Richard Chandler

Inventing Inventions

By Richard Chandler / June 15, 2024

Love for 2-Part Inventions Why 2-part Inventions? “In music, an invention is a short composition (usually for a keyboard instrument) in two-part counterpoint.” – Wikipedia on Inventions I had been playing alto saxophone since the age of 11 and fell in love with duets from the start. Duets began immediately. Back then, I received six weekly lessons as part of renting the […]

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Thinking about how we strive to impress others

By Richard Chandler / January 17, 2022

Take Two+ TuesdayA Quote, a Thought + an Enriching LinkQuote: “Celebrity is a mask that eats into your face.”Thought: With this very 1st “Take Two+ Tuesday,” I lead with one of my favorite quotes by the writer, John Updike. Although very few of us are celebrities, the meaning of the quote holds up if we find ourselves […]

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Larry Schug book, Scales Out of Balance

Addiction: Songs of Struggle & Victory

By Richard Chandler / December 20, 2021

Alcohol, tobacco, and prescription drug addiction were destructive themes in the lives of my five aunts on my dad’s side. I learned, as an adult, alcoholism had also been a significant detriment in the life of my grandfather that undoubtedly affected his daughters, my aunts. I have also witnessed how frequent inebriation traumatized the lives […]

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Deb Berglund, Richard Chandler Tom Gaetz Cloudwinds Trio

CloudWinds Woodwind Trio November 15th, 2019 Recital Well Received

By Richard Chandler / November 17, 2019

Our recital went well! We had approximately 45 people present between audience members and musicians. Works of the two French composers, Ibert & Koechlin, Polish, (but French inspired) composer Szalowski, and J.S. Bach, Joplin and my own four original works and arrangements all came together for us. Vocalist Jody Martinson joined us for an original […]

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Adolphe Sax

Life of Saxophone Inventor Adolphe Sax

By Richard Chandler / June 22, 2019

By Richard J. Chandler, MA, Composer​ In 2018, I completed a new work based on the life of the inventor of the saxophone, Adolphe Sax. The narrator of the piece tells Sax’s story in the first person as if Adolphe Sax himself returned from the afterlife and told us his life story. Sax Transcends for […]

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Al, Richard, Tom Instruments High

CloudWinds Trio to Provide Music for Celebration Lutheran Church Services January 13th 2019

By Richard Chandler / October 12, 2018

Our CloudWinds Trio is excited to play a part in the upcoming special services celebrating baptism taking place at Celebration Lutheran Church, 1500 Pine Cone Rd N, Sartell, MN 56377. We are honored to be a part of the 8:30 am and the 10:30 am services on January 13th, 2019. Our involvement begins 8 minutes prior to each […]

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outdoor wedding

The CloudWinds Trio Performed for an Outdoor Wedding

By Richard Chandler / October 1, 2018

Late this summer, our The CloudWinds Trio performed for an outdoor wedding just north of St Cloud, MN. The setting was beautiful. It took place in the yard, underneath large pine trees at a residence along the Mississippi River. Using our usual instrumentation of flute, clarinet, and bassoon, we played relaxing pieces by composers Kummer and Bozza as […]

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person playing the saxophone

Sax Transcends for Saxophone Quartet and Narrator

By Richard Chandler / June 5, 2018

I am very excited to have finished writing a new 12-minute work called “Sax Transcends for Saxophone Quartet and Narrator.” It is like the ghost of Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone, returns from the dead to tell his life story, which is interspersed with the music. And a colorful life it was! Intrigue, […]

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DeLaSalle High School

Chandler’s DaVinci Duets Performed at DeLaSalle High School Recital

By Richard Chandler / May 22, 2018

This recital featured the music of composer Doug Duea. It also included 2 pieces by Richard Chandler, Youthful Dance and Flight of Time from the set of duet sketches, DaVinci Transcending Time.  They were performed by Richard Dirlam on baritone saxophone and Richard Chandler on alto saxophone. The compositions and performance were well received by […]

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MN-Sinfonia-Program-Brochure-Jan-12-and-13-2017

Chandler’s “Sacred Geometry” Performed by MN Sinfonia!

By Richard Chandler / January 15, 2018

Program Notes for Sacred Geometry from the Sinfonia Both the St. Paul and the Minneapolis performances were well received by the audiences! Of the people that I invited, 18 were able to be at the concerts! I also heard a number of very nice comments from audience members. And the orchestra, and conductor Jay Fishman, […]

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