Thursday, February 18th
alone
Helene Vogelsinger (electronics), “Cognitive Dissonance,” published 12/4/19
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
music clip of the day
jazz/blues/rock/classical/gospel/more
Category: hard-to-peg
2021
Tuesday, February 16th
sounds of Paris
Toru Takemitsu (1930-1996), And then I knew ’twas Wind (1992); Ensemble Intercontemporain, live, Paris, 2017
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lagniappe
random sights
this morning, Oak Park, Ill.
*****
reading table
Like Rain it sounded till it curved
And then we knew “twas Wind –
It walked as wet as any Wave
But swept as dry as Sand –—Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), from 276 (Franklin)
2021
Monday, February 15th
Why not begin the week with one of the most beautiful—and moving—pieces I know?
Morton Feldman (1927-1986, MCOTD Hall of Fame), Rothko Chapel (1971); Markus Creed (cond.), SWR Vokalensemble (Vocal Ensemble), et al., live, Germany (Cathedral of Speyer, Schwetzinger), 2017
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lagniappe
art beat: yesterday, Art Institute of Chicago
Mark Rothko (1903-1970), No. 2 (Blue, Red and Green) (Yellow, Red, Blue on Blue), 1953 (detail)
2021
Friday, February 12th
what’s new
Melanie Charles, live (“Damballa Wedo,” “Deep River,” “The Dilemma”), New York, published 2/4/21
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
2021
Thursday, February 11th
sounds of Paris
Edgard Varèse (1883-1965), Ionisation (1931); Ensemble Intercontemporain (Susanna Mälkki, direction), live, Paris, 2012
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Chicago
*****
reading table
In the mountain’s shadow
my grass hut’s
so cold
I’ll be up burning firewood
all night long—Ryokan (1758-1831), translated from Japanese by Burton Watson
2021
Monday, February 8th
Why not start the week with something small, quiet, beautiful?
Patricia Brennan (vibraphone), “Solar” (P. Brennan), live (studio), New York, 2018
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Chicago
*****
reading table
Only thing
the thief left behind—
moon in my window.—Ryokan (1758-1831), translated from Japanese by Kazuaki Tanahashi
2021
Friday, February 5th
what’s new
Lous and the Yakuza, live, Paris, published 1/27/2021
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
*****
reading table
The problem with being alone is that one never is: you’ve always got yourself to contend with.
—Alex Clark, Times Literary Supplement (“A singular traveller: Patricia Highsmith at 100”), 1/22/21
2021
Wednesday, February 3rd
alone
Brad Mehldau (piano), live, Amsterdam, 12/3/20*
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
*****
*Program:
Excerpts from the album Suite: April 2020:
I. waking up
II. stepping outside
III. keeping distance
IV. stopping, listening: hearing
V. remembering before all this
Satellite (J. Coltrane)
Here’s That Rainy Day ( J. Van Heusen, J. Burke)
2021
Tuesday, February 2nd
passings
SOPHIE, musician, producer, singer, songwriter, September 17, 1986–January 30, 2021
“Immaterial” (S. Exeon), 2018
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
2021
Monday, February 1st
Why not begin the week with something beautiful?
John Cage (1912-1992), In a Landscape (1948); Stephen Drury (piano), 1994
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
*****
reading table
No one home.
Fallen pine needles
scattered at the door.—Ryokan (1758-1831), translated from Japanese by Kazuaki Tanahashi
music clip of the day 