Well, dear readers I must write about The Age of Anxiety. Not the W.H. Auden poem but the symphony inspired by it, by one Leonard Bernstein. Having recently acquired a copy of the poem I had to pull out the CD and listen to it for the first time in probably twenty years. One of the downsides of having so many CDs is that I moved all the classical CDs into the hall closet, where it is almost impossible to get to what you want easily, unless you luck out (I did the other day when I wanted to listen to some Howard Hanson – it was right there in front). Unfortunately, Lenny was all the way in the back and it took me about fifteen minutes to get to it. But it was worth the effort. What a brilliantly brilliant work is The Age of Anxiety (his second symphony) and what a great recording Mr. Bernstein made for Columbia Records, with one of my favorite pianists, Mr. Phillipe Entremont (Mr. Entremont plays my favorite version of Gershwin’s Concerto in F). The music has lost none of its power or freshness or uniqueness, despite the fact that it’s been “borrowed” from frequently. It’s edgy, it’s touching, it’s uniquely Bernstein. It can be had cheaply and is well worth adding to your collection. I also adore Mr. Bernstein’s first sympony, the Jeremiah. Highly recommended by the likes of me.
Yesterday was a busy but productive day, as well as a productive but busy day. I got up early and CDs and helper arrived. Helper was quite under the weather so I tried not to get too close, but she was a good soldier and got everything done and to the postal office and the UPS Store. After we finished, I went and had some chicken soup and a sandwich. May I just pause and say we’re having one of those peculiar LA windstorms that comes out of nowhere, and it’s really annoying. And now, we return you to the notes. After the soup and sandwich, I did some banking, then went to the UPS Store and picked up a couple of packages and no mail. I came home to good news that a project I’d been waiting for approvals on had been approved. It’s yet another Holy Grail for me and Kritzerland, as score I have wanted to own since I first saw the film from whence it came, back in my favorite year for film. I love the film, I love the score, and it’s a complete thrill to finally be able to bring it forth into the world, in lovely stereophonic sound and complete. I’ll announce it here on Friday at midnight and on Monday to the rest of the world. That approval actually put me ahead of the game for once, as the master and packaging had been completed a while ago. So now we can master the next two releases over the next couple of weeks and we’ll be two releases ahead for the first time ever. I then had a couple of visits, and then I went to Gelson’s for a little evening snack, and then I finally sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a documentary on DVD entitled Waking Sleeping Beauty, about the renaissance of feature animation at Disney in the 1980s and the drama that came a decade later. It’s a very interesting film, with lots of great footage. They do an interesting thing – rather than have the usual talking heads, all the interviews are spoken (and identified with the speaker’s name on the screen). I kind of liked it for a while, but then I really kind of wanted to see the people. But it’s a well done piece of work and should be of interest to anyone who loves that group of films – The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, etc. Like The Boys, this is only available on DVD, with no Blu and Ray in sight.
After watching that, I did some more work on the computer and organized my notes for the next set of liner notes I have to write, which I’ll probably begin today or tomorrow. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because the best antidote to the age of anxiety is a good night’s beauty sleep.
Today, I shall do a bit of writing, and also send Mr. Grant Geissman the new book manuscript so we can start doing that. I have some errands and whatnot to do and must fill the motor car with gas, which is now ten cents higher than two weeks ago, at around $4.10 a gallon. And I think you know how I feel about that, and perhaps our good president should threaten some taxes and sanctions against all those obscenely rich oil companies who keep ramming it to the American public. I’m sure our very own Der Brucer will refute that, but I only see what’s in front of my eyes, and I only know that whenever the government finally does make those threats gas prices suddenly plummet magically. I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, and I’ll eat something light but amusing.
Tomorrow, I’ll be rehearsing with the singer, and doing other stuff, and there will be more of that each day, along with some meetings and meals and such.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do a bit of writing, send a manuscript, do errands and whatnot, hopefully pick up packages, eat, and watch something interesting. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite Leonard Bernstein songs and classical pieces? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland where I shall not live in the age of anxiety.