Is Michael Chabon a vocal proponent of early music in American public schools? Or is he merely a nescient novelist?
Our children need training and encouragement and support—they need rehearsal space and tempera paint and bass violins."Postamble" to the Obama campaign's arts platform. Emphasis added.
On Remixing Obama: This sort of personal emendation seems to fit in nicely with change.gov's new copyright policy
The term bass violin refers to what is literally a large violin, not a cello or double bass (or contrabass, if you like).
Chabon would likely have Obama convert innocuous elementary school orchestras into elite period instrument ensembles replete with gambas, recorders (non-plastic, one would assume), theorbos and sackbuts.
The breathy offerings of school choirs would transmogrify into straight-tone prepubescent polyphony.
Now that's the kind of wealth I like to spread.
On classical music and instrument terminology: Prepared piano is really a "modded" piano.
Labels: early music, Obama
Gene Robinson who, like Obama, is not
afraid to be photographed with pipe organs.
Bishop Robinson described his conversations with him as part of Mr Obama’s “extraordinary” outreach to all religious communities, not just Christian groups. Mr Obama, although not a member of The Episcopal Church to which Bishop Robinson belongs, is a committed Christian with the United Church of Christ.(via Thinking Anglicans)He said that the Mr Obama was taller than he had expected and described him as “Lincolnesque”, both literally and metaphorically. They discussed the dangers both of being demonised by opponents and idealised by supporters.
Gledhill, Ruth. "Barack Obama asked gay bishop Gene Robinson what it was like to be 'first'". Times (London), 6 November 2008.
Labels: Anglicanism, Obama
The New York Times reports that Barack Obama's half-hour infomercial attracted more viewers than the network's usual shows:
On NBC, the disparity was even greater. Its regular show there, “Knight Rider,” has been averaging just under 7 million viewers. Mr. Obama pulled in 9.8 million for his half-hour special.
So, while there was no turbo boost this week, the political interruption does beg raise [see comments] the question: when will we see Obama drive KITT?
Maybe sooner than we think:
During a season where television hits are hard to find, one NBC executive suggested jokingly Wednesday that Mr. Obama might be invited back to fill the 8 p.m. Wednesday time slot on a regular basis.
Possible episode title: "Election Knight"
Labels: Obama, television
A visual followup to my "Bach for Barack" idea: "Baroque Obama"
Stabler, David. "Barack Obama: It was only a matter of time" The Oregonian 28 August 2008
Taft Chatham's image is for sale on a shirt.
Inspired by "Artists for Obama", I find myself thinking about a project I call: "Organ for Obama", or even better, "Bach for Barack".
O Mensch, bewein' dein' Sünde groß, BWV 622
B Minor Prelude, BWV 544
An Wasserflüssen Babylon, BWV 653
Meine Seele erhebt den Herren, BWV 648
Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr, BWV 715
Are these good choices?
Is anyone interested in recording these and getting them on the web?
Discuss.
Messiaen for McCain? Anyone? It is a centennial year. For Messiaen I mean.
Labels: Bach, John McCain, Obama
It was within ten percent, then, five, then four . . .
CBS called the race for Clinton at 21:15.
An hour and a half later, we pick up the story with Obama trailing Clinton:
23:43 - 48.3% to 51.7%
23:49 - 49.1% to 50.9%
0:37 - 49.3% to 50.7%
1:00 - Still too close to call for everyone except stupid CBS.
1:12 - Something gives, and everybody starts calling Indiana for Clinton. Let me just point out that if I believed CBS, I could have gone to bed four hours ago.
Labels: Obama
Barack Obama -- diligently courting the church musician vote -- is again pictured with the organ at Brown Chapel (African Methodist Episcopal Church) in Selma, Alabama in today's New York Times.
Previously: New York Times - organ on the cover of the
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