Email from ERM Media

Dear Maestro Norton,

It is with great pleasure that I inform you that your composition "DREAM LIGHTS (Riverbank)" was one of the scores chosen for the upcoming recording project MILLENNIUM PROJECT: MADE IN THE AMERICAS!

The amount of submissions was staggering with over 590 submitted!

Recording contracts and all paperwork will be sent out on Monday, March 23, 2009 and should arrive to you in approximately 2 - 4 business days. (We will also enclose a CD from Volume One of this terrific series!)

This is an extraordinary recording series! Radio and media play has never been higher with over 625 outlets worldwide and exposure is fantastic with worldwide distribution through Naxos.

The recording sessions will take place in the USA with the renowned Millennium Symphony from the end of April through the end of May. You will get as many conversations and discussions with the conductor as you need. (Of course, you may attend as well!)

Some deadlines to be aware of:

*** March 23, 2009: Contracts sent out from the ERMMedia offices.

*** April 3, 2009: All paperwork due back to ERM by April 3, 2009.

*** April 6, 2009: Press Announcement (Sent worldwide) of Pieces & Composers in Project!

*** April 24 - May 23, 2009: Recording Sessions to take place in Virginia!

*** July 1, 2009: Rough edits / rough mixes of your recording sent to you on CD-R (You will have input as to balances, etc.)

*** August 1, 2009: Liner Notes and Bios finalized. CD booklet sent out to composers for approval.

*** September 15, 2009: Release of MILLENNIUM PROJECT: MADE IN THE AMERICAS! Worldwide.

Once again, Congratulations! If you do not get your contracts and paperwork within one week from today, please call us immediately at xxx-xxx-xxxx or via email at xxxxx@ermmedia.org.

You can hear fantastic ERMMedia recordings through the ERMMedia RADIO at our website at www.numusicdirect.com

Congratulations!

M.J. Ainsely

ERMMedia

www.numusicdirect.com

www.ermmedia.org

Dr. Atomic

I saw John Adams' Dr. Atomic at the English National Opera tonight. Solid music, very boring libretto and very trite, injected meaning. Interesting staging, great lighting, slightly racist costuming (probably out of ignorance, you don't get many native Americans in England- wait why were the native Americans in it again?), and taught me a major lesson:

Do NOT have a entire stage work hinge on an explosion unless you plan on having an actual explosion onstage. No matter what else you do (almost), your climax will be disappointing.

15 Albums

I was recently tagged by a friend in a facebook note to list 15 albums that changed my life. I usually don't do chain emails of the sort, but that sounded like a cool one. So I'm reposting it here. 15 albums that have changed my life, in no particular order:

1. Refused - The Shape of Punk to Come

2. Radiohead - Kid A

3. Dillinger Escape Plan - Calculating Infinity

4. NOFX - Punk in Drublic

5. Miles Davis - Bitches Brew

6. Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning

7. Steve Reich - Music for 18 Musicians

8. Cadence Weapon - Breaking Kayfabe

9. Aphex Twin - Richard D. James Album

10. Strung Out - Twisted by Design

11. AFI - Black Sails in the Sunset

12. Olivier Messiaen - Quartet for the End of Time

13. John Zorn - Electric Masada

14. Lagwagon - Trashed

15. Mars Volta - De-loused in the Comatorium

There should be a few more honorable mentions, but a lot of times it's a group of albums by a band, or a set of bands with no particular albums as number one, that changes the way I look at things, at least about music. In Rainbows (and Hail to the Thief, and OK Computer) should be next to Kid A, but Kid A was my first exposure to Radiohead. There should be something about post rock in there, which has had a huge effect on me, but tends to do so with songs. So hell yeah to Godspeed's "Storm" on Lift Your Skinny Fists, and a bunch of stuff by Mogwai, Tortoise, Sigur Ros, and more. And to David Bowie. Hunky Dory would be next on the list.