Thursday, November 21st
One-word review: Wow!
Alfred Schnittke (1934-1998), String Quartet No. 3, 1st movt.; Danish String Quartet, live (studio), Seattle, 2015
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Chicago
music clip of the day
jazz/blues/rock/classical/gospel/more
Category: string quartet
2019
Tuesday, November 12th
sounds of Haiti and Chicago
Nathalie Joachim (vocals, electronics) with Spektral Quartet, “Papa Loco” (trad.), live (studio), New York, published 10/29/19
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
*****
reading table
She cries. Oh no. Oh no no no.
—Eimear McBride, A Girl Is a Half-Formed Thing
2019
Thursday, October 31st
never enough
Bela Bartok (1881-1945), String Quartet No. 4 in C major (1928); Quatuor Ebène, live, France (Wissembourg), 2013
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
*****
reading table
Domestic as
an empty shopping cart
parked on a ledge
above a freeway.—Rae Armantrout (1947-), from “Hang On” (New Yorker, 10/21/19)
2019
Monday, October 21st
Why not begin the week with something new?
Nathalie Joachim (vocals, flute, electronics) with the Spektral Quartet and a Haitian children’s choir (recorded), “Suite pou Dantan: Prelid” (Fanm d’Ayiti [Women of Haiti]), 10/8/19
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
2019
Wednesday, September 4th
string quartet festival
day three
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937), String Quartet in F major (1903); Hagen Quartet, live, Austria (Salzburg), 2000
1st movt.
2nd movt.
3rd movt.
4th movt.
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lagniappe
random sights
this morning, Oak Park, Ill.
2019
Tuesday, September 3rd
string quartet festival
day two
Elliott Carter (1908-2012), String Quartet No. 5 (1995); Pacifica Quartet, live, Tokyo, 2004
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lagniappe
reading table
The book itself is sort of a perfect metaphor for a human being. It’s got a front and a back, it’s got a spine, and it’s bigger on the inside than it is on the outside.
—Chris Ware
2019
Monday, September 2nd
string quartet festival
day one
A couple years ago I heard the Chicago-based Spektral Quartet play this piece at the Museum of Contemporary Art—one of the most memorable musical experiences of my life.
Morton Feldman (1926-1987, MCOTD Hall of Fame), String Quartet No. 2 (1983); FLUX Quartet, live, London (The Tanks at Tate Modern), 2016
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lagniappe
reading table
Who has not found the Heaven – below –
Will fail of it above –
For Angels rent the House next ours,
Wherever we remove –—Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), 1609 (Franklin)
2019
Thursday, August 15th
MCOTD Hall of Fame
Morton Feldman (1926-1987, MCOTD Hall of Fame), Violin and String Quartet (1985); Pellegrini Quartet with Peter Rundel (violin)
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
2019
Monday, July 15th
Need a break from America 2019?
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), String Quartet in C major, Op. 20, No. 2; Danish String Quartet, live, New York, 2018
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lagniappe
reading table
The roaring of the wind is my wife and the Stars through the window pane are my Children.
—John Keats (1795-1821), letter to his brother George Keats, 1818
2019
Thursday, May 30th
How about something new?
Close your eyes—listen.
Tyshawn Sorey (1980-), Everything Changes, Nothing Changes (2018); JACK Quartet, live, Banff, Canada, 3/28/19
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Berwyn, Ill.
