alone
Kim Kashkashian (viola), “character pieces” by György Kurtág (1926-), live, Cambridge, Mass., 2018
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lagniappe
reading table
the sound of the moat
cracking . . .
winter moon—Kobayashi Issa, 1763-1827 (translated from Japanese by David G. Lanoue)
This I could listen to all day.
Morton Feldman (1926-1987, MCOTD Hall of Fame), For Philip Guston (1984); Claire Chase (flute, alto flute, piccolo), Steven Schick (percussion), Sarah Rothenberg (piano, celesta), live, Houston (Rothko Chapel), 2013
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lagniappe
random sights
today, Oak Park, Ill.
more
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), Cello Suite No. 1 in G major; Lucia Swarts (cello), live, Netherlands (Amsterdam), 2014
more
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), Cello Suite No. 6 in D major; Sergey Malov (violoncello de spalla), live, Netherlands (Amsterdam), 2016
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lagniappe
reading table
from the hole
in the moneybox . . .
a katydid—Kobayashi Issa, 1763-1827 (translated from Japanese by David G. Lanoue)
2019?
Hard to believe.
But then so much is.
Arvo Pärt (1935-), Fratres for violin, string orchestra, and percussion (1992); Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra (Sergej Krylov, soloist and conductor), live, Lithuania (Vilnius), 2018
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lagniappe
reading table
New Year’s morning—
everything is in blossom!
I feel about average.—Kobayashi Issa, 1763-1827 (translated from Japanese by Robert Hass)
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The Future is exactly the same . . .
—The Baffler, Jan.-Feb., 2019
more
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), Cello Suite No. 2 in D minor; Steuart Pincombe (cello), live, Netherlands (Amsterdam), 2018
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lagniappe
radio
WKCR’s Bach Festival, which began the day before Christmas, concludes at midnight.
*****
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
more
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), Partita No. 2 in D minor for solo violin; Bella Hristova (violin)
first four movements, live (studio), Boston, 2012
fifth movement (Chaconne), live, Philadelphia, 2013
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lagniappe
radio
WKCR’s Bach Festival (until midnight New Year’s Eve)
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musical thoughts
On one stave, for a small instrument, the man writes a whole world of the deepest thoughts and most powerful feelings. If I imagined that I could have created, even conceived the piece, I am quite certain that the excess of excitement and earth-shattering experience would have driven me out of my mind.
—Johannes Brahms (1833-1897), on Bach’s Chaconne, in a letter to Clara Schumann (translated from German)
more
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II; András Schiff (piano), live, London, 2018
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lagniappe
radio
WKCR’s Bach Festival continues through midnight New Year’s Eve.
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musical thoughts
If there is anyone who owes everything to Bach, it is God. Without Bach, God would be a third-rate character.
—Emil Cioran (1911-1995)
more
Erik Satie (1866-1925), Sonneries de la Rose+Croix (No. 2); Reinbert de Leeuw (piano), live, Netherlands (Utrecht), 2011
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lagniappe
random sights
last night, Oak Park, Ill.
music clip of the day 