Common Tone

Common Tone Episode #10 contains part one of our two-part interview with composer David Amram. We discuss the state of current composition and his long and varied career as a composer and performer. And the name Kerouac gets a few mentions. TECHNICALS Format MP3, 192kbps Size 57.9MB Duration 42 min.

Common Tone episode #9 features part two of our interview with composer Karen Amrhein as well as a new Spot Check and a surprise visit from a tae kwon do harmonica master. Oh, and a giant step for CT as we unveil our official show opening! And it only took us nine episodes, too! TECHNICALS Format MP3, 192kbps Size 48.55MB Duration 35 min.

Our March 2007 episode, #8 overall, is now uploaded and ready for listening. Featuring part one of an interview with composer Karen Amrhein (with part two ready to go for episode #9), there's a glitch here and a digital artifact there, but overall it's another jolly collection of information, mixing serious observations with irreverent yammering as only Common Tone can do it. CD'S MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE: --Karen Amrhein, Fresh Produce (2004), mix of chamber and orchestral music; self-produced and available at www.happylemonmusicpublishing.com as well as at iTunes. --Karen Amrhein, Still Life (2005), chamber music; MMC Recordings #MMC2136; available at www.happylemonmusicpublishing.com, MMC Recordings, and via all online & regular retail outlets that sell classical music titles. --John Harbison, The Flight Into Egypt And Other Works By John Harbison (1990), chamber & orchestral music; New World Records #80395-2 --The Raveonettes, Pretty In Black (2005); Columbia Records. TECHNICALS: Format: MP3, 192kbps Size: 52mB Duration: 38:30

We're back! Common Tone #7 is now available, the first new episode in a year and a half. It's a short one, basically getting our feet wet and getting reacquainted with the old gear and accustomed to the new gear. We had planned on talking about composer Michael Hersch and doing a phone interview with composer Karen Amrhein but we had to postpone those segments to the next 'cast. Welcome back and please write to us at commontone@gmail.com to let us know your thoughts. And visit our lil' slice of retail heaven at www.zazzle.com/commontone! TECHNICALS: Format: MP3, 192kps Length: 18mB Duration: 13 minutes

Common Tone Episode 6 was released this morning and is available for download. While this episode features a discussion on the life and works of synthesizer and electronic music pioneer Dr. Robert Moog (1934-2005), it's focus is really just classic silliness. We introduce a few technical advances, audition some theme music options, introduce our first mailbag segment and t-shirt contest and, at the frantic request of a listener, we also address the plight of the Naperville Carillon. As if that's not enough, we also experience our first technical problems. Sound like fun? Episode 6 is very busy, with more humor and less serious music than any prior episode. Don't forget: our new store at Zazzle.com. There's a message forum so you can interact with us & leave comments or questions. Check out our new Wear It Proudly series, featuring some of the shiniest foreheads in modern classical music. They're way funny. Buy one and show the world what a sophisticate you are. Thanks for listening, and please direct your comments to us at Common Tone TECHNICALS File Format: MPEG-4 , File Size: 44.9 MB , Running Time: 49 min.

Common Tone Episode Five is now available for download. It features part one of our discussion of the Kronos Quartet, their origins and performances, and focuses on the George Crumb composition Black Angels. It also includes the usual amount of humor and digression that you've come to love. It also has the same mellow, mixed-back microphone sound for Jim as in Episode Five, thus answering the question, "Does the consumption of cheap beer affect the sense of hearing during recording sessions?" Part two of this discussion- about Kronos, not cheap beer- will be in Episode Six. Don't forget: our new store at Zazzle.com. There's a message forum so you can interact with us & leave comments or questions. Check out our new Wear It Proudly series, featuring some of the shiniest foreheads in modern classical music. They're way funny. Buy one and show the world what a sophisticate you are. Thanks for listening, and please direct your comments to us at Common Tone TECHNICALS File Format: MPEG-4 , File Size: 3.1 MB , Running Time: 39 min.

The fourth episode of Common Tone was released this evening and is now available for download. This episode features a discussion on the music of American composer George Rochberg and includes Part B of his famous String Quartet No. 3 performed by the Concord Quartet. It also includes fewer digressions than normal and more stammering by Jim than in all three previous episodes combined. It was probably the Pabst Blue Ribbon. Episode 5 is now in post-production and will be released early next week, so stay tuned. In the meantime, don't forget: our new store at Zazzle.com is ready for you to peruse and sit a spell. There's a message forum so you can interact with us & leave comments or questions. Check out our new Wear It Proudly series, featuring some of the shiniest foreheads in modern classical music. They're way funny. Buy one and show the world what a sophisticate you are. Thanks for listening, and please direct your comments to us at Common Tone TECHNICALS File Format: MPEG-4 , File Size: 33.8 MB , Running Time: 37 min

The third episode of Common Tone was released this evening and is now available for download. This episode features a discussion on the music of American composer David Diamond and includes the 1st movement of his Symphony No. 2 performed by the Seattle Symphony and conducted by Gerard Schwarz. It also includes the story of a brush with a Supreme Court Chief Justice and a few more surprises. Don't forget: our new store at Zazzle.com is ready for you to peruse and sit a spell. There's a message forum so you can interact with us & leave comments or questions. Jim designed the T-shirts, with new designs going up every few days. They're way funny. Buy one and show the world what a sophisticate you are. Thanks for listening, and please direct your comments to us at CommonTone@ gmail.com or stop by our blog, commontoneblog.blogspot.com. TECHNICALS File Format: MPEG-4 , File Size: 30.6 MB , Running Time: 33 min

The second episode of Common Tone was released and is available for download today. This latest episode includes the piece Short Ride In A Fast Machine by John Adams, as performed by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Sir Simon Rattle; and "Molto Vivace" from Ellen Taafe Zwilich's Symphony No. 3 as performed by the Louisville Orchestra and conducted by James Sedares. Join us for this second episode as we once again dodge ASCAP as only we can. Thanks for listening, and please direct your comments to us at Common Tone TECHNICALS File Format: MPEG-4 , File Size: 34.5 MB , Running Time: 37 min

Here's the first edition of Common Tone. The next edition is currently in post-production and will be released sometime next week. Thanks for listening, and send your comments and suggestions to us at CommonTone@gmail.com.