Diamond Arts

A Breakthrough in Live Video Music Performance

Posted by Stuart Diamond on Sunday, April 3, 2016 In : Music 

I am not one who normally reviews concerts in which I played. But last Saturday night’s concert at The Soma Yoga Center in Highland Park, NJ was so extraordinary, I think it would be worth an exception. So let’s call it a review not of my concert, but a concert by Don Slepian and video artist Brian Van Korn in which I participated.

A little background first. Though Don is mostly known as a composer-musician, I was introduced to him as an avant-garde video artist back in the 1980s. Don Slep...


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When Dreams Become the Limiter

Posted by sd on Saturday, November 7, 2015

Well, first off I am  surprised to find myself here and asked to discuss music and life though I am not sure that my commentary would be relevant to your worlds and/or experiences. 

Let me start by saying how utterly impressed I am with both of your careers and playing -- how you both in your individual ways have advanced the all important world of bassoon playing. Truly, in such company I understand the phrase "I am not worthy" . Also I need to immediately fess up with an outright confession....


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The Spectrum Symphony Conducted by David Grunberg

Posted by Stuart Diamond on Sunday, November 2, 2014 In : Music 



We were having an early dinner at Village Natural on Greenwich Street with two composers visiting from Europe. We had done a joint concert the previous Saturday night in Brooklyn, and were enjoying a final rendezvous before they returned home. Suddenly a swarm of black-clad folks carrying string cases entered the restaurant, obviously eager for a quick pre-concert meal. The uniformity of dress and confidence of manner bore all the signs that some serious music making were at hand. Upon inquir...
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Birthday of a King

Posted by Stuart Diamond on Sunday, September 28, 2014 In : Music 



James McCracken sings "Birthday of a King."

So why share a You Tube video of James McCracken, the great opera tenor, singing a Christmas carol in mid-August - something I stumbled across on the internet.

Why? Well, this recording marks my very first moment as a professional musician.

Recorded at the Columbia Masterworks Studios, this was the first time I conducted professional musicians or heard any notes that I penned to paper (yes, there was a time we still all used ink and paper) played by a ...


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Are You Listening?

Posted by Stuart Diamond on Saturday, July 14, 2012 In : Music 


Back in the 1970s I would keep a small envelope by the piano. On the envelope was written in large green letters – “Are you listening?” I thought this would be a good adage – a principle for music composition - to keep near me. Over time I began to add more statements to the list – further reminders of what I thought were the keys to successful composing. 

 Prompted by the reading of Brahms' writings on composition, I thought I would share my list with some current comments on its im...
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