Music

The life of a concert pianist has often been compared to blood sports. Even pianists of the most sublime skill must scrape and fight for a career filled with touring, performing with symphonies, and selling albums. Part of what makes Umi Garrett astounding is that she enjoyed all of those hallmarks before she became a […]

The pop music industry is a meat grinder, leaving many a talented artist jumping through hoop after hoop before being thrown to the side as yesterday’s news. Thankfully, true songwriters concern themselves not with chart numbers or revenue, but with the quality of their work. These kinds of artists aren’t jostled by the waves of […]

The crackle of a distorted electric guitar or the explosive power of a barred chord is the musical equivalent of an illegal firework: It packs a punch. The same excitement that ignites in the heart of any young pyromaniac is stoked by the sizzling energy of rock ’n’ roll, a genre of music that has […]

From the iconic first four notes of the wedding march, to Bach’s quintessential “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” music makes weddings complete. Every couple has “their song” that plays during the first dance, cementing a lifetime of memories whenever the familiar melody sounds. Many couples take the musical aspect of their special day so seriously […]

Orcutt Academy High School is raring up for a fundraising event with a new, musical element. Having held other special events in the past, the school’s PTSA decided do an event that promotes local youth bands. The first-ever Battle of the Bands fundraiser is scheduled for Feb. 8 at the school in Orcutt.  “Whoever was […]

I’ve never won any popularity contests for my taste in music, but I’m bolstered in my feelings by actually having taste in music. Even I couldn’t be torn away from the cultural road-kill that was the Grammy Awards this year: the glitz, the spectacle, the collaborations, and, of course, the awards. What is pop music […]

Music has always been an art form of utility. Whether heralding the entrance of the king or singing the sacred scripture, music can serve many functions. Santa Maria High School Director of Bands Ulises Valdivia makes sure that one of his ensembles, the marching band, is rooted firmly in the tradition of the genre. “We […]

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart dubbed the organ the “King of Instruments,” but even Mozart knew that the King of the Organ was none other than Johann Sebastian Bach. In Bach’s day, the organ was a piece of engineering expertise that required thousands of moving parts to send air through a series of pipes, each with its […]

With the New Year comes the hopes of a better future. While some make resolutions to get in shape, remove a bad habit, or make a long-strived-for accomplishment, others are reminded of the immense possibilities that the New Year holds. I will challenge myself, as well as my readers, to engage more with music on […]

The past year served as an example of the rabid appetite locals have for quality music, and how dedicated they are to keeping it around. A historical bequest to the Allan Hancock College Music Department by the late piano teacher Patricia Boyd served as a benchmark of what music means to the community. Totaling more […]

A night at the symphony generally conjures up the thought of needing to get a suit pressed or that little black dress dry-cleaned. So why then did a select group of concertgoers pull out their green tunics and long flowing princess dresses this weekend?  The Legend of Zelda—Symphony of the Goddesses wrapped up its last […]