Today is Martin Luther King Day in America. Given that, I believe it’s a good time to remind myself of Dr. King’s wisdom: Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time: the need for man to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence. Man must evolve … [Read more…]
This morning’s conductor of Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7 in E Major (WAB 107) is Soviet-born Israeli Yuri Ahronovitch (1932-2002). The orchestra is Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne. I’ve been listening to Bruckner’s symphonies for nearly 100 days (that’s over three months in people years), and this is the first time those names have come up. Also, … [Read more…]
Today is the last time I’ll listen to Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 6 in A Major – at least, for the time being. Tomorrow, I start back at the beginning of my Bruckner cycle…with Daniel Barenboim – only this time with Symphony No. 7. But that’s tomorrow. Today is German-born Gunter Wand (1912-2002). The orchestra … [Read more…]
Happy New Year! This morning’s conductor of Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 6 in A Major (WAB 106) is Vienna-born Roberto Paternostro (1957?-), another person about whom I knew nothing and of whom I had never heard until I started this project. And, truth be told, I still know very little about him since there’s scant … [Read more…]
My “office” this morning, the local grocery store with a cafeteria and free wifi. Time is 8:04am. I’ve been here since 7am. One of the things I love to do is watch the sun come up. When I do so, I feel all conspiratorial and industrious, like I’m doing something sly by being out here … [Read more…]
This morning’s conductor of Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 6 in A Major (WAB 106) is Dutch conductor Bernard Haitink (1929-). The orchestra is Staatskapelle Dresden. I first encountered Maestro Haitink on Day 5 (Symphony No. 1) of my 144-day project. Then again on Day 21 (Symphony No. 2). And again on Day 37 (Symphony No. … [Read more…]
Today is the last day for me to listen to Bruckner’s Fifth. Tomorrow starts a brand new symphony, Bruckner’s Sixth. But that’s tomorrow. This morning’s conductor of Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 5 in B-Flat Major (WAB 105) – nicknamed “Tragic,” “Church of Faith,” or “Pizzicato” symphony (for reasons I’m still discovering) – is German-born Gunter … [Read more…]
My “office” this morning (at least for the first 2-3 hours of the day) is, once again, Baker Book House – the largest bookstore in the Midwest, server of delicious coffee, maker of scones so delectable you’d swear they were not scones at all; rather, French pastry, and keeper of hours from 7am to 11pm, … [Read more…]
My “office” this morning is one of the many Panera restaurants in town. For the record, I dislike Panera immensely. I think their service is terrible, their food is mediocre, and their music is loud and obnoxious. Yet, they’re nearly the only game in town at 6am. So, this is where I often find myself. … [Read more…]
Before I type a word about my project this morning, I need to express my sorrow at the passing of Greg Lake, the “L” of ELP, and one of the founding members of King Crimson. I interviewed Greg at length via phone in the mid to late 1990s. I met him in London, and then … [Read more…]