Albuquerque, NM

Internationally renowned Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho makes her Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival debut this 2008 as one of four contemporary composers co-commissioned by Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival to write a new work for the coming season. Recently named Musical America’s Composer of the Year 2008, Ms. Saariaho is known for her works involving electronics. A beneficiary of Finland’s remarkable musical education system, she is among the few contemporary composers to achieve public acclaim as well as universal critical respect.

Born in Helsinki in 1952, Ms. Saariaho studied at the Sibelius Academy with the pioneering modernist Paavo Heininen, and at the Musikhochschule in Freiburg with Brian Ferneyhough and Klaus Huber. Ms. Saariaho also studied at the Darmstadt summer courses, and at the IRCAM research institute in Paris, France. Through IRCAM, Ms. Saariaho became allied with the French ‘spectralist” composers, whose techniques are based on computer analysis of the sound-spectrum of individual notes on different instruments. Since then, the computer has been an important part of her composing technique.

Ms. Saariaho’s works for orchestra and chamber ensembles are numerous, and she has over fifty CDs to her credit, comprised of CDs featuring her works only, as well as recordings on which her works appear. She has had commissions from such major orchestras as Cleveland, Boston, New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Berlin and Paris, and also has taken part in several multimedia productions, including a full-length ballet, Maa, and a CD-Rom project entitled “Prisma” about her work. In recent years, Ms. Saariaho has composed for opera. In 2000 her first opera, L’Amour de loin, premiered at the Salzburg Festival. In 2004, her second opera, Adriana Mater, received its US premiere at the Santa Fe Opera.

Kaija Saariaho’s 2008 Festival work is co-commissioned by the Santa Fe Chamber Music, La Jolla Music Society, and the ensemble Real Quiet. The new piece (currently untitled) will receive its world premiere on the Music of the Masters Sunday Series at St. Francis on August 3, 2008. Additional performances of the work will follow later that week on August 4 and 8 (same location and time). Another of her works, Sept Papillons, will be performed at the Festival on August 1. She joins a long list of renowned contemporary composers who have been commissioned by the Festival over its 36 year history, including Ned Rorem, Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, Richard Danielpour and Bright Sheng.

For more information, please visit the Festival’s website at sfcmf.org.

From the Blogger, me:
This is really exciting to me as a novice in this realm of music! We are fortunate to have a premiere opening this summer in Santa Fe, Let me tell you their events are no less than incredible: always inspiring. I’d plan ahead abd book your reservations as soon as you can and buy your tickets early, because this will b e sold out within a few weeks. You might want to check hotel rates too, some of the Bread and Breakfasts still within walking distance of the plaza, may have slightly lower rates. Five Graces Inn, which provides greater privacy would be a great treat too. Do contact Santa Fe Chamber Music about this incredible opportunity!

——————————————————————————–

Volunteer Profile: Bernie and Barbara Holzapfel

Barbara and Bernie Holzapfel have been volunteers with the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival since 2003. A warm, energetic couple with an engaging sense of humor who celebrated their 11th wedding anniversary this past November 2007, they moved permanently to Santa Fe a little over a year ago. Prior to their re-location, they shuffled between New Mexico and Connecticut, spending half the year in each state.

Avid lovers of chamber music, opera and symphonic music, the Holzapfel’s enjoy their volunteer work at the Festival, coming in throughout the year to stuff envelopes and program inserts. In addition to volunteering, the retirees (Barbara was a registered nurse and Bernie was a VP of sales and marketing in the pharmaceutical industry) enjoy reading, traveling and spending time with their grandchildren.

SFCMF Newsletter caught up with the Holzapfel’s in early December while they were at the Festival offices to stuff envelopes.

Do you look forward to a particular artist returning to the festival?

Pinchas Zukerman.

Are you looking forward to a particular concert this season?

We’re looking forward to the Beethoven String Quartet cycle. Some of our favorite performances from over the years are actually from last season: one of the Beethoven quartets - the performance really stood out – we sat upstairs in the balcony – it was incredible! And Saint-Seans’ Carnival of the Animals – the performance had a nice human touch – it’s a work one doesn’t expect to see at chamber music festival Yes Read more

There are other exciting program announcements too. I will include those in later blogs.

Lean and mean, San Francisco’s rock quintet, New Monsoon, has been transforming audiences across the country into dedicated fans with a relentless touring schedule. Their exhilarating marriage of acoustic and electric instruments comes together in an irresistible blend of sophisticated song craft, inventive musical exploration and down home rock-n-roll.
Advance tickets on sale now at the Santa Fe Brewing Company Pub & Grill, in downtown Santa Fe at the Lensic Box office at 211 W. San Francisco St., 505-988-1234, or online at www.ticketssantafe.org
7:30 PM-ALL AGES-$12 ADVANCE/$15 AT THE DOOR
www.newmonsoon.com

Friday, January 18, 2008
TODD SNIDER

w/ special guests The Jimmy Stadler Band
Keith Richards said humor was rock and roll’s greatest weapon, Bob Dylan proved it and Snider takes it to heart. For twelve years, Snider has been a satirist, class cutup and the rare artist who understands and celebrates the connections between the Stones, Dylan, Bill Hicks, John Prine, Mitch Hedberg, Kris Kristofferson, Hunter S. Thompson and Randy Newman. Snider’s records are fun even when they aren’t being funny, funny even when they’re sad, and no less truthful for the laughs.

Opening the show will be multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter JIMMY STADLER; his band will be joining him after the TODD SNIDER performance for a fun night of dancing! Fans of this Taos/Santa Fe, NM band know the group does not limit themselves to any one genre, playing a wide variety of musical styles including country, jazz, rock, swing, reggae, zydeco, and more! With the able backing of Craig Neil on drums, percussion and background vocals, and consummate pro Dave Toland on bass guitar, the band takes fans through a range of styles, and always gets the crowd up on the dance floor!
Advance tickets on sale now at the Santa Fe Brewing Company Pub & Grill, in downtown Santa Fe at the Lensic Box office at 211 W. San Francisco St., 505-988-1234, or online at www.ticketssantafe.org
7:30 PM-ALL AGES-$18 ADVANCE/$20 AT THE DOOR
www.toddsnider.net

Saturday, January 19, 2008
CHUCK PROPHET

w/ opening performance by
The SEAN HELEAN BAND

Chuck Prophet is an American singer, songwriter and electric guitarist based in San Francisco. He was formerly a member of the group Green on Red and has worked as a sideman or session musician with numerous artists including Bob Neuwirth, Kelly Willis, Warren Zevon, Jonathan Richman, and Cake. He has frequently collaborated with legendary songwriter Dan Penn and his songs have been recorded by artists such as Heart. His song “Summertime Thing” was a Triple A Radio hit in 2002.
Opening the show will be Santa Fe’s own epic western rockers, The SEAN HELEAN BAND! Sean and John and the band have been working hard in the studio, we’re all looking forward to hearing the finished product!
Advance tickets on sale now at the Santa Fe Brewing Company Pub & Grill, in downtown Santa Fe at the Lensic Box office at 211 W. San Francisco St., 505-988-1234, or online at www.ticketssantafe.org
8 PM-ALL AGES-$10 ADVANCE/$15 AT THE DOOR
http://henning.unsavoury.net/prophet/index.php?news=

Sunday, January 20, 2008
Syd Masters
& the
Swing Riders

Please join us at the SFBC corral for a fun evening of the finest vintage western cowboy swing you’ll ever hear! Syd and the boys have become a regular favorite at the SFBC Pub & Grill, playing a great mix of original and classic music for your listening and dancing pleasure! See ya’ll there!
6:30 PM-ALL AGES-$5 Cover.
www.sydmasters.com

BE SURE TO CHECK HERE OFTEN!

By the way with this weather, a trip to the Albuquerque Zoo and The Botanicals Gardens would be fun, exciting, or peaceful depending on your mood. Speaking of garden ideas: start planning now. For tips and lots of information about gardening, stop by Earthly Gardens

A bike trip might be a bit challenging, but in southern NM you surely could get away with a short one. Go to www.crazyguyonabike.com

LA JUNTA
With special guests RUBIXZU
A GREAT NIGHT OF LOCAL LATIN FLAVORED ROCK & HIP HOP!
La Junta began early 2004 with a sound combining various musical styles. Influenced by so many genres ranging from jazz, blues, rock, reggae, latin and hip-hop every song is significantly different from the next. Attempting to blend each sound we believe we have found something very refreshing in a world of cardboard cutouts. With our unique style as a backdrop we reflect what we observe in our everyday lives as well as represent who we are and where we come from in a positive way.
Nick Pena-(Acoustic/Electric guitar-lead vocals) began teaching himself to play and began writing songs in 2001 after being inspired by neighbor Tim Reynolds. By 2002 Nick began jamming with David Fishback-(electric/classical guitar) to waste away the nights. Around that same time an elementary school friend, Aaron Lamb(Drums/backup vocals) would begin to sit in to complete what was the beginning of La Junta. Shortly after, Matt Ojinaga was introduced to the group and by late 2003 La Junta was born. In early 2004 at a show in Arizona, a Matt C.T (Turntables/Vocals) jammed with La Junta for the first time adding to the diversity of its sound. With help from World Records Music (S.F.), and The Conservatory for Arts and Sciences (AZ.), and our friend B (cousin), we recorded our first full length album BLUE COLLAR BEATS (www.cdbaby.com/lajunta) which was released late 2005.
In 2005, original member David Fishback left the group, and shortly after so did Matt C.T. to focus on his work. Since then we have made two additions: 1. Danny “Corazon” Hart (Auxiliary Percussion/backup vocals) adding to the group with his love of music and enthusiasm. 2. Delmone Taylor (Alto/Tenor Saxaphone) brings a musical talent, back round, and knowledge, that would make Coltrane proud. Together we create a sound fusing Reggae, Latin, Rock, blues, and Hip-Hop, music with poetic and thought provoking lyrics delivered in English and Spanish rhyme.
8 PM-ALL AGES-$5 Cover.
www.mypace.com/lajunta
www.myspce.com/rubixzu

Saturday, January 12, 2008
The SANTA FE ALLSTARS
EP RELEASE PARTY!

BLUEGRASS / AMERICANA / ALT-COUNTRY/PUNK
Southwest Roots Music
and 98.1 KBAC Radio Free Santa Fe
Present
Frogville Records Recording Artists, the Santa Fe Allstars EP Release Party!
Join us as we celebrate the long awaited release by the finest Americana-Bluegrass-Alt Country-Punk bands you’ll find anywhere!
What began as a “why not” proposal by a beer-hall waitress has gone on to become something of a small-town supergroup. The Santa Fe All-Stars consist of roots luminaries Joe West, Sharon Gilchrist, Ben Wright and Susan Holmes, all brilliant on their own-at least according to the locals of New Mexico’s capital city. West, of course, has long been the slightly askew alt.country king of Santa Fe, a songwriter as smart and talented as they come and completely fearless when it comes to either campy parody or straight-up emotion. Gilchrist (from the Peter Rowan & Tony Rice Quartet) continues to enchant audiences with her glorious musicianship and lovely countenance; Wright, a man just as comfortable ripping through a weird rock set as fingerpicking through an old standard, is as indispensable as they come, and Holmes has been a rhythm section stalwart for years. Collectively they are a can’t-lose proposition.
Their type of roots music- smart, fun, a little twisted-is the soundtrack to Santa Fe!
8 PM-ALL AGES-$5 Cover-Cheap cover! Buy an EP!
www.myspace.com/santafeallstars
www.frogvilleplanet.com

Sunday, January 13, 2008
Michael Hearne*
& SXSW

*PLAYING THE PART OF “MICHAEL HEARNE” WILL
BE HIS UNCLE, THE FABULOUS BILL HEARNE!
Michael’s playing on one of those cool country music cruise’s, and just won’t be able to swim back in time, so Uncle Bill’s sittin’ in with his buddies Zeke Severson and Scott Harris of SXSW, for the what will be another great evening of country-western dance music!
6:30 PM-ALL AGES-$10 Cover.

Now this is a rush blog so I will check out only two videos today. I want to mention that whther or not you enjoy C&W, bluegrass, etc., I want to salute Bill Hearne. In addition to being a terrific and popular performer, it’s great to see him and many more older musicians still making and playing music. When you love what you do and can keep doing it, it’s a marvel to enjoy.

Well I found a few videos to add on: Frogville Records produces some fantastic musicians. If you need a record company, and you fit their bill contact them.

Blogsville: GOT A GOOD BLOG that you’d like to post? Leave a comment and I’ll check it out.
www.about-denverco.com, www.momisteaching.com www.about-portlandor.com www.countrymusicherald.com

Five Graces is almost like renting a first story condo. La Posada will be expensive but has a restaurant and SPA. Rio Chama a famous exquisite dining experience whre the chef knows how to really cook lotsa MEATs. Big portions. Get breakfast down the street at Guadulpe Cafe.

The movies will be located all over town so you will need a car rental. There should be plenty available. Bring WARM WINTER CLOTHES: it’s already snowed the the temps have been in the 30’s the last several days.

If you surf, you’ll find great deals with breakfast included: example there’s a small inn near the Espiscapal Church on Palace across the street from La Posada Inn. See if you can google that! Anyway, it’s a simple accomodation with a dining room. Small, quaint, close to the Plaza. They bake their own muffins and have a large healthy selection for breakfast/brunch.

The film festival is fun, however people around these parts are being challenged by prospects of oil drilling in Santa Fe County, near a large and needed water basin.

http://www.thesun-news.com/Nov11Issue.pdf www.thesun-news.com

I had intended to copy part of an article in the Sun News which is now on the stands but not online yet regarding the proposed drilling in Galisteo. The article is called Progress? by Cyril Christo. This is a pretty political newspaper with affordable advertising. Subtitles for the Paper include: Environment, Sustainability, and local news. In addition to a wide range of articles, they are great undercover agents and publish what few papers would dare to say.
This issue has 65 or more advertisers which show that local businesses support the free press and the enviornment.

This month’s issue is not online yet. However you can read recent issues at the above link.

You could be warned, get past te first 60 seconds and…

There will be a lot of films, in many categories, on all sorts of topics. Come to Santa fe and enjoy the warm theatres, the parties, meeting the actors and sometime directors. You might even have a chance to see an incredible sunset between movies. If you are a film maker, it’s a good place to network too!

People form all over the planet come to this film festival. So do the movies.

OK I spent less than $10 on Black Friday. I had to work and came home right after work. When I got to work late, there was an expired pasta asian style pasta waiting for me for my lunch. I was lucky. There was also apple pie, sweet potato casserole and pumpkin cheesecake. Our boss likes to cook. Sometimes I get spoiled. Could you go a day without spending $10? It’d be a good challenge every so often. Do you think we consume too much? Write me. Mary

Blogsville: If you would lie me to list your blog once in awhile, leave a comment. www.creativemomcafe.com, www.outrageousdreamsbymary.herhangout.com, www.countrymusicherald.com, www.momisteaching.com, www.about-chicagoil.com