• About Jeff von der Schmidt, the Hà Nội New Music Ensemble & LA International New Music Festival

Sound Travels with Jeff von der Schmidt

~ A blog about new music, travel and food

Sound Travels with Jeff von der Schmidt

Category Archives: Music

From the Fragrant Harbor of Hong Kong: Thank You, Harry Woo!

18 Wednesday Dec 2013

Posted by Jeff von der Schmidt in Contemporary Music, Food, Hong Kong, LA International New Music Festival, Music, Southwest Chamber Music, Taipei, Tea, Travel

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Asia, China, Chinese, Chinese tea, Cong Caphe, Hanoi, Health, Hong Kong, Hongkong, Katz's Deli, Kowloon, Lin Heung Kui, Lin Heung Kui Dim Sum, Los Angeles, MIng Cha Tea, Phoenix Deli, Star Ferry

Hong Kong & Kowloon.

Hong Kong & Kowloon.

Trying to describe Hong Kong is like writing an encyclopedia – you’re going to need a lot of pages to cover all the subjects and possibilities. My marriage is a combination of Hollywood and Broadway: I’m from Los Angeles, California and my wife Jan is from Newark, New Jersey. Which means she spent all her teenage weekends in the Big Apple, as in attending the first Earth Day. Grandma took her to Radio City Music Hall with, of course, white gloves. She still has family in Brooklyn. I used to wait in the parking lot of 20th Century Fox with my uncle for my mom to get off work. Between the two of us, we know the two largest cities in the U.S. from childhood.

Each major city holds a lifetime of experience. I don’t think you’d get tired of any of them. Worn down by traffic and congestion, sure. But tired? Not me. Big cities equal endless opportunity. And just crossing from Kowloon to Hong Kong on the Star Ferry is the single greatest commute on Planet Earth.

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In the Month of Wintersweet Tea

11 Wednesday Dec 2013

Posted by Jeff von der Schmidt in Contemporary Music, Food, Hong Kong, LA International New Music Festival, Music, Taipei, Travel, Uncategorized

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Asia, De Ye Cha Chi, Hong Kong, Kenting National Park, Marilyn Monroe, New York Times, Taipei, Tea, Teapot

The Autumn Fire Dragon in Shanghai.

The Autumn Fire Dragon in Shanghai.

Maybe it’s because my wife’s family is from Western Massachusetts. Perhaps it’s good luck or a gravitational pull that is mysterious and karmic. But we’ve now been pulled three times to Asia in the autumn. Be it China, Taiwan or Hong Kong, it’s a mirror image of my wife’s New England fascination with changing light and color this time of year. And now with the last final days of autumn leading into winter, we’ve arrived at the month of Wintersweet Tea.

I like epiphanies. Mine with tea happened in Taipei.

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En La Mezcla Starts Latin Grammy in Las Vegas!

20 Wednesday Nov 2013

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

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Gabriel Abaroa, Gabriela Ortiz, Grammy Award, Hanoi, Las Vegas, Latin Grammy, Matt Snyder

Gabriela Ortiz waiting for Latin Grammy...

Gabriela Ortiz waiting for Latin Grammy…

The Latin Grammy week started last night. When I found out about the nomination in Hanoi, Vietnam, I knew I’d be in for some serious contrast from Southeast Asia to the Nevada desert. The parties started last night with En La Mezcla!, the first event for producers and engineers at the Palms Casino.

Jan and I arrived yesterday morning. Breakfast at Peggy Sue’s in Yermo CA breaks up the trip nicely from LA. But Vegas is its own world.

Disneyland with Booze… Continue reading →

From Menudo to Copland: My Road to Carlos Chávez

18 Monday Nov 2013

Posted by Jeff von der Schmidt 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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Carlos Chavez, Cesar Chavez, Gabriela Ortiz, Igor Stravinsky, Los Angeles, Mexico, Southwest Chamber Music, United States

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 Jeff von der Schmidt in Composers, Contemporary Music, Food, LA International New Music Festival, Latin Grammy Awards, Mexico, Music, Southwest Chamber Music, Travel, Uncategorized

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Frank Zappa, Frida Kahlo, Gabriela Ortiz, Grammy Award, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Mexico, Orson Welles

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 Jeff von der Schmidt in Composers, Contemporary Music, Food, LA International New Music Festival, Music, Southwest Chamber Music, Travel, Uncategorized, Vietnam

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Food, French Quarter, Hanoi, Hanoi Conservatory of Music, Hanoi Opera House, Palais Garnier, Street Food, Vietnam

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 Jeff von der Schmidt in Composers, Cong CaPhe, Contemporary Music, Food, LA International New Music Festival, Music, Southwest Chamber Music, Travel, Uncategorized, Vietnam

≈ 2 Comments

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Asia, Cong Caphe, Hanoi, Juilliard School, LA International New Music Festival, New York City, Nguyen Thien Dao, Vietnam

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 Jeff von der Schmidt in Composers, Contemporary Music, Food, LA International New Music Festival, Music, Southwest Chamber Music, Travel, Uncategorized, Vietnam

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Anthony Bourdain, Dien Bien Phu, French Quarter, Hanoi, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Marlon Brando, Vietnam

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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Paradise Found: The Kuang Si Falls in Luang Prabang, Laos

24 Thursday Oct 2013

Posted by Jeff von der Schmidt in Composers, LA International New Music Festival, Laos, Luang Prabang, Music, Southwest Chamber Music, Travel, Uncategorized

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Asia, California, Kuang Si Fall, Lao, Luang Prabang, Mekong, Pak Ou Caves, Travel and Tourism

At the head of the Kuang Si Falls in Luang Prabang. Wish you were here...

At the head of the Kuang Si Falls in Luang Prabang. Wish you were here…

Though the photo above somewhat reveals the impact of the last of the numerous Kuang Si Falls outside of Luang Prabang in Laos, I am going to create a photo journey for you to share what is, for me, one of the most lovely places on Planet Earth I’ve seen.

If you’ve been searching, the Kuang Si Falls might be Shangri La.  Make that Shangri Laos…

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4,000 Buddhas: A Journey on the Mekong River to the Pak Ou Caves

21 Monday Oct 2013

Posted by Jeff von der Schmidt in Composers, Contemporary Music, LA International New Music Festival, Luang Prabang, Music, Southwest Chamber Music, Travel, Uncategorized

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Asia, Lao, Luang Prabang, Mekong, Pak Ou Caves, Southeast Asia

The meeting of the Nam Khan and Mekong Rivers in Luang Prabang.

The meeting of the Nam Khan and Mekong Rivers in Luang Prabang.

The view north up the Mekong River from Luang Prabang beckons with mystery. Soft clouds, ranges of mountains both close and far, a strong current flowing south to Cambodia and Vietnam, a breeze coming from distant China in the north. Autumn in the air.

And the 4,000 Buddhas of the Pak Ou Caves at the end of a two hour Mekong journey.

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