Want to feel small? Watch this. Don't worry. You'll feel big again when it's over.
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Monday, July 17, 2006
Tikhon Khrennikov and Dimitri Shostakovich
A great piece in The Guardian about Soviet artists, and Shostakovich in particular, under Stalin's rule. Based on an interview with Tikhon Khrennikov, head of the union of soviet composers, it also includes a brief interview with Shostakovich's widow.
It includes this classic example of Shostakovich being "sorry".
"I thank you comrade chairman ... I thought I had succeeded in developing a personal idiom that adhered to the wise demands of the Soviet people ... I now see I was mistaken and have underestimated my need for artistic correction. I acknowledge the rightness of the party's judgment. I shall work on the musical depiction of the heroic Soviet peoples, from the correct ideological standpoint. Equipped with the guidance of the Central Committee, I shall renew my efforts to create really good songs for collective singing."
So, was Khrennikov an enemy or a friend? He says he helped the composers and implies that someone else in his position would have been much worse for them. Still, it's seems obvious that he enjoyed the power that came with his post. The world is a complicated place, I suppose.
Here's the link.
Guardian Unlimited Arts | Arts features | The secret rebel
It includes this classic example of Shostakovich being "sorry".
"I thank you comrade chairman ... I thought I had succeeded in developing a personal idiom that adhered to the wise demands of the Soviet people ... I now see I was mistaken and have underestimated my need for artistic correction. I acknowledge the rightness of the party's judgment. I shall work on the musical depiction of the heroic Soviet peoples, from the correct ideological standpoint. Equipped with the guidance of the Central Committee, I shall renew my efforts to create really good songs for collective singing."
So, was Khrennikov an enemy or a friend? He says he helped the composers and implies that someone else in his position would have been much worse for them. Still, it's seems obvious that he enjoyed the power that came with his post. The world is a complicated place, I suppose.
Here's the link.
Guardian Unlimited Arts | Arts features | The secret rebel
Thursday, July 13, 2006
New House
We're finally in the new place. For those of you that just can't wait any longer, here are some pics of our new backyard.
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Giant Steps by Michal Levy
I've seen this somewhere before, but I can't remember where. Anyway, now it's available at the link below. Really cool stuff.
Giant Steps by Michal Levy
Giant Steps by Michal Levy
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Clifford Brown
A nice remembrance of Clifford Brown in the Guardian.
Guardian Unlimited Arts | | Byron of the jazz trumpet
Rollins said of him: "Clifford was a profound influence on my personal life. He showed me that it was possible to live a good, clean life and still be a good jazz musician." Roach described him as "one of the rare complete individuals ever born ... a sweet, beautiful [person]".
Clifford Brown - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Guardian Unlimited Arts | | Byron of the jazz trumpet
Rollins said of him: "Clifford was a profound influence on my personal life. He showed me that it was possible to live a good, clean life and still be a good jazz musician." Roach described him as "one of the rare complete individuals ever born ... a sweet, beautiful [person]".
Clifford Brown - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
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