old school
Mighty Clouds of Joy, “I’ve Been in the Storm Too Long,” live, Chicago, 1990
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lagniappe
reading table
There comes an hour when begging stops,
When the long interceding lips
Perceive their prayer is vain.
‘Thou shalt not’ is a kinder sword
Than from a disappointing God
‘Disciple, call again.’—Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), #1768 (Franklin)
*****
art beat
Danny Lyon (1942-), Colombia, 1972
back to church
Hymn Choir of Langrum Branch Baptist Church (York, S.C.), “Calvary,” live, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, McConnells, S.C., 2010
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lagniappe
reading table
The Blood is more showy than the Breath
But cannot dance as well——Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), #1558 (Franklin)
Back to Brooklyn.
Trio Caveat (James Ilgenfritz, bass; Chris Welcome, guitar; Jonathan Moritz, saxophone) with Mat Maneri (viola), live, New York (Barbes), 2012
#1
***
#2
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lagniappe
musical thoughts
Too much music suffers from too little mystery.
*****
reading table
[T]hose who know her [nature], know her less / The nearer her they get.
—Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), #1433 (Franklin)
only rock ‘n’ roll
Patti Smith, live, England (Glastonbury Festival), 6/28/15
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lagniappe
art beat
Robert Frank (1924-), from The Lines of My Hand (1972)
*****
reading table
I have no Life but this
—Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), #1432 (Franklin)
Morton Feldman (1926-1987), Rothko Chapel (1971); Seattle Modern Orchestra (with Julia Tai, conductor; Melia Watras, viola; Stephen Olsen, celesta; Brian Yarkovsky, percussion; Sarah Marroquin, soprano), live, Seattle, 2012
Today Morton Feldman enters the MCOTD Hall of Fame, joining saxophonists Von Freeman and Henry Threadgill, trumpeter Lester Bowie, poets William Bronk and Wislawa Szymborska, photographer Helen Levitt, and gospel singer Dorothy Love Coates.
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lagniappe
reading table
This performance reminds me at times of Emily Dickinson:
The Stillness in the Room
Was like the Stillness in the Air—
Between the Heaves of Storm——No. 591 (Johnson), “I heard a Fly buzz”
*****
art beat: yesterday at the Art Institute of Chicago
Jean-Luc Mylayne (1946-), No. 560, 2008 (Mutual Regard, through August 23rd)
Of sounds there is no end.
Harry Bertoia (1915-1978), sound sculptures, Bally, Pennsylvania
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lagniappe
reading table
I found a bird this morning, down—down—on a little bush at the foot of the garden, and wherefore sing, I said, since nobody hears?
One sob in the throat, one flutter of bosom—’My business is to sing‘—and away she rose!
—Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), letter to Dr. and Mrs. J. G. Holland, c. 1862
With all he does, this can get lost: on guitar, he’s a killer.
Cee Lo Green, “Crazy,” live (with Prince, guitar), New York, 2011
***
Stevie Wonder, “Superstition,” live (with Prince, guitar), Paris, 2010
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lagniappe
reading table
I am alive—I guess—
—Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), #605 (Franklin), first line
angels
Marion Williams and the Stars of Faith, “Mean Old World,” live, Netherlands (Utrecht), 1962
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lagniappe
art beat: more from Friday at the Art Institute of Chicago
Joseph Cornell (1903-1972), Untitled (Forgotten Game), c. 1949
*****
reading table
Superiority to Fate
Is difficult to gain
‘Tis not conferred of any
But possible to earnA pittance at a time
Until to Her surprise
The Soul with strict economy
Subsist till Paradise.—Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), #1043 (Franklin)
back to church
“Heavenly Home (Got to Take a Journey),” live, Langrun Branch Baptist Church, York, South Carolina
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lagniappe
reading table
I died for Beauty — but was scarce
Adjusted in the Tomb
When One who died for Truth, was lain
In an adjoining room —He questioned softly “Why I failed?”
“For Beauty,” I replied —
“And I — for Truth — Themself are One —
We Brethren, are,” He said —And so, as Kinsmen, met a Night —
We talked between the Rooms —
Until the Moss had reached our lips —
And covered up — our names ——Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)
sounds of New York (day three)
If this life of ours isn’t easy, why should our music be?
Alex Mincek (1975-), String Quartet No. 3; Mivos Quartet, live, New York, 2013
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lagniappe
reading table
By Emily Dickinson (1830-1886; Franklin 384)
It dont sound so terrible—quite—as it did—
I run it over—”Dead”, Brain—”Dead”.
Put it in Latin—left of my school—
Seems it don’t shriek so—under rule.Turn it, a little—full in the face
A Trouble looks bitterest—
Shift it—just—
Say “When Tomorrow comes this way—
I shall have waded down one Day” .I suppose it will interrupt me some
Till I get accustomed—but then the Tomb
Like other new Things—shows largest—then—
And smaller, by Habit—It’s shrewder then
Put the Thought in advance—a Year—
How like “a fit”—then—
Murder—wear!
music clip of the day 