Though hesitant to interrupt serious discussion with something so frivolous, in light of today’s New York Times’ editorial describing Edward Snowden as a whistleblower and calling for clemency, I offer you … “Snowden’s Jig.” (Otherwise known as “Genuine Negro Jig,” and composed by the Snowden Family Band, a 19th century African-American musical group based […]
Archive | Music
“Country Music is … Like Benjamin Franklin.”
Pseudonymous blogger and political theorist “Miss Self-Important” has an interesting and entertaining post in defense of country music that I thought I’d share. My two favorite passages: Country music’s virtue is its adherence to the view that music has real emotional power, and that lyrics are part of that power. If a song bothers with […]
Colin Davis, R.I.P.
British conductor Colin Davis died this past Sunday, age 85. Davis was an extraordinarily gifted musician – to my ears, the greatest conductor of the last 30 years* (the one possible exception: James Levine). He holds a special place in my affections because he “taught” me what conductors do, and how important they are. In […]
Second-Hand Music?
Here’s an interesting development: the ReDigi Used Digital Music Store. Application of copyright law’s “first sale doctrine” — which allows you to re-sell or give away copies that you have purchased of books, records, or other copyrighted works without the copyright holder’s permission (the doctrine that allows, for instance, used book stores or video rental […]
The Top Ten:
So over at the New York Times, music critic Anthony Tomassini has completed his excursion through Western “classical” music to come up with his Top Ten composers all time. It’s as silly, and as interesting, as these sorts of exercises usually are — maybe a bit less silly, and more interesting, given that Tomassini gives […]
Go Viral! Go!
Well, with all the nonsense and downright crap that somehow catches the wave and makes the 5 million hit mark, surely there’s room for something that’s actually quite magnificent and inspired, like the Bach Goldberg Variations. Go forth and multiply! [And if you’re interested, the entire performance is available for free download at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/samuelpost ]
Calling All Music Lovers, ChicagoLand Dep’t:
In case any of you is looking for something interesting to do tomorrow (Saturday), my son Sam is giving his Master’s Recital up at Northwestern (Lutkin Hall, 330 PM) performing the complete Bach Goldberg Variations. It should be terrific — Sam’s really a wonderful pianist, he’s always had a tremendous affinity for the music of […]
For the ‘Too Good To Be True’ File
So let me get this straight: according to the Las Vegas Sun, the Fab Four, a Beatles ‘tribute band’ [a lousy generic descriptor for bands like this, imho – how about ‘murder band’ instead], is suing the Fab 4, a different Beatles ‘tribute band,’ alleging that The Fab 4 is “essentially identical in sound and […]
A Musical Interlude:
Loyal readers of the VC know that my son Sam is a very accomplished young pianist — “brilliant” and “magnificent,” I’d say, but then again I’m his dad and, though it’s true (!), you’d probably discount it pretty heavily. Sam’s studying with James Giles at the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern Univ., and last […]
The Star-Spangled Banner:
NOTE TO SELF: If you are ever asked to sing the Star-Spangled Banner at the Superbowl (unlikely, I realize,but you never know for certain), do not — REPEAT, DO NOT — attempt to sing it a cappella. Remember Carrie Underwood’s gruesome, off-key performance at the 2010 SuperBowl, and resist the temptation to show off your […]
Early Music, Anyone?
To quote Roger North from the time of the English Civil War, when musicians, facing Puritan disapproval of music in the church and theatre, “chose to fidle at home, than to goe out and be knockt on the head abroad” … Follow-up to Orin’s post a few days ago asking about our readers’ music rotations […]
The Alternative Theologies of Santa Claus
(Waiting for relatives to arrive on Christmas Day, I have decided to take up the deep theological questions raised by this … Claus, this Santa Claus.) Last night at the children’s Mass at our Catholic parish in Washington DC, observe the arrival of the fellow up top in the photo, dressed in a red suit, […]