Roland Colton | Nov 25, 2016 | author, book tour, concert, music, writing
My First Book Signing with Piano Concert On November 13, 2016, I had my first combination book signing and concert at the Carlsbad City Library, in Carlsbad, California, sponsored by the Amateur Pianists of San Diego. We had an excellent turnout, estimated at between...
Roland Colton | Oct 14, 2016 | architecture, concert, music
I mentioned in an earlier blog the late John Ogden’s summation of Chopin’s Quatrième Ballade. Since I have been spending an hour or two a day on this composition, I have come to appreciate his words more than ever. He said: “[It is] the most exalted, intense and...
Roland Colton | Oct 8, 2016 | book tour, concert, music
Georges Bizet: The Lost Composition A few years ago, my wife and I were returning from the grocery store in Savigné-sur-Lathan, just a few miles from our summer home in the Loire Valley. The radio was playing and I remember hearing a beautiful piano solo that was...
Roland Colton | Sep 11, 2016 | author, book tour, music, writing
Exciting Times Ahead! But first… My first book signing took place at Mystery Ink in Huntington Beach, California, on September 10th. My first impression of the bookstore was quite positive. I found the bookstore very charming and intimate. In an adjoining room,...
Roland Colton | Aug 20, 2016 | author, music
No Great Classical Composers Today? I was talking with a dear friend a couple of weeks ago—a fellow lover of classical music. My friend was lamenting the fact that we have no great composers today, that the genius of classical music has withered away during the past...
Roland Colton | Aug 7, 2016 | history, music, writing
Writing Music Into Fiction As an amateur pianist with a passion for classical music, who also loves to read great fiction, I have often lamented the dearth of novels in this genre. Several years ago, a story began to form in my mind that centered upon a gifted young...
Roland Colton | Jul 23, 2016 | author, music, travel, writing
Awaiting Reviews Last night, my lovely wife and I returned from a promenade on the chateau grounds at sunset and saw, to our mutual surprise and delight, two peacocks perched upon the back terrasse balustrade. We instantly sensed it was a good omen. In India, if a...
Roland Colton | Jun 18, 2016 | author, competition, music
Piano Competition Two weeks ago, my two young daughters (11 and 13) participated in the annual Musical Arts of Orange County piano competition at Cal State Long Beach. This is the third year they have competed. Since they did well in the past two competitions, we had...
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