I Found My Thrill

Antoine Dominique "Fats" Domino was born on February 26, 1928

Rock and Roll pianists are not very common in contemporary music. They're even more scarce in Rhythm and Blues. Back in the early days of our contemporary styles of popular music, in the 1950s, this wasn't the case. The dominance of the guitar was still around a decade away and the influence of Boogie-woogie piano blues was strong.

Perhaps the most iconic performer of this style of music was Fats Domino. In spite of the racial biases of the era, his musical talent brought him into the attention of mainstream popular music, helping to kick off the diverse mix of musical styles that became Rock and Roll.

And since it's his birthday, let's celebrate by listening to some of his songs.

Sublime Chance

Detail of Moonrise over the Sea (1822) by Caspar David Friedrich

Yeah, I'm a Romantic at heart.

Today we celebrate the birth date of Caspar David Friedrich, born on this date in 1774. His works have a moody darkness to them, with figures overwhelmed by the sublime beauty and grandeur of Nature. They are pensive visions.

In these landscapes, humanity seems so small, so fragile. Yet, there is a peacefulness within, an awareness of the transience of life in the face of the ancient cycles of the world. I find myself swept away into Friedrich's quiet world.

Detail of The Chasseur in the Forest (1813) by Caspar David Friedrich

And we can't pass up on celebrating the centennial of John Cage's birth. I'm really not much of a fan, but he certainly had a significant influence in the philosophy of aesthetics, from musical composition to poetic structure. I could write a vast commentary on his works, but gjuum llokdd hid, maqucf fronticly, dna kltovit ahendwei magdran. ;-)

Time for a Schubertiade

Schubertiade (1868) by Moritz von Schwind

Franz Schubert is my favorite composer. He has influenced me more than any other creative genius, in any of the arts or sciences. No works of art resonate within my mind with the potency of his music.

Why? There are too many reasons to articulate in a coherent and accessible manner, but I think it can be boiled down to two main points: Romanticism and Melody.

Schubert's Romantic style fully embraces the wandering and dark musings of the imagination. However, he maintains Classical tightness and eloquence, avoiding the overblown excesses that weigh down the work of later Romantic composers. For Schubert, all of the passion and inspiration of the Sublime can be articulated, with effectiveness and efficiency, into a tightly structured, highly melodic song

As regards melody, it is through this that the Romantic narrative is expressed. Moreover, these tales of sound and emotion have the narrative purpose at their core, as their premise. Sometimes the story is vague, simply a progression of emotion, and, sometimes, it is direct, programmatic in design. In either case, one can't listen to this music within being drawn into Schubert's narrative mindscape.

Portrait of Franz Schubert (1825) by Wilhelm August Rieder

I could go on endlessly about these two topics, as well as countless other aspects of Schubert's music. However, in celebrating his birth date, born 1797, I think it is only fitting to let his music make its own case.

Music Is a Higher Revelation

The bust of Ludwig van Beethoven inspires Schroeder's music. Lucy is unimpressed.


"What you are, you are by accident of birth; what I am, I am by myself. There are and will be a thousand princes; there is only one Beethoven."

Well, nobody can state the situation quite like Ludwig van Beethoven. ;-)

I've cut back on the classical music posts recently, since it seems very few people read them. However, I can't pass up on Beethoven's birth date without giving due celebration. He is one of my favorite composers, perhaps the most influential of them all. I never get tired of listening to his works, admiring their intensity and beauty, their drama and sublimity.

Beethoven's birth date is believed to be December 16, 1770.

I could write more about this great artist, but his works can speak for themselves.

Time Out

Dave Brubeck was born on December 6, 1920.

I can't let the day end without celebrating the birth date of jazz legend, Dave Brubeck. His music defines West Coast cool jazz, with a complex yet accessible smoothness.

When I head out to listen to live jazz at local venues, it is clear that Brubeck's influence is still going strong. There's a sense of play and mellowness, enthusiasm and placidity. The music holds an invitation to do what you wish, dance or sit back; it's all good.

The sound is vital, but laid-back; it's too cool to stomp and hop, but not too cool to have a good time. ;-)

Detail from the cover image of Time Magazine, November 1954

So, let's send a Happy Birthday to Dave Brubeck and give thanks for his wonderful music.

Gobble Gobble

Beavis and Butt-head celebrate Thanksgiving


Just popping in for a quick Happy Thanksgiving!!!

We'll be skipping the Weekly Wrap until next Thursday. Best wishes!!!

Garfield looks like he's having a wonderful day. ;-)

Here are a few vids for the day:

Only an Ornament

Sketch of Fanny Mendelssohn by Wilhelm Hensel

Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel was the older sister of the famous Romantic composer, Felix Mendelssohn, wife of the prominent court painter, Wilhelm Hensel, granddaughter of the great Jewish philosopher, Moses Mendelssohn, and the grandmother of a few notable intellectuals; the tradition of defining her in relation to prominent male relatives is a disservice to her own underappreciated genius.

Born to a respectable German Jewish family in 1805, Fanny Mendelssohn was subjected to the societal marginalization that was socially prominent toward women. In spite of her obvious musical talent, her family never allowed her to cultivate the knowledge and skill to meet her potential. While her brother was developed into one of the greatest voices of early Romantic composition, Fanny picked up her technique through self-taught trial and error as a performer.

Fortunately, her brother encouraged her compositional activities, publishing her works under his own name so as to avoid the scandal that would have ensued if the true authorship was known. When Fanny married Wilhelm Hensel, who supported her musical endeavors, she eventually began to publish under her own name.

Sketch of Fanny Mendelssohn by Wilhelm Hensel

Let's honor her birth date by listening to some beautiful music. And reflect upon the even greater music to which we cannot listen, those pieces that were never realized by Fanny because of the many social obstacles that prevented their creation, lost to the ignorance of misogyny.

Mums the Word

Chrysanthemum: Star Prize


Just because we're at mid-Autumn doesn't mean the Paideia flower shows will be letting up. We'll just be featuring a different line of beauties. And this time we're celebrating the Queen of Fall, the Golden Flower, the lovely Chrysanthemum.

The Descanso Gardens up in La Canada Flintridge were holding the 79th annual show of the local chapter of the National Chrysanthemum Society. As you can expect, nearly eight decades of showing have created a community that grows some amazing mums!!!

The variety of chrysanthemum types were well represented. Whether you like anemones or decoratives, pompons or quills, all categories were represented with glorious displays.

Chrysanthemum: Kermit

I don't often make my way up to the Descanso Gardens, requiring a five freeway trip from my place down in the South Bay. But this show was well worth the time and effort.

Danse Macabre

Dance of Death (1493) by Michael Wolgemut


October 9, 1835 is the birth date of Camille Saint-Saens.

This isn't a "Classical Music" blog, but I was thinking of sneaking in a little Spooky Sunday fun for an early October evening. One of Saint-Saens' most famous pieces is the Danse Macabre. This tone poem is based on a story in which Death appears at midnight every Halloween and summons up the dead from their graves. To the sound of Death's violin, they dance until sunrise. Then they return into the earth and wait for another year to pass so that they can enjoy another night of liberating dance.

In late medieval lore, the danse macabre was symbolic of the universality of death. Regardless of your age, wealth, social status, or personal talents, the Reaper was always at your side. Death was waiting for all mortals. And so Life was nothing but a dance on the way to the grave.

Morbid stuff!!!

Dance of the Dolls (2011) by Anthony Clarkson

But I find the imagery fascinating. Dancing is such vigorous and life-affirming activity that the combination with Death creates a transgressive thrill. Lifeless things should not be dancing. And dancers should not be dead.

Music or Mars?

John Carter of Mars and Dejah Thoris (2009) by Julie Bell and Boris Vallejo


Since I'm in a bit of a rush today, we'll compress the celebration of Edgar Rice Burroughs' birth date (1875) and Johann Pachelbel's (1653) into one post. This may become the model for future days when I'm torn between two inspirations. Since Burroughs has plenty of illustrations to depict his work, but few quality videos, he'll have the front page. Meanwhile, Pachelbel has virtually no interesting images but many, many vids. So he'll come after the jump.

Today we'll focus on images of Burroughs' Barsoom. Why? Well, there is a John Carter of Mars movie coming out later this year. Second, Dejah Thoris, princess of the Martian city-state of Helium, is the original interplanetary super-hottie. Many an illustrator has been inspired by this Martian muse. ;-)


Cover art to Edgar Rice Burroughs' Princess of Mars by Frank Frazetta (1970)


If it's Tarzan or images of the Hollow Earth land of Pellucidar that you desire, then wait until next year or so.



Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium (2010) by Frank Cho


As regards Barsoom, Princess of Mars was published as a serial in 1912 and republished as a novel in 1917. The series spans 11 books. The success of this series created the Planetary Romance subgenre of Science Fiction.

Für Elise

On this date in 1810, Ludwig van Beethoven wrote one of the most beautiful and captivating musical compositions of Western Civilization, "Für Elise". Although the piece is titled with a dedication, we don't know for certain who "Elise" was. The primary argument is that the title is is error and should actually be entitled "Für Therese". This would indicate that it was written for Therese Malfatti, a lady to whom Beethoven proposed in that same year.

Therese turned down the offer and eventually married an Austrian noble in 1816. One is tempted to make a commentary on how wealth and power are more appealing than artistry and genius, but Beethoven was certainly a difficult man. You can't really blame a young lady for rejecting the offer of a person of erratic disposition, even if he was a musical genius. Nevertheless, the music is one incredible love letter.

In any case, this seems to be an appropriate place to give my favorite Beethoven quote:

"What you are, you are by accident of birth; what I am, I am by myself. There are and will be a thousand princes; there is only one Beethoven."

LOL!!! The man had a bit of an ego.

Here's a vid of Valentina Lisitsa paying "Für Elise":

Here's a link to the Wikipedia page for "Für Elise".

And here's a link to Valentina Lisitsa's website.

Enjoy!!!

And the Dead Will Pray for You.

Continuing our celebration of Chopin's music in an angsty, Romantic style. Euterpe weeps over her broken lyre.

An Extravagance of Original Ideas

Frédéric Chopin was born on March 1, 1810. Or maybe a week earlier.

Chopin's Wikipedia Page

When I discovered an interest in classical music, Chopin was not among my favorites. I liked music with lofty orchestration or rich vocals. Works like Mozart's Requiem or Beethoven's 9th Symphony were my type of music. Gradually, my tastes opened up to smaller ensemble pieces, like Schubert string quartets or Brahms piano trios. Finally, I started to discern the charm of instrumental solos.

Therefore, Chopin has gone from boring to beautiful in my estimation. When listening to his music, I feel my spirit elevated by his Romantic genius.