science

Well, I took a few days off, which I guess will be the norm. I'd like to catch up a bit.

First, I've been reading Paul Johnson's A History of the American People. I'm going to finish so that I can say that I did, but my advice to you is not to start. It's mediocre, at best. Go straight to the excellent books by Penguin and the Oxford U Press. Start with Alan Taylor's American Colonies. Great, great book. You will thank me!

Among my recent discoveries (this means that ...

I finished listening to Villa-Lobos' Bachianas Brazileiras.



It's not bad, it might be the music I enjoyed most yesterday. It certainly has some drama and beauty. But, for its time, it is very conservative.

This was the first time I listened to it, and I should do so several more times before I say anything else.

I don't believe, however, that this recording ...

I didn't have time to post last night, so I'll catch up a bit.

I continued my self-education in classic rock with the Rolling Stones, Let it Bleed.



I knew "You Can't Always Get What You Want" from the radio, but I think the rest of the songs were new to me.

I admit my prejudices: I did not expect this album to be so good. What impressed me the most ...

Tags: rolling stones, velvet undergrood

Categories

Classical Music , Non-Classical Music , Recorded Music

I took a long, long walk through the park and the city today, and listened to four works while I did so. First was Rebel's Les Elemens.



By listening to Reinhard Goebel, I position myself in opposition to a league of internet snobs, and tomorrow I will listen to Jordi Savall to entrench myself here.

Anyway, the first part of Les Elemens is must-hear music, whether you indulge ...

Tags: janacek's sinfonietta, rebel's elements

Categories

Classical Music , Recorded Music

This afternoon's first listening was Marvin Gaye's What's Going On, another album that the intelligentsia consider classic.



I tried to listen to it last night, but somehow it got on my nerves, but this morning everything was fine. It is very repetitive, like any pop music, probably not intended for more than a few close listenings. But it does set a mood, and there are several famous songs ...