intensity. The several intonation issues and couple of cracked pitches will fix themselves when you are really hearing the music in your head. LIVE with this CD until you can't stop hearing this music in your head all the time.

Those slower, relaxed intake breaths that Manny suggested when you have the opportunity to take them are crucial. They will help your sound to ride on top of this more pressurized, energized air and add the intensity that you hear in Jim's sound. This will also allow you to explore the subtle dynamics without as much effort (it sounds like your softer dynamics are missing that intensity). Breathe! It will really help to sustain the energy.

Thanks for posting that. I always enjoy hearing the Ewazen! It's one of my favorites.

Take care,

02-02-2007, 02:55 AM	#7 (permalink)
Derek Reaban Mezzo Piano User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tempe, Arizona Posts: 616	Re: Ewazen second Glenn, A pretty good start on this! I hope you have a copy of the CD "An American Portrait" with James Thompson and Rebecca Wilt from the ITG several years ago. If this would have been a "vinyl" album, I would have worn the grooves off of it by now (thank goodness for CDs and iPods!). I listened to the Ewazen and the Halsey Stevens on this CD everyday on my drive to and from work for months! I would suggest that you start flooding your musical mind with his sound. As Manny suggested, "Let your instrument vibrate obnoxiously on each tone." Jim's sound on this album is literally ringing the bell off! Spend a lot of time with it and you will get this sound in your head. There are several entrances where I feel you are waiting for the accompaniment instead of pushing ahead. You will fix this by listening to this CD everyday for a week. The excitement in this movement is generated by this urgency. When you sit back, it just loses the intensity. The several intonation issues and couple of cracked pitches will fix themselves when you are really hearing the music in your head. LIVE with this CD until you can't stop hearing this music in your head all the time. Those slower, relaxed intake breaths that Manny suggested when you have the opportunity to take them are crucial. They will help your sound to ride on top of this more pressurized, energized air and add the intensity that you hear in Jim's sound. This will also allow you to explore the subtle dynamics without as much effort (it sounds like your softer dynamics are missing that intensity). Breathe! It will really help to sustain the energy. Thanks for posting that. I always enjoy hearing the Ewazen! It's one of my favorites. Take care, __________________ Derek Reaban Tempe, Arizona Last edited by Derek Reaban; 02-02-2007 at 10:48 AM.