Grammy-nominated classical guitarist Paul Galbraith was in the house today. That very cool-looking instrument is his 8-string "Brahms" guitar -- it sits on a resonator box -- which he played, live, on the show. Beautiful! Paul performed some Bach, Bartok & Torroba to preview his Guitar Houston concert ... and told the story behind his "Brahms" guitar, which he was instrumental (sorry 'bout the pun) in inventing. Hear the guitar that sounds like no other, in Mr. Galbraith's interview with KUHF's Elaine Kennedy. [Photo by Todd Hulslander]
So, if I look happy and a bit dazed in this pic, it's because I was pretty overwhelmed by Musical Greatness here. Do I gush? It's hard not to, when you're surrounded by artists as accomplished -- and as nice -- as violist James Dunham, cellist Norman Fischer, pianist Jon Kimura Parker & violinist Cho-Liang Lin [L - R; photo by Todd Hulslander]. Definitely some of my personal classical-music heroes. James Dunham had just returned to the country from Spain, and "Jimmy" Lin had just flown back from concerts in Taiwan. They and colleagues, "Jackie" Parker & Norman Fischer, joked with me about their summer vacations, and played selections from their 9/17 Faculty Recital at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music. Listen closely to their delicate studio performance of the Schumann excerpt (from Piano Quartet in E-flat, Op. 47) ... it is superb! The music just gets better and better, as it gets softer and softer.We're very lucky to have had our share of distinguished musicians -- as well as writers, dancers, actors & visual artists -- on the show lately. The new season is off to a fantastic start!
