Hey guys, a lot has been going on lately - so much, in fact, that I haven't had time to update this page!
Greg Maroney and I performed together on November 12th, a benefit for the York College School of Nursing's Managed Care Program. Jan and I had a great time on that trip, and were happy to have some time with Greg and Linda Maroney.
Another highlight of this trip was a buggy ride and a tour of an Amish farm outside of Lancaster. As usual, I asked the Amish driver too many questions, and Jan kept punching me in the ribs...
On November 18th, Joseph Akins and I performed together in Jackson, Mississippi, in a benefit for the Millsaps College Music Program. This concert was underwritten by Lester and Ellen Hailey of Beemon Drugs. So if you live in Jackson, please buy your meds from Beemon Drugs, at 1220 E. Northside Drive.
Joseph spent the night at our house Wednesday night, then we drove to Jackson on Thursday for the concert. Around 4 PM, while we were at the hall trying out the pianos, Joseph got a call informing him that his father-in-law had just died in Chattanooga. Joseph was a real trooper, and decided to go on with the performance, and he played great! My playing was also some of my best, and our dueling Steinways improv at the end of the program really smoked!
Please pray for Joseph, his mom, and their family during this difficult time.
Jan and I are celebrated Thanksgiving at the beach this year. We walked 4 miles on the beach every day that we were there. I know this thanks to the Nike GPS app on my iPhone.
The weather was absolutely perfect. We saw dolphins playing and pelicans diving for food, had great meals and a lot of relaxation.
This week I finish THE LAST SONG for the new Timeless II CD. Then it will be off to the duplicator. I can't wait for you to hear it.
Hope you and yours had a great Thanksgiving. Even with whatever bad is happening in our lives, we have a lot to be thankful for.
Take care...
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
On the Road
Jan and I are leaving in the morning for Pennsylvania. We are driving, because we want to take Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway on the way back. Great views, 5 days alone with my beautiful wife, a concert, and the chance to visit with our friends Greg and Linda Maroney! Who could ask for anything more?
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Real Life
Fall is in full swing here in the deep South. We have a lot of hardwoods in our neighborhood, and the leaves are falling in massive quantities. Most of my neighbors obsessively try to remove all traces of autumn from their lawns, driveways and decks. I, however, am a little less diligent, to their dismay, I'm sure.
I'll miss my German lessons for the next few weeks. Next week Jan and I will be in Pennsylvania for the York benefit concert. The week after that I will be playing in Jackson, MS. The week after THAT Jan and I will be celebrating Thanksgiving at the beach. That's the story of my German studies; two steps forward, one step back. Or in my case, probably one step forward and two steps back!
Did you know that I play the cello? Not really, but as a keyboard player, I can play ANYTHING! I finished one of the last songs for the Timeless II album yesterday - an arrangement of "The Swan" by Saint-Saens. I added a solo cello to the piano part, and it sounds like the real thing. I'm thinking about creating an imaginary cellist and giving him credit on the CD for this solo. Maybe I'll name him "Alexei Volkov" or perhaps a good ol' southern name like Billy Joe McCabe. Then I'll sit back and see if anyone calls me on it.
I practiced the piano a lot today. I'm adding a few new tunes for the upcoming concerts, and relearning some of the songs from "Christmas at Our House" for the December concert in Nashville. Today is Thursday; most Thursdays I practice 4 or 5 hours at home before going into the studio around 2 PM.
Jan and I bought a new Vita-Mix blender last week, and I love it so much that I have almost stopped eating solid food! I am now living on smoothies. We were at Costco, and there was a guy there demonstrating the Vita-Mix. I was like a pesky kid who wouldn't go away. I kept asking him to make a coffee drink, then soup, then a sorbet, and before you know it I had eaten a full meal's worth of samples. Today's smoothie was red grapes, a few almonds, strawberries, blueberries, a whole apple (minus two slices for Riley) and an orange, with a little vanilla yoghurt and some orange juice. Oh, and a few baby carrots. Pretty soon I will be so healthy that I'll be absolutely unbearable!
I'll miss my German lessons for the next few weeks. Next week Jan and I will be in Pennsylvania for the York benefit concert. The week after that I will be playing in Jackson, MS. The week after THAT Jan and I will be celebrating Thanksgiving at the beach. That's the story of my German studies; two steps forward, one step back. Or in my case, probably one step forward and two steps back!
Did you know that I play the cello? Not really, but as a keyboard player, I can play ANYTHING! I finished one of the last songs for the Timeless II album yesterday - an arrangement of "The Swan" by Saint-Saens. I added a solo cello to the piano part, and it sounds like the real thing. I'm thinking about creating an imaginary cellist and giving him credit on the CD for this solo. Maybe I'll name him "Alexei Volkov" or perhaps a good ol' southern name like Billy Joe McCabe. Then I'll sit back and see if anyone calls me on it.
I practiced the piano a lot today. I'm adding a few new tunes for the upcoming concerts, and relearning some of the songs from "Christmas at Our House" for the December concert in Nashville. Today is Thursday; most Thursdays I practice 4 or 5 hours at home before going into the studio around 2 PM.
Jan and I bought a new Vita-Mix blender last week, and I love it so much that I have almost stopped eating solid food! I am now living on smoothies. We were at Costco, and there was a guy there demonstrating the Vita-Mix. I was like a pesky kid who wouldn't go away. I kept asking him to make a coffee drink, then soup, then a sorbet, and before you know it I had eaten a full meal's worth of samples. Today's smoothie was red grapes, a few almonds, strawberries, blueberries, a whole apple (minus two slices for Riley) and an orange, with a little vanilla yoghurt and some orange juice. Oh, and a few baby carrots. Pretty soon I will be so healthy that I'll be absolutely unbearable!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
An Added Benefit
Sorry I haven't written in a while. Can't believe that it has been over a month.The studio has been very busy, and I have been working like one possessed on Timeless II, and having a wonderful time!
As some of you know, on November 12th I will be performing a benefit concert in York, Pennsylvania. Once again I will be sharing the stage with my good friend Greg Maroney, who is one of my very favorite contemporary instrumental composer/pianists. The concert benefits the York College School of Nursing. You can see the poster, with all of the information about the concert, on my Facebook artist page. While you're there, why don't you sign up as a fan?
I have just been asked to play a benefit concert for Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. The concert will take place on November 18th. I have invited Joseph Akins to take part in this concert. Joseph is a fine pianist/composer who is on the faculty of Middle Tennessee State's Music Recording program.
I am excited about the Millsaps concert, because I have never visited the campus before. I know about the college, of course, by its wonderful reputation. Jan and I have visited Jackson on several occasions. Jackson is full of cultural activity; one of our favorite trips anywhere was a visit to Jackson to see a terrific Degas exhibit at the Jackson Museum of Art.
Isn't Leontyne Price from Jackson?
The details of the Jackson concert:
November 18th, 7:30 PM
Millsaps College
Gertrude Ford Academic Recital Complex
1701 N. State Street
Jackson, MS 39210
$15 general admission
$5 students
Please call 601-974-1422 for more information.
Tickets will be available at the door.
Our concert in Memphis was a lot of fun. Attendance and CD sales were both a little less than I had anticipated, but what the audience lacked in size it made up for in enthusiasm. Jan and I finally visited Graceland! I actually hadn't thought about it, but Jan wanted to go, so off we went. And I have to admit that it was fun. We also had some great BBQ at a Memphis favorite, Rendezvous Alley.
I promise I won't wait a month next time!
As some of you know, on November 12th I will be performing a benefit concert in York, Pennsylvania. Once again I will be sharing the stage with my good friend Greg Maroney, who is one of my very favorite contemporary instrumental composer/pianists. The concert benefits the York College School of Nursing. You can see the poster, with all of the information about the concert, on my Facebook artist page. While you're there, why don't you sign up as a fan?
I have just been asked to play a benefit concert for Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. The concert will take place on November 18th. I have invited Joseph Akins to take part in this concert. Joseph is a fine pianist/composer who is on the faculty of Middle Tennessee State's Music Recording program.
I am excited about the Millsaps concert, because I have never visited the campus before. I know about the college, of course, by its wonderful reputation. Jan and I have visited Jackson on several occasions. Jackson is full of cultural activity; one of our favorite trips anywhere was a visit to Jackson to see a terrific Degas exhibit at the Jackson Museum of Art.
Isn't Leontyne Price from Jackson?
The details of the Jackson concert:
November 18th, 7:30 PM
Millsaps College
Gertrude Ford Academic Recital Complex
1701 N. State Street
Jackson, MS 39210
$15 general admission
$5 students
Please call 601-974-1422 for more information.
Tickets will be available at the door.
Our concert in Memphis was a lot of fun. Attendance and CD sales were both a little less than I had anticipated, but what the audience lacked in size it made up for in enthusiasm. Jan and I finally visited Graceland! I actually hadn't thought about it, but Jan wanted to go, so off we went. And I have to admit that it was fun. We also had some great BBQ at a Memphis favorite, Rendezvous Alley.
I promise I won't wait a month next time!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Dogs Are People Too
When I patted the grave and told Riley that Meme was there, he became very still, and lay beside her marker until we left to go home.
Jan's parents had lived with us, and Riley loved having them there. He flew down the stairs to their apartment twice every day to get snacks from MeMe. After Buddy died, he started spending a lot more time with Meme. It was as if he knew that she needed him to be there with her.
But since MeMe died, Riley has refused to go downstairs. He normally follows my every step like a shadow. But now, whenever I go downstairs, he refuses to go with me. He will lie at the top of the stairs and wait for me to come up.
Somehow, he knows...
My friend Jeff Bjorck (www.purepiano.com) said that, although the Bible says nothing about our pets going to Heaven, it doesn't absolutely forbid it. That's a good thought; I would like to see Riley there. As it is, when he dies, I will have to go to grief counseling...
Riley at the top of the stairs
Sunday, September 5, 2010
What Matters
Sorry I haven't updated my blog in a couple of weeks, but read on and you'll see that I have been otherwise occupied...
I've always told Jan that I love her more than anything in the world EXCEPT THE PIANO. Hey, I'm supposed to be honest, right? I mean, music isn't just something that I DO; it's a part of me, like my heart or my arms or my liver.
During the past few weeks, though, I've discovered that the reality of my life is
something else altogether...
Jan had a biopsy several weeks ago, and the surgeon told her that he was 95% sure that the pathology report would prove to be cancer. A week later she had a lumpectomy, followed by another path report to wait for...
Cut to the studio, where I was supposed to be working on my new CD, which is already way behind schedule. But was I working on the CD? No, all I could do was walk through the halls, mumbling "God help me" over and over, as I contemplated for the first time what life would be like without my Jan. Not that I expected her to drop dead all of a sudden, but just to look over the edge of that void that life would be like without her...
It was then that I realized that, without Jan, there IS no music in me. The part of me that hears and creates music would just cease to exist.
So what Jan hears from me now is "...more than anything. Period."
By the way, the surgeon was wrong. Totally benign!
I've always told Jan that I love her more than anything in the world EXCEPT THE PIANO. Hey, I'm supposed to be honest, right? I mean, music isn't just something that I DO; it's a part of me, like my heart or my arms or my liver.
During the past few weeks, though, I've discovered that the reality of my life is
something else altogether...
Jan had a biopsy several weeks ago, and the surgeon told her that he was 95% sure that the pathology report would prove to be cancer. A week later she had a lumpectomy, followed by another path report to wait for...
Cut to the studio, where I was supposed to be working on my new CD, which is already way behind schedule. But was I working on the CD? No, all I could do was walk through the halls, mumbling "God help me" over and over, as I contemplated for the first time what life would be like without my Jan. Not that I expected her to drop dead all of a sudden, but just to look over the edge of that void that life would be like without her...
It was then that I realized that, without Jan, there IS no music in me. The part of me that hears and creates music would just cease to exist.
So what Jan hears from me now is "...more than anything. Period."
By the way, the surgeon was wrong. Totally benign!
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Listen Free
Another Saturday at the studio...Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have a normal job, just go to work for 8 hours, then have a LIFE!
The release date of the new CD is September 28th. You can listen to 4 COMPLETE SONGS on the home page of the michaeldulin.com website. Be sure to listen to Sicilian Song - it is a wonderful melody, and I am really happy with the way it turned out. Kathy Parsons of mainlypiano.com, one of the most respected critics of new music, is reviewing the songs as I finish them. Her review of Sicilian Song is printed below.
Sicilian Song
Michael Dulin
Timeless II 2010/Equity Digital
5:01
Sicilian Song is an adaptation of Siciliano from JS Bach's Flute Sonata #2 and is one of the highlights of Michael Dulin's Timeless II. Although Dulin's arrangement is very true to the piece's classical roots, the addition of strings and other orchestration to Dulin's piano gives the piece a more contemporary sound and feeling. Played slowly and soulfully, this piece is absolutely gorgeous!
The pieces starts out fairly simply with the piano carrying the melody with strings in the background, setting the tone of the piece. In the second variation, the orchestra carries the melody as Dulin improvises with light, sweet, nimble passages. The third variation is the most dramatic with full orchestra, tympani, and Dulin's marvelous piano. The fourth variation returns to a quiet mood and brings Sicilian Song to a gentle close. Bravo!
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