Chicago-The Midwest Clinic (part 2)

One of my favorite things about The Midwest Clinic, beside the great Paige's Music party in the hotel, was my discovery of The Hindsley Transcriptions. While walking through the chaos of the many exhibitors and trying to converse with people while drums are playing, cymbals clashing and trumpeters trying to see who can be most obnoxious, I came across a wonderfully orange booth. Literally, it was all orange...everything, even the lovely gentleman who helped me had a nice bright orange sweatshirt on. None-the-less, what caught my attention was the rack of scores, each cardboard score with an orange cover. Those scores looked just like the wonderful transcription I found of The Nutcracker Suite just a few months ago. I loved that transcription! I quickly glanced over the scores searching for The Nutcracker Suite just to make sure I had the right place, I didn't want to celebrate to quickly and since I couldn't remember the name of the publisher. There it was, all in it's orange glory, standing next to dozens of other orange scores.

For those of you who don't know me, I am not a happy customer when it comes to finding reputable transcriptions of great orchestral works for band. There are many good arrangements of a snipit of this with a snipit of that...but very rarely a great arrangement or transcription that really does the great work justice...until now. I had hit the jack pot! The lovely gentleman in the orange sweatshirt was Bob Hindsley, son of the late Dr. Mark Hindsley and standing behind him were dozens of incredible transcriptions of orchestral works for band. Oh, my heart was content. I found Strauss' Don Juan, Beethoven's Leonore No. 3, Tchaokovsky's Violin Concerto, Bruckner's Violin Concerto, Tchaikovsky's Capriccio Italiano and so much more!

After a bit dreaming about what our library could have and of the repretoire my students could be introduced to, I finally did purchase a few great additions to our library. My librarians will have some work to do when they get back to campus from their Christmas break. I didn't make the purchase just yet, however headed off quickly to find room W 190 to see Michael McIntosh's premiere of his latest piece "Bloom". Spring High School (TX) performed superbly and put on a terrific concert at Midwest performing Michael's new work and other newly commissioned pieces, including a work with percussionist She-e Wu. All together, a fantastic performance-bravo!

Before heading back to Indianapolis and continuing a week of crazy travels, I found a booth that was willing to try to replicate my baton. It is a beautifully balanced and crafted wood baton, not solid wood, but it is seemless from the bulb to the shaft, crafted by Charles Olson. Apparently he sold his business and I was fortunate to find the people who make his designs. I'm excited to see how close they can make it to the original. I love my original but have had it for years and it's starting to look like it.

Next posting I'll have to update you about the new music building...we're so close to being done!