Just got back from a road trip to Cornell, where Nick, Hannah, Becca and I played in an all-Gorbos concert. Steve Gorbos is a great composer and a seriously cool guy. The concert was actually his DMA recital, meaning he is now Herr Doktor Professor Gorbos. My group played two quartets: Bridges, a piece from a few years ago that’s one of my favorites, and a new one called Footprints which, if possible, is even more tender and beautiful. You can listen to Bridges at Steve’s website; here’s hoping our performance of Footprints goes up there soon. [UPDATE: IT'S UP!!!]
I’d never been to Ithaca before. There’s some quality about upstate New York (and the more remote parts of New England) that is simultaneously depressing and exalting; I can’t quite pin it down but I think it has something to do with the light and the shape of the landscape and the falling-downiness of all the buildings. Though Cornell looks to be in good shape. The campus is very insular, unlike Yale’s, where even when you’re surrounded by university buildings, you still feel like you’re in the city of New Haven. We played in a strange, T-shaped hall that creaked loudly with every gust of wind. The green room was furnished with some interesting old keyboard instruments, all in perfect playing condition, and an old green-naugahyde Eames sofa. I couldn’t decide which I wanted to strap to the roof of my car!
Right now I am off to lunch with my composer friends before we all disperse for the summer. I will be staying put in the Elm City, moving to a new apartment come June, working on several new pieces under uncomfortable deadlines, and also helping out in the recording studio, scavenging for old furniture, and attempting to grow loquats from seed. I’m also trying to learn Dreamweaver by working on a website redesign. Anyone passing through should call up and distract me.