I have always been hesitant to call myself a composer. Looking through scraps of manuscripts saved from my college years and my high school journals, it’s obvious I’ve always aspired to be one. Thankfully, it wasn’t some misguided pursuit of fame or fortune that… Continue Reading “Woodwind Gourmet: Jason’s Müesli”
My fascination with composers’ eating habits began innocently enough in my undergraduate years… now that I’m no longer a student and can study anything I choose, I’ve decided to dust off that quest and go off in search of my favorite composers’ favorite breakfasts!… Continue Reading “Woodwind Gourmet: Jenni’s Tofu Scramble”
A composer growing up in Paris while bridging the 19th & 20th centuries probably ate some interesting breakfasts—a mix of gourmet and eating on the cheap. Today’s recipe is an autumn-inspired riff on classic “Pain Perdu” (literally “lost bread”). Dressed down, it’s just stale bread dipped in egg batter and fried up. Dressed up, it’s adorned with exotic spices and rich, complex flavors of fruit and wine.
My fascination with composers’ eating habits began innocently enough in my undergraduate years… now that I’m no longer a student and can study anything I choose, I’ve decided to dust off that quest and go off in search of my favorite composers’ favorite breakfasts!… Continue Reading “Woodwind Gourmet: Haydn’s Cherry-Almond Tart”
“Frederick the Great [1712-1786] used to make his own coffee, with much to-do and fuss. For water he used champagne. Then, to make the flavor stronger, he stirred in powdered mustard. Now to me it seems improbable that Frederick truly liked his brew. I… Continue Reading “Woodwind Gourmet: Irish Coffee”
“Every morning I have to write, correct, and score till one o’clock, when I go to Scheidel’s coffeehouse in Kaufinger Gasse, where I know each face by heart and find the same people every day in the same position: two playing chess, three looking… Continue Reading “Woodwind Gourmet: Tiramisu”
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was known to burn the midnight oil, feverishly scribbling out brilliance by candlelight. Responsible for creating reams of new, original music for very prominent performances for myriad occasions throughout the year, he may have felt his life was a long… Continue Reading “Woodwind Gourmet: Pan-Fried Chicken with Red-Eye Gravy”
“I always knew it helped to be both fruity and nutty if you wanted to be an oboist, but it never occurred to me to take those two elements outside of the practice room and bring them into the kitchen (another of my favorite… Continue Reading “Orange-Almond Scones”
“I always knew it helped to be both fruity and nutty if you wanted to be an oboist, but it never occurred to me to take those two elements outside of the practice room and bring them into the kitchen (another of my favorite… Continue Reading “Woodwind Gourmet: Spicy Orange-Glazed Chicken with Almond Rice”