On this chilly, rainy, overcast day, the music of Vivaldi is serving to uplift me. Another thing uplifting me is my perch this morning – the second floor of a local library. It overlooks a field that’s currently occupied by wild turkeys. I always enjoy sitting on the second floor looking out at that field. … [Read more…]
Back at Panera in my usual spot by the windows (I like to think of it as my table), sipping a Light Roast coffee with cinnamon. (That is to say, the cinnamon is in my coffee; I’m not sipping Light Roast coffee with a person named Cinnamon.) I’m watching the sun rise, feeling its warmth … [Read more…]
We’re back to chilly again. As I type these words, it’s 31 degrees under cloudy skies. I supposed that’s not bad for March 27 in Michigan. Still, a few weeks ago the temperatures were in the mid- to upper-60s. Granted, that’s unseasonable. But I’ll take unseasonable over typical every time. In the winter, that is. … [Read more…]
Today’s Vivaldi listening experience is a little different. For one thing, I’m listening to CD 3 in the evening, rather than in the morning. For another Star Trek: Enterprise Season 1 Episode 1 is on TV – although I can’t hear it because I have on my Bose noise-canceling headphones. I can see it, though. … [Read more…]
The second CD of the Brilliant Classics Vivaldi Edition seems fitting for today’s weather, which is gray and cold (38 degrees). We’re back to typical March weather. Thankfully, although CD 2 – which continues Vivaldi’s Trio Sonatas (Op. 1 II) – starts out in a dreary, kind of down-tempo fashion, it quickly picks up to … [Read more…]
After waking up this morning to a snow-covered world, the first winter weather advisory we’ve had in a month or two (it’s been an unseasonably warm winter here in Michigan), and temperatures in the low 20s, I decided to wipe the sleep from my eyes, brave the elements, and high-tail it to Panera, my favorite … [Read more…]
This morning, as I sit here at Panera (not in my usual seat, mind you, which throws me all off), sipping my Light Roast coffee with cinnamon, and long after I’ve scarfed down my sesame seed bagel with chive and onion cream cheese, I’m listening to the eighth CD in the 10-CD box set by … [Read more…]
And so begins my exploration of a new composer: Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713), who was – as I’ve learned from reading his bio on Wikipedia – a big deal back in the day. Arcangelo Corelli (17 February 1653 – 8 January 1713) was an Italian composer and violinist of the Baroque era. His music was key … [Read more…]
Today brings to an end my time exploring the works of Thomas Tallis. Thanks to the good folks at Brilliant Classics, I’ve learned quite a bit about this ancient composer. The main thing I learned is that I’m not a fan of the very late Mr. Tallis. Oh, I appreciate his place in music history … [Read more…]
Today’s selection from the Brilliant Classics box set of music by Thomas Tallis is mostly instrumental. The CD is called, appropriately, “The Instrumental Music and Songs I.” I think this CD may be of great interest to me since what often makes Tallis so aurally tiring is the sameness of sounds from the choir. Like, … [Read more…]