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)
sounds of Chicago
Vernon Oliver Price, “Change My Name,” live (TV show), Chicago, 1972
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lagniappe
reading table
What function hath the Air?
—Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), from 1513 (Franklin)
Tenor saxophone and drums—another take.
Ken Vandermark (tenor saxophone), Paal Nilssen-Love (drums), live, Netherlands (Haarlem), 2014
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lagniappe
reading table
There came a Wind like a Bugle —
It quivered through the Grass
And a Green Chill upon the Heat
So ominous did pass
We barred the Windows and the Doors
As from an Emerald Ghost —
The Doom’s electric Moccasin
That very instant passed —
On a strange Mob of panting Trees
And Fences fled away
And Rivers where the Houses ran
Those looked that lived — that Day —
The Bell within the steeple wild
The flying tidings told —
How much can come
And much can go,
And yet abide the World!—Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), 1618 (Franklin)
Why not begin the week with something new?
Anna Thorvaldsdottir (1977-), Fields
International Contemporary Ensemble, 2018
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lagniappe
reading table
Wonder – is not precisely knowing
And not precisely knowing not –—Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), from 1347 (Franklin)
serendipity
This I bumped into last night. One-word review: Wow!
Jonathan Harvey (1939-2012), . . . towards a pure land (2005); Orchestre du Conservatoire de Paris, Ensemble Intercontemporain, Matthias Pintscher (direction), live, Paris, 2016
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reading table
The Earth has many keys –
—Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), from 895, draft (Franklin)
like-nobody-else x 2
Cecil Taylor Trio (CT, 1929-2018, piano; Jimmy Lyons, alto saxophone; Sunny Murray, drums) with Albert Ayler (1936-1970, tenor saxophone), “Four,” excerpt (C. Taylor), live, Copenhagen, 1962
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lagniappe
reading table
A Bomb upon the Ceiling
Is an improving thing –
It keeps the nerves progressive
Conjecture flourishing –—Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), from 1150 (Franklin)
soundtrack to a dream
Clara Iannotta (1983-), The people here go mad. They blame the wind. (2013-14); Uusinta Ensemble and Clara Iannotta (music boxes), live, Helsinki, 2018
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lagniappe
reading table
The Spirit is the Conscious Ear –
—Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), from 718 (Franklin)
music clip of the day 