That's one of the questions you'll have to answer for yourself if you do what I'm suggesting in this post. I believe every serious audiophile who doesn't have a technical background should build a kit, if for no other reason than the learning experience. When it's done you'll know far more about audio equipment design and you'll have a platform for future upgrades and the experience of hearing the improvements they make. You'll also have a component that looks like a junior high science fair project, but sounds surprisingly good for what it is. Just the fact that you built it will make an 90% psychoacoustic improvement to the sound.
The kit I recommend for first time kit builders is the Bottlehead "Quickie" battery powered preamp. Their "Extended Foreplay" preamp is much better but its a more challenging project; more appropriate for the second time project builder. It's also more expensive, at $700+ versus $99 for the Quickie (in the sex business time is money). To build your Quickie you'll also need a soldering iron, solder, and a volt/ohm meter, each available for about $10. Oh, just as with most other sex toys , the batteries aren't included, but D cells and 9Volt cells are cheap. You'll also need a base for your Quickie, which I can build you for free out of mdf scraps.
Performances at The Shepherd School of Music November 16 - November 23, 2009
EVENTS
The following is a list of events taking place at The Shepherd School of Music from Monday, November 16 through Monday, November 23:
Monday, November 16 Class Recital Violin students of Kathleen Winkler. 8:00 p.m., Duncan Recital Hall
Tuesday, November 17 Guest Artist Master Class Matthais Müller, clarinet from Switzerland 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Duncan Recital Hall
Wednesday, November 18 Guest Artist Master Class Eva Amsler, flute (from Florida State University) 12:00 p.m., Room 1133 Sponsored by the Kung Family Woodwind Guest Artist Fund.
Shepherd School Percussion Ensemble Richard Brown, director Works by Shostakovich, Jonathan Pieslack, Emmanuel Séjourné, Rudiger Pawassar, Ted Rounds, and Paul Lansky. 8:00 p.m., Stude Concert Hall
Chamber Music for Winds Featuring students of the Shepherd School. Music of Barber, Beethoven, and Stravinsky. 8:00 p.m., Duncan Recital Hall
Thursday, November 19 Composers' Forum Works composed and performed by Shepherd School students. 8:00 p.m., Duncan Recital Hall
Friday, November 20 SYZYGY, New Music at Rice Program: Karim Al-Zand - Pattern Preludes (for solo piano); Richard Lavenda - String Trio; George Rochberg - Caprices (for solo violin); and Stephen Jaffe - Offering (for flute, viola, and harp). Performers include Kathleen Winkler, violin; SoJin Kim, violin; James Dunham, viola; Hillary Schoap, viola; Lachezar Kostov, cello; Catherine Ramirez, flute; Sadie Turner, harp; and Brian Connelly, piano. 8:00 p.m., Duncan Recital Hall
Saturday, November 21 Class Recital Piano students of Jeanne Kierman. 10:30 a.m., Duncan Recital Hall
Class Recital Piano students of Robert Roux. 1:00 p.m., Duncan Recital Hall
Class Recital Violin students of Kenneth Goldsmith. 2:30 p.m., Hirsch Orchestra Rehearsal Hall
Doctoral Recital Molly Gebrian, viola Music of Persichetti, Hindemith, Clarke, and Richard Lavenda. 3:00 p.m., Duncan Recital Hall
Master's Recital Keith Thomas, cello Music of Ligeti, Bolcom, Haydn, and Tchaikovsky. 5:00 p.m., Hirsch Orchestra Rehearsal Hall
Master's Recital Sishel Claverie, mezzo-soprano Music of Britten, Debussy, Ravel, and Christian Jost. 5:30 p.m., Duncan Recital Hall
Class Recital Violin students of Kathleen Winkler. 7:30 p.m., Hirsch Orchestra Rehearsal Hall
Student Recital André Dyachenko, clarinet Music of Martino, Yoshimatsu, Muczynski, and Schumann. 8:00 p.m., Duncan Recital Hall
Sunday, November 22 Class Recital Cello students of Norman Fischer. 3:00 p.m., Hirsch Orchestra Rehearsal Hall
Campanile Orchestra Cristian Macelaru, conductor Program: Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 3 in D Major, Op. 29 “Polish". 8:00 p.m., Stude Concert Hall
Class Recital Viola students of James Dunham and Ivo-Jan van der Werff. 8:00 p.m., Duncan Recital Hall
Monday, November 23 Class Recital Piano students of Jon Kimura Parker. 5:30 p.m., Duncan Recital Hall
Class Recital Violin students of Cho-Liang Lin. 7:30 p.m., Hirsch Orchestra Rehearsal Hall
Master's Recital Carlos Cordeiro, clarinet Music of Brahms, Sivelöv, Donatoni, Schumann, and Bilotta. 8:00 p.m., Duncan Recital Hall
Stude Concert Hall, Duncan Recital Hall, Edythe Bates Old Recital Hall and Grand Organ, Wortham Opera Theatre, and Hirsch Orchestra Rehearsal Hall are located in Alice Pratt Brown Hall on the Rice University campus. Use Entrance No. 8 on University Blvd. or Entrance No. 18 on Rice Blvd.
Alice Pratt Brown Hall is wheelchair accessible. Assistive listening devices may be available upon request for Stude Concert Hall events.
Unless otherwise noted, admission to all events is free and tickets are not required. Programs are subject to change without notice. For information, call the Shepherd School Concert Office at 713-348-8000.
Shepherd School Percussion Ensemble
Click the image to enlarge
The Shepherd School of Music Percussion Ensemble will the rocking Stude Concert Hall on Wednesday, November 18. The program includes: Threads - Paul Lansky The Martians Tribes - Emmanuel Se’journe’ Bluebird Samba - Ted Rounds The Nose - Dimitri Shostakovich Sculpture In Wood - Rudiger Pawassar Dancers of A Fractured Method - Jonathan Pieslack
Free admission, no tickets required. 8:00 p.m., Stude Concert Hall
Tom Littman Concert Manager 2237 Alice Pratt Brown Hall 713-348-4933 littman@...
Matthew Neumann Concert Office Assistant 2243 Alice Pratt Brown Hall 713-348-8000 mpn1@...
Programs are subject to change without notice. For information, call the Shepherd School Concert Office at 713-348-8000.
Join Us in The Shepherd Society
If you have not participated prior to this year, please consider becoming a member of The Shepherd Society. Members share a unique sense of pride in the high caliber of musical education for which The Shepherd School of Music has become nationally recognized.
Become a Fan on Facebook!
Click the link above or text FBOOK (32665) from your mobile device, and you will be added as fans instantly.
Main Telephone Number 713-348-4854
Physical Address Rice University 6100 Main Street Shepherd School of Music Houston, TX 77005-1892
Mailing Address Shepherd School of Music - MS 532 Rice University P.O.Box 1892 Houston, TX 77251-1892
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Damn, and all this time I thought Vienna Teng was a new energy drink.
On Nov 14, 2009, at 2:52 PM, Jim wrote:
Thought I'd follow up on the Vienna Teng concert. More of a gathering than a concert if you can imagine the room. Most of the audience sat on the floor on blankets that were provided tho there were chairs around the perimeter of the room. The venue is a new one in Houston. It's a yoga center by day- NiaMoves- and they've only been having concerts since March. Sara Hickman is due in January.
Well, Vienna Teng has talent to burn. She is the complete package and she knows how to conduct a show. She is a very skilled and versatile pianist, she can play softly and bang out drama with both hands, and she has written and plays very engaging songs. And she sings if you didn't know that. Her partner, her percussionist, also writes and plays guitar. Together they make all kinds of music. Much more than you would expect two people are capable of making. I won't spoil the fun for you by telling you how they do it but I will say that to appreciate this artist she must be seen live and I think you'll be pleased and amazed if you do.
ps- Three ladies came in late has were recognized by VT as having been at her concert in Austin the night before. They had driven three hours to see her again. It won't surprise you either. Cheers.
Thought I'd follow up on the Vienna Teng concert. More of a gathering than a
concert if you can imagine the room. Most of the audience sat on the floor on
blankets that were provided tho there were chairs around the perimeter of the
room. The venue is a new one in Houston. It's a yoga center by day- NiaMoves-
and they've only been having concerts since March. Sara Hickman is due in
January.
Well, Vienna Teng has talent to burn. She is the complete package and she knows
how to conduct a show. She is a very skilled and versatile pianist, she can
play softly and bang out drama with both hands, and she has written and plays
very engaging songs. And she sings if you didn't know that. Her partner, her
percussionist, also writes and plays guitar. Together they make all kinds of
music. Much more than you would expect two people are capable of making. I
won't spoil the fun for you by telling you how they do it but I will say that to
appreciate this artist she must be seen live and I think you'll be pleased and
amazed if you do.
ps- Three ladies came in late has were recognized by VT as having been at her
concert in Austin the night before. They had driven three hours to see her
again. It won't surprise you either. Cheers.
Maestro Frederico- Thanks for all your good work. Jim
--- On Fri, 11/13/09, Tim Butler <timztunz@...> wrote:
From: Tim Butler <timztunz@...> Subject: Re: HAS Re: November 14th Meeting To: houstonaudio@yahoogroups.com Date: Friday, November 13, 2009, 5:33 AM
Great choice of music! Sorry that I can't be there.
From: fredt300b <no_reply@yahoogroup s.com> To: houstonaudio@ yahoogroups. com Sent: Thu, November 12, 2009 4:09:19 PM Subject: HAS Re: November 14th Meeting
Just a reminder the meeting is from ten to Noon on Saturday. Afterward we'll plan to meet at a local restaurant. Please bring your favorite CD's. Sorry, no vinly or hi rez this time.
The meeting will be in two parts. First we'll listen to just one track on each of the speakers. The track I've chosen for this part is "It's A Hard World" from the album "Some Things Never Change" by the 70's-80's alternative rock group Supertramp. I chose this track because it's well recorded, highly dynamic, and includes some great high impact kick drums and delicate percussive sounds. Unfortunately it's almost ten minutes long, so we won't hear the entire track with each speaker.
The volume setting I'll be using results in a nice room-filling but not-overly-loud level, with peaks in the 90dB range. The sensitivity of the speakers varies greatly, with the line arrays being the most sensitive and the Magnepans being
the least. To ensure our perceptions aren't biased by different sound levels, I tested each speaker pair with a pink noise track and a sound level meter, and I've noted the volume setting on the amp needed for each to play at the same volume as all the others.
After we've completed this structured part of the meeting we'll take a few minutes to discuss differences we heard, then the meeting becomes completely unstructured, and the group can decide which speakers we'll hear next and what music we'll be playing through them.
The equipment we'll be using includes a Cambridge Audio Azur 840C CD player, a Krell KAV-400xi integrated amp, and cables from Signal Cable and Wayne's imported cables. I'll also have a tube preamp and 3-watt 2A3 SET tube amps in the equipment rack in case somebody wants to hear any of the speakers with this type of
equipment.
Great choice of music! Sorry that I can't be there.
From: fredt300b <no_reply@yahoogroups.com> To: houstonaudio@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thu, November 12, 2009 4:09:19 PM Subject: HAS Re: November 14th Meeting
Just a reminder the meeting is from ten to Noon on Saturday. Afterward
we'll plan to meet at a local restaurant. Please bring your favorite
CD's. Sorry, no vinly or hi rez this time.
The meeting will be in two parts. First we'll listen to just one track
on each of the speakers. The track I've chosen for this part is "It's A
Hard World" from the album "Some Things Never Change" by the 70's-80's
alternative rock group Supertramp. I chose this track because it's well
recorded, highly dynamic, and includes some great high impact kick drums
and delicate percussive sounds. Unfortunately it's almost ten minutes
long, so we won't hear the entire track with each speaker.
The volume setting I'll be using results in a nice room-filling but
not-overly-loud level, with peaks in the 90dB range. The sensitivity of
the speakers varies greatly, with the line arrays being the most
sensitive and the Magnepans being the least. To ensure our perceptions
aren't biased by different sound levels, I tested each speaker pair with
a pink noise track and a sound level meter, and I've noted the volume
setting on the amp needed for each to play at the same volume as all the
others.
After we've completed this structured part of the meeting we'll take a
few minutes to discuss differences we heard, then the meeting becomes
completely unstructured, and the group can decide which speakers we'll
hear next and what music we'll be playing through them.
The equipment we'll be using includes a Cambridge Audio Azur 840C CD
player, a Krell KAV-400xi integrated amp, and cables from Signal Cable
and Wayne's imported cables. I'll also have a tube preamp and 3-watt 2A3
SET tube amps in the equipment rack in case somebody wants to hear any
of the speakers with this type of equipment.
Just a reminder the meeting is from ten to Noon on Saturday. Afterward
we'll plan to meet at a local restaurant. Please bring your favorite
CD's. Sorry, no vinly or hi rez this time.
The meeting will be in two parts. First we'll listen to just one track
on each of the speakers. The track I've chosen for this part is "It's A
Hard World" from the album "Some Things Never Change" by the 70's-80's
alternative rock group Supertramp. I chose this track because it's well
recorded, highly dynamic, and includes some great high impact kick drums
and delicate percussive sounds. Unfortunately it's almost ten minutes
long, so we won't hear the entire track with each speaker.
The volume setting I'll be using results in a nice room-filling but
not-overly-loud level, with peaks in the 90dB range. The sensitivity of
the speakers varies greatly, with the line arrays being the most
sensitive and the Magnepans being the least. To ensure our perceptions
aren't biased by different sound levels, I tested each speaker pair with
a pink noise track and a sound level meter, and I've noted the volume
setting on the amp needed for each to play at the same volume as all the
others.
After we've completed this structured part of the meeting we'll take a
few minutes to discuss differences we heard, then the meeting becomes
completely unstructured, and the group can decide which speakers we'll
hear next and what music we'll be playing through them.
The equipment we'll be using includes a Cambridge Audio Azur 840C CD
player, a Krell KAV-400xi integrated amp, and cables from Signal Cable
and Wayne's imported cables. I'll also have a tube preamp and 3-watt 2A3
SET tube amps in the equipment rack in case somebody wants to hear any
of the speakers with this type of equipment.
Performances at The Shepherd School of Music November 9 - November 16, 2009
EVENTS
The following is a list of events taking place at The Shepherd School of Music from Monday, November 9 through Monday, November 16:
Monday, November 9 Chamber Music for Brass Featuring students of the Shepherd School. Music of Gabrieli, Shostakovich, Villa-Lobos, Stravinsky, and Ewald. 8:00 p.m., Duncan Recital Hall
Tuesday, November 10 Senior Recital Jeff Taylor, violinMusic of Bach and Berg. 5:30 p.m., Duncan Recital Hall
SOLD OUT Shepherd School Opera and the Shepherd School Chamber Orchestra present the Prologue from Ariadne auf Naxos by Richard Strauss and Viva la Mamma! by Gaetano Donizetti. Richard Bado, conductorCristian Măcelaru, conductor (Nov. 10 performance)Debra Dickinson, director The performance on Tuesday, November 10 is SOLD OUT. There are no more tickets remaining to Tuesday night's performance. 7:30 p.m., Wortham Opera Theatre at the Shepherd School
Wednesday, November 11 Faculty Recital Michael Webster, clarinet Benjamin Kamins, bassoon William VerMeulen, horn Robert Moeling, piano Program: Muczynski - Fantasy Trio for Clarinet, Bassoon, and Piano; Berwald - Quartet in E-flat Major for Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, and Piano; and Mozart - Quintet in E-flat Major for Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, and Piano, K. 452. 8:00 p.m., Duncan Recital Hall
Thursday, November 11 Doctoral Lecture Recital Christine Kim, cello “Texture and Momentum in the Sonatas of Claude Debussy and Vivian Fine” 12:15 p.m., Duncan Recital Hall
Junior Recital Nicholas Cathcart, double bass Music of Hindemith, Schubert, and Schulhoff. 6:00 p.m., Duncan Recital Hall
Houston Friends of Music Pavel Haas Quartet Program: Schubert - String Quartet No. 12 in C Minor, D. 703; Haydn - String Quartet No. 61 in D Minor, Op. 76 No. 2; Britten - Three Divertimenti for String Quartet; and Pavel Haas - String Quartet No. 2, Op. 7 “From the Monkey Mountains.” 8:00 p.m., Stude Concert Hall Admission (reserved seating): $19–$65. For tickets call 713-348-5400. Limited number of complimentary tickets for Rice faculty, staff and students.
Class Recital Bassoon students of Benjamin Kamins. 8:00 p.m., Duncan Recital Hall
Friday, November 13 Master's Recital Heather Zinninger, flute Music of C.P.E. Bach, Ichiyanagi, Gieseking, Prokofiev, and Daugherty. 5:00 p.m., Duncan Recital Hall
Master's Recital Lynsey Anderson, viola Music of J.S. Bach, Reger, Penderecki, and Garth Knox. 7:30 p.m., Room 1133
Saturday, November 14 Shepherd School Chamber Music Festival: Spotlight on Beethoven and His Time 10:00 a.m. – Concert 1 Mozart - Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major, K. 448 Beethoven - Piano Trio in E-flat Major, Op.1 No.1 Brahms - Horn Trio in E-flat Major, Op. 40 Beethoven - String Quartet in C Major, Op. 59 No. 3, "Razumovsky"
12:00 noon – Concert 2 Schubert - String Quartet in E-flat, D. 87, Op. Posth. 125 No. 1 Beethoven - String Quartet in B-flat Major, Op. 18 No. 6 Beethoven - Piano Trio in D Major, Op. 70 No. 1, "Ghost" Shostakovich - Piano Quintet in G Minor, Op. 57
2:00 p.m. – Concert 3 Beethoven - Piano Trio in C Minor, Op. 1 No. 3 Schumann - Piano Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 47 Ferdinand Ries - Sextet in G Major, Op. 142
4:00 p.m. – Concert 4 Mozart - String Quintet in C Minor, K. 406 Schulhoff - Concertino Mendelssohn - String Quartet in A Minor, Op. 13 Beethoven - String Quartet in F Major, Op. 59 No. 1, "Razumovsky"
6:00 p.m. – Concert 5 Schubert - String Quartet in A Minor, D. 804, "Rosamunde" Beethoven - Trio in G Major for Piano, Flute, and Bassoon, WoO 37 Schubert - Piano Trio in E-flat Major, D.929 Beethoven - Piano Trio in B-flat Major, Op. 97, "Archduke"
8:00 p.m. – Concert 6 Beethoven - String Quartet in F Major, Op. 135 Beethoven - String Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 74, "Harp" Beethoven - String Quartet in E Minor, Op. 59 No. 2 Beethoven - String Quartet in A Minor, Op. 132
Duncan Recital Hall Free admission, no tickets required.
Sunday, November 15 Beethoven and Brunch: Sunday with the Shepherd Society Join us for a chamber music concert and light brunch reception featuring Beethoven, Bagels, Bloody Marys, and more! Tickets required. Shepherd Society members will receive two complimentary tickets. Call 713-348-3492 or e-mail theshepherdsociety@... to reserve your place. 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Master's Recital Julia Bell, soprano Music of Vivaldi, Glinka, Head, Rachmaninoff, and Wagner. 4:00 p.m., Duncan Recital Hall
Monday, November 16 Class Recital Clarinet students of Michael Webster. 12:00 p.m., Duncan Recital Hall
Class Recital Violin students of Kathleen Winkler. 8:00 p.m., Duncan Recital Hall
Stude Concert Hall, Duncan Recital Hall, Edythe Bates Old Recital Hall and Grand Organ, Wortham Opera Theatre, and Hirsch Orchestra Rehearsal Hall are located in Alice Pratt Brown Hall on the Rice University campus. Use Entrance No. 8 on University Blvd. or Entrance No. 18 on Rice Blvd.
Alice Pratt Brown Hall is wheelchair accessible. Assistive listening devices may be available upon request for Stude Concert Hall events.
Unless otherwise noted, admission to all events is free and tickets are not required. Programs are subject to change without notice. For information, call the Shepherd School Concert Office at 713-348-8000.
Shepherd School Concert Office
Tom Littman Concert Manager 2237 Alice Pratt Brown Hall 713-348-4933 littman@...
Matthew Neumann Concert Office Assistant 2243 Alice Pratt Brown Hall 713-348-8000 mpn1@...
Programs are subject to change without notice. For information, call the Shepherd School Concert Office at 713-348-8000.
Join Us in The Shepherd Society
If you have not participated prior to this year, please consider becoming a member of The Shepherd Society. Members share a unique sense of pride in the high caliber of musical education for which The Shepherd School of Music has become nationally recognized.
Become a Fan on Facebook!
Click the link above or text FBOOK (32665) from your mobile device, and you will be added as fans instantly.
Main Telephone Number 713-348-4854
Physical Address Rice University 6100 Main Street Shepherd School of Music Houston, TX 77005-1892
Mailing Address Shepherd School of Music - MS 532 Rice University P.O.Box 1892 Houston, TX 77251-1892
This e-mail was sent from The Shepherd School of Music, Rice University Immediate removal with PatronMail® SecureUnsubscribe.
To forward this e-mail to a friend or colleague, use this link.
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