Category Archives: Food

From Menudo to Copland: My Road to Carlos Chávez

18 Monday Nov 2013

Posted by in Carlos Chavez, Composers, Contemporary Music, Food, LA International New Music Festival, Latin Grammy Awards, Mexico, Music, Southwest Chamber Music, Travel, Uncategorized

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The magical city of Taxco.

The magical city of Taxco.

In 27 years directing Southwest Chamber Music the two questions I’ve received with the most frequency are “How to you decide on your concert programs?” and “How did you learn about the music of Carlos Chávez?” Some recent posts have offered clues to the answer of the first question and it needs the more complicated response of the two questions.

But to answer the question about Carlos Chávez is not so difficult. And I’m old enough now to enjoy the memories that make the answer delicious.

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This Never Gets Old: Latin Grammy Awards with Gabriela Ortiz Next Week!

13 Wednesday Nov 2013

Posted by in Composers, Contemporary Music, Food, LA International New Music Festival, Latin Grammy Awards, Mexico, Music, Southwest Chamber Music, Travel, Uncategorized

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At the 2010 Latin Grammy Awards.

At the 2010 Latin Grammy Awards.

“Some people wouldn’t know a good piece of music if it walked up and bit ’em in the ass” – Frank Zappa.

There are times in life when you need to shine your shoes. Find a tuxedo and stay up way past your bedtime. I’m getting stoked thinking about leaving next week for Las Vegas and our 9th trip to the Grammy Awards. Zappa’s motto quoted above applies to life events as well. You’ve got to show up.

If being nominated for a Grammy Award gets old, you’ve got problems…

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Got Dragon Fruit? Street Food Strategies in Hà Nội, Vietnam, Pt. 2

06 Wednesday Nov 2013

Posted by in Composers, Contemporary Music, Food, LA International New Music Festival, Music, Southwest Chamber Music, Travel, Uncategorized, Vietnam

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The Hanoi Opera House.

The Hà Nội Opera House.

Modeled on the Palais Garnier in Paris and begun in 1901, the Hà Nội Opera House opened in December, 1911. But for the purposes of this post, its history is not significant. Southwest has performed here in 2006 and 2010, both highlights of our Southeast Asian tours. The acoustics are jewel box superb.

But for this post about Hà Nội’s Street Food what’s important is the vantage point of my photo. Hope you’re hungry…

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Cộng Cà Phê in Hà Nội: The Greatest Coffee in the World

04 Monday Nov 2013

Posted by in Composers, Cong CaPhe, Contemporary Music, Food, LA International New Music Festival, Music, Southwest Chamber Music, Travel, Uncategorized, Vietnam

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Above the French Quarter.

Bird’s eye view of a section of Hà Nội’s French Quarter.

I am dreaming of one beverage the Vietnamese do better than anyone else on earth. Having spent a lot of time in Asia, jet lag has arrived for me in LA with a ferocity that is a reminder of having been on the other side of the world. Doing this without coffee is impossible.  The jet lag always lifts, but my memory takes me back quickly to Hà Nội.

If you like coffee please read on – Cộng Cà Phê (Cong Coffee) in Hà Nội is the greatest coffee on Planet Earth.  Thank God I brought a pound back with me!

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Street Food Strategy in Hà Nội, Việt Nam, Pt. 1

26 Saturday Oct 2013

Posted by in Composers, Contemporary Music, Food, LA International New Music Festival, Music, Southwest Chamber Music, Travel, Uncategorized, Vietnam

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Street food heaven in Hanoi's Old Quarter.

Street food heaven in Hanoi’s Old Quarter.

Forgive me, but I’m in Hong Kong for a few days before flying back to Los Angeles. So food, great food, is on my mind. Everyone knows that musicians know the best spots for a meal. You might bookmark this post for future reference if you plan a trip to Hanoi, Vietnam.

So here are the some of the spots where thoughts and plots for the next LA International New Music Festival took shape. Hope you’re hungry!

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The First New Moon of October: Đom Đóm Lights up the Night

08 Tuesday Oct 2013

Posted by in Composers, Contemporary Music, Food, LA International New Music Festival, Music, Southwest Chamber Music, Travel, Uncategorized, Vietnam

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Dom Dom's opening night at Zone 9, October 5.

Đom Đóm’s opening night at Zone 9, October 5 with Jakob Riis & Friends in Hà Nội.

Now it’s official. To a packed house of creative music fans, Trần Kim Ngọc’s Đom Đóm Music, the hub for experimental music and art in Hà Nội, opened on Saturday night October 5 to great acclaim. Set for the auspicious date of the first new moon in the lunar cycle for this month, a sense of event was in the air between the numerous Vietnamese and a few eager Europeans and Americans in attendance.

Đom Đóm at Zone 9 is a breaking point for a serious Vietnamese musical avant garde movement to take hold and move onto the international scene in the next decade.

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The Old Quarter of Hà Nội

26 Thursday Sep 2013

Posted by in Composers, Food, LA International New Music Festival, Music, Southwest Chamber Music, Travel, Uncategorized, Vietnam

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“In Việt Nam, time is elastic.”

We’ve arrived smoothly dodging the super typhoon that missed Hong Kong, we’re very thankful and happy to be in the Old Quarter of Hà Nội.

Nguyễn Thanh Thưy, the first of many new friends I’m going to meet here in Hà Nội and who you see in the above photo, joins Jan, me and composer Vũ Nhật Tân for lunch yesterday at Ngôn in the French Quarter of Hà Nội.  She shared a riveting memory of her first trip to the West, which was to Zürich in Switzerland.

She became very nervous and confused when confronted for the first time with a Swiss timetable to use mass transit.  “Are these people insane?  Nothing needs to be this precise!  And people stared at their watches, annoyed if the bus arrived late!”  I think the Vietnamese version of “Toto, we aren’t in Kansas anymore” started in her homesick young mind.

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Maples & Blossoms: My Journey to the East began with Japan

20 Friday Sep 2013

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Young maple leaves at Ei-Kando Temple in Kyoto, May 2013.

Here’s a thought experiment.  Pierre Boulez, Benjamin Britten and John Cage are stuck in a Tokyo elevator for over three hours.  While waiting for a repairman, what do they talk about to pass the time?  Send me your ideas!

As I mentioned in my last post, our first visit to Asia was to Japan in 2002 and started in Kyoto.  A celebration of our 20th wedding anniversary, Jan and I decided to visit her college friend and enthusiastic chamber music collaborator from Boston University days, Mitsuyo Matsumoto.   We were transformed and overwhelmed with the beauty of cherry blossoms, sakura, as Miko guided us around the temples of Kyoto.

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Posted by | Filed under Composers, Contemporary Music, Education, Food, LA International New Music Festival, Music, Southwest Chamber Music, Travel, Uncategorized, Vietnam

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Loi Trinh Le and my Journey to the East

19 Thursday Sep 2013

Posted by in Composers, Contemporary Music, Education, Food, LA International New Music Festival, Music, Southwest Chamber Music, Travel, Uncategorized, Vietnam

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A lotus pond in Hoi An.

A lotus pond in Hội An.

Loi Trinh Le.

As I dream of Việt Nam in anticipation of my return, I dream also of the love that turned me towards the East.  As with most love stories, people get involved and shape the narrative.  My compass, my guide, my mentor and inspiration in this love was Loi Trinh Le.

We called her Trinh.  A diminutive but imposing woman, she was a highly gifted acupuncturist with numerous celebrity patients thrown in for good measure. But everyone had to find her modest house in Culver City for treatments. Trinh navigated me through life’s challenges, imposing Buddhist tough love when necessary and then countering with a warmth of abounding compassion.

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Returning to Hà Nội!

17 Tuesday Sep 2013

Posted by in Composers, Contemporary Music, Food, Music, Travel, Uncategorized, Vietnam

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Hi Everyone!

I am beginning this blog today as my wife Jan Karlin and I prepare to return to Hà Nội, Việt Nam!  Southwest’s  Ascending Dragon Festival was in 2010 and composer Vũ Nhật Tân was in Los Angeles for a two month residency in 2012.

So it is time to begin the next chapter in this love affair I have with Southeast Asia, meeting new contacts and renewing old friendships.  This blog will follow us through the streets of the Old Quarter of Hà Nội (foodies beware!), reunions and adventures.  I am sure this trip will shape part of the next LA International New Music Festival!

Confucius was right:  the greatest joy is visiting with a friend from afar!

Best, best, best,

Jeff von der Schmidt