How to be an epic conductor: The 16-step program

October 6, 2014 Jorge Ballesteros

Last week's Bernstein was only the beginning. Courtesy of ClassicFM, including such gems as "eating the intense burrito":

A special thanks to Brendan McMullen for bringing this link to my attention!

Anthemology: The Latin American epic

October 3, 2014 Jorge Ballesteros

In the last Anthemology post, I made reference to the militaristic music and belligerent lyrics of the Mexican national anthem. It turns out that this is pretty standard fare in its family of anthems, what nationalanthems.info calls the Latin American epic anthem. Read on for glorious battles and magnificent Edens....

A Clockwork Composer

October 2, 2014 Jorge Ballesteros

Did you know that Anthony Burgess, author of the infamous book A Clockwork Orange, wrote 250 musical works? He apparently wanted to be known as a composer, not as a writer and later regretted having written his most famous book. Check out his Manchester Overture above.

(A special thanks to John Muriesanu for bringing this story to my attention.)

How to conduct with your face

September 30, 2014 Jorge Ballesteros

Courtesy of Leonard Bernstein

Da Una Crepa

September 27, 2014 Jorge Ballesteros

Da Una Crepa, by my friend, the Italian composer Marta Gentilucci, is an incredibly moving, richly textured piece for soprano, vocal ensemble, clarinet, cello, percussion and live electronics.

Be sure to check out her other work!

Check it out!

September 22, 2014 Jorge Ballesteros

Sam Mendez's short film A Bodega is going to be screened at the Chicago Reel Shorts Film Fest in mid-October! If you're in the area and want to see the film (and hear the music), head over to the festival on Saturday afternoon.

Bluegrass from New Jersey

September 17, 2014 Jorge Ballesteros

All under the age of 16, brothers Jonny, Robbie and Tommy Mizzone are from New Jersey, a US state that's better known for the rock of Bruce Springsteen than the bluegrass of Earl Scruggs. Nonetheless, the siblings began performing bluegrass covers, as well as their own compositions, at a young age. Here, they play three dazzling songs in three different keys, passing the lead back and forth from fiddle to banjo to guitar.

Anthemology: Mexico

September 16, 2014 Andres

Happy 204th birthday Mexico! In celebration of the occasion, I'm introducing a new series: Anthemology. This series will focus on the roots of and relationships between national anthems the world over, letting us learn about a nation's psyche by the symbols it chooses for itself.

Today we look at Mexico's national anthem, a belligerent, patriotic march written by a love poet and a Spaniard.

After a national lyric-writing contest was announced in 1853, the romantic poet Francisco González Bocanegra was forced to enter by his then-fiancée Guadalupe del Pino. With her parents' help...