Monthly Archives: September 2009

A Poem for our Pledge Drive

Hi, I’m Kelsey Padgett, a UT student who has had the good fortune to be a long-time intern here at KMFA.

As you may know, our Fall membership drive is coming up fast, and we are excitedly preparing. I get to help open listener correspondences, including letters of joy and encouragement from devoted listeners.

Recently we received a beautiful poem about the classical music we air on KMFA, 89.5, and I asked if I could share it on our blog:

The Sounds of KMFA

From out of

The past,

Sounds of today.

Sounds for

Your day

And mine.

Sounds to

Work to,

Sounds to

Play to,

Sounds to

Relax to.

Sounds of

Giants

Coming across

The years,

Coming Through

The atmosphere,

Coming to

Calm, enlighten

And inspire.

Sounds of Genius

Talking in

Musical notes,

Through metal,

String, and reeds.

Sounds of conversations

Among instruments,

Teasing, Taunting,

Luring us

From our depths

To their heights,

Sharing their

Gift

With humanity.

Sounds of

Classic beauty

Traveling

Sophisticated equipment

To modern ears,

Sounds uniting

Past and present

In a timeless

Union.

Author: Viola Rutz

Thanks so much Mrs. Rutz, and everyone who gives their support during our membership drive.

~ Kelsey Padgett, Production & Development Associate

Piano Enthusiasts — Watch “Note by Note” on KLRU!

I noticed a great show airing tonight on KLRU (our local Public Broadcasting Station)… Note by Note: The Making of Steinway L1037. Note_by_Note-_The_Making_of_Steinway_L1037

Here’s the official synopsis:
NOTE BY NOTE (THE MAKING OF STEINWAY L1037)
“The most thoroughly handcrafted musical instruments in the world, Steinway pianos are as unique and full of personality as the world-class musicians who play them. However, their makers are a dying breed: skilled cabinetmakers, gifted tuners, experienced wood workers and hand-crafters. This program follows the creation of a Steinway concert grand, #L1037 — from the Alaska forest to the concert hall. It explores the relationship between musician and instrument, chronicles the manufacturing process and illustrates what makes each piano unique in this age of mass production. The journey spans 12 months, 12,000 parts, 450 craftsmen and countless hours of fine-tuned labor. ”

That sounds a little dry… compared to the viewer comments left on the movie’s offical website:

“Our family viewed Note by Note this weekend… none of us spoke for the entire 81 minutes… beautifully filmed and told. None among us is a pianist, yet this documentary touched us deeply. Bravo!”

The film has won numerous Film Festival awards. It should be well worth the watching!

~ Alison 🙂

In the KMFA Studios: La Follia!

 

Soprano Gitanjali Mathur

Soprano Gitanjali Mathur

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Harpsichordist (and artistic director) Keith Womer

Inter-studio newsflash: La Follia Austin Baroque is here in the KMFA studio as I type this! They are preparing for a live/recorded-to-tape interview with Dianne Donovan for her Sunday evening show, Classical Austin. It’s causing quite an exciting buzz on what is usually a quiet Friday afternoon here at KMFA… I’ve been walking around our first-floor offices, exclaiming “Did you know there’s a *harpsichord* in Studio 2000?!”

Here are few photos I took while they were warming up….they sound wonderful, and there’s a concert on Monday with guest performer, Andrew Hallock, at the First Presbyterian Church, at 8pm. I don’t think it’s on their website, so you heard it here first! 😉

~Alison Cowden, KMFA Blogger

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Keith Womer tunes the harpsichord while James Brown warms up the viola da gamba

 

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Jeffrey Blair scrutinizes the microphone placement

 

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Dianne checks levels on the board during warm-up

 

 

 

 

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Dianne (left) and Phil (right) do a sound check

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Countertenor Andrew Hallock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information about this early-music group, including their upcoming concert schedule, visit their website: www.LaFollia.org.