DON'T GIVE UP...DON'T EVER GIVE UP
I'm real tired everyone - the school year is winding down and lots going on
with the kids as well so I'll be very very very very brief. So remember when I wrote in one of my first blogs about the fact that only one man has ever died in a major league baseball game due to being hit by a pitch? I also wondered why there wasn't any more info on this subject and wouldn't you know it. This weeks Sports Illustrated has an in depth feature article on the history of players being injured or killed by baseballs in the century. This article covers it all - little league right up to majors. Thank me later for tipping you off Sports Illustrated.
Oh - since my son will play major league baseball someday I'll start updating you on his season stats - after 8 games: Batting Average - .467, On Base - .651. Starting centerfielder - doing very well.
MOVIE TIME
Screw the movies this week - it's not a good day - oh wait - I may go see the new Jamie Fox movie opening night : The Soloist. It's a fascinating true story and we out here in LA were able to follow this story in the LA Times as it was happening a few years ago. I'm certain this will be a very good film.
MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC
My brother the Sociology Professor has published what I consider to be one of the all time definitive articles on the importance of music in a child's education. This is far beyond the Mozart tests, tests on rats, etc. This is a serious study that takes into account so many factors and proves that participation in music increases a students reading and math scores. For those of you that know me, just e-mail me for a copy but be ready to be bombarded with statistical charts and lots of big sociologist jargon. It's a great paper. For those that don't know me - just send me a comment and give me your e-mail address.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
The guy in Starbucks who was talking loud to his friend right next to me yet kept looking at me hoping to get me involved in his conversation. Dude - it was too early - I don't even like talking to people that I know so I sure as hell ain't talking to you and listening to your goofy stories when I've just woken up. Go away.
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Monday, April 20, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
LIFE IN GENERAL
THANKS FOR READING MY BLOG
So this is the sports part but ya know what? I've been working every minute of the day - I feel like I have almost nothing to offer all you loyal fans. Look at me - 10:36 at night and just turning on ESPN - I have no freaking clue what has been going on in sports all day - I feel completely lost. Do you think that's strange. I go through my days wondering what I missing in the sports world and I feel I've been ripped off when I get home this late and have no clue. Did I miss a no hitter? Did I miss a 4 home run game? Ooohh...lookie - someone hit for the cycle. Ya know what the cycle is all you non-sports fans? It is when a player gets a single, double, triple and home run all in the same game. The average batter only bats 4 times per game so this is quite a quirky feat. Anyway - I hope you now know more than you knew before you started reading this blog.....now, on to the next part.....
TAXI DRIVER
Listen - if you even like Dinero a little bit, rent Taxi Driver and enjoy a very young Robert Dinero at the start of his career. Sort of dark intense movie but what I found particularly humorous as I watched it on cable the other night was the soundtrack - very goofy 1970's style cop drama music. It wasn't even like a movie soundtrack...it was truly the soundtrack of the time. I felt like I was watching 1970's episode of Magnum PI (wait - that was the 80's I think)...ok Baretta?????
LENNY B.
I was conducting a little Bernstein today and I will simply say screw all of you that believe he is in someway a second rate composer. Berstein draws his inspiration from music of his country. That is jazz and music imported from other cultures, especially latin cultures. Why is Mozart's music any more important? Mozart drew on simple dance styles and popular music of his time just as Bernstein does. But wait - we are American's and classical music is a high brow European Art Form. How dare we walk on the sacred ground of the European giants. Well I got news for ya. Almost everyone in any audience I've ever been part of, loves the music of Bernstein just as much as they love Gershwin or Copland. Bernstein picked up right where Gerhswin left off but no one will give him credit for that as a composer. It will happen. It may take another 50 years but it will happen. Lenny, you were one of the great music educators of all time and certainly one of the most inspirational conductors. You will get your due as a composer because there is no other composer that sounds quite like you do.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
My gripe of the day concern the guy that is standing next to you in public having a loud conversation with a friend but continuously looking at you to try to get you involved in the conversation. So, to the guy in Starbucks this morning - I'm sure that your life is highly entertaining and to be honest, you're story sounded remotely interesting but I really don't want to talk to you first thing in the morning. As a matter of fact, I don't want to talk to anyone first thing in the morning so stop looking at me. Ok - look once, and if I seem to be ignoring you or disinterested stop peaking at me to try to get me wrapped up in your world. No thanks.
So this is the sports part but ya know what? I've been working every minute of the day - I feel like I have almost nothing to offer all you loyal fans. Look at me - 10:36 at night and just turning on ESPN - I have no freaking clue what has been going on in sports all day - I feel completely lost. Do you think that's strange. I go through my days wondering what I missing in the sports world and I feel I've been ripped off when I get home this late and have no clue. Did I miss a no hitter? Did I miss a 4 home run game? Ooohh...lookie - someone hit for the cycle. Ya know what the cycle is all you non-sports fans? It is when a player gets a single, double, triple and home run all in the same game. The average batter only bats 4 times per game so this is quite a quirky feat. Anyway - I hope you now know more than you knew before you started reading this blog.....now, on to the next part.....
TAXI DRIVER
Listen - if you even like Dinero a little bit, rent Taxi Driver and enjoy a very young Robert Dinero at the start of his career. Sort of dark intense movie but what I found particularly humorous as I watched it on cable the other night was the soundtrack - very goofy 1970's style cop drama music. It wasn't even like a movie soundtrack...it was truly the soundtrack of the time. I felt like I was watching 1970's episode of Magnum PI (wait - that was the 80's I think)...ok Baretta?????
LENNY B.
I was conducting a little Bernstein today and I will simply say screw all of you that believe he is in someway a second rate composer. Berstein draws his inspiration from music of his country. That is jazz and music imported from other cultures, especially latin cultures. Why is Mozart's music any more important? Mozart drew on simple dance styles and popular music of his time just as Bernstein does. But wait - we are American's and classical music is a high brow European Art Form. How dare we walk on the sacred ground of the European giants. Well I got news for ya. Almost everyone in any audience I've ever been part of, loves the music of Bernstein just as much as they love Gershwin or Copland. Bernstein picked up right where Gerhswin left off but no one will give him credit for that as a composer. It will happen. It may take another 50 years but it will happen. Lenny, you were one of the great music educators of all time and certainly one of the most inspirational conductors. You will get your due as a composer because there is no other composer that sounds quite like you do.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
My gripe of the day concern the guy that is standing next to you in public having a loud conversation with a friend but continuously looking at you to try to get you involved in the conversation. So, to the guy in Starbucks this morning - I'm sure that your life is highly entertaining and to be honest, you're story sounded remotely interesting but I really don't want to talk to you first thing in the morning. As a matter of fact, I don't want to talk to anyone first thing in the morning so stop looking at me. Ok - look once, and if I seem to be ignoring you or disinterested stop peaking at me to try to get me wrapped up in your world. No thanks.
Monday, April 13, 2009
THE BIRD, THE BIRDS, BIRDSONG, FOR THE BIRDS
OOPS...I DID IT AGAIN
That's it. This is the one and only time I quote the most untalented female pop star of all time, Miss Brittany Spears. Sorry...just an adequate voice, can't dance, can't do much of anything. But enough about that. This is the sports section. I remember gathering around the TV with my whole family when I was little and watching Mark "The Bird" Fidrych pitch for the Detroit Tigers. Why? Because he talked to the baseball, he smoothed out the mound dirt with his bare hands, he looked like Big Bird. But most of all he was spectacular for one year and one year only. He was a rarity in sports - the absolute best - for one year only, until an injury forced him into early retirement. The bird died unexpectedly........yet another sad happening that made me reflect about happy childhood times.
OH, AND I QUOTE BRITTANY.....
I really have done it again - I've been able to get my whole blog to relate to birds...and so for the movie part . . . what else? See Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds". These days it's almost humorous to watch, but I have to say, it still has an undercurrent of freakish scariness. Hitchcock is great at building tension through dialogue or silence and well, what can I say...work with me here.....it's all about Birds today......so go see it!!!
Birdsong.....not Byrdsong damn it.....
Come on...everyone knows that Ricky Byrdsong was the former University of Arizona basketball coach and University of Detroit Coach who was murdered in a Detroit area hate crime by white supremicists in the middle of an evening jog with his 8 and 10 year old daughters. That makes me sick to my stomach and I only just now thought about that because I was planning on writing about Birdsong. This is freestyle blogging and it just flows right along. Oliver Messiaen is his name and he is simply one of the most unique an outstanding composers of art music in the 20th century. I will write much about Messiaen in the future as he is one of my favorites but for now I will simply refer you to the fantastic, intimate and fascinating "Quartet for the End of Time". I will admit that one must become familiar with Messians work and compositional style before attempting to digest such a masterwork. Oh...but the Birdsong.......Messiaen perfected the art of transcribing true birdsong into motives that could be used in art music and this is only a small part of his uniqueness. Oh, and equally unique was Ricky Byrdsong. I watched him coach when I was an undergrad. I hope his daughters have been able to live a normal life. There father was a great guy and I can't begin to imagine what that night must have been like for them.
THIS IS FOR THE BIRDS:
....that any classical musician would simply reject a piece of music based on it's sound or whether they initially "like" the piece or not. This is how non-educated musicians judge music...on immediate impact, tunefulness, danceability, pure emotion, etc......but we do this as our profession. We're in the world of art and to be in that world means to use more than just pure emotion when evaluating music. There is more to creation and the understanding of creative works than simple emotional impact. Many things are involved and we must be open to the possibility of not understanding something initially and trying to perhaps question ourselves as to why something doesn't appeal to us. It is at this time that we may be able to question our own thought process and value system in terms of judging art.
Wow - that was a bit heavy today.
That's it. This is the one and only time I quote the most untalented female pop star of all time, Miss Brittany Spears. Sorry...just an adequate voice, can't dance, can't do much of anything. But enough about that. This is the sports section. I remember gathering around the TV with my whole family when I was little and watching Mark "The Bird" Fidrych pitch for the Detroit Tigers. Why? Because he talked to the baseball, he smoothed out the mound dirt with his bare hands, he looked like Big Bird. But most of all he was spectacular for one year and one year only. He was a rarity in sports - the absolute best - for one year only, until an injury forced him into early retirement. The bird died unexpectedly........yet another sad happening that made me reflect about happy childhood times.
OH, AND I QUOTE BRITTANY.....
I really have done it again - I've been able to get my whole blog to relate to birds...and so for the movie part . . . what else? See Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds". These days it's almost humorous to watch, but I have to say, it still has an undercurrent of freakish scariness. Hitchcock is great at building tension through dialogue or silence and well, what can I say...work with me here.....it's all about Birds today......so go see it!!!
Birdsong.....not Byrdsong damn it.....
Come on...everyone knows that Ricky Byrdsong was the former University of Arizona basketball coach and University of Detroit Coach who was murdered in a Detroit area hate crime by white supremicists in the middle of an evening jog with his 8 and 10 year old daughters. That makes me sick to my stomach and I only just now thought about that because I was planning on writing about Birdsong. This is freestyle blogging and it just flows right along. Oliver Messiaen is his name and he is simply one of the most unique an outstanding composers of art music in the 20th century. I will write much about Messiaen in the future as he is one of my favorites but for now I will simply refer you to the fantastic, intimate and fascinating "Quartet for the End of Time". I will admit that one must become familiar with Messians work and compositional style before attempting to digest such a masterwork. Oh...but the Birdsong.......Messiaen perfected the art of transcribing true birdsong into motives that could be used in art music and this is only a small part of his uniqueness. Oh, and equally unique was Ricky Byrdsong. I watched him coach when I was an undergrad. I hope his daughters have been able to live a normal life. There father was a great guy and I can't begin to imagine what that night must have been like for them.
THIS IS FOR THE BIRDS:
....that any classical musician would simply reject a piece of music based on it's sound or whether they initially "like" the piece or not. This is how non-educated musicians judge music...on immediate impact, tunefulness, danceability, pure emotion, etc......but we do this as our profession. We're in the world of art and to be in that world means to use more than just pure emotion when evaluating music. There is more to creation and the understanding of creative works than simple emotional impact. Many things are involved and we must be open to the possibility of not understanding something initially and trying to perhaps question ourselves as to why something doesn't appeal to us. It is at this time that we may be able to question our own thought process and value system in terms of judging art.
Wow - that was a bit heavy today.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
THIS IS GOING TO BE FUN
SWISHER
Main part of my blog very short today so my gripe can take up most of the space. Sports: Yankees, Nice Swisher: this team simply needed a crazy lunatic on the bench or playing. This guy is nuts. Talk about relaxing the team atmosphere. All hail Cap'n Nick.
ME AND MARLEY
I hate Jennifer Aniston. Don't even like Owen Wilson that much. But never in a film have I seen the life and death of a pet handled so nicely. Yes, my daughter cried her eyes about but the movie gave me a chance to explain that this is the way pets need to go sometimes and it is not painful for them. I put the dog dying seen right up there with Ricky Schroeder crying his eyes out at the end of "The Champ".
MUSIC
I'm not reviewing music today. This is in support of my comment on my facebook page that says "I don't want to talk about music...I do it every day for a living". Don't worry. I'll get back to it but since I have to spend Easter Sunday studying orchestral scores I don't want to talk about now, so there.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
This will be part of a 10 part series on problems with Higher Education. I'm in higher ed and have a job in higher ed. I am thankful for my job. That does not excuse the American university system from handing out oodles and oodles of doctorates when there are simply no jobs to be had in the profession. For every one university conducting position that openings, over 100 application are received. There are about 3-4 openings per year. 25-50 percent of the individuals applying have or are in the process of completing a doctorate. This is simply insanity. I will go as far as calling it the GREAT AMERICAN HIGHER EDUCATION SCAM. I don't know if these graduate dollars are needed to support faculty salaries or undergrad programs. Quite frankly, I think it is the fact that universities became so competitive with each other over the past 40 years - always trying to offer more and more....always trying to one up the next guy. Now your typical student graduating with a doctorate in oh....say music.....can struggle with a few community college gigs for 5-10 years..maybe teach privately on the side...probably even hold a part time job outside of music. I have numerous friends with doctorates in the arts and very, very few with full time steady jobs that include benefits. It's really a shame. I will go so far as to say that any university offering a doctorate in music should not have more than one doctoral student at a time in each major area. Someday someone is going to explain to me why the all powerful University of Indiana Conducting program has as many as 8 master's students in conducting and multiple doctoral students in conducting. Really? I mean, really? Are they all going to get a conducting job one day? I challenge that university to personally mail me the names of their past 30 graduates and the conducting positions that actually hold. Guarantee not more than 3 have a steady conducting job. I call on American Universities to stop handing out doctorates and even master's degrees like candy on Trick or Treat night. Too many take conducting and classical music performance as "fun". We are a cultural museum. We must conduct, perform and transmit works at the highest level and those that choose to do this must be egoless servants of composers and their great works. It's turned into a fucking circus and it only diminishes the value of those who are at the top of their game.
Main part of my blog very short today so my gripe can take up most of the space. Sports: Yankees, Nice Swisher: this team simply needed a crazy lunatic on the bench or playing. This guy is nuts. Talk about relaxing the team atmosphere. All hail Cap'n Nick.
ME AND MARLEY
I hate Jennifer Aniston. Don't even like Owen Wilson that much. But never in a film have I seen the life and death of a pet handled so nicely. Yes, my daughter cried her eyes about but the movie gave me a chance to explain that this is the way pets need to go sometimes and it is not painful for them. I put the dog dying seen right up there with Ricky Schroeder crying his eyes out at the end of "The Champ".
MUSIC
I'm not reviewing music today. This is in support of my comment on my facebook page that says "I don't want to talk about music...I do it every day for a living". Don't worry. I'll get back to it but since I have to spend Easter Sunday studying orchestral scores I don't want to talk about now, so there.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
This will be part of a 10 part series on problems with Higher Education. I'm in higher ed and have a job in higher ed. I am thankful for my job. That does not excuse the American university system from handing out oodles and oodles of doctorates when there are simply no jobs to be had in the profession. For every one university conducting position that openings, over 100 application are received. There are about 3-4 openings per year. 25-50 percent of the individuals applying have or are in the process of completing a doctorate. This is simply insanity. I will go as far as calling it the GREAT AMERICAN HIGHER EDUCATION SCAM. I don't know if these graduate dollars are needed to support faculty salaries or undergrad programs. Quite frankly, I think it is the fact that universities became so competitive with each other over the past 40 years - always trying to offer more and more....always trying to one up the next guy. Now your typical student graduating with a doctorate in oh....say music.....can struggle with a few community college gigs for 5-10 years..maybe teach privately on the side...probably even hold a part time job outside of music. I have numerous friends with doctorates in the arts and very, very few with full time steady jobs that include benefits. It's really a shame. I will go so far as to say that any university offering a doctorate in music should not have more than one doctoral student at a time in each major area. Someday someone is going to explain to me why the all powerful University of Indiana Conducting program has as many as 8 master's students in conducting and multiple doctoral students in conducting. Really? I mean, really? Are they all going to get a conducting job one day? I challenge that university to personally mail me the names of their past 30 graduates and the conducting positions that actually hold. Guarantee not more than 3 have a steady conducting job. I call on American Universities to stop handing out doctorates and even master's degrees like candy on Trick or Treat night. Too many take conducting and classical music performance as "fun". We are a cultural museum. We must conduct, perform and transmit works at the highest level and those that choose to do this must be egoless servants of composers and their great works. It's turned into a fucking circus and it only diminishes the value of those who are at the top of their game.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
DEATH, JOE AND GLASS
DEATH AND BASEBALL
I'm glued to the sports tube all day. So it's tough when I hear that a baseball player suddenly dies. And what is equally as sad is the fact that 2 other people died along with the major league player. It's really amazing. It happened in one split second of life. Their car had to be at the exact intersection that a drunk driver just happened to be speeding through last night. It seems totally random. The timing has to be perfect. 2 seconds would have made a difference and that what makes it particularly scary. Two seconds before or two seconds later and those cars would have not collided. He was 22. I'm double that age. I don't know why I get to be so lucky. I assume there may be some purpose but I'm not really sure.
SHOELESS JOE
So watch Field of Dreams if you wish. It's a great family movie starring Kevin Costner and young Ray Liotta and James Earl Jones. But before you do...do me a favor. Read all about "Shoeless Joe Jackson". I really believe that there is a time in life that we might considering re-visiting the facts. We certainly do that in big court cases.....old murder cases...what have you. This country has a long history of a faulty court decisions, crooked lawyers, politicians seeking fame and those trying to make a name of themselves. Joe Jackson deserves another hearing and I think it's about time we give it to him.
ARE YOU KIDDING ARE YOU KIDDING ARE YOU KIDDING ARE YOU KIDDING?
I will be conducting a symphony in May. It is by an American composer. A very famous composer. His name is Philip Glass and he is one of the most prolific American composers of the 20th century. I repeated my title above because Mr. Glass basis much of his music on additive repetition. But here is the cool moment of the week. I received an e-mail from one of his "people" telling me that I may in fact be conducting the first ever west coast performance of this work. How is that possible? Maybe there is still some purpose for me to be around and doing this whole conducting thing. You never know, do ya?
GRIPE OF THE DAY
My new neighbor. Whoever it is has a dog. The dog has barked for 2 hours straight the past 10 days. I filed my second complaint today after the dog decided to bark from 5:40 a.m. to 6;30 a.m. Thank you for the wake up call. We'll see what happens tomorrow. I may be moving soon and I won't be happy about it.
I'm glued to the sports tube all day. So it's tough when I hear that a baseball player suddenly dies. And what is equally as sad is the fact that 2 other people died along with the major league player. It's really amazing. It happened in one split second of life. Their car had to be at the exact intersection that a drunk driver just happened to be speeding through last night. It seems totally random. The timing has to be perfect. 2 seconds would have made a difference and that what makes it particularly scary. Two seconds before or two seconds later and those cars would have not collided. He was 22. I'm double that age. I don't know why I get to be so lucky. I assume there may be some purpose but I'm not really sure.
SHOELESS JOE
So watch Field of Dreams if you wish. It's a great family movie starring Kevin Costner and young Ray Liotta and James Earl Jones. But before you do...do me a favor. Read all about "Shoeless Joe Jackson". I really believe that there is a time in life that we might considering re-visiting the facts. We certainly do that in big court cases.....old murder cases...what have you. This country has a long history of a faulty court decisions, crooked lawyers, politicians seeking fame and those trying to make a name of themselves. Joe Jackson deserves another hearing and I think it's about time we give it to him.
ARE YOU KIDDING ARE YOU KIDDING ARE YOU KIDDING ARE YOU KIDDING?
I will be conducting a symphony in May. It is by an American composer. A very famous composer. His name is Philip Glass and he is one of the most prolific American composers of the 20th century. I repeated my title above because Mr. Glass basis much of his music on additive repetition. But here is the cool moment of the week. I received an e-mail from one of his "people" telling me that I may in fact be conducting the first ever west coast performance of this work. How is that possible? Maybe there is still some purpose for me to be around and doing this whole conducting thing. You never know, do ya?
GRIPE OF THE DAY
My new neighbor. Whoever it is has a dog. The dog has barked for 2 hours straight the past 10 days. I filed my second complaint today after the dog decided to bark from 5:40 a.m. to 6;30 a.m. Thank you for the wake up call. We'll see what happens tomorrow. I may be moving soon and I won't be happy about it.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
ALL ABOUT DOCTORS
DR. PUNCH
I don't think it's fair that Dr. Jerry Punch gets to be a sports broadcaster after spending years in the medical profession. I want to know how to make the switch. Jerry had an unfair advantage - he worked in the medical side of things - I believe for Nascar and somehow transitioned into a broadcasting role. No fair. How can I parlay my talents performing and conducting into a career in baseball statistics. I still don't think it's too late but I'm still trying to figure out how and when to make the move.
DR. DOOLITTLE
Listen - forget the Eddie Murphey movie. Go back to the original - the one starring Rex Harrison. Great movie for kids and if you want to free yourself up for a few hours...or even spend it watching with the kids, this is a great movie. And can you believe the movie is 2 1/2 hours long???? What happened over the past 10 years that kids movies needed to be reduced to an hour and 15 minutes max? I don't think the attention span of kids is as short as we adults seem to think. Just right a good freakin movie for once and the kids will be glued to hit for hours.
DR. JOHN
No not me you bone head. There really is a Dr. John...use to see him perform on SNL with the great Leon Redbone. I have no idea why I'm writing about him. He just popped into my head. I was going to write my own name Dr. R..... but instead typed Dr. John and wouldn't you know it, I have a whole new topic. I'm sure you can find Dr. John on youtube.....great guy....blusey, jazzy, rock n' roll. Lot's of fun. But I'm a classical guy so let me give you a "must listent to" for the day. Let's see, I'm thinking of a classical composer whose name begins with John....wait.....wait....ok, go buy the soundtrack to the "Red Violin". It won the Oscar a few years ago. John Corigliano is one of the most important composers currently working in the U.S. and his music is well worth giving a listen.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
My Doctor. I will not disclose any personal information on my doctor's visit this week except to say that I went in for what I would consider to be a fairly serious issue. At one point my Doctor said...."ok, well it doesn't look like you're having any blah blah blah blah and so we'll run tests. I really don't think it's anything, so we'll get the tests done to check for sure". BUT WAIT....TIME OUT!!! That comment stuck in my head "I don't think it's anything". Well I've got word for you. It's something....otherwise I would not have wasted by Tuesday morning to come see you. Trust me....it's something....maybe it's not big...maybe it's not dangerous, but it is certainly not nothing.
I don't think it's fair that Dr. Jerry Punch gets to be a sports broadcaster after spending years in the medical profession. I want to know how to make the switch. Jerry had an unfair advantage - he worked in the medical side of things - I believe for Nascar and somehow transitioned into a broadcasting role. No fair. How can I parlay my talents performing and conducting into a career in baseball statistics. I still don't think it's too late but I'm still trying to figure out how and when to make the move.
DR. DOOLITTLE
Listen - forget the Eddie Murphey movie. Go back to the original - the one starring Rex Harrison. Great movie for kids and if you want to free yourself up for a few hours...or even spend it watching with the kids, this is a great movie. And can you believe the movie is 2 1/2 hours long???? What happened over the past 10 years that kids movies needed to be reduced to an hour and 15 minutes max? I don't think the attention span of kids is as short as we adults seem to think. Just right a good freakin movie for once and the kids will be glued to hit for hours.
DR. JOHN
No not me you bone head. There really is a Dr. John...use to see him perform on SNL with the great Leon Redbone. I have no idea why I'm writing about him. He just popped into my head. I was going to write my own name Dr. R..... but instead typed Dr. John and wouldn't you know it, I have a whole new topic. I'm sure you can find Dr. John on youtube.....great guy....blusey, jazzy, rock n' roll. Lot's of fun. But I'm a classical guy so let me give you a "must listent to" for the day. Let's see, I'm thinking of a classical composer whose name begins with John....wait.....wait....ok, go buy the soundtrack to the "Red Violin". It won the Oscar a few years ago. John Corigliano is one of the most important composers currently working in the U.S. and his music is well worth giving a listen.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
My Doctor. I will not disclose any personal information on my doctor's visit this week except to say that I went in for what I would consider to be a fairly serious issue. At one point my Doctor said...."ok, well it doesn't look like you're having any blah blah blah blah and so we'll run tests. I really don't think it's anything, so we'll get the tests done to check for sure". BUT WAIT....TIME OUT!!! That comment stuck in my head "I don't think it's anything". Well I've got word for you. It's something....otherwise I would not have wasted by Tuesday morning to come see you. Trust me....it's something....maybe it's not big...maybe it's not dangerous, but it is certainly not nothing.
Monday, April 6, 2009
BACK TO REALITY ooooops THERE GOES GRAVITY
WHAT A SPORTS DAY
Ok - I'm very excited after a long weekend of work that I get to sit around watching Major League Baseball Opening Day plus the National Championship Basketball game tonight between Michigan State and North Carolina. I have my buddy to watch the games with - my 13 year old son, who is the only other person I know at this time that understands my world of classical music and is a complete sports nut like me. This sports viewing is so different from what I did all weekend.....high pressure world of classical music performance in front of a packed house in an international competition. No wonder why my personality is either way up or way down....my job and hobbies seem to dictate my intensity, relaxation and overall mood.
MOVIE OF THE WEEK
Oh - I don't know. I just got back into town....must I review a movie? I know, I know...I'm always complaining about the movie part of the blog. How about Eve's Bayou. Yeah - GREAT movie. Not for the kids but a great film. No more to say...moving on for right now.
CHOPIN TOPS RACH
I'm one person who always said that a Chopin Concerto could not beat a Rachmaninoff Concerto in a competition - especially an international competition. It happened this weekend. From the first rehearsal I felt this could happen. I very much in tune with the sound coming out of a piano. I could tell two years ago, the second that the 12 year old Colton Peltier touched the keys that there was something special about the sound. I felt the same this weekend. The Rachmaninoff is a demanding technical showpiece but it is the lyrical quality and beauty of tone that may have ultimately separated the two pianists. I'm not sure what the judges discussed but there was something special about the winners tone production, phrasing of every single note and understanding of the piece. It was something extraordinary and this is what put her on top. It was a special performance and if not for the orchestra being very in touch with the pianists touch and tone production I'm not sure she would have carried it off. My orchestra members were very aware of what was happening and their adjustments in volume and color during the performance made that 30 minutes on Sunday very special. I thank the pianists and orchestra members for a memorable afternoon.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
When I buy my groceries must I really answer the questions "Would you like to donate to the disabled"....or "Would you like to donate to Easter Seals"? Here is my problem. I want to buy groceries. If I have money to donate to charities, I will find the charity and donate...or you can send me a letter in the mail requesting a donation. Why must I be made to feel like an asshole for saying "no thanks". I know it's not the fault of the clerk...it's their job. Why don't these multi GODZILLION dollar food chains donate a few million and stop trying to nickel and dime you and me? From now on I'm going to choose my shopping locations based on who lets me shop and leave without asking me if I want to donate....or if I want to have a credit card for the store...or if I'd like fries with that.
Ok - I'm very excited after a long weekend of work that I get to sit around watching Major League Baseball Opening Day plus the National Championship Basketball game tonight between Michigan State and North Carolina. I have my buddy to watch the games with - my 13 year old son, who is the only other person I know at this time that understands my world of classical music and is a complete sports nut like me. This sports viewing is so different from what I did all weekend.....high pressure world of classical music performance in front of a packed house in an international competition. No wonder why my personality is either way up or way down....my job and hobbies seem to dictate my intensity, relaxation and overall mood.
MOVIE OF THE WEEK
Oh - I don't know. I just got back into town....must I review a movie? I know, I know...I'm always complaining about the movie part of the blog. How about Eve's Bayou. Yeah - GREAT movie. Not for the kids but a great film. No more to say...moving on for right now.
CHOPIN TOPS RACH
I'm one person who always said that a Chopin Concerto could not beat a Rachmaninoff Concerto in a competition - especially an international competition. It happened this weekend. From the first rehearsal I felt this could happen. I very much in tune with the sound coming out of a piano. I could tell two years ago, the second that the 12 year old Colton Peltier touched the keys that there was something special about the sound. I felt the same this weekend. The Rachmaninoff is a demanding technical showpiece but it is the lyrical quality and beauty of tone that may have ultimately separated the two pianists. I'm not sure what the judges discussed but there was something special about the winners tone production, phrasing of every single note and understanding of the piece. It was something extraordinary and this is what put her on top. It was a special performance and if not for the orchestra being very in touch with the pianists touch and tone production I'm not sure she would have carried it off. My orchestra members were very aware of what was happening and their adjustments in volume and color during the performance made that 30 minutes on Sunday very special. I thank the pianists and orchestra members for a memorable afternoon.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
When I buy my groceries must I really answer the questions "Would you like to donate to the disabled"....or "Would you like to donate to Easter Seals"? Here is my problem. I want to buy groceries. If I have money to donate to charities, I will find the charity and donate...or you can send me a letter in the mail requesting a donation. Why must I be made to feel like an asshole for saying "no thanks". I know it's not the fault of the clerk...it's their job. Why don't these multi GODZILLION dollar food chains donate a few million and stop trying to nickel and dime you and me? From now on I'm going to choose my shopping locations based on who lets me shop and leave without asking me if I want to donate....or if I want to have a credit card for the store...or if I'd like fries with that.
Friday, April 3, 2009
I'M GLAD THE SEATS ARE BIGGER
GO YANKEES - WAY TO BUILD THAT STADIUM
I'm happy to report, in keeping up with the times and catering to the
larger citizens of the United States of American and keeping in mind
that US citizens are on average the heaviest people in the world, the New
Yankee Stadium's seats are 2 inches wider than in the old stadium. This
should make everyone very comfy, and figuring that they'll continue to
sell Yankee Franks and Beer at an alarming rate, there should be another
seat expansion in 50 years when they build another new stadium. By the way,
the increase in seat size and slight reconfiguration of the stadium has left us with
nearly 5,000.....yes, 5,000 LESS seats in the new stadium. I guess that's not
a bad thing. Most people can't afford the tickets any more anyway.
MOVIE STAFF ON VACATION
I'm sorry to report that the movie staff has gone on vacation and so all I can do for you today is to recommend a movie and state that the reason I am recommending it is
because it's just good. And here it is: "The Apostle". Written and directed by Robert Duvall and if that weren't enough he won the Academy Award for Best Actor. Sorry to say this Robert - you're an absolute freak of nature. You transform yourself so perfect into every role that it is freakish at the highest level. You're a scary person Robert Duvall. You're also the best there is.
MUSIC STAFF GONE FISHING
The music staff is in Palm Springs fishing. Wait...was that a dust storm outside my hotel that just blew sand into my mouth and into my eyes? OK - the finalists are Chopin Concerto No. 2, Schumann Concerto, Rachmaninoff 3. Most people would think the Rachmaninoff must be an automatic winner in an international competition but I might with these soloist today and I will tell you this. It's a complete toss up. I'm glad I just conduct the orchestra and I don't have to judge. What fabulous talents. I was just thinking.....at 8 a.m. this morning I had never met any of these three people, and on Sunday I'll be on stage helping each one of them try to attain the top price in an international competition. Is that cool or what?
GRIPE OF THE DAY
Nothing, absolutely nothing. I have nothing bad to say about anything today. Oh wait, there is one thing. I'm tired of the cash register person at Office Depot, Home Depot and most other places I go asking me for my phone number and zip code. I'm trying to get the balls to just say "I don't give those out". But I feel obligated since they've helped me by offering a service or an item that I want. I just don't want to answer any more. I don't want to chat. I just want to buy my stuff and go home.
I'm happy to report, in keeping up with the times and catering to the
larger citizens of the United States of American and keeping in mind
that US citizens are on average the heaviest people in the world, the New
Yankee Stadium's seats are 2 inches wider than in the old stadium. This
should make everyone very comfy, and figuring that they'll continue to
sell Yankee Franks and Beer at an alarming rate, there should be another
seat expansion in 50 years when they build another new stadium. By the way,
the increase in seat size and slight reconfiguration of the stadium has left us with
nearly 5,000.....yes, 5,000 LESS seats in the new stadium. I guess that's not
a bad thing. Most people can't afford the tickets any more anyway.
MOVIE STAFF ON VACATION
I'm sorry to report that the movie staff has gone on vacation and so all I can do for you today is to recommend a movie and state that the reason I am recommending it is
because it's just good. And here it is: "The Apostle". Written and directed by Robert Duvall and if that weren't enough he won the Academy Award for Best Actor. Sorry to say this Robert - you're an absolute freak of nature. You transform yourself so perfect into every role that it is freakish at the highest level. You're a scary person Robert Duvall. You're also the best there is.
MUSIC STAFF GONE FISHING
The music staff is in Palm Springs fishing. Wait...was that a dust storm outside my hotel that just blew sand into my mouth and into my eyes? OK - the finalists are Chopin Concerto No. 2, Schumann Concerto, Rachmaninoff 3. Most people would think the Rachmaninoff must be an automatic winner in an international competition but I might with these soloist today and I will tell you this. It's a complete toss up. I'm glad I just conduct the orchestra and I don't have to judge. What fabulous talents. I was just thinking.....at 8 a.m. this morning I had never met any of these three people, and on Sunday I'll be on stage helping each one of them try to attain the top price in an international competition. Is that cool or what?
GRIPE OF THE DAY
Nothing, absolutely nothing. I have nothing bad to say about anything today. Oh wait, there is one thing. I'm tired of the cash register person at Office Depot, Home Depot and most other places I go asking me for my phone number and zip code. I'm trying to get the balls to just say "I don't give those out". But I feel obligated since they've helped me by offering a service or an item that I want. I just don't want to answer any more. I don't want to chat. I just want to buy my stuff and go home.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
THIS TIME I'LL BE REAL BRIEF
TIGER
A quick blurb about Tiger Woods - and I'm sorry for my briefness, but I have a short trip coming up so
I'll do my best since some of ya keep coming back. I'm not sure there is any athlete alive today that
dominates a sport like Tiger Woods. As a matter of fact, I'd be fairly confident to say that other than
Babe Ruth and Michael Jordon, no other athlete has completely taken over a sport and brought the sport
to the masses like Tiger Woods has. I never gave a crap about golf. I'd watch once in a while. But you better
believe that if he is anywhere on the leader board on Master's Sunday in a few weeks I'll be watching. OK,
maybe golf isn't quite as physically challenging as most sports but to hold such mental dominance ...and physical
dominance over your computers for a sustained amount of time is extraordinary.
LIONS
I'm dreading losing people's visits by typing as fast as I can and getting on with my work day so since Tiger
dominated part one I'll give "The Lion King" as movie section of the day. There, I did it. Lion King - one of the
best animated films ever.....great music.....the acting is quite ambitious and the costume design is
delicious. Come on people....I'm trying to get my catchy heading to relate. Cut me some slack...I'm under
serious performance pressure this week.
BEARS....oh MY
So yes, Haydn wrote symphonies and many have catchy titles....the Drum Roll Symphony, the Farewell Symphony, but did you know there was a "Bear Symphony". This is Symphony No. 82 by Haydn. Haydn intimates the tonality of bagpipes or a low sustained drone in the last movement and thus the symphony received it's nickname. Evidently a piano arrangement with dne in the early 19th century titled "Dance of the Bears" using music from Haydn's movement. Never seen this arrangement but that's the story.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
Republicans who have hammered away at Obama since day one as if having another Republican in office like George Bush would have somehow miraculously fixed the never ending cesspool of shit that he left for the next guy. Come on people - it was a no win situation from the beginning and your man got us there....so go ahead and bash the new guy while he tries new things.....you put us there...you can go ahead and complain that you don't like what the next guy is doing to try to fix it. Must sometimes be nice to be blessed with lack of short term memory.
A quick blurb about Tiger Woods - and I'm sorry for my briefness, but I have a short trip coming up so
I'll do my best since some of ya keep coming back. I'm not sure there is any athlete alive today that
dominates a sport like Tiger Woods. As a matter of fact, I'd be fairly confident to say that other than
Babe Ruth and Michael Jordon, no other athlete has completely taken over a sport and brought the sport
to the masses like Tiger Woods has. I never gave a crap about golf. I'd watch once in a while. But you better
believe that if he is anywhere on the leader board on Master's Sunday in a few weeks I'll be watching. OK,
maybe golf isn't quite as physically challenging as most sports but to hold such mental dominance ...and physical
dominance over your computers for a sustained amount of time is extraordinary.
LIONS
I'm dreading losing people's visits by typing as fast as I can and getting on with my work day so since Tiger
dominated part one I'll give "The Lion King" as movie section of the day. There, I did it. Lion King - one of the
best animated films ever.....great music.....the acting is quite ambitious and the costume design is
delicious. Come on people....I'm trying to get my catchy heading to relate. Cut me some slack...I'm under
serious performance pressure this week.
BEARS....oh MY
So yes, Haydn wrote symphonies and many have catchy titles....the Drum Roll Symphony, the Farewell Symphony, but did you know there was a "Bear Symphony". This is Symphony No. 82 by Haydn. Haydn intimates the tonality of bagpipes or a low sustained drone in the last movement and thus the symphony received it's nickname. Evidently a piano arrangement with dne in the early 19th century titled "Dance of the Bears" using music from Haydn's movement. Never seen this arrangement but that's the story.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
Republicans who have hammered away at Obama since day one as if having another Republican in office like George Bush would have somehow miraculously fixed the never ending cesspool of shit that he left for the next guy. Come on people - it was a no win situation from the beginning and your man got us there....so go ahead and bash the new guy while he tries new things.....you put us there...you can go ahead and complain that you don't like what the next guy is doing to try to fix it. Must sometimes be nice to be blessed with lack of short term memory.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
KILLING DOGS, DOG DAY, WOLF DOGS, HOT DOGS
HE'S BACK
GREAT!!!! Michael Vick.....fresh off of serving jail time for being involved in organized dog fighting rings is likely to be picked up by an NFL team. I love the people who say "hey...he's paid his dues....I hope he can be successful and still lead a productive life". OK...I'll give you this - he's paid his dues and I hope he lives a productive life. As for being successful who the hell cares. Let him sign his first 5-10 million dollar contract and fail miserably. He still deserves that much. I hope he signs for enough to live for a few years until he can get real job but I dread seeing him have an ounce of success on an NFL field. That's just me. I can have an opinion, right?
YOU CAN CALL ME AL
Three words: Dog Day Afternoon. Al Pacino and John Casale - great acting...a true over the top 1970's crime drama with twists and turns at every corner. Pacino puts every fiber of his being into this role. He is young, brash, and you know from the moment the movie starts that this guy just may have a career. BUT WAIT - THERE'S MORE. John Casale....yes that's his name John Casale - no not Pacino......Fredo from the Godfather. Here is your trivia for the day - did you know that John Casale who played alongside Pacino in Dog Day and also played Fredo in the Godfather movies was in 5 films in his short life. EVERY film was nominated for a Academy Award for Best Film. Casale died very young from cancer and I'm thrilled to see that a film about his life premiered at this year's Sundance Festival. HIGHLY recommend Dog Day Afternoon.
WOLFEY
Listen people...Peter and the Wolf is not just a cute little children's piece with a good moral at the end of the story. This is a major orchestra composition. I've frequently used excerpts from this work as part of my audition process for orchestras. So next time you listen, don't just listen to the story. Listen and appreciate the very creative orchestration and technical demands placed on individual members of the orchestra. I think I've blogged about Peter already, so suffice to it to say that you should buy a copy for your kids and listen along with them.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
I'm griping about a great travesty that occurred as I grew up as a kid. It was the travesty of the hot dog. One day, someone decided to tell everyone that hot dogs had rat hairs in them and other gross stuff. So hot dogs got a bad rap. Even today it seems that the delicious wiener cannot escape the death grip that was cast upon it in the 1970's and 80's. I'm here to say that Hot Dogs are fabulous. In addition, there are money great hot dog places......not always easy to find, but they're around. So lay off the freakin hot dogs already....if I want to eat 4-5-6 on a weekend while watching sports, that's life. And by the way - only hot mustard please....not of that bright yellow crap.
GREAT!!!! Michael Vick.....fresh off of serving jail time for being involved in organized dog fighting rings is likely to be picked up by an NFL team. I love the people who say "hey...he's paid his dues....I hope he can be successful and still lead a productive life". OK...I'll give you this - he's paid his dues and I hope he lives a productive life. As for being successful who the hell cares. Let him sign his first 5-10 million dollar contract and fail miserably. He still deserves that much. I hope he signs for enough to live for a few years until he can get real job but I dread seeing him have an ounce of success on an NFL field. That's just me. I can have an opinion, right?
YOU CAN CALL ME AL
Three words: Dog Day Afternoon. Al Pacino and John Casale - great acting...a true over the top 1970's crime drama with twists and turns at every corner. Pacino puts every fiber of his being into this role. He is young, brash, and you know from the moment the movie starts that this guy just may have a career. BUT WAIT - THERE'S MORE. John Casale....yes that's his name John Casale - no not Pacino......Fredo from the Godfather. Here is your trivia for the day - did you know that John Casale who played alongside Pacino in Dog Day and also played Fredo in the Godfather movies was in 5 films in his short life. EVERY film was nominated for a Academy Award for Best Film. Casale died very young from cancer and I'm thrilled to see that a film about his life premiered at this year's Sundance Festival. HIGHLY recommend Dog Day Afternoon.
WOLFEY
Listen people...Peter and the Wolf is not just a cute little children's piece with a good moral at the end of the story. This is a major orchestra composition. I've frequently used excerpts from this work as part of my audition process for orchestras. So next time you listen, don't just listen to the story. Listen and appreciate the very creative orchestration and technical demands placed on individual members of the orchestra. I think I've blogged about Peter already, so suffice to it to say that you should buy a copy for your kids and listen along with them.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
I'm griping about a great travesty that occurred as I grew up as a kid. It was the travesty of the hot dog. One day, someone decided to tell everyone that hot dogs had rat hairs in them and other gross stuff. So hot dogs got a bad rap. Even today it seems that the delicious wiener cannot escape the death grip that was cast upon it in the 1970's and 80's. I'm here to say that Hot Dogs are fabulous. In addition, there are money great hot dog places......not always easy to find, but they're around. So lay off the freakin hot dogs already....if I want to eat 4-5-6 on a weekend while watching sports, that's life. And by the way - only hot mustard please....not of that bright yellow crap.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
BAILOUT, SEX, MURDER, MCDONALDS and COCA COLA
AND THERE YOU HAVE IT
So they say if you have a catchy title on your blog - maybe some good keywords - it will get you more hits on your site. OK - so my title has nothing to do with my blog - it's just to get more hits. So for sports today I'll simply complain that most of the very top seeds made it through March madness and now we'll likely get the pleasure of watching North Carolina in another championship game. Wip-dee-freakin doo da day! So I'm not in the mood to yammer about sports today so I'll give you a little tip in case you want to smile and enjoy a day out in the sun. Find the local Little League field and go watch the 5 year olds play tee-ball. That's what life is all about. Pure relaxation, fun, and guaranteed mayhem. There is nothing like watching a ball hit off a tee and then watching 10 or so kids on the other team pile on top of each other fighting for the ball or watching the kid in center field playing with blades of grass oblivious to the fact that a hit ball just rolled right by him. FUN IN THE SUN!!!!!
MOVIE OF THE WEEK
OK, I'm going Independent Film again and I know this will by no means be everyone's cup of TV and probably not recommended for the kiddies. It's a little movie called Chuck and Buck. Trust me on this one - if you like creative film making, good acting and a very interesting albeit off the wall story rent this one. Mike White wrote and directed the film and also plays the lead role of an adult still lost in a child's world. As usual I prefer not to give much away about specifics of the story but I will tell you that you won't be able to take yourself away from the screen. The acting is relaxed and brilliant and I'm thankful that we have writers like White that will put some taboo subject matter onto the big screen.
ENGLEBERT HUMPERDINCK
So I'm now conducting the Prelude to the Opera "Hansel and Gretel" by the Austrian composer Englebert Humperdinck. But I do realize that most of you know Mr. "Dink" as the guy who sings the power ballad "After the Lovin". Well I decided to youtube Mr. "Dink" and he did quite a rendition in Vegas in the 80's. He has quite an amazing voice and while I don't normally recommend pop singers on the music part of my blog he is well worth listening to. Particularly amazing is his "opera lesson" on youtube where he sings parts of Puccini's "La Boheme". The guy has quite a range. Oh - and while you're at it - the opera "Hansel and Gretel" by the other "Mr. Dink" is both colorful and beautiful and cannot be recommended more highly. Try to see and hear it in live performance if you get a chance. Who would thought it - two Engelbert Humperdinck's that are both one hit wonders. How odd.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
That I can't just fly where I want whenever I want. This is a gripe that I must do something about. I must find another job as if I'm not busy enough already but I'm just tired of not being able to hop on a plane for a weekend. So for all of you that think college professors are well off and have comfortable lives.....hahahahahah, think again my friends. Cash, checks and money orders accepted.
So they say if you have a catchy title on your blog - maybe some good keywords - it will get you more hits on your site. OK - so my title has nothing to do with my blog - it's just to get more hits. So for sports today I'll simply complain that most of the very top seeds made it through March madness and now we'll likely get the pleasure of watching North Carolina in another championship game. Wip-dee-freakin doo da day! So I'm not in the mood to yammer about sports today so I'll give you a little tip in case you want to smile and enjoy a day out in the sun. Find the local Little League field and go watch the 5 year olds play tee-ball. That's what life is all about. Pure relaxation, fun, and guaranteed mayhem. There is nothing like watching a ball hit off a tee and then watching 10 or so kids on the other team pile on top of each other fighting for the ball or watching the kid in center field playing with blades of grass oblivious to the fact that a hit ball just rolled right by him. FUN IN THE SUN!!!!!
MOVIE OF THE WEEK
OK, I'm going Independent Film again and I know this will by no means be everyone's cup of TV and probably not recommended for the kiddies. It's a little movie called Chuck and Buck. Trust me on this one - if you like creative film making, good acting and a very interesting albeit off the wall story rent this one. Mike White wrote and directed the film and also plays the lead role of an adult still lost in a child's world. As usual I prefer not to give much away about specifics of the story but I will tell you that you won't be able to take yourself away from the screen. The acting is relaxed and brilliant and I'm thankful that we have writers like White that will put some taboo subject matter onto the big screen.
ENGLEBERT HUMPERDINCK
So I'm now conducting the Prelude to the Opera "Hansel and Gretel" by the Austrian composer Englebert Humperdinck. But I do realize that most of you know Mr. "Dink" as the guy who sings the power ballad "After the Lovin". Well I decided to youtube Mr. "Dink" and he did quite a rendition in Vegas in the 80's. He has quite an amazing voice and while I don't normally recommend pop singers on the music part of my blog he is well worth listening to. Particularly amazing is his "opera lesson" on youtube where he sings parts of Puccini's "La Boheme". The guy has quite a range. Oh - and while you're at it - the opera "Hansel and Gretel" by the other "Mr. Dink" is both colorful and beautiful and cannot be recommended more highly. Try to see and hear it in live performance if you get a chance. Who would thought it - two Engelbert Humperdinck's that are both one hit wonders. How odd.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
That I can't just fly where I want whenever I want. This is a gripe that I must do something about. I must find another job as if I'm not busy enough already but I'm just tired of not being able to hop on a plane for a weekend. So for all of you that think college professors are well off and have comfortable lives.....hahahahahah, think again my friends. Cash, checks and money orders accepted.
LATE NIGHT BLOGGIN
IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T FIGURED IT OUT YET.....
This is a 3 part blog - 1st sports, then movies, then music. All your infotainment in one tightly wrapped package. It's late and today's blog will be a bit brief. (I know - that's what I always say) So for my sport of the day I've chosen Poker. Ok - it's not a sport...whatever...it's a game. I'll only address the people that wonder why and how people could get so attached to it. It's as simple as this - it's a rare game that combines advanced mathematical skills, psychology and completely unpredictable chance. Now once you get the first two mastered you set yourself up to have a better chance once you hit those moments of chance. It's as simple as that...you can think it through but there are simply not that many games out there that combine a high skill level with what some would consider total luck.
SPELLBOUND
Spellbound was a documentary that followed a number of very intelligent little kids in their pursuit to win the Scripts National Spelling Bee. I can sum this one up easily: The exciting thing about the movie was the simple fact that these kids came from so many different walks or life, locations, and unbringings. It shows that the most talented kid can come from anywhere and what makes this kid talented is not easily predictable. I would even recommend this one for those of you with kids. All the kids in the movie are wonderful, and whether you think their parents are pushy and drive them or not, all the parents deeply love their kids and you can see that in the movie.
CHOPIN
I guess my mom missed me once I left for college and thoughout her last years. She died just prior to a full week of dress rehearsals and performances I had for an opera I was conducting. I flew to the funeral and left the next day to get back for my performance. It was difficult to do this as I had to leave my brother and sister in NY and not even help clean out my mom's apartment. However, after the funeral we went back to her place and I found a stack of CD's - all Chopin piano music. It seemed that almost all I played growing up was Chopin. She loved it and I know how much she missed my playing. She even sold my piano within a year of when I moved out to help me out with money for college. I wonder how she felt the day the piano was moved out. I'll never know now. One thing I do know - everyone needs to own a few Chopin recordings. I would highly recommend the Ballads and the Scherzos as these are some of his greatest solo works.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
The complete asshole coach who pulled his son (the catcher) out of the baseball game today in the middle of an inning after the kid made 3 errors. I was coaching for the opposite team. That was simply the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen. Asshole, asshole, asshole. How in the hell could this possibly be a good lesson for a 14 year old? A pitcher having problems on the mound is one thing but to pull a position player out of a game in the middle of an inning has got to be one of the most humiliating things you can ever do to a player. Not only that, but this guy actually rags on his son from the first base coaching box while the kid is trying to hit: "oh....that's a great swing....just great"........"keep doing that, that will work". Oh - I'm sorry - let me be more clear: Chatsworth Junior Baseball League Junior Giants. Asshole.
This is a 3 part blog - 1st sports, then movies, then music. All your infotainment in one tightly wrapped package. It's late and today's blog will be a bit brief. (I know - that's what I always say) So for my sport of the day I've chosen Poker. Ok - it's not a sport...whatever...it's a game. I'll only address the people that wonder why and how people could get so attached to it. It's as simple as this - it's a rare game that combines advanced mathematical skills, psychology and completely unpredictable chance. Now once you get the first two mastered you set yourself up to have a better chance once you hit those moments of chance. It's as simple as that...you can think it through but there are simply not that many games out there that combine a high skill level with what some would consider total luck.
SPELLBOUND
Spellbound was a documentary that followed a number of very intelligent little kids in their pursuit to win the Scripts National Spelling Bee. I can sum this one up easily: The exciting thing about the movie was the simple fact that these kids came from so many different walks or life, locations, and unbringings. It shows that the most talented kid can come from anywhere and what makes this kid talented is not easily predictable. I would even recommend this one for those of you with kids. All the kids in the movie are wonderful, and whether you think their parents are pushy and drive them or not, all the parents deeply love their kids and you can see that in the movie.
CHOPIN
I guess my mom missed me once I left for college and thoughout her last years. She died just prior to a full week of dress rehearsals and performances I had for an opera I was conducting. I flew to the funeral and left the next day to get back for my performance. It was difficult to do this as I had to leave my brother and sister in NY and not even help clean out my mom's apartment. However, after the funeral we went back to her place and I found a stack of CD's - all Chopin piano music. It seemed that almost all I played growing up was Chopin. She loved it and I know how much she missed my playing. She even sold my piano within a year of when I moved out to help me out with money for college. I wonder how she felt the day the piano was moved out. I'll never know now. One thing I do know - everyone needs to own a few Chopin recordings. I would highly recommend the Ballads and the Scherzos as these are some of his greatest solo works.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
The complete asshole coach who pulled his son (the catcher) out of the baseball game today in the middle of an inning after the kid made 3 errors. I was coaching for the opposite team. That was simply the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen. Asshole, asshole, asshole. How in the hell could this possibly be a good lesson for a 14 year old? A pitcher having problems on the mound is one thing but to pull a position player out of a game in the middle of an inning has got to be one of the most humiliating things you can ever do to a player. Not only that, but this guy actually rags on his son from the first base coaching box while the kid is trying to hit: "oh....that's a great swing....just great"........"keep doing that, that will work". Oh - I'm sorry - let me be more clear: Chatsworth Junior Baseball League Junior Giants. Asshole.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE???
HOW TO TREAT THE COLLEGE ATHLETE
Ya know - if I knew who was logging onto this site...whether there were more sports fans, movies fans, music fans...I would make the needed adjustments and give the public what they want. But I don't, so I get to keep doing what I want. So I was just thinking how sad I feel when an NCAA basketball player makes it to the final four and his family members are unable to get the money together to see him perform in the finals live because he is an inner city kid and his family has no money. I always felt that the university should pay for the family to be there; after all, the university makes millions on these events. So I just changed my mind. No university would ever pay for my parents to come see me perform at a major international venue as a musician just because my family didn't have the money to attend. I say treat the athlete like any other college student. You're probably getting your tuition paid....oh, and by the way, in addition to getting your tuition paid, you get to go play ball for 4-5 hours a day.....oh, and wait....sometimes you can get a counselor or tutor to actually take tests for you. Oh, and your parents can watch the game on TV very much unlike my performances as a musician. I think that's plenty, thank you.
THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES
In case you missed this one a few years ago, the Motorcycle Diaries is a nice independent film touching on episodes in the life of Che Guevara. I just heard that there is a 2 part epic out in theaters that really goes into more detail on Che's life and I plan on seeing it. Che led quite a fascinating life and was a true independent spirit and this film focuses on more of his early life....teenage through early adult years. It's a beautiful film and it is highly recommended.
APPALACHIAN SPRING
Last night a new work...a ballet by Martha Graham with music by American Aaron Copland was premiered. It is called "Appalachian Spring" and every second of it
exquisitely captures all things American from the vastness of our land and beauty of our nature to the vitality of rural life and the personality of its people. Copland once again supplies us with open harmony - 5ths, 4ths....stacked on top of one another, which at times obscures key center but also give the music a feeling of openness and anticipation. Copland's ability to write music that craves the partner of human movement undoubtedly puts him in line with the greatest of ballet composer, from Lully to Tchaikovsky to Stravinsky. However, like all great composers, it is the sound that sets one apart. Copland has his own. It is in his orchestration, it is in his harmony, it is in his underlying optimism and feelings towards the nature of this country that have allowed him to rise above many others. In 100 years when someone asks.....What is America? Who are the people that have defined America? Some may say Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln and others but in the art world their may be no match to the name Aaron Copland.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
This is a gripe gone reverse. I use to complain that Wal-mart was trying to be all things to all people and putting others out of business. Then I couldn't understand why McDonald's needed to sell Starbucks style coffee to try to take people away from Starbucks. Then I complained that Starbucks added breakfast sandwiches to try to get back at McDonalds. (not sure of the order of when each of these occurred but I did find it humerous) So I'm not griping any more. I live in L.A. .....we drive a lot. From now on, I'm interested in one stop only in the morning. I want my mocha and the food of my choice and I'm happy that both Starbucks and McDonalds can satisfy me. However, I did need black shoe polish on the way into work the other day and wonder if Starbucks and McDonalds wouldn't consider a little area called "things that people might need on the way to work because they forgot" as part of their marketing and sales strategy....you know, show polish, one a day vitamins, mouthwash, deodorant, sun glasses, umbrellas, floss, eye liner for the ladies, crossword puzzle books for the kids. How about it?
Ya know - if I knew who was logging onto this site...whether there were more sports fans, movies fans, music fans...I would make the needed adjustments and give the public what they want. But I don't, so I get to keep doing what I want. So I was just thinking how sad I feel when an NCAA basketball player makes it to the final four and his family members are unable to get the money together to see him perform in the finals live because he is an inner city kid and his family has no money. I always felt that the university should pay for the family to be there; after all, the university makes millions on these events. So I just changed my mind. No university would ever pay for my parents to come see me perform at a major international venue as a musician just because my family didn't have the money to attend. I say treat the athlete like any other college student. You're probably getting your tuition paid....oh, and by the way, in addition to getting your tuition paid, you get to go play ball for 4-5 hours a day.....oh, and wait....sometimes you can get a counselor or tutor to actually take tests for you. Oh, and your parents can watch the game on TV very much unlike my performances as a musician. I think that's plenty, thank you.
THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES
In case you missed this one a few years ago, the Motorcycle Diaries is a nice independent film touching on episodes in the life of Che Guevara. I just heard that there is a 2 part epic out in theaters that really goes into more detail on Che's life and I plan on seeing it. Che led quite a fascinating life and was a true independent spirit and this film focuses on more of his early life....teenage through early adult years. It's a beautiful film and it is highly recommended.
APPALACHIAN SPRING
Last night a new work...a ballet by Martha Graham with music by American Aaron Copland was premiered. It is called "Appalachian Spring" and every second of it
exquisitely captures all things American from the vastness of our land and beauty of our nature to the vitality of rural life and the personality of its people. Copland once again supplies us with open harmony - 5ths, 4ths....stacked on top of one another, which at times obscures key center but also give the music a feeling of openness and anticipation. Copland's ability to write music that craves the partner of human movement undoubtedly puts him in line with the greatest of ballet composer, from Lully to Tchaikovsky to Stravinsky. However, like all great composers, it is the sound that sets one apart. Copland has his own. It is in his orchestration, it is in his harmony, it is in his underlying optimism and feelings towards the nature of this country that have allowed him to rise above many others. In 100 years when someone asks.....What is America? Who are the people that have defined America? Some may say Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln and others but in the art world their may be no match to the name Aaron Copland.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
This is a gripe gone reverse. I use to complain that Wal-mart was trying to be all things to all people and putting others out of business. Then I couldn't understand why McDonald's needed to sell Starbucks style coffee to try to take people away from Starbucks. Then I complained that Starbucks added breakfast sandwiches to try to get back at McDonalds. (not sure of the order of when each of these occurred but I did find it humerous) So I'm not griping any more. I live in L.A. .....we drive a lot. From now on, I'm interested in one stop only in the morning. I want my mocha and the food of my choice and I'm happy that both Starbucks and McDonalds can satisfy me. However, I did need black shoe polish on the way into work the other day and wonder if Starbucks and McDonalds wouldn't consider a little area called "things that people might need on the way to work because they forgot" as part of their marketing and sales strategy....you know, show polish, one a day vitamins, mouthwash, deodorant, sun glasses, umbrellas, floss, eye liner for the ladies, crossword puzzle books for the kids. How about it?
Thursday, March 26, 2009
METAPHORS OR LACK THEREOF
BASEBALL
Baseball is a great metaphor for life. We work to attain a certain level of excellence as individuals in various facets of life but eventually most of us become part of a team....could be a family team or work team. We still work to achieve individual goals but often we must sacrifice for the greater good. And that brings me to my main man, Ichiro Suzuki. This guy had more hits in one season than anyone in the history of baseball. Yes, the other night, in a critical moment of the game, he laid down what was to be a sacrifice bunt. This play allows the runner on 2nd in this case, to move to 3rd and usually the bunter is thrown out. In effect, the player gives himself up for the good of the team and to move the runner up. In this case however, Ichiro was simply too fast and even made it to 1st safely himself. This is why I think baseball is the greatest sport. I've racked my brain today and can't think of another team sport where a player has to truly sacrifice themselves and make an out in order to help the team. You can say passing up a shot in basketball is similar but you're really no giving yourself up. Luckily, baseball realized early on that a player should not be penalized due to such a sacrifice and the player is not even given an official at-bat in the box score. I love the sacrifice in baseball.....it is the ultimate in respect for team and group goals and seems to mirror much of what we encounter everyday at work and at home.
MOVIES AS METAPHOR FOR PILES OF CRAP
I understand that I look at things from an artist's perspective. So when I see what I consider heaping piles of dog shit thrown up on the movie screen on a weekly basis and watch millions and millions of people pay millions and millions of dollars to see this stuff I understand why it is a never ending cycle. To me movies are theater. I want to see people who are at the highest level in their profession, who really now how to act, who don't just look good but can get inside a character's mind and bring that character to us. I also like costume design, music, sounds effects and all that stuff. So when I see an odd cut in a movie...something I'd consider bad editing...I think to myself "are you fucking kidding me?"....."this is the same as an NBA player - someone who shoots baskets all day long - only able to hit 50 percent of his free throws". Please people....are we just going to keep turning out the crap as fast as we can forever? Are any of these idiot editors and idiot screenwriters ever going to be held accountable? Well, I guess as long as you can hit just 50 percent at the free throw line you're good enough to make 10 million a year. In the NBA it's called height. In Hollywood it's called "who ya know".
97.1 AS A METAPHOR FOR ARMAGEDDON
97.1 was my favorite talk radio station. They had Adam Carrola in the morning, Tom Leykis in the afternoon and a bunch of other rather funny and entertaining shows on all day long. It made driving in L.A. tolerable. But now hang on people - all those talk personalities are too expensive....so they fire everyone and start a non-stop music format. The billboards all around LA now have "The New 97.1" and lucky for us - pictures of Brittney Spears all over the place. I'm at a complete loss, I really am. This is what is important in America. Brittney Spears. She must be marketed over and over and over. This is what we want our children to behold as the good in life. This is what we want them to aspire to. This is good art. This is good entertainment. Thank you CBS. Thank you 97.1 for clarifying. OH, I know it's a money issue like everything else but why don't you take your money and just buy yourselves a nice place on the Ivory Coast or something. Why must you keep force feeding our culture such complete shit?
GRIPE OF THE DAY
HUH? Must I really grip? I've done that already. OK - maybe I'll try a "Props of the Day" today. Um...let me think. OK - props to every music student at my university who double or triples their practice time on weekends while everyone else is out playing in the sun. You are the ones that will have the jobs in the future and then you'll get your time in the sun, while the others are stuck in 60 hour a week jobs.
Baseball is a great metaphor for life. We work to attain a certain level of excellence as individuals in various facets of life but eventually most of us become part of a team....could be a family team or work team. We still work to achieve individual goals but often we must sacrifice for the greater good. And that brings me to my main man, Ichiro Suzuki. This guy had more hits in one season than anyone in the history of baseball. Yes, the other night, in a critical moment of the game, he laid down what was to be a sacrifice bunt. This play allows the runner on 2nd in this case, to move to 3rd and usually the bunter is thrown out. In effect, the player gives himself up for the good of the team and to move the runner up. In this case however, Ichiro was simply too fast and even made it to 1st safely himself. This is why I think baseball is the greatest sport. I've racked my brain today and can't think of another team sport where a player has to truly sacrifice themselves and make an out in order to help the team. You can say passing up a shot in basketball is similar but you're really no giving yourself up. Luckily, baseball realized early on that a player should not be penalized due to such a sacrifice and the player is not even given an official at-bat in the box score. I love the sacrifice in baseball.....it is the ultimate in respect for team and group goals and seems to mirror much of what we encounter everyday at work and at home.
MOVIES AS METAPHOR FOR PILES OF CRAP
I understand that I look at things from an artist's perspective. So when I see what I consider heaping piles of dog shit thrown up on the movie screen on a weekly basis and watch millions and millions of people pay millions and millions of dollars to see this stuff I understand why it is a never ending cycle. To me movies are theater. I want to see people who are at the highest level in their profession, who really now how to act, who don't just look good but can get inside a character's mind and bring that character to us. I also like costume design, music, sounds effects and all that stuff. So when I see an odd cut in a movie...something I'd consider bad editing...I think to myself "are you fucking kidding me?"....."this is the same as an NBA player - someone who shoots baskets all day long - only able to hit 50 percent of his free throws". Please people....are we just going to keep turning out the crap as fast as we can forever? Are any of these idiot editors and idiot screenwriters ever going to be held accountable? Well, I guess as long as you can hit just 50 percent at the free throw line you're good enough to make 10 million a year. In the NBA it's called height. In Hollywood it's called "who ya know".
97.1 AS A METAPHOR FOR ARMAGEDDON
97.1 was my favorite talk radio station. They had Adam Carrola in the morning, Tom Leykis in the afternoon and a bunch of other rather funny and entertaining shows on all day long. It made driving in L.A. tolerable. But now hang on people - all those talk personalities are too expensive....so they fire everyone and start a non-stop music format. The billboards all around LA now have "The New 97.1" and lucky for us - pictures of Brittney Spears all over the place. I'm at a complete loss, I really am. This is what is important in America. Brittney Spears. She must be marketed over and over and over. This is what we want our children to behold as the good in life. This is what we want them to aspire to. This is good art. This is good entertainment. Thank you CBS. Thank you 97.1 for clarifying. OH, I know it's a money issue like everything else but why don't you take your money and just buy yourselves a nice place on the Ivory Coast or something. Why must you keep force feeding our culture such complete shit?
GRIPE OF THE DAY
HUH? Must I really grip? I've done that already. OK - maybe I'll try a "Props of the Day" today. Um...let me think. OK - props to every music student at my university who double or triples their practice time on weekends while everyone else is out playing in the sun. You are the ones that will have the jobs in the future and then you'll get your time in the sun, while the others are stuck in 60 hour a week jobs.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
I GOTTA BE HONEST.......
I'M WORN DOWN
You'll never here this from me again. I'm so tired after a long day that I'm even having trouble turning on sports center right now. I have no idea what happened today in the world of sports. That is completely insane. I should never be put into such a positions. There must be a way to reserve 4-6 hours out of every day for the remainder of my life in order that I can enjoy my greatest hobby....sports viewing. I feel like I'm letting town those 10's or thousands who log onto this thought provoking blog every day in order to take just one sip of the wealth of sports trivia that houses itself in my brain (just to the left of the part that remember my first sentence in Spanish class: "Esta Susana en Casa?". Sorry. Sports will return tomorrow.
I'M REALLY WORN DOWN
Don't know why, but a movie always pops into my head. I never log onto this blog with a particularly movie in mind. I start typing (clocked at 90 WPM last check, thank you very much), and out comes Dustin Hoffman being "worn down" in the Academy Award winning Kramer vs. Kramer. What a great movie. Yeah, there's something no name actress named Meryl Streep in there. She's ok and all, but once you get over her it really does turn out to be a classic. Oh, come on Meryl...you know I love ya. As a matter of fact I just may make next week Meryl Streep week on my movie blog.
DAMN I'M TIRED
Six piano concerti is a lot of music for an orchestra to have to learn. And the amount of stress it can cause a conductor is quite noteworthy. And so it is without further delay that I hereby shun all piano concerti and recommend the spectacular, gorgeous and outright odd Harmonica Concerto of Hector Villa Lobos. Yes, the harmonica concerto. OK - it may be impossible to find and even harder to find someone to play it but you know, it's really quite amazing what a virtuoso can do on that instrument. Wow....I'm exhausted to the point of writing about harmonica concerti. What next, the famous Johann Sebastion Hinkelmeister's "Hurdy Gurdy, Zither, and Dulimer Triple Concerto". I'm tired.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
People that don't like the fact that other people are perfectionists. "oooh...he's such a perfectionist"......"yeah, he's nice and all, but what a pain...he's such a perfectionist". Hate to announce this on my blog. But if not for perfectionists we wouldn't have some of the great art works, musical works and literary works that we have today. Not many of the works were conceived and executed by average people doing and average job. So you go ahead and keep being average. I suppose that's the way to live a more comfortable life. Sometimes perfectionism is not a choice. It is often an inborn trait...a part of our personality, possibly even our genetic makeup. I'm sure perfectionism can lead to bad things from time to time but I'm pretty certain it cannot lead to as many bad things as being a no-standards, non-motivated lazy ass. Good night.
You'll never here this from me again. I'm so tired after a long day that I'm even having trouble turning on sports center right now. I have no idea what happened today in the world of sports. That is completely insane. I should never be put into such a positions. There must be a way to reserve 4-6 hours out of every day for the remainder of my life in order that I can enjoy my greatest hobby....sports viewing. I feel like I'm letting town those 10's or thousands who log onto this thought provoking blog every day in order to take just one sip of the wealth of sports trivia that houses itself in my brain (just to the left of the part that remember my first sentence in Spanish class: "Esta Susana en Casa?". Sorry. Sports will return tomorrow.
I'M REALLY WORN DOWN
Don't know why, but a movie always pops into my head. I never log onto this blog with a particularly movie in mind. I start typing (clocked at 90 WPM last check, thank you very much), and out comes Dustin Hoffman being "worn down" in the Academy Award winning Kramer vs. Kramer. What a great movie. Yeah, there's something no name actress named Meryl Streep in there. She's ok and all, but once you get over her it really does turn out to be a classic. Oh, come on Meryl...you know I love ya. As a matter of fact I just may make next week Meryl Streep week on my movie blog.
DAMN I'M TIRED
Six piano concerti is a lot of music for an orchestra to have to learn. And the amount of stress it can cause a conductor is quite noteworthy. And so it is without further delay that I hereby shun all piano concerti and recommend the spectacular, gorgeous and outright odd Harmonica Concerto of Hector Villa Lobos. Yes, the harmonica concerto. OK - it may be impossible to find and even harder to find someone to play it but you know, it's really quite amazing what a virtuoso can do on that instrument. Wow....I'm exhausted to the point of writing about harmonica concerti. What next, the famous Johann Sebastion Hinkelmeister's "Hurdy Gurdy, Zither, and Dulimer Triple Concerto". I'm tired.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
People that don't like the fact that other people are perfectionists. "oooh...he's such a perfectionist"......"yeah, he's nice and all, but what a pain...he's such a perfectionist". Hate to announce this on my blog. But if not for perfectionists we wouldn't have some of the great art works, musical works and literary works that we have today. Not many of the works were conceived and executed by average people doing and average job. So you go ahead and keep being average. I suppose that's the way to live a more comfortable life. Sometimes perfectionism is not a choice. It is often an inborn trait...a part of our personality, possibly even our genetic makeup. I'm sure perfectionism can lead to bad things from time to time but I'm pretty certain it cannot lead to as many bad things as being a no-standards, non-motivated lazy ass. Good night.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL
THANK GOD.............
it was Korean and Japan in the World Baseball Classic Championship last night. Thank God it wasn't the lazy ass "we don't want to send our best players" Americans. I'm going to tell you why the Americans won't send their best players. Because they will get their ass handed to them on a silver platter and won't be able to boast that we are truly the baseball mecca. Screw that. Japan is the greatest baseball power in the world and Korea is second. I'm not sure the U.S. even cracks the top 5 but.....we'll ok - I'll give the 4th for now. There is no way on earth, even with our best players that we would be those teams. THEY ARE TEAMS AND NOT INDIVIDUALS. I watched the game starting in inning 3 with the score 1-0 last night. It was a baseball lovers dream. High intensity, strategy on every pitch, electrified crowd. I've never seen this sport before but I hope it comes to this country soon.
PROPS TO THE JAPANESE
I'm going all Asian today - Memoirs of a Geisha is the film and I highly recommend it. Like Slumdog Millionaire we are not bombarded with big name actors and at times get very nice performances turned in by children as well. What really struck me was the pure beauty of the film shooting, the wardrobe and the music. The film is sensual form beginning to end and you can't help but not get wrapped up in it. I remember being completely shocked the John Williams wrote the score. I hear no John Williams in that score. I moved him up a few notches on my composer ladder to the stars.
TAKEMITSU
I like him because he only sound like him. That's the true mark of a great composer. Mozart only sounds like Mozart. Debussy only sounds like Debussy. Takemitsu only sounds like Takemitsu......well wait....OK - maybe he sounds like a weird mix of Debussy and Messiaen with a touch of Lutslawski and a few others but all in all he sounds like him. How does a composer achieve a distinctive sound? It's all about melody, harmony and tone color....rhythm is important but I find that the distinction can primarily be drawn from their approach to melodic and harmonic ideas and their use of color and shading. So thank you Japanese for baseball, movies and music. My blog for the day is complete.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
I don't yell at umpires - I think it's immature and I think they do the best they can. But when my son made a spectacular diving catch in right center last night and the ump was not in a position to seem him officially catch the ball he ruled no catch. So HEY UMP ------ YOU SUCK!!!! BTW - that same kid with the no catch hit the game tying triple and scored the winning run in the bottom of the 6th.
it was Korean and Japan in the World Baseball Classic Championship last night. Thank God it wasn't the lazy ass "we don't want to send our best players" Americans. I'm going to tell you why the Americans won't send their best players. Because they will get their ass handed to them on a silver platter and won't be able to boast that we are truly the baseball mecca. Screw that. Japan is the greatest baseball power in the world and Korea is second. I'm not sure the U.S. even cracks the top 5 but.....we'll ok - I'll give the 4th for now. There is no way on earth, even with our best players that we would be those teams. THEY ARE TEAMS AND NOT INDIVIDUALS. I watched the game starting in inning 3 with the score 1-0 last night. It was a baseball lovers dream. High intensity, strategy on every pitch, electrified crowd. I've never seen this sport before but I hope it comes to this country soon.
PROPS TO THE JAPANESE
I'm going all Asian today - Memoirs of a Geisha is the film and I highly recommend it. Like Slumdog Millionaire we are not bombarded with big name actors and at times get very nice performances turned in by children as well. What really struck me was the pure beauty of the film shooting, the wardrobe and the music. The film is sensual form beginning to end and you can't help but not get wrapped up in it. I remember being completely shocked the John Williams wrote the score. I hear no John Williams in that score. I moved him up a few notches on my composer ladder to the stars.
TAKEMITSU
I like him because he only sound like him. That's the true mark of a great composer. Mozart only sounds like Mozart. Debussy only sounds like Debussy. Takemitsu only sounds like Takemitsu......well wait....OK - maybe he sounds like a weird mix of Debussy and Messiaen with a touch of Lutslawski and a few others but all in all he sounds like him. How does a composer achieve a distinctive sound? It's all about melody, harmony and tone color....rhythm is important but I find that the distinction can primarily be drawn from their approach to melodic and harmonic ideas and their use of color and shading. So thank you Japanese for baseball, movies and music. My blog for the day is complete.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
I don't yell at umpires - I think it's immature and I think they do the best they can. But when my son made a spectacular diving catch in right center last night and the ump was not in a position to seem him officially catch the ball he ruled no catch. So HEY UMP ------ YOU SUCK!!!! BTW - that same kid with the no catch hit the game tying triple and scored the winning run in the bottom of the 6th.
Monday, March 23, 2009
I TOLD YOU SO
I told you the United States would get beat and eliminated from the World Baseball Classic and I was right. It's the two teams that play the game correctly: Korea and Japan. It will be psychological warfare tonight. Should be very exciting and intense. Oh - and I'm doing pretty damn good in my NCAA brackets as well.....look out for Missouri to upset Memphis. I'm now worried about the Arizona / Louisville game. I picked Louisville to win it all but Arizona is my alma mater? What is one to do? After yesterday, I can't wait to have a place with 3 or 4 large flat screens.......to many good sporting events on at the same time. I need a sports room....a major sports room. It will happen....I don't know when, but it will happen.
MOVIES
Who has time to discuss movies today with all this sports stuff going on. OK.....let me rack my brain a second. OK - Mary Poppins - that's it. My daughter watched it this weekend and I kept going into the room to sneak peaks....yes, Julie Andrews is great but Dick Van Dyke can do it all. What a wonderful person...actor, dancer, singer.......by the way - whatever happened to the actor/dancer/singer......do those people exist any more? OK - Hugh Jackman on the Academy Awards......I admit...he surprised me. It's nice to see people with that much talent make it. There are so many others with NO talent that make it and I never understand how and why.
MUSIC
I'm preparing a ton of piano concerti - so today I'm just giving props to Artur Rubenstein and Martha Argerich. Artur for his incredibly musical Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2 which can be seen on youtube. It is effortless...it is gorgeous, it is stylistically difficult to duplicate. It all looks so easy and each phrase is so perfect. Argerich gets props for her almost unhuman technical dexterity in everything she plays.....and once again - effortless. Yes, she is very musical but I think it is her speed and power, in addition to her knowledge of so much repertoire that makes her.....dare I say a freak of nature. She is amazing as is he.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
Nascar? Yes - here is the problem. There is an overtime system....when there is a caution flag with under 5 laps left they add a few laps to the end of the race. Here is the problem. They add two laps whether it is a 2 1/2 mile monster track or a 1/2 mile small oval. How about 2 laps for the big tracks, 4 laps for the medium tracks and 6-8 for the small tracks. Are ya hearing me NASCAR?????? That 2 lap overtime yesterday took about 45 seconds......that ain't no overtime y'all.
MOVIES
Who has time to discuss movies today with all this sports stuff going on. OK.....let me rack my brain a second. OK - Mary Poppins - that's it. My daughter watched it this weekend and I kept going into the room to sneak peaks....yes, Julie Andrews is great but Dick Van Dyke can do it all. What a wonderful person...actor, dancer, singer.......by the way - whatever happened to the actor/dancer/singer......do those people exist any more? OK - Hugh Jackman on the Academy Awards......I admit...he surprised me. It's nice to see people with that much talent make it. There are so many others with NO talent that make it and I never understand how and why.
MUSIC
I'm preparing a ton of piano concerti - so today I'm just giving props to Artur Rubenstein and Martha Argerich. Artur for his incredibly musical Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2 which can be seen on youtube. It is effortless...it is gorgeous, it is stylistically difficult to duplicate. It all looks so easy and each phrase is so perfect. Argerich gets props for her almost unhuman technical dexterity in everything she plays.....and once again - effortless. Yes, she is very musical but I think it is her speed and power, in addition to her knowledge of so much repertoire that makes her.....dare I say a freak of nature. She is amazing as is he.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
Nascar? Yes - here is the problem. There is an overtime system....when there is a caution flag with under 5 laps left they add a few laps to the end of the race. Here is the problem. They add two laps whether it is a 2 1/2 mile monster track or a 1/2 mile small oval. How about 2 laps for the big tracks, 4 laps for the medium tracks and 6-8 for the small tracks. Are ya hearing me NASCAR?????? That 2 lap overtime yesterday took about 45 seconds......that ain't no overtime y'all.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
WATCHA GONNA DO BAD BOYS, BAD BOYS
BAD ROLE MODELS
Here is a bad role model: A Little League Coach who is a former all-star major league baseball player who insists on yelling at a little league umpire loudly for ball and strike calls. That's good. Way to teach the kiddies how to respect adults in charge. Way to show off that great sportsmanship. OK - I know the umpire sucked but at least he sucked for both sides. You know, it is possible to approach and umpire between innings....ask what the strike zone is and go tell your team that the umpire is going to have a rather odd sized strike zone. Can't wait till he's ejected from a game this year. I'll be reporting back.
BAD ROLE MODELS IN THE MOVIES
Freddy Krueger, Jason, those Texas Chainsaw dudes....ok, those are the only ones I remember - I don't go to those types of movies any more. I guess they serve a purpose but to be honest I just don't get those movies any more. Yeah, I guess it's fun to be scared but best if you're a high school kid just trying to get your girlfriend to grab you in utter horror during the movie.
BAD ROLE MODELS IN CLASSICAL MUSIC
HUH? Is this possible? Sacred ground?.... the world of classical music?..... bad role models? OK - here's who I've come up with any the reasons why:
Conductor James Levine: I always here stories about him and young boys - enough said
Conductor Herbert Von Karajan: I believe he was an egotistical bastard, I've not yet heard or read anything to contradict this in anyway
Many late 20th century American composers - they're all copycats - very few new voices, everyone sounds the same much of the time - nothing new
Many late 20th century European composers - still living in the early 20th century trying to sound the same as all their great role models. That makes them bad role models.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
The workers at Starbucks that shout at me from across the place as I'm the 12th person in line - WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE SIR??? Do we really need to shout our orders across the damn place at 8 in the morning. I'm really ok if you just wait for me to get to the front. I really prefer not to yell my order. Not my thing.
Here is a bad role model: A Little League Coach who is a former all-star major league baseball player who insists on yelling at a little league umpire loudly for ball and strike calls. That's good. Way to teach the kiddies how to respect adults in charge. Way to show off that great sportsmanship. OK - I know the umpire sucked but at least he sucked for both sides. You know, it is possible to approach and umpire between innings....ask what the strike zone is and go tell your team that the umpire is going to have a rather odd sized strike zone. Can't wait till he's ejected from a game this year. I'll be reporting back.
BAD ROLE MODELS IN THE MOVIES
Freddy Krueger, Jason, those Texas Chainsaw dudes....ok, those are the only ones I remember - I don't go to those types of movies any more. I guess they serve a purpose but to be honest I just don't get those movies any more. Yeah, I guess it's fun to be scared but best if you're a high school kid just trying to get your girlfriend to grab you in utter horror during the movie.
BAD ROLE MODELS IN CLASSICAL MUSIC
HUH? Is this possible? Sacred ground?.... the world of classical music?..... bad role models? OK - here's who I've come up with any the reasons why:
Conductor James Levine: I always here stories about him and young boys - enough said
Conductor Herbert Von Karajan: I believe he was an egotistical bastard, I've not yet heard or read anything to contradict this in anyway
Many late 20th century American composers - they're all copycats - very few new voices, everyone sounds the same much of the time - nothing new
Many late 20th century European composers - still living in the early 20th century trying to sound the same as all their great role models. That makes them bad role models.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
The workers at Starbucks that shout at me from across the place as I'm the 12th person in line - WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE SIR??? Do we really need to shout our orders across the damn place at 8 in the morning. I'm really ok if you just wait for me to get to the front. I really prefer not to yell my order. Not my thing.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
WHY IS THAT?
WHY US GUYS LIKE SPORTS
It boils down to this - we like returning to childhood. We like talking to our friends about sports and giving our buddies a hard time that their team didn't advance in the NCAA Basketball Tournament. We like betting....we like feeling smarter than our buddies. Oh...yeah...we like competition and we like talking about how good we were at doing that stuff when we were kids. But let's get real. It's about childhood. We all want to play all the time. No one really wants to go to work. Come on....I don't care how much you love your job...if someone said "let's go out and shoot some hoops instead", or "let's go play some home run derby at the local little league field", or "let's go hit golf balls as far as we can"...............it's all about escape. We just wanna play.
BIZZZZARRRO WORLD
My top movies that will make you incredibly uncomfortable and on edge from beginning to end because you're never really sure what the hell is going on:
The Ice Storm (MUST SEE - Kevin Kline, Susan Sarandon, Toby Maguire, Christina Ricci)
Happiness
Eraserhead
Blue Velvet
These aren't just movies that make you uncomfortable. They are all outstanding films that have drawn critical praise from nearly all critics.
SCHUMANN
I feel for Robert Schumann. I felt more than ever last week. We read the finale of his 2nd symphony with my youth orchestra. It is beyond exuberant. It is uplifting; it is joy; if is love of life; it is all things positive. But I felt a shot through my gut while running through this piece as I remembered that Schumann had already contemplated suicide by this time and was extremely depressed and sick much of the time. It's like looking at works of Van Gogh. It can bring one to chills knowing that such beautiful art could be created by such tortured individuals. Thank God we had them both. One lived to age 46 and the other to the age of 37. It shows the value of human life even when cut tragically short.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
Jay Leno. That's all. That's all I can think of. He's not really all that funny....he is one of the worse interviewers, frequently turning to conversation and interview into ramblings about his own life, and he has always been just a very average comedian. I'll be glad to see him leave the tonight show but it doesn't really matter because I never watched him anyway. Bye Bye Jay!!!!!
It boils down to this - we like returning to childhood. We like talking to our friends about sports and giving our buddies a hard time that their team didn't advance in the NCAA Basketball Tournament. We like betting....we like feeling smarter than our buddies. Oh...yeah...we like competition and we like talking about how good we were at doing that stuff when we were kids. But let's get real. It's about childhood. We all want to play all the time. No one really wants to go to work. Come on....I don't care how much you love your job...if someone said "let's go out and shoot some hoops instead", or "let's go play some home run derby at the local little league field", or "let's go hit golf balls as far as we can"...............it's all about escape. We just wanna play.
BIZZZZARRRO WORLD
My top movies that will make you incredibly uncomfortable and on edge from beginning to end because you're never really sure what the hell is going on:
The Ice Storm (MUST SEE - Kevin Kline, Susan Sarandon, Toby Maguire, Christina Ricci)
Happiness
Eraserhead
Blue Velvet
These aren't just movies that make you uncomfortable. They are all outstanding films that have drawn critical praise from nearly all critics.
SCHUMANN
I feel for Robert Schumann. I felt more than ever last week. We read the finale of his 2nd symphony with my youth orchestra. It is beyond exuberant. It is uplifting; it is joy; if is love of life; it is all things positive. But I felt a shot through my gut while running through this piece as I remembered that Schumann had already contemplated suicide by this time and was extremely depressed and sick much of the time. It's like looking at works of Van Gogh. It can bring one to chills knowing that such beautiful art could be created by such tortured individuals. Thank God we had them both. One lived to age 46 and the other to the age of 37. It shows the value of human life even when cut tragically short.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
Jay Leno. That's all. That's all I can think of. He's not really all that funny....he is one of the worse interviewers, frequently turning to conversation and interview into ramblings about his own life, and he has always been just a very average comedian. I'll be glad to see him leave the tonight show but it doesn't really matter because I never watched him anyway. Bye Bye Jay!!!!!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
JUST CHECKING
HAVE YOU BEEN PAYING ATTENTION?
I'm still going to get around to the "Guy Sleeping on the Highway" story when I finally have time but this is not the time. I must quickly announce that Louisville will win the NCAA Basketball Championship this year. There - that's my bracket - are you happy now? Ok people - I get it...no one is voting for the sports section of my blog as the favorite. I gotta get it out of my system, what can I say. I did after grow up wanting to be a baseball statistician. So yes, it's time for you internet sports papers to look at a guy with plenty of education, enthusiasm and sports knowledge as a new writer on your staff. I got about another 30 good years in me. Bring it on.
DO THE RIGHT THING
I promise to stop plugging Spike Lee movies very soon.....I really do promise. However, "Do the Right Thing" is a great study in racial stereo typing and racism in general shot and interesting and unique ways. Lee's decision to have people utter racial slurs right at the camera makes it hard to understand why individuals would stoop to levels in which they would use these words on a regular basis. Perhaps what I enjoy most about this movie is that Spike himself plays a main role opposite Danny Aielo. And I'll admit - it may just be a NY thing but I grew up going to those pizzarias in the city and I have fond memories of life in the city. This movie is quite creative and way ahead of it's time and was Spike Lee's first huge commercial success.
AND SPEAKING OF RACISM
How about some Wagner people? Oh....sorry ......for issues regarding Wagner and racism or lack thereof you'll have to do your own research. For now I'll just go on record as saying that any orchestra work...prelude or other from the opera "Lohengrin" is absolutely stunning in its melodic beauty, carefully woven chromatic harmony and lush orchestration. Still can't quite figure out for the life of me how someone with such minimal musical training at a young age could turn into such a monster in the musical world (and I use the word monster in multiple ways).
GRIPE OF THE DAY
Bars that don't have food after 10 p.m. but want you to hang out and drink there until closing at 2 a.m. Really people, how about just a little bowl of pretzels or something.....a few chips.....maybe some peanuts. Really ain't gonna break you I promise. So I went out for a drink tonight and it was 10:05. Kitchen closed. Hell yeah I complained. The bartender asked me if I wanted a glass of olives. Hell yeah I want a glass of olives!!!! So there you have it. Sometimes when you pitch a hissy fit you wind up with your favorite food in the world right in front of you. Gee - that's wasn't much of a grip after all. Wow - not profanity in today's blog.
What the ......?
I'm still going to get around to the "Guy Sleeping on the Highway" story when I finally have time but this is not the time. I must quickly announce that Louisville will win the NCAA Basketball Championship this year. There - that's my bracket - are you happy now? Ok people - I get it...no one is voting for the sports section of my blog as the favorite. I gotta get it out of my system, what can I say. I did after grow up wanting to be a baseball statistician. So yes, it's time for you internet sports papers to look at a guy with plenty of education, enthusiasm and sports knowledge as a new writer on your staff. I got about another 30 good years in me. Bring it on.
DO THE RIGHT THING
I promise to stop plugging Spike Lee movies very soon.....I really do promise. However, "Do the Right Thing" is a great study in racial stereo typing and racism in general shot and interesting and unique ways. Lee's decision to have people utter racial slurs right at the camera makes it hard to understand why individuals would stoop to levels in which they would use these words on a regular basis. Perhaps what I enjoy most about this movie is that Spike himself plays a main role opposite Danny Aielo. And I'll admit - it may just be a NY thing but I grew up going to those pizzarias in the city and I have fond memories of life in the city. This movie is quite creative and way ahead of it's time and was Spike Lee's first huge commercial success.
AND SPEAKING OF RACISM
How about some Wagner people? Oh....sorry ......for issues regarding Wagner and racism or lack thereof you'll have to do your own research. For now I'll just go on record as saying that any orchestra work...prelude or other from the opera "Lohengrin" is absolutely stunning in its melodic beauty, carefully woven chromatic harmony and lush orchestration. Still can't quite figure out for the life of me how someone with such minimal musical training at a young age could turn into such a monster in the musical world (and I use the word monster in multiple ways).
GRIPE OF THE DAY
Bars that don't have food after 10 p.m. but want you to hang out and drink there until closing at 2 a.m. Really people, how about just a little bowl of pretzels or something.....a few chips.....maybe some peanuts. Really ain't gonna break you I promise. So I went out for a drink tonight and it was 10:05. Kitchen closed. Hell yeah I complained. The bartender asked me if I wanted a glass of olives. Hell yeah I want a glass of olives!!!! So there you have it. Sometimes when you pitch a hissy fit you wind up with your favorite food in the world right in front of you. Gee - that's wasn't much of a grip after all. Wow - not profanity in today's blog.
What the ......?
LET ME BE BRIEF
WHY WE SUCK AT BASEBALL
Got lots to do today people so I'll be brief and to the point. I'm talking about the USA Baseball team....that's right....USA. They just step up to the plate and hack away. They did beat Puerto Rico in the bottom of the 9th to advance but just watch the Koreans and Japanese. They know how to sacrifice players around the bases, and they play it more as an intellectual chess match....just as baseball was played in the good old days. We on the other hand, products of the steroid pumping, burly man, "knock the fucking cover off the baseball" era just step into the batter's box and try to hit it as far as we can. We don't care who is on base or what the hell the score is. Even my man Derek Jeter proved my point last night. Jeter is a great hitter. But with no outs in the 9th and runners on 1st and 2nd you bunt Derek. That puts runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out and great hitters coming up. Luckily it did not backfire too badly as Jeter hit a line drive to right that moved one runner over but still left us in a potential game ending double play situation. Does anyone know how to coach baseball anymore? Help me out here people.
MOVIE OF THE WEEK
Are you kidding me - 1942: "The Pride of the Yankees" with Gary Cooper playing Lou Gehrig. It's good to know about Gehrig's disease in a bit more detail before watching the film and it is truly one of the more crushing moments in all of sports or in life when someone is stricken with something so suddenly and unexpectedly and is facing death with no warning and no hope. Sorry to be depressing, but it's a good film with outstanding acting.
ORCHESTRAL AEROBICS
I won't give too much away as I may be on par with Tae-Bo or whatever the hell that kickboxing fad was a few years ago. I was working on conducting with my entire class yesterday....we were doing all body movement. I quickly realized that some of the things we were doing were really using different muscles and at times it became quite tiring. I also realized I should put on some classical music and move to the music. Then I realized I should write this all out in outline form, take some of my students to LA Fitness and demonstrate for the staff there and start and Orchestral Aerobics class. What do you think? Can I get some feedback here?
GRIPE OF THE DAY
People that are entirely NON SELF MOTIVATING. Students and people that need to be kicked in the ass and have someone tell them what to do instead of taking initiative. Listen.....if you want to choose music performance as your career, then practice longer hours than anyone else. Seek out extra lessons. Try to one up the next person at every corner. Don't make me tell you how to do it. Don't force me as your teacher to have to excite you about music every single time I see you. Yes, it is part of my job to keep you interested and give you constructive comments and to guide you. But the drive needs to be inside your body and inside your brain. If it's not there, you can find a profession working on an assembly line somewhere. No motivation needed. Just show up and do the same damn thing every day and take instructions from your boss.
OK - so I wasn't so brief.
Got lots to do today people so I'll be brief and to the point. I'm talking about the USA Baseball team....that's right....USA. They just step up to the plate and hack away. They did beat Puerto Rico in the bottom of the 9th to advance but just watch the Koreans and Japanese. They know how to sacrifice players around the bases, and they play it more as an intellectual chess match....just as baseball was played in the good old days. We on the other hand, products of the steroid pumping, burly man, "knock the fucking cover off the baseball" era just step into the batter's box and try to hit it as far as we can. We don't care who is on base or what the hell the score is. Even my man Derek Jeter proved my point last night. Jeter is a great hitter. But with no outs in the 9th and runners on 1st and 2nd you bunt Derek. That puts runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out and great hitters coming up. Luckily it did not backfire too badly as Jeter hit a line drive to right that moved one runner over but still left us in a potential game ending double play situation. Does anyone know how to coach baseball anymore? Help me out here people.
MOVIE OF THE WEEK
Are you kidding me - 1942: "The Pride of the Yankees" with Gary Cooper playing Lou Gehrig. It's good to know about Gehrig's disease in a bit more detail before watching the film and it is truly one of the more crushing moments in all of sports or in life when someone is stricken with something so suddenly and unexpectedly and is facing death with no warning and no hope. Sorry to be depressing, but it's a good film with outstanding acting.
ORCHESTRAL AEROBICS
I won't give too much away as I may be on par with Tae-Bo or whatever the hell that kickboxing fad was a few years ago. I was working on conducting with my entire class yesterday....we were doing all body movement. I quickly realized that some of the things we were doing were really using different muscles and at times it became quite tiring. I also realized I should put on some classical music and move to the music. Then I realized I should write this all out in outline form, take some of my students to LA Fitness and demonstrate for the staff there and start and Orchestral Aerobics class. What do you think? Can I get some feedback here?
GRIPE OF THE DAY
People that are entirely NON SELF MOTIVATING. Students and people that need to be kicked in the ass and have someone tell them what to do instead of taking initiative. Listen.....if you want to choose music performance as your career, then practice longer hours than anyone else. Seek out extra lessons. Try to one up the next person at every corner. Don't make me tell you how to do it. Don't force me as your teacher to have to excite you about music every single time I see you. Yes, it is part of my job to keep you interested and give you constructive comments and to guide you. But the drive needs to be inside your body and inside your brain. If it's not there, you can find a profession working on an assembly line somewhere. No motivation needed. Just show up and do the same damn thing every day and take instructions from your boss.
OK - so I wasn't so brief.
Monday, March 16, 2009
LIFE IS WEIRD......AND THAT'S ALL I KNOW
MUST I DISCUSS SPORTS TODAY?
I've tried not to discuss personal issues on this blog but damn....sometime my life is so weird I feel that it would fulfill a good day of entertainment to share some of my stories with others......oh...don't worry - I'll give you my NCAA College Basketball bracket picks tomorrow. But as I was getting ready to type the picks I heard this adorable little girl in the hallway saying "mama?...mama?"........well an hour later, after hanging around with lost girl, we finally found crying mama. It's ok - it was a mistake....mom in shower, little girl somehow gets out of apartment....but damn that's scary. Kids like me...I'm cool to hang around with. My little friend had no problem chilling out with me for an hour as we walked around the complex. But it brings up an interesting point......life is weird. Do we ever really know what will happen five minutes from now? I mean....I'm minding my own business in the comfort of my apartment playing online poker for the evening. The last thing on my mind was being the adoptive temporary father of an adorable blond haired, blue eyed girl five minutes later. Oh, don't you worry - I got better stories for the future....stay tuned for "Guy laying down sleeping on the highway".
CUTE KIDS IN MOVIES
So since I'm done saving the day for mom and her little girl I thought I'd mention some must see movies that have adorable kids or really great kid actors. If you can stand not to cry through half the movie "The Champ" with Ricky Schroeder is about as good as it gets with kid acting. Of course "Sixth Sense" has to be right up there and .....drum roll please...it's Spike Lee time again. See Crooklyn. The kids dominated that movie and it is a really cute portrayal of life in Brooklyn in the 1970's. Don't let the title scare you away - really an adorable film with kids that carry it all the way.
WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO PETER AND HIS WOLF?
So we had sight reading as part of our percussion mid-term at my university last week. The sight reading were excerpts Peter and the Wolf....some of the most famous themes. Exactly one person out of about thirty knew where the music was from. What the hell happened? Do we need listen to Peter and the Wolf in the public schools any more? Must I program it every year for the next five so that everyone from 14 to 30 that does not know the piece becomes familiar with it. Not only is it a good story but the music is fantastic. So here are my top three pieces for the kiddies and they very obvious to those of us in classical music:
Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf
Saint-Saens: Carnival of the Animals
Britten: Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra
The three pieces should be on recording in every child's bedroom.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
Schools that get upset that they don't get invited to the NCAA basketball tournament. Listen....I'll say this slowly.......IT'S BASKETBALL......how about instead of sitting around releasing statements for the press about how bad you feel for your basketball players you spend that time buying some new beakers for the science lab on campus or inviting kids to campus to go to see student art works or hear some of the student ensembles. St. Mary's.......you're a good university.....yes, your basketball players worked very hard.....now get all your asses back into class and graduate instead of worrying about playing a few more basketball games and getting more time off of class.
I've tried not to discuss personal issues on this blog but damn....sometime my life is so weird I feel that it would fulfill a good day of entertainment to share some of my stories with others......oh...don't worry - I'll give you my NCAA College Basketball bracket picks tomorrow. But as I was getting ready to type the picks I heard this adorable little girl in the hallway saying "mama?...mama?"........well an hour later, after hanging around with lost girl, we finally found crying mama. It's ok - it was a mistake....mom in shower, little girl somehow gets out of apartment....but damn that's scary. Kids like me...I'm cool to hang around with. My little friend had no problem chilling out with me for an hour as we walked around the complex. But it brings up an interesting point......life is weird. Do we ever really know what will happen five minutes from now? I mean....I'm minding my own business in the comfort of my apartment playing online poker for the evening. The last thing on my mind was being the adoptive temporary father of an adorable blond haired, blue eyed girl five minutes later. Oh, don't you worry - I got better stories for the future....stay tuned for "Guy laying down sleeping on the highway".
CUTE KIDS IN MOVIES
So since I'm done saving the day for mom and her little girl I thought I'd mention some must see movies that have adorable kids or really great kid actors. If you can stand not to cry through half the movie "The Champ" with Ricky Schroeder is about as good as it gets with kid acting. Of course "Sixth Sense" has to be right up there and .....drum roll please...it's Spike Lee time again. See Crooklyn. The kids dominated that movie and it is a really cute portrayal of life in Brooklyn in the 1970's. Don't let the title scare you away - really an adorable film with kids that carry it all the way.
WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO PETER AND HIS WOLF?
So we had sight reading as part of our percussion mid-term at my university last week. The sight reading were excerpts Peter and the Wolf....some of the most famous themes. Exactly one person out of about thirty knew where the music was from. What the hell happened? Do we need listen to Peter and the Wolf in the public schools any more? Must I program it every year for the next five so that everyone from 14 to 30 that does not know the piece becomes familiar with it. Not only is it a good story but the music is fantastic. So here are my top three pieces for the kiddies and they very obvious to those of us in classical music:
Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf
Saint-Saens: Carnival of the Animals
Britten: Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra
The three pieces should be on recording in every child's bedroom.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
Schools that get upset that they don't get invited to the NCAA basketball tournament. Listen....I'll say this slowly.......IT'S BASKETBALL......how about instead of sitting around releasing statements for the press about how bad you feel for your basketball players you spend that time buying some new beakers for the science lab on campus or inviting kids to campus to go to see student art works or hear some of the student ensembles. St. Mary's.......you're a good university.....yes, your basketball players worked very hard.....now get all your asses back into class and graduate instead of worrying about playing a few more basketball games and getting more time off of class.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
MARCH GLADNESS
IT'S TIME FOR 16 to take out a 1
That's what March Madness is really about right? It's not about a simple little college basketball tournament. It's about the fact that hockey and the NBA are going into their playoffs...Nascar is in full bloom and we are about ready to jump into the Major League Baseball season. Oh, and there is that very exciting basketball tournament. I believe at some point, somehow, somewhere, the 16th seed in the NCAA tournament will finally beat a number one seed. I'm going to put in my bid for this year. You know why? Because my school - California State University, Northridge is in the tournament and many are predicting they will be a 16th seed. So prepare everyone as Northridge beats North Carolina on a half court heave with 1 second on the clock....now that's what March Madness is all about!!!
HOOP DREAMS
Rent yourself a documentary - I dare you. Come on...really...you can do it. Why do I get the feeling that some people think of a documentary as something you watched in 5th grade history class while you were studying the Aztec nation? How can documentaries not be the coolest type of movie when you really get down to it. No one is "making believe" for the most part. The movie making is not a bunch of takes and re-takes for the most part. The movie making is how the film is put together....often how interviews are woven into the story line and keep viewers glued to the screen. You might night have 3 hours to spend sitting in front of a TV watching 5 years in the lives of 2 teenage boys trying to make it to the NBA. The film raises a number of issues concerning race, class, economic division, education and values in contemporary America. It also offers one of the most intimate views of inner-city life to be captured on film. If ever there was a nail biter as a documentary this would be the one. Great film.
HOOPSEY DOOPSEY
OOhhhh....I've hit a snag....I cannot possibly relate basketball to something in the classical music world. Well....I did with Spike Lee's "He Got Game" which had music by Aaron Copland as the soundtrack, so there. So I have to tell you about the coolest moment in the movie. I've always conducted a very obscure but beautiful piece by Copland called "Letter from Home". It was written around WWII and basically summaries feelings a soldier would have upon receiving a letter from home. I could not believe that Spike Lee and the music staff of that movie dug out this piece. It came at the perfect time, when the young basketball player received a letter from his father and started to open it. Out of the millions of people that watched this film I began to wonder how many people would have recognized that piece of music, the title of the piece and it's significance at that exact moment in the movie. I say two or three. That moment was genius and I just had to share it.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
Listen people...if you're on a line at McDonalds it is my opinion that you should know exactly what you want before your turn comes in line. There are these big neon menus that you can read while you're standing on line. Oh....and I forgot.....It's F&*&ing MCDONALDS!!! They've basically sold the same shit for the last 50 years....is there anyone here that doesn't have the menu memorized? Really? Oh - and it's not really all shit...that chicken sandwich the other day was pretty damn good.
That's what March Madness is really about right? It's not about a simple little college basketball tournament. It's about the fact that hockey and the NBA are going into their playoffs...Nascar is in full bloom and we are about ready to jump into the Major League Baseball season. Oh, and there is that very exciting basketball tournament. I believe at some point, somehow, somewhere, the 16th seed in the NCAA tournament will finally beat a number one seed. I'm going to put in my bid for this year. You know why? Because my school - California State University, Northridge is in the tournament and many are predicting they will be a 16th seed. So prepare everyone as Northridge beats North Carolina on a half court heave with 1 second on the clock....now that's what March Madness is all about!!!
HOOP DREAMS
Rent yourself a documentary - I dare you. Come on...really...you can do it. Why do I get the feeling that some people think of a documentary as something you watched in 5th grade history class while you were studying the Aztec nation? How can documentaries not be the coolest type of movie when you really get down to it. No one is "making believe" for the most part. The movie making is not a bunch of takes and re-takes for the most part. The movie making is how the film is put together....often how interviews are woven into the story line and keep viewers glued to the screen. You might night have 3 hours to spend sitting in front of a TV watching 5 years in the lives of 2 teenage boys trying to make it to the NBA. The film raises a number of issues concerning race, class, economic division, education and values in contemporary America. It also offers one of the most intimate views of inner-city life to be captured on film. If ever there was a nail biter as a documentary this would be the one. Great film.
HOOPSEY DOOPSEY
OOhhhh....I've hit a snag....I cannot possibly relate basketball to something in the classical music world. Well....I did with Spike Lee's "He Got Game" which had music by Aaron Copland as the soundtrack, so there. So I have to tell you about the coolest moment in the movie. I've always conducted a very obscure but beautiful piece by Copland called "Letter from Home". It was written around WWII and basically summaries feelings a soldier would have upon receiving a letter from home. I could not believe that Spike Lee and the music staff of that movie dug out this piece. It came at the perfect time, when the young basketball player received a letter from his father and started to open it. Out of the millions of people that watched this film I began to wonder how many people would have recognized that piece of music, the title of the piece and it's significance at that exact moment in the movie. I say two or three. That moment was genius and I just had to share it.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
Listen people...if you're on a line at McDonalds it is my opinion that you should know exactly what you want before your turn comes in line. There are these big neon menus that you can read while you're standing on line. Oh....and I forgot.....It's F&*&ing MCDONALDS!!! They've basically sold the same shit for the last 50 years....is there anyone here that doesn't have the menu memorized? Really? Oh - and it's not really all shit...that chicken sandwich the other day was pretty damn good.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
TIME FOR A LITTLE FREE STYLE RAP
BASEBALL
Why is baseball my favorite sport? What makes it not boring to me while it seems to be so boring to so many others? Baseball is like chess.....all the action happens between the moves. The move is the result of all the thinking and all the strategizing. I find it fascinating when in attendance at a major league game, college game...even a little league game to watch all the nuisances that take place on the field.....every fielder having to think of what might happen next, every catcher and pitcher holding a silent conversation in order to decide the type and location of the next pitch.....every batter thinking through his options now that the count has changed. Baseball is boring if you're only going to pay attention when the ball is put into play. Baseball is interesting if you're staring at the second basemen in between pitches to see if he is signaling the shortstop, pitcher, or catcher that there is a pick off attempt coming at second base. It's a quiet sport in that sense. This game is played primarily with silent communication and I think for those who like silence there is a lot there to enjoy.
THE ELEPHANT MAN
Absolutely no relation or transition this time. It's free flow people...deal with it. OK...I know, I know..it's a depressing movie but man oh man...Anthony Hopkins in his younger days, plus the film being shot in black and white and the remarkable John Hurt as the Elephant Man. For some reason, every time I find this film on TV I have to stop and watch it. It puts me in a trance. It places you in a time and location and sets rather uncomfortable, often somber but and at times hopeful tone. The film received 8 Academy Award nominations in the year it was released.....why Hopkins didn't receive a supporting actor nomination I don't know. So, perhaps on a rainy, depressing day, when you're not feeling so good about your own life I would recommend looking at what John Merrick had to go through in his own life.
HERE IS MY RAP
My rap is that I like rap and always have. I think there are two reasons for this. The first reason is that the music itself uses rhythm as the number one musical element as part of the compositional structure (sounds serious huh?). This is in contradiction to most western arts music that relies heavily upon melodic and harmonic material in order to form the important basis of the work. The other reason is that the lyrics play a much more significant role in rap than they do in most other popular music. You can disagree with me all you want but if the lyrics mean nothing, the piece of rap music is not going to make it. That is quite different from other popular music. In many pieces of pop music, a riff, a guitar sound, an overall sonic appeal is what catches the listeners attention. Very often we can't even hear the lyrics or tell what the hell the singer is saying. I will say that there is plenty of pop music I like as well, but I am one that does respond to a good rhythmic groove and words that have meaning.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
My gripe is against anyone who ever utters the statement "well....rap isn't music". These people are often unable to give an adequate definition of the word "music". I admit, it's a tough one but if you're going to rule it out as music based on lack of melody or harmony you'll have to also rule out most tribal drumming that comes out of Africa and also that wonderful cadence that the local marching band drum line is playing while marching down the street. Enough said.
Why is baseball my favorite sport? What makes it not boring to me while it seems to be so boring to so many others? Baseball is like chess.....all the action happens between the moves. The move is the result of all the thinking and all the strategizing. I find it fascinating when in attendance at a major league game, college game...even a little league game to watch all the nuisances that take place on the field.....every fielder having to think of what might happen next, every catcher and pitcher holding a silent conversation in order to decide the type and location of the next pitch.....every batter thinking through his options now that the count has changed. Baseball is boring if you're only going to pay attention when the ball is put into play. Baseball is interesting if you're staring at the second basemen in between pitches to see if he is signaling the shortstop, pitcher, or catcher that there is a pick off attempt coming at second base. It's a quiet sport in that sense. This game is played primarily with silent communication and I think for those who like silence there is a lot there to enjoy.
THE ELEPHANT MAN
Absolutely no relation or transition this time. It's free flow people...deal with it. OK...I know, I know..it's a depressing movie but man oh man...Anthony Hopkins in his younger days, plus the film being shot in black and white and the remarkable John Hurt as the Elephant Man. For some reason, every time I find this film on TV I have to stop and watch it. It puts me in a trance. It places you in a time and location and sets rather uncomfortable, often somber but and at times hopeful tone. The film received 8 Academy Award nominations in the year it was released.....why Hopkins didn't receive a supporting actor nomination I don't know. So, perhaps on a rainy, depressing day, when you're not feeling so good about your own life I would recommend looking at what John Merrick had to go through in his own life.
HERE IS MY RAP
My rap is that I like rap and always have. I think there are two reasons for this. The first reason is that the music itself uses rhythm as the number one musical element as part of the compositional structure (sounds serious huh?). This is in contradiction to most western arts music that relies heavily upon melodic and harmonic material in order to form the important basis of the work. The other reason is that the lyrics play a much more significant role in rap than they do in most other popular music. You can disagree with me all you want but if the lyrics mean nothing, the piece of rap music is not going to make it. That is quite different from other popular music. In many pieces of pop music, a riff, a guitar sound, an overall sonic appeal is what catches the listeners attention. Very often we can't even hear the lyrics or tell what the hell the singer is saying. I will say that there is plenty of pop music I like as well, but I am one that does respond to a good rhythmic groove and words that have meaning.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
My gripe is against anyone who ever utters the statement "well....rap isn't music". These people are often unable to give an adequate definition of the word "music". I admit, it's a tough one but if you're going to rule it out as music based on lack of melody or harmony you'll have to also rule out most tribal drumming that comes out of Africa and also that wonderful cadence that the local marching band drum line is playing while marching down the street. Enough said.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
ME BEING ENTIRELY NON-INTERSTING
DYING ON THE JOB
I guess maybe I'm the only person that finds beyond amazing that only one person in the entire history of major league baseball has died during the course of a game of from injuries resulting from something that happens in a game. Consider that helmets were not even worn until the middle 20th century. Now take into account that multiple batters get hit in the head with 90-100 mile per hour pitches and are protected by helmets right now. Probably just me, but I'm thinking that getting hit in the head by a 90 mile an hour pitch hurts or knocks you silly for a while. Geez....I mean, I was knocked out cold in grade school by a ball thrown about 40 miles per hour. I feel bad and a bit confused that Ray Chapman was the only man every hit by a pitch in the head and later died due to that injury. I think someone should do a dissertation on the history of head injuries in major league baseball. That's my idea of excitement.
DYING ON THE MOVIE SET
Bruce Lee......Brandon Lee........and the 1983 Twilight Zone movie....all a bit bizarre and tragic and if people had been even a little more careful such tragedies could be avoided. I know.....not that interesting, but you really don't expect to go work on the movie set and not come home.
DYING ON THE CONDUCTING PODIUM
Just as poor Ray Chapman was able to walk off the field in the baseball game which would ultimately be his last, Jean Baptiste Lully was able to leave the orchestra hall the night that he stabbed himself in the foot with a conducting mace while beating time as the conductor or leader in a undoubtedly fabulous musical performance. The result of stabbing himself in the foot was gangrene which Lully refused to have looked at. This would eventually lead to his death. There have been others, like Guiseppe Sinopoli who died in the middle of conducting a performance of Aida. They say if you gotta go, go doing something that you love. I love sleeping. That would work for me.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
My gripe of the day is this - I'm as big a baseball fan as anyone...and son loves baseball too. I live 15 minutes from Dodger Stadium. The minimum price for a ticket for the World Baseball Classic is 150 bucks. We can't go. So....I don't really know what I'm griping about....either it's that I'm not rich or they should have written test of baseball knowledge and baseball enthusiasm to determine who should really be allowed in the stadium for such huge events. Sorry for boring you all with my baseball banter but it's one of my passions and that's why this very very boring blog got started.
I guess maybe I'm the only person that finds beyond amazing that only one person in the entire history of major league baseball has died during the course of a game of from injuries resulting from something that happens in a game. Consider that helmets were not even worn until the middle 20th century. Now take into account that multiple batters get hit in the head with 90-100 mile per hour pitches and are protected by helmets right now. Probably just me, but I'm thinking that getting hit in the head by a 90 mile an hour pitch hurts or knocks you silly for a while. Geez....I mean, I was knocked out cold in grade school by a ball thrown about 40 miles per hour. I feel bad and a bit confused that Ray Chapman was the only man every hit by a pitch in the head and later died due to that injury. I think someone should do a dissertation on the history of head injuries in major league baseball. That's my idea of excitement.
DYING ON THE MOVIE SET
Bruce Lee......Brandon Lee........and the 1983 Twilight Zone movie....all a bit bizarre and tragic and if people had been even a little more careful such tragedies could be avoided. I know.....not that interesting, but you really don't expect to go work on the movie set and not come home.
DYING ON THE CONDUCTING PODIUM
Just as poor Ray Chapman was able to walk off the field in the baseball game which would ultimately be his last, Jean Baptiste Lully was able to leave the orchestra hall the night that he stabbed himself in the foot with a conducting mace while beating time as the conductor or leader in a undoubtedly fabulous musical performance. The result of stabbing himself in the foot was gangrene which Lully refused to have looked at. This would eventually lead to his death. There have been others, like Guiseppe Sinopoli who died in the middle of conducting a performance of Aida. They say if you gotta go, go doing something that you love. I love sleeping. That would work for me.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
My gripe of the day is this - I'm as big a baseball fan as anyone...and son loves baseball too. I live 15 minutes from Dodger Stadium. The minimum price for a ticket for the World Baseball Classic is 150 bucks. We can't go. So....I don't really know what I'm griping about....either it's that I'm not rich or they should have written test of baseball knowledge and baseball enthusiasm to determine who should really be allowed in the stadium for such huge events. Sorry for boring you all with my baseball banter but it's one of my passions and that's why this very very boring blog got started.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Sports/Movie/Music: FOOTBALL/FOOTBALL/FOOTBALL
IT MUST SUCK TO BE AN AUBURN TIGER
I write this with first hand knowledge of what it's like to be an Auburn Tiger. You see, I worked at beautiful Auburn University for 3 years. I was an integral part of the athletic program, working with the marching band and basketball pep bands for both men and women's games. But please people....can we ever get to a point where football is not the only thing that matters in life? I want to make this short - it's not really about football - it's about human relations. Take a minute and look up the name "Tommy Tuberville" on wikipedia and look at his career record and accolades as a major college football coach. But wait, I'm sorry....Tommy, was "paid to resign".....I guess that's different than being fired. Please write to me and explain how a person with this kind of record....a person that seems to run a clean and winning program can be fired. All I'm asking for is one or two sentence. Tell me why he got fired. Then go look up Eric Ramsey. He was a defensive player who brought down Auburn's football program in the early 90's because he secretly recorded coaches agreeing to pay players under the table. Eric's football coach Pat Dye was not fired. He was allowed to quietly step down. What the hell? This is a very confusing topic to me and one thing I will say....I'm looking forward to how much Auburn and Tennessee will both suck in football next year because they dismissed coaches who are at the top of their profession. Oh - by the way, the Auburn University football field is called "Pat Dye" field. WAAAAAAAAAAAAR EAGLE!!!!!
INVINCIBLE
If ya never get enough of Mark Wahlberg give him one more shot. Ok - it's a sports movie but it is a pretty cool story. It's about a regular guy - Vince Papale - good high school athlete but really didn't amount to much after that. Then suddenly walked on in a tryout with the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles and actually made the team. This movie is a great movie for adults and kids and shows what hard work and dedication can get you. Markey Mark really does a great job in the role and so if you want to just lay around a chill out with a non-stressful feel good story, this is a good one.
MUSIC and FOOTBALL
The Yale Princeton Football Game. Yup - that's it - American Composer Charles Ives. I be you guys out there are always thinking that I can't possibly make sports, movies and music connect in my blog. Well, if not for the Yale Princeton Football game, a musical composition by Charles Ives....this one may have gone down the toilet. Now, I'm not saying that this is the Ives piece to listen to. It's hard to find - probably been recorded about one time, and all in all is not his gift to the world of composition. But here is what I will tell you to listen to: The Songs of Charles Ives. My God people...this guy wrote some of the most advance arts songs of the early 20th century. They are full of advanced harmony....beautiful pianistic color and some extremely tuneful writing. He wrote many, many songs and ounce you've heard one of them YOU HAVE NOT HEARD THEM ALL. They are so amazingly different from one another I often wonder how it all came from one person. Charles Ives is the man....check out his songs, chamber music or symphonies. More on him in a future blog.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
Welcome to my new segment called "Gripe of the Day". Today I would like to gripe about the AT&T store down the street. Not only did you not have my new phone at 9 a.m. the other day like you said you would.....you're doors were not even opened until 9:15 even though your hours start at 9 a.m!!! CAN YOU PLEASE DO YOUR JOB PEOPLE? Please? Oh...maybe doing your job really doesn't matter. I guess we should ask Mr. Tuberville about that.
I write this with first hand knowledge of what it's like to be an Auburn Tiger. You see, I worked at beautiful Auburn University for 3 years. I was an integral part of the athletic program, working with the marching band and basketball pep bands for both men and women's games. But please people....can we ever get to a point where football is not the only thing that matters in life? I want to make this short - it's not really about football - it's about human relations. Take a minute and look up the name "Tommy Tuberville" on wikipedia and look at his career record and accolades as a major college football coach. But wait, I'm sorry....Tommy, was "paid to resign".....I guess that's different than being fired. Please write to me and explain how a person with this kind of record....a person that seems to run a clean and winning program can be fired. All I'm asking for is one or two sentence. Tell me why he got fired. Then go look up Eric Ramsey. He was a defensive player who brought down Auburn's football program in the early 90's because he secretly recorded coaches agreeing to pay players under the table. Eric's football coach Pat Dye was not fired. He was allowed to quietly step down. What the hell? This is a very confusing topic to me and one thing I will say....I'm looking forward to how much Auburn and Tennessee will both suck in football next year because they dismissed coaches who are at the top of their profession. Oh - by the way, the Auburn University football field is called "Pat Dye" field. WAAAAAAAAAAAAR EAGLE!!!!!
INVINCIBLE
If ya never get enough of Mark Wahlberg give him one more shot. Ok - it's a sports movie but it is a pretty cool story. It's about a regular guy - Vince Papale - good high school athlete but really didn't amount to much after that. Then suddenly walked on in a tryout with the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles and actually made the team. This movie is a great movie for adults and kids and shows what hard work and dedication can get you. Markey Mark really does a great job in the role and so if you want to just lay around a chill out with a non-stressful feel good story, this is a good one.
MUSIC and FOOTBALL
The Yale Princeton Football Game. Yup - that's it - American Composer Charles Ives. I be you guys out there are always thinking that I can't possibly make sports, movies and music connect in my blog. Well, if not for the Yale Princeton Football game, a musical composition by Charles Ives....this one may have gone down the toilet. Now, I'm not saying that this is the Ives piece to listen to. It's hard to find - probably been recorded about one time, and all in all is not his gift to the world of composition. But here is what I will tell you to listen to: The Songs of Charles Ives. My God people...this guy wrote some of the most advance arts songs of the early 20th century. They are full of advanced harmony....beautiful pianistic color and some extremely tuneful writing. He wrote many, many songs and ounce you've heard one of them YOU HAVE NOT HEARD THEM ALL. They are so amazingly different from one another I often wonder how it all came from one person. Charles Ives is the man....check out his songs, chamber music or symphonies. More on him in a future blog.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
Welcome to my new segment called "Gripe of the Day". Today I would like to gripe about the AT&T store down the street. Not only did you not have my new phone at 9 a.m. the other day like you said you would.....you're doors were not even opened until 9:15 even though your hours start at 9 a.m!!! CAN YOU PLEASE DO YOUR JOB PEOPLE? Please? Oh...maybe doing your job really doesn't matter. I guess we should ask Mr. Tuberville about that.
Monday, March 9, 2009
MARCH MADNESS, MARS BLACKMAN, BLACK MARCHES
MARCH MADNESS
I'm not ready to give you all my picks yet so that you can win thousands in the local office pool. You'll just have to wait until selection Sunday this week. And I will say one more time....please hold your breath for the University of Arizona. If they don't get in, there goes the longest streak of consecutive years in the tournament down the toilet and the start of basketball misery will suddenly consume all of us Wildcat fans - for the first time EVER. And since I'm not giving out men's NCAA tournament picks yet, how about some props to the UCONN Huskies ladies team. Are you kidding me...undefeated? What have they lost about 3 games in the past 10 years. Where is the University of Connecticut anyway? Someone told me that since the men's and women's basketball teams are so good, that they found out that the university might be in Connecticut. I'm still not sure. Do they offer any courses there?
MOVIE OF THE DAY SELECTION
HE GOT GAME.....yeah I said it and I'll say it again ....HE GOT GAME......by one of my all time favorite directors Spike Lee......that's right.....I'll say it again......Spike freakin Lee. If this blog does nothing else for you in the arena of movie viewing, please allow me to let you in on a little secret.....Spike has written and directed a number of great movies. Now I know some may be alarmed that there is a limited number of white actors and actresses in these movies and therefore the potential emotional depth and beauty of these movies is somehow compromised due to this fact. Are you f^&*ing insane????? Really? Can you not see the greatness of someone at the top of their profession? Can you not see an artist in their prime? Oh...was I suppose to review "He Got Game"? Long story short (as you know I like to give little info about the movie).....yes, a basketball story...more of a life story about boy's relationship with his dad and starring Denzel Washington and current NBA superstar Ray Allen who Spike Lee picked because he wanted a good basketball player that was pretty much unknown. Allen was not known at all at the time and had not acted a day in his life. It takes a great director to make this work and it's a great film.....oh, did I mention genius?......entire soundtrack is music by Aaron Copland...funny, Basketball = American Invention...Aaron Copland = perhaps America's greatest composer.
BLACK MARCHES
That's what I would call all those cute little sarcastic yet bitterly intense marches that can easily be found prancing their way through any one of Shostakovich's major works. But just for kicks...if you're sitting around someday and want to enjoy and fun march....and one that should have gotten the composer shot on the spot...listen to Shostakovich's 9th symphony. Listen as Stalin listened....all sittin' proud surrounded by his possy looking forward to hearing a great heroic work that would yet again solidify the Soviet state as the great power and provider of excellence and nobility in the arts. Be proud when you prepare to listen...prepare for boldness...prepare for intensity and drama.....now .....go ahead...go ahead...hit the play button and sit back. I would do anything to go back in time and have Stalin's pulse and blood pressure monitored as he hears the opening cartoonish circus march. What a great moment in the history of music.
I'm not ready to give you all my picks yet so that you can win thousands in the local office pool. You'll just have to wait until selection Sunday this week. And I will say one more time....please hold your breath for the University of Arizona. If they don't get in, there goes the longest streak of consecutive years in the tournament down the toilet and the start of basketball misery will suddenly consume all of us Wildcat fans - for the first time EVER. And since I'm not giving out men's NCAA tournament picks yet, how about some props to the UCONN Huskies ladies team. Are you kidding me...undefeated? What have they lost about 3 games in the past 10 years. Where is the University of Connecticut anyway? Someone told me that since the men's and women's basketball teams are so good, that they found out that the university might be in Connecticut. I'm still not sure. Do they offer any courses there?
MOVIE OF THE DAY SELECTION
HE GOT GAME.....yeah I said it and I'll say it again ....HE GOT GAME......by one of my all time favorite directors Spike Lee......that's right.....I'll say it again......Spike freakin Lee. If this blog does nothing else for you in the arena of movie viewing, please allow me to let you in on a little secret.....Spike has written and directed a number of great movies. Now I know some may be alarmed that there is a limited number of white actors and actresses in these movies and therefore the potential emotional depth and beauty of these movies is somehow compromised due to this fact. Are you f^&*ing insane????? Really? Can you not see the greatness of someone at the top of their profession? Can you not see an artist in their prime? Oh...was I suppose to review "He Got Game"? Long story short (as you know I like to give little info about the movie).....yes, a basketball story...more of a life story about boy's relationship with his dad and starring Denzel Washington and current NBA superstar Ray Allen who Spike Lee picked because he wanted a good basketball player that was pretty much unknown. Allen was not known at all at the time and had not acted a day in his life. It takes a great director to make this work and it's a great film.....oh, did I mention genius?......entire soundtrack is music by Aaron Copland...funny, Basketball = American Invention...Aaron Copland = perhaps America's greatest composer.
BLACK MARCHES
That's what I would call all those cute little sarcastic yet bitterly intense marches that can easily be found prancing their way through any one of Shostakovich's major works. But just for kicks...if you're sitting around someday and want to enjoy and fun march....and one that should have gotten the composer shot on the spot...listen to Shostakovich's 9th symphony. Listen as Stalin listened....all sittin' proud surrounded by his possy looking forward to hearing a great heroic work that would yet again solidify the Soviet state as the great power and provider of excellence and nobility in the arts. Be proud when you prepare to listen...prepare for boldness...prepare for intensity and drama.....now .....go ahead...go ahead...hit the play button and sit back. I would do anything to go back in time and have Stalin's pulse and blood pressure monitored as he hears the opening cartoonish circus march. What a great moment in the history of music.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
CARS, STARS and CZARS
CARS
I know you've been all sitting and waiting for John's big early season Nascar review. Well here it is. It's all about Jeff Gordon. This guy just won't go away. Year after year after year goes by and Jeff is always hanging around. He has been amongst the leaders during nearly every lap of every race this year. Sooner or later (and I think it's sooner), all Nascar fans....even Gordon haters, are going to realize that this is the Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty of our time. I think the problem is that the 37 year old Gordon still looks like he's about 25. I'll say this.....I'm not sure how much race car drivers should be considered athletes, and I'm not sure it's important that they be labeled such. But I will say this about them. There is no other sports that requires a person has to hold so incredibly high a level of concentration over a sustained period of time. Other than a 4-5 hour tennis match I can't imagine anything quite as mentally grueling as driving for 4-5 hours at high speeds with your life potentially on the line at every moment. Yeah...ok golfers......yes, you have to concentrate for 4 hours....and there is the potential of a lightning strike I guess........
STARS
Hollywood star Sean Penn should have never won an Academy Award for Mystic River. How dare the academy award him such a high honor for that role. I believe the award should be immediately revoked and given to someone else. Yes, I believe the award from that year should be given to an actor named Sean Penn for his role in 21 Grams. You see, in Mystic River, Sean Penn was basically Sean Penn. I don't believe his role in that film was a stretch at all for him. I believe 21 Grahms was a much more intense and dramatic film and Penn was surrounded by fantastic performance by Naomi Watts and Benico del Toro. The addition of these actors brought Penn's own acting up to another level. 21 Grams flew under the radar as another one of those "sort of" independent films. The movie is absolutely gripping. I don't write these reviews to give you info on specifics of the story but this was my favority movie in the year that Penn won for Mystic River. Rent 21 Grams!!!!!
Czars
Gonna go Russian on you once more as I'm winding down my Stravinsky kick. If you want some fascinating listening try the Prokofiev Piano Concerti. One on three are quite thrilling and if you're a big fan of virtuosic piano writing and fantastic and colorful orchestration you've got to listen to these works....better yet, go see and listen live. For those non-musicians....and I know you're out there...Prokofiev wrote "Peter and the Wolf". So while you may think of him as a classical one hit wonder, we in the "industry" (I always wanted to use that in terms of the classical music world)......know that he has actually written far more significant pieces. Oh, and for those of you that don't live in Los Angeles, be sure that you utter the words "I'm in the Industry" any time you go out or get a drink at a bar out here. It is a completely arbitrary bullshit statement that will allow you to shine brightly in the eyes of money hungry and fame questing hallucinogenic freaks. Oh, and by the way...I forgot to mention that I do intend to use vulgar profanity when I feel the need to get my point across. Have a nice day :)
I know you've been all sitting and waiting for John's big early season Nascar review. Well here it is. It's all about Jeff Gordon. This guy just won't go away. Year after year after year goes by and Jeff is always hanging around. He has been amongst the leaders during nearly every lap of every race this year. Sooner or later (and I think it's sooner), all Nascar fans....even Gordon haters, are going to realize that this is the Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty of our time. I think the problem is that the 37 year old Gordon still looks like he's about 25. I'll say this.....I'm not sure how much race car drivers should be considered athletes, and I'm not sure it's important that they be labeled such. But I will say this about them. There is no other sports that requires a person has to hold so incredibly high a level of concentration over a sustained period of time. Other than a 4-5 hour tennis match I can't imagine anything quite as mentally grueling as driving for 4-5 hours at high speeds with your life potentially on the line at every moment. Yeah...ok golfers......yes, you have to concentrate for 4 hours....and there is the potential of a lightning strike I guess........
STARS
Hollywood star Sean Penn should have never won an Academy Award for Mystic River. How dare the academy award him such a high honor for that role. I believe the award should be immediately revoked and given to someone else. Yes, I believe the award from that year should be given to an actor named Sean Penn for his role in 21 Grams. You see, in Mystic River, Sean Penn was basically Sean Penn. I don't believe his role in that film was a stretch at all for him. I believe 21 Grahms was a much more intense and dramatic film and Penn was surrounded by fantastic performance by Naomi Watts and Benico del Toro. The addition of these actors brought Penn's own acting up to another level. 21 Grams flew under the radar as another one of those "sort of" independent films. The movie is absolutely gripping. I don't write these reviews to give you info on specifics of the story but this was my favority movie in the year that Penn won for Mystic River. Rent 21 Grams!!!!!
Czars
Gonna go Russian on you once more as I'm winding down my Stravinsky kick. If you want some fascinating listening try the Prokofiev Piano Concerti. One on three are quite thrilling and if you're a big fan of virtuosic piano writing and fantastic and colorful orchestration you've got to listen to these works....better yet, go see and listen live. For those non-musicians....and I know you're out there...Prokofiev wrote "Peter and the Wolf". So while you may think of him as a classical one hit wonder, we in the "industry" (I always wanted to use that in terms of the classical music world)......know that he has actually written far more significant pieces. Oh, and for those of you that don't live in Los Angeles, be sure that you utter the words "I'm in the Industry" any time you go out or get a drink at a bar out here. It is a completely arbitrary bullshit statement that will allow you to shine brightly in the eyes of money hungry and fame questing hallucinogenic freaks. Oh, and by the way...I forgot to mention that I do intend to use vulgar profanity when I feel the need to get my point across. Have a nice day :)
Saturday, March 7, 2009
LET ME MAKE THIS SHORT
The Netherlands? The Netherlands?
Wait , hold on…so the Dominican Republic has a combined payroll of hundreds of millions in player salaries from those currently involved in playing Major League Baseball. The Netherlands has a grand total of zero in salary dollars currently in the major leagues. Wouldn’t you know it – the Netherlands beat the Dominican Republic today in that wacky off season World Baseball Classic. It’s becoming more fascinating by the minute. Ummm…nothing else on that, except that money can’t buy you victories. Oh, and yes, for all you Yankee haters - I’m still a NY Yankee fan. Must I always remind you that Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Petite, Jorge Posada, Robinson Cano, Melkey Cabrera, Joba Chamberlain (must I go on…really?) are all products of the Yankees only minor league farm system. So get off my case when I decide to shell out a few bucks to fill in a few roster spots.
RUN FORREST RUN
So me and my boy interrupted our viewing of the big Baseball Classic while routing for Italy (can you believe they have a team?), and caught the beginning of Forrest Gump and kept it on the whole time. First time I've seen the movie all the way through. I'll say this much....all in all an OK history lesson and a unique way to put a movie together. Hanks as usual is quite good and it's another music that causes you to think about what's important in life. I'd recommend it - was a nice way to spend Saturday afternoon before the big concert day.
ELECTRICITY
So Sunday I'll conduct my youth orchestra in the beautiful Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles. There will be so many relatives and friends of these kids in attendance. We've given out 1400 tickets and I expect the crowd to be close to 2,000 in a 2,400 seat hall. I believe the performance will be electrifying. Does anyone have any idea how hard it is to get a bunch of teenagers to play with intensity and electricity? It takes a lot of rehearsal time and a lot of coaxing. In my pre-game speech tomorrow I will be telling them to play like it's game 7 of the world series......use your intelligence, channel your emotion, and give the people what they want. By the way - I'm too tired to edit tonight so sorry if there are some typos. Catch ya later.
Wait , hold on…so the Dominican Republic has a combined payroll of hundreds of millions in player salaries from those currently involved in playing Major League Baseball. The Netherlands has a grand total of zero in salary dollars currently in the major leagues. Wouldn’t you know it – the Netherlands beat the Dominican Republic today in that wacky off season World Baseball Classic. It’s becoming more fascinating by the minute. Ummm…nothing else on that, except that money can’t buy you victories. Oh, and yes, for all you Yankee haters - I’m still a NY Yankee fan. Must I always remind you that Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Petite, Jorge Posada, Robinson Cano, Melkey Cabrera, Joba Chamberlain (must I go on…really?) are all products of the Yankees only minor league farm system. So get off my case when I decide to shell out a few bucks to fill in a few roster spots.
RUN FORREST RUN
So me and my boy interrupted our viewing of the big Baseball Classic while routing for Italy (can you believe they have a team?), and caught the beginning of Forrest Gump and kept it on the whole time. First time I've seen the movie all the way through. I'll say this much....all in all an OK history lesson and a unique way to put a movie together. Hanks as usual is quite good and it's another music that causes you to think about what's important in life. I'd recommend it - was a nice way to spend Saturday afternoon before the big concert day.
ELECTRICITY
So Sunday I'll conduct my youth orchestra in the beautiful Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles. There will be so many relatives and friends of these kids in attendance. We've given out 1400 tickets and I expect the crowd to be close to 2,000 in a 2,400 seat hall. I believe the performance will be electrifying. Does anyone have any idea how hard it is to get a bunch of teenagers to play with intensity and electricity? It takes a lot of rehearsal time and a lot of coaxing. In my pre-game speech tomorrow I will be telling them to play like it's game 7 of the world series......use your intelligence, channel your emotion, and give the people what they want. By the way - I'm too tired to edit tonight so sorry if there are some typos. Catch ya later.
Friday, March 6, 2009
REMEMBER THE PAST ? ? ?
RACISM IN BASEBALL
So I'm sitting here watching Chinese Tapei vs. China in the World Baseball Classic. I find it just as interesting and just as polished a style of baseball as anything in the U.S. Is there anyone at all out there who can tell me why it took until about five years ago for Asian players to work their way onto major league baseball rosters? I suggest it's extreme racism on the part of U.S. owners and agents. Japan has been so big in baseball for so long, yet for years, we as baseball fans heard "they're too small", "their stadiums are smaller"...."they won't adapt to American game". Are you kidding me? Really? I could be wrong but nearly all Asian players that have entered the majors in the past 5 years have been all-star caliber. I know you may so..."well, those are the best that we're getting". Well I guess this is my point...and it will continue to be my point until the U.S. can handily beat the crap out of every other team in the world: We're not the best baseball country in the world. All you need to do is understand the game and watch the world baseball classic to learn what teamwork really means in terms of playing winning baseball. American sports has patented the "do what's best for me" attitude and that shows when we send our best baseball stars out to play the world.
FIELD OF DREAMS
Even if you're not a big baseball fan, Field of Dreams is a beautifully done movie with some good acting by a younger Kevin Costner, young Ray Liota and always entertaining James Earl Jones. If you DO know the story of Shoeless Joe Jackson, the movie can really touch a special chord, as questions of "what if" pervade through the story of Shoeless Joe's career and through life itself and what others mean to us. I suppose at this point in time, or even back then, this movie would be termed a chick flick of sorts, albeit a sports chick flick. Nevertheless, if you just want to chill out, sit back, relax and enjoy without having to get to wound up in an intense action drama, Field of Dreams is nicely shot movie for all ages.
HOW IS IT POSSIBLE.................
to connect "Field of Dreams" and a baseball blog with music. Absolutely impossible...I've finally hit in snag.......oh....wait. Field of Dreams took place in Iowa. Hmmm....didn't Anton Dvorak have a home in Iowa? HELL YEAH!!!! I've done it again.....BOOO YA. Anton Dvorak spent the summer of 1893 in Spillville, Iowa just after completing writing his "New World Symphony" in New York that winter. In addition, he was drafted in the 3rd round of the Major League Baseball draft by the newly formed Boston Red Stockings. OK - now I'm kidding. But he did spend that summer in Iowa. Although his "New World" is one of the greatest and most popular of symphonies you can go ahead and pick up Symphonies number 7 and 8 on recording. Complete diverse in character, one field with drama and the other with utter beauty for life. If you get the chance to see either of these two or the New World in live performance you will not be disappointed.
So I'm sitting here watching Chinese Tapei vs. China in the World Baseball Classic. I find it just as interesting and just as polished a style of baseball as anything in the U.S. Is there anyone at all out there who can tell me why it took until about five years ago for Asian players to work their way onto major league baseball rosters? I suggest it's extreme racism on the part of U.S. owners and agents. Japan has been so big in baseball for so long, yet for years, we as baseball fans heard "they're too small", "their stadiums are smaller"...."they won't adapt to American game". Are you kidding me? Really? I could be wrong but nearly all Asian players that have entered the majors in the past 5 years have been all-star caliber. I know you may so..."well, those are the best that we're getting". Well I guess this is my point...and it will continue to be my point until the U.S. can handily beat the crap out of every other team in the world: We're not the best baseball country in the world. All you need to do is understand the game and watch the world baseball classic to learn what teamwork really means in terms of playing winning baseball. American sports has patented the "do what's best for me" attitude and that shows when we send our best baseball stars out to play the world.
FIELD OF DREAMS
Even if you're not a big baseball fan, Field of Dreams is a beautifully done movie with some good acting by a younger Kevin Costner, young Ray Liota and always entertaining James Earl Jones. If you DO know the story of Shoeless Joe Jackson, the movie can really touch a special chord, as questions of "what if" pervade through the story of Shoeless Joe's career and through life itself and what others mean to us. I suppose at this point in time, or even back then, this movie would be termed a chick flick of sorts, albeit a sports chick flick. Nevertheless, if you just want to chill out, sit back, relax and enjoy without having to get to wound up in an intense action drama, Field of Dreams is nicely shot movie for all ages.
HOW IS IT POSSIBLE.................
to connect "Field of Dreams" and a baseball blog with music. Absolutely impossible...I've finally hit in snag.......oh....wait. Field of Dreams took place in Iowa. Hmmm....didn't Anton Dvorak have a home in Iowa? HELL YEAH!!!! I've done it again.....BOOO YA. Anton Dvorak spent the summer of 1893 in Spillville, Iowa just after completing writing his "New World Symphony" in New York that winter. In addition, he was drafted in the 3rd round of the Major League Baseball draft by the newly formed Boston Red Stockings. OK - now I'm kidding. But he did spend that summer in Iowa. Although his "New World" is one of the greatest and most popular of symphonies you can go ahead and pick up Symphonies number 7 and 8 on recording. Complete diverse in character, one field with drama and the other with utter beauty for life. If you get the chance to see either of these two or the New World in live performance you will not be disappointed.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
INFLUENTIAL BEHAVIOR
WOW - SLOW SPORTS DAY
Really?!?!!....I just noticed that the top 3 sports stories of the day all had to do with players signing multi-zillion dollar contracts. Perfect timing...hard economic times and we should feel great that Manny finally has his 45 million dollars for 2 years. I was thinking it would be nice to sit down with my agent and ink out a 5 year, 1 million dollar contract myself. That's all I want. I don't need more. But if I perform well I may want to re-negotiate after a few years. If the university doesn't like my offer, I'll be accepting offers from other schools. How's that? Multi year deals!! Bonuses!!!! I guess that's the price I pay for being in this profession. The good news...Manny is peaking in his 30's. I'll peak in my profession just before I drop - remember that I have genes that won't allow me to live past 70. But that's still ok. At least I won't have to talk about how great my career was once I'm 45. ooohhh....that's coming up a bit too soon
MAD HOT BALLROOM
Independent film - flew completely under the radar two years ago. This is a fantastic documentary about a ballroom dance program in the New York City Public School system. I know - sounds goofy .....not when you see the kids that get involved in this program. Evidently it was the second largest grossing documentary that year - second to March of the Penguins. The film follows individuals and groups of students at three different schools and inspires us to see what can happen when teachers really care about kids as individuals. I could not recommend it more highly. GREAT film.
FIREBIRD
I thought that my blog didn't connect for the first time but actually Mad Hot Ballroom has to do with the importance of teaching others and giving them role models (just like Manny and his big contract)....and well..the Firebird - it's a ballet!!!!! So I'm walking my little girl to art the other day and she said out of the blue "Daddy, I really like Firebird". I said, "How do you know Firebird?" (wrong question by dad) "Uh...dad....I was at your concert when you did it last week". So there it is...my daughter, who sketches art through most of my programs and pretends not to pay attention remembered that piece. And now today in the car, my boy gets in and I crank the Chicago Symphony playing Firebird. He immediately noticed differences in instrumentation from the version we're playing with my youth orchestra which he is a part of. We're doing the 1919 version and the recording was the later version with some re-orchestration. I kept trying to shut it off but he wouldn't let me...."no, I want to hear more..I want to hear more....uh......dad, we can't do that part that slow...we have to do it fast just like you conduct it". First time he ever slapped my hand away when trying to turn off a recording. I guess how we influence kids may happen at moments when we just don't realize it.
Really?!?!!....I just noticed that the top 3 sports stories of the day all had to do with players signing multi-zillion dollar contracts. Perfect timing...hard economic times and we should feel great that Manny finally has his 45 million dollars for 2 years. I was thinking it would be nice to sit down with my agent and ink out a 5 year, 1 million dollar contract myself. That's all I want. I don't need more. But if I perform well I may want to re-negotiate after a few years. If the university doesn't like my offer, I'll be accepting offers from other schools. How's that? Multi year deals!! Bonuses!!!! I guess that's the price I pay for being in this profession. The good news...Manny is peaking in his 30's. I'll peak in my profession just before I drop - remember that I have genes that won't allow me to live past 70. But that's still ok. At least I won't have to talk about how great my career was once I'm 45. ooohhh....that's coming up a bit too soon
MAD HOT BALLROOM
Independent film - flew completely under the radar two years ago. This is a fantastic documentary about a ballroom dance program in the New York City Public School system. I know - sounds goofy .....not when you see the kids that get involved in this program. Evidently it was the second largest grossing documentary that year - second to March of the Penguins. The film follows individuals and groups of students at three different schools and inspires us to see what can happen when teachers really care about kids as individuals. I could not recommend it more highly. GREAT film.
FIREBIRD
I thought that my blog didn't connect for the first time but actually Mad Hot Ballroom has to do with the importance of teaching others and giving them role models (just like Manny and his big contract)....and well..the Firebird - it's a ballet!!!!! So I'm walking my little girl to art the other day and she said out of the blue "Daddy, I really like Firebird". I said, "How do you know Firebird?" (wrong question by dad) "Uh...dad....I was at your concert when you did it last week". So there it is...my daughter, who sketches art through most of my programs and pretends not to pay attention remembered that piece. And now today in the car, my boy gets in and I crank the Chicago Symphony playing Firebird. He immediately noticed differences in instrumentation from the version we're playing with my youth orchestra which he is a part of. We're doing the 1919 version and the recording was the later version with some re-orchestration. I kept trying to shut it off but he wouldn't let me...."no, I want to hear more..I want to hear more....uh......dad, we can't do that part that slow...we have to do it fast just like you conduct it". First time he ever slapped my hand away when trying to turn off a recording. I guess how we influence kids may happen at moments when we just don't realize it.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
BREAKING NEWS
IT'S ALL ABOUT FOOTBALL
There, I wrote it. "Breaking News". I'm just going to write that every day. I mean, come on...the news stations use it for every single story whether it happened last week an hour ago or now. So here is my breaking sports news for the day. I'm sort of in a bad place on these next statements. I'm caught in the middle. First off, I think it's awful that a boat capsized off the Florida Coast and three professional football players (or 2 plus a college player) are still missing after 3-4 days. I'm happy that they found the fourth person alive. The coastguard is pretty sure the others could not have survived in those waters this long. I just wonder how often things like this happen with every day citizens (i.e. - no athletes). I also wonder why some national news stations including CNN have been covering the story all day long. It has always been a media problem. The lives of these athletes are significantly more important than the lives of everyone else who has died in a tragedy in the past week. Here is the pecking order for news coverage of these kinds of tragedies: 1 - Famous People including world leaders, actors, rock musicians (not classical or jazz), 2 - Athletes who are not quite famous but are athletes nonetheless, 3 - Illegal aliens trying to get into our county but drowned at sea, 4 - Regular people. That's the pecking order for news coverage. Cool, huh?
CAST AWAY
Again - a smooth transition even if I do say so myself. I don't remember many moments in the history of cinema where a single person was required to be on the screen....all by themselves for over an hour. That takes some serious balls. I'm not sure it's Tom Hanks greatest performance, I think he was fantastic in "Philadelphia" and some others but it is certainly a testament to his skills as an actor. He may not be an actor that easily transforms himself - you can always tell it's Tom Hanks. But, he does have a special skill at shifting emotion and having an audience feel what he feels. Through his acting you being to feel his frustration at every turn. So as much as I hate to recommend during the tragedy covered in paragraph one, I do think it is worth watching.
FOUR SEA INTERLUDES FROM PETER GRIMES
Wow - this really does work when I just rattle things off the top of my head. I will make this one brief for those of you non-musicians and musicians alike. There is an opera called "Peter Grimes". The opera is by Benjamin Britten. There are CD's available that include 4 Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes plus Britten's fabulous "Young Person's Guide to the Orchestras". The Young Person's Guide is great for adults and children to learn instruments of the orchestras and their sounds and characteristics. The Sea Interludes are simply some of the greatest moments in orchestra writing. These are some of my personal favorites of all time. Oh and yes...in the very dark opera there seems to be a problem with Mr. Grimes boy apprentices disappearing at sea but that's a whole other blog.
There, I wrote it. "Breaking News". I'm just going to write that every day. I mean, come on...the news stations use it for every single story whether it happened last week an hour ago or now. So here is my breaking sports news for the day. I'm sort of in a bad place on these next statements. I'm caught in the middle. First off, I think it's awful that a boat capsized off the Florida Coast and three professional football players (or 2 plus a college player) are still missing after 3-4 days. I'm happy that they found the fourth person alive. The coastguard is pretty sure the others could not have survived in those waters this long. I just wonder how often things like this happen with every day citizens (i.e. - no athletes). I also wonder why some national news stations including CNN have been covering the story all day long. It has always been a media problem. The lives of these athletes are significantly more important than the lives of everyone else who has died in a tragedy in the past week. Here is the pecking order for news coverage of these kinds of tragedies: 1 - Famous People including world leaders, actors, rock musicians (not classical or jazz), 2 - Athletes who are not quite famous but are athletes nonetheless, 3 - Illegal aliens trying to get into our county but drowned at sea, 4 - Regular people. That's the pecking order for news coverage. Cool, huh?
CAST AWAY
Again - a smooth transition even if I do say so myself. I don't remember many moments in the history of cinema where a single person was required to be on the screen....all by themselves for over an hour. That takes some serious balls. I'm not sure it's Tom Hanks greatest performance, I think he was fantastic in "Philadelphia" and some others but it is certainly a testament to his skills as an actor. He may not be an actor that easily transforms himself - you can always tell it's Tom Hanks. But, he does have a special skill at shifting emotion and having an audience feel what he feels. Through his acting you being to feel his frustration at every turn. So as much as I hate to recommend during the tragedy covered in paragraph one, I do think it is worth watching.
FOUR SEA INTERLUDES FROM PETER GRIMES
Wow - this really does work when I just rattle things off the top of my head. I will make this one brief for those of you non-musicians and musicians alike. There is an opera called "Peter Grimes". The opera is by Benjamin Britten. There are CD's available that include 4 Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes plus Britten's fabulous "Young Person's Guide to the Orchestras". The Young Person's Guide is great for adults and children to learn instruments of the orchestras and their sounds and characteristics. The Sea Interludes are simply some of the greatest moments in orchestra writing. These are some of my personal favorites of all time. Oh and yes...in the very dark opera there seems to be a problem with Mr. Grimes boy apprentices disappearing at sea but that's a whole other blog.
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