INVITATION TO A YAMMERING

posted by James Reel

    The 14th Tucson Winter Chamber Music Festival begins this Sunday, and continues through the following Sunday. As usual, it keeps me busy; besides a couple of private gatherings for musicians and for board members like me, I’ll be MCing Thursday’s kiddie matinee, co-teaching an Elderhostel class on chamber music, and—of greatest interest (if any) to you—giving the pre-concert talks. I try to make these presentations more than just 20 minutes of potted musicology; I devote most of the time to interviewing festival musicians and composers, getting them to talk about things that aren’t covered in the program notes. If you’re coming to any concerts, please do arrive half an hour early for the free talks. Ushers close the hall doors while the talks are in progress to block noise from the lobby, but if you arrive late, please feel free to come in through one of the side doors and claim the nearest seat. I hope to see you there!