basement jukebox
Irma Thomas (1941-), “Time Is on My Side” (J. Ragovoy, J. Norman), 1964
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lagniappe
reading table
Wild night – Wild nights!
Were I with thee
Wild nights should be
Our luxury!—Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), from 269 (Johnson)
sounds of New York
Ingrid Laubrock (tenor saxophone), Tom Rainey (drums), Brandon Lopez (bass), with artwork by Yuko Otomo, live (performance begins at 4:00), New York, 2/23/21
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
*****
reading table
I can wade Grief –
Whole pools of it –
I’m used to that –
But the least push of Joy
Breaks up my feet –
And I tip – drunken –
Let no Pebble – smile –
‘Twas the New Liquor –
That was All!—Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), from 312 (Franklin)
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)
2n
Daniel Carter (flute, trumpet, tenor saxophone) and Hamid Drake (percussion, voice; MCOTD Hall of Fame), live, New York, 2014
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Chicago
*****
reading table
Civilization – spurns – the Leopard!
—Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), from 276 (Franklin)
another take
“Mary Don’t You Weep” (trad.), Caravans (feat. Inez Andrews), 1958
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Chicago (Columbus Park)
*****
reading table
The Star’s whole secret – in the Lake –
Eyes were not meant to know.—Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), from 450 (Franklin)
more
Ela Minus, live (“Porch Song [by Jesse and Forever]/Jamaica”), New York, 2016
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Chicago (Columbus Park)
*****
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, 1609 (Franklin)
Happy (belated) birthday, Emily (b. December 10, 1830).
serendipity
This morning I stumbled upon this after encountering the phrase “the crowded air” in an Emily Dickinson poem (229 [Franklin], “Musicians wrestle everywhere –”) and googling it. The moment it ended, I wanted to hear it again.
Milton Babbitt (1916-2011), The Crowded Air (1988); Boston Modern Orchestra Project, 2013
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Chicago
what’s new
Andrea Bocelli (1958-, voice), Music for Hope (“Panis Angelicus” (from “Messe Solennelle” Op. 12, FWV 61), César Franck; “Ave Maria,” CG 89a (arr. from Johann Sebastian Bach, “Prelude” no. 1, BWV 846), Charles-François Gounod; “Sancta Maria” (arr. from “Cavalleria Rusticana”, Intermezzo), Pietro Mascagni; “Domine Deus” (from “Petite Messe Solennelle”), Gioachino Antonio Rossini; “Amazing Grace,” John Newton), live, Italy (Milan), 4/12/20
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
*****
reading table
“Hope” is the thing with feathers—
That perches in the soul—
And sings the tune without the words—
And never stops—at all—And sweetest—in the Gale—is heard—
And sore must be the storm—
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm—I’ve heard it in the chillest land—
And on the strangest Sea—
Yet, never, in Extremity,
It asked a crumb—of Me.—Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), 314 (Franklin)
back to church
“I Have Crossed That Separating Line,” Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, Chester, S.C., 2001
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
*****
reading table
I shall keep singing!
—Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), from 270 (Franklin)
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)
