First of all, let me say I have only the most romantic memories of my music school days in the late 70's and early 80's. I had the best music teacher one could ever wish for...Dr. Barney Childs. He always told me to write what sounded good to me, not what sounded good to others. Charles Ives said, "Get Your Ears Out of the Easychair". Barney Childs was on the same level as Mr. Ives for me; I loved the man very much and was eager to have him approve of my music. He was disappointed that I went into film and didn't keep up with my music. I think he would understand though that everything I did and still do is based on a personal, innocent philosophy and an innocent poetry, whether music or film. He did say before he died that I was a philosopher, then an artist. I took that as a compliment.



BARNEY CHILDS was born in Spokane in 1926. He was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, and received a Ph.D. in English and music from Stanford University. Childs was largely self-taught in music until the early 1950s, when he studied at Tanglewood with Carlos Chavez and Aaron Copland and in New York with Elliott Carter. By the late '50s, his works were performed regularly in New York and elsewhere throughout the U.S. He won the Koussevitzky Award at Tanglewood in 1954 and had many MacDowell residencies.
Childs taught English at University of Arizona from 1956 to 1965, when he became dean of Deep Springs College in California. From 1969 to 1971, he was composer-in-residence at Wisconsin College Conservatory in Milwaukee. In 1971, he began teaching literature and music at the University of Redlands, becoming a full professor in 1973 and a faculty researcher and lecturer in 1979.

Childs was poetry editor of the journal "Genesis West" (1962-65) and an editor of "Perspectives of New Music." He wrote many scholarly articles concerning his musical and aesthetic views, and collaborated with composer Elliott Schwartz to edit the book "Contemporary Composers on Contemporary Music." From 1964 through 1982, Childs ran Advance Recordings, a record company that championed the music of avant-garde composers.
Childs' compositions drew inspiration from many sources, from traditional concert music to the aleatory works of John Cage, and jazz. He was particularly noted for innovative and influential scores (such as TAKE FIVE for any five instruments) that invite performers to collaborate on the realization of the works, and in which indeterminacy and improvisation play a great role.

His compositions include traditional types of works such as symphonies and concertos, chamber pieces for unusual groupings of instruments, and many solo works (often written specifically for renowned new music virtuosi such as bassist Bertram Turetzky). Barney Childs died in February 2000.







I stopped by my old music school and was greatly saddened by what I saw. There wasn't any musical experimentation anymore; it was all old news opera and musicals. The smell of Barney's cigars in the hallways was no longer present. There wasn't even any mention of a Redlands New Music Ensemble and the classic 8:15 pm recitals. When Barney was excited about something he would always say, "First rate!" He would be sorely disappointed with the school now...there wasn't any excitement and freshness in the halls. I feel that it is true about a lot of things in the world today. Where's the experimental wonder? However, the school is just as beautiful as I remember and it made me want to write something to turn things upside down again.
CRC says...

CRC says...

Yes...I am as strange and complicated as this picture suggests, but I mean what I say and I say what I mean.
CRC says...

Celebrating Albuquerque's international status as the mecca of ballooning. I hope to make this true with digital entertainment as well. And I'm not just blowing you a bunch of hot air.

Whenever I see a collection of historical balloons, I think of the Baron Von Munchhausen. I can really relate to his bizarre inventions and whacky adventures.

I guess you know what I'm thinking? I'd love to get an EarsXXI logo on one of these balloons.

The museum has a beautiful veranda to gaze upon the enormous balloon launching field.

I'm sucker for all things that glow.
CRC says...

Art never dies...
--Francis Coppola


I saw this painted on a class room wall at the Cuban film school many years ago. I'd like to humbly add that along with food, art can break down barriers.

CRC says...




freezer art

This just came in...

"But the night's most memorable performance came from perhaps the least
jubilant performer: Tom Waits. "I'm telling ya right now, I wish New Orleans
was dry and Washington was under water," he growled, and when he returned
for the night's only encore, he did a squint-eyed version of "Make It Rain."
He sounded a bit like the city he commemorated: old and weird and set in his
ways and intent no matter what on staying the same." (Source: "Funk,
Blues, and Jams That Were Big and Easy" By Kelefa Sanneh. The New York
Times. September 21, 2005)

It was an honor to give Mr. Waits the "Keeping the Torch Lit" EarsXXI award at the 2005 Duke City Shootout. He is definitely the epitome of an artist that stays true to himself and influences the rest of us deeply.

CRC says...

I was honored to be one of the judges for the Ethnic/Traditional music category during the New Mexico State Fair. It was a diverse selection of performers each with his/her own style and voice. I liked them all for different reasons. The winner was Briauna Sierra, a 15 year old Mexican American young woman, who sang mariachi music with a powerfully spirited voice.

I liked this guy. He made his own vocal quartet by singing each line into a sampler and looping it. He's an original.
When we get EyesXXI set up, I will be looking forward to listening to more of the incredible local New Mexican talent.

If the only prayer you ever utter is 'Thank you!', it will be enough.
--Meister Eckhardt


...whenever I am lonely, I utter this simple prayer. It can fill a deep void.

CRC says...

Every third friday of the month, musicians come out and play all along Central Blvd in th Nob Hill district of ABQ. I love the crazy musical combos. Here's a quartet made up of a tuba, small trap set, cello, and bass. Better yet, they're performing under the great American shoe company,

CRC says...

Biker Cat's relative: the only horse riding Tiger in the World.

CRC says...

Waiting for an ultra-fast VW Praeton to pick us up and take us to the VW party. Oldenburg is a town that loves to party into the wee hours, especially during their film festival.

I saw this display at the VW party. I remembered how sad I was when my father decided to trade our VW bus (which we drove around Germany when I was 6) for a brand new yellow convertible VW bug. I was really outspoken at the car lot. I tried very hard to keep my dad from making the deal. I think I was 7 or 8. Everytime my dad turned away, the VW salesman would flash me this spooky, venomous look. He really wanted to kill me. In the end, my dad made the trade.

Mr. Paine was documented and put on the wall.

Torsten Neumann showing off at the State Theatre. He really does a terrific job as the Oldenburg Film Festival director. We also discovered that he is the "James Bond Playboy" of Oldenburg.

Adrienne took it all in. It was her first time in Germany. She really liked it, even though she isn't a beer drinker.

I befriended the same bouncers that I befriended at last years Oldenburg Film Festival.

Both Nick and I had to make our own gin martinis. For some reason, they use way too much vermouth.

This was the best thing about our Casino night. These pig lighters are a big thing in LA. It was comforting to see that they were a big thing in Oldenburg as well.

I remember this organ grinder from last year. He told me that his street organ was over a hundred years old. That was cool. I told him he should get a real monkey. The stuffed one isn't working.

Biker Chef in Deutschland. He traveled the Northern German countryside with Benny Hill, one of the chefs from Tafelfreuden. My German friends were kind of enough to get me a beautiful Harley Davidson Road King to ride. Biker Chef enjoyed taking it on the Auto Bahn at high speeds, but it was rigged to be very quiet so it didn't have the great Harley sound. The film crews followed Benny Hill and Biker Chef to a cow cheese farm, organic vegetable farm, old-fashioned bread making kitchen and a fantastic ham museum. Biker Chef was extremely impressed with the level of love, care and precision these German food poets embraced. It was an enchanting day for me.