Here’s a note from a percussionist in Florida with an interest in collecting Civil War drums and music.
Archive for the ‘Barb’s Notes’ Category
Email Chats with a Jazz Drummer in Japan
September 29th, 2011
When I opened this website as a companion to my memoir about my life with legendary Chicago drummer Harry Brabec, I had no idea how many interesting percussionists I’d meet as a direct result. Getting to know George Edwards, an American drummer in Japan who hails from Chicago, has been a most enjoyable experience. Now, after several months of interesting email exchanges, I thought it was time to share the story of George’s interesting musical journey in a companion article to this one. He and Harry walked different musical paths, but had they been able to know one another professionally, I’m sure they would have been friends. Certainly they would have appreciated one another’s humorous take on life.
Fritz Reiner Stories and Pictures
June 1st, 2011
Chats with two Chicago Symphony percussionists reveal interesting tidbits of information about Fritz Reiner, a man rarely caught smiling and a conductor many musicians disliked — if not hated.
A Drummer’s Inventions and Creative Ideas
March 28th, 2011
Percussionists often make custom instruments, but Harry Brabec invented something for his own use that was truly unique, and today a young drummer somewhere is still using it.
Harry Brabec’s “Goopenpucky” Desserts
March 14th, 2011
“Goopenpucky” is the amusing word Harry gave to an assortment of delicious concoctions that satisfied his sweet tooth. Whenever he asked for this for dessert, Barbara was free to serve any pie, cake, or other dessert that was loaded with calories and lots of whipped cream. This post discusses the definition of this word and shares one of Harry’s favorite Goopenpucky desserts.
Quotations to Live By
February 14th, 2011
The Drummer Drives! Everybody Else Rides includes an Appendix of original Harry Brabec quotations as well as a few quotations that I know really spoke to his heart. Here are a several more that couldn’t be included in the book, some thought-provoking, others humorous. As you read them, ask yourself how others would see you if the only things they knew about you were reflected in the quotations you had clipped and saved.
Chicago’s Great “Killer Snowstorm of 1967″
February 2nd, 2011
The monster snowstorm that roared through the Chicago area on February 1-2, 2011 brought memories of Chicago’s “Killer Storm of ‘67″ to all those who were around at that time. In this post, adapted from The Drummer Drives! Everybody Else Rides, Barbara Brabec writes about how the storm affected Chicago Symphony musicians.
