DFD Sings Der Kreuzzug

One of life's great joys.

The Frank Martin Mass

Now that Janacek is finally getting something resembling his due as the cosmic genius he is, there are a number of remaining candidates for Most Underrated Composer of the 20th Century. But surely Frank Martin is right near the top. He is in some ways a 1-note composer, using almost seraphic-sounding harmonies to create an ecstatic sound be his music instrumental or vocal - even during his 12-tone phase this remains true of him. But if he is a 1-noter, then so are all sorts of religious composers from Bach to Bruckner. As for the Mass for Double Choir, I would be hard-pressed to name a greater piece of 20th century music for unaccompanied chorus.

Ambrose Akinmusire

Discovered him from a New Republic article by David Hadju. He's reminiscent enough of Coltrane and early-to-mid Miles Davis to make me fascinated enough to listen quite a bit more.

Munch's The Scream is Auctioned

h/t Der Fersko

Well...one of them...

Simon Rattle rehearsing inner city Philadelphia Kids

I kind of teared up during this. How many conductors have ever given back to communities the way Rattle has? Too few classical musicians are real moral leaders who use their music-making to make the world a better place, but Rattle has consistently proven himself a leader who believes that music has a greater power than the merely aesthetic, which can and should be used to better people's lives.

Jerry Lewis Telethon 'Bloopers'

1 John 4:16 by The Mountain Goats

h/t Der Fersko

Gas Gas by Goran Bregovic

I'll refrain from sophomoric jokes about the under-cooked omelette I made today.

Busch Plays Brahms

Why are the best performances so often in such wretched sound?

How To Play Slavonic Dances

Like this. Metronome be damned.

Nina Simone sings Randy Newman

beautiful.

h/t Der Fersko

Quote of the Day:

Le Malon: EVERY USE OF PERD HAPLEY IS GOOD

St John's Night on Bare Mountain

In whatever form, it is such an utterly brilliant fragment: scary, cinematic, evil-sounding. I don't understand how the Rimsky arrangement, fine as it is, continues to eclipse either Mussorgsky arrangement in popularity. Rimsky made a cute tone poem.

Another Carl Sagan Moment: Part of an Ongoing Series

A Carl Sagan Moment - The first of an ongoing series

...that will probably last every day for months.

Jurowski/Beethoven

Right on the metronome mark for nearly ten minutes, almost all the little details emerging with crystal clarity. No rubato, no 'artificial' excitement from accelerations or an overly fast tempo, only one unfortunate unmarked dip to piano for a crescendo. All that's left is an incredible amount of excitement, pure unadulterated Beethoven. I don't know if Jurowski will be the greatest conductor of his generation, but he has to be the most talented.

Goethe Totentanz: The Lego Version

A surprisingly great idea.

FDR: American Badass

nsfw without headphones...I'm seeing this movie the day it comes out.

BWV 8

So unbelievably gorgeous.

Sergiu Celibidache Wants More Viola

....never gets old