Brahms and beards

Check out posters for my next two musical engagements [1] [2]

I'm looking forward to the second concert. On the menu is Brahms' Symphony No. 4. Somehow, in my unillustrious orchestral career, I've managed not to play any major Brahms works, but now I know what I've been missing. I've you've got the time, download it [50 MB, do the ol' 'right click/save link as' trick to save yourself some trouble]. Listen especially from 18:10 to 19:10. That's the payoff that makes a two and a half hour rehearsal on a Friday all seem worthwhile (and don't worry, the rest of the piece is great too!)

These two are concerts are non-paying gigs, but I did join the city musician's union back in September to get more work of the paying variety. The jury's still out on that move, but there are a few perks, I guess.

The union is a local of the American Federation of Musicians, which publishes the International Musician. I get the magazine as long as I pay my dues. It's mostly standard union stuff, although often with articles and editorials on copyright and artists' rights which I tend not to agree with. And, until this month, it seemed like brass players with terrible facial hair had a monopoly on cover appearances. Case in point:
This month's cover is Lyle Lovett, one of my many famous union brothers. This isn't a union of the mobster-dealin', leg-breakin', variety, but it will have to do.