Well, dear readers, it in latest news, it is Friday. And they say we never have breaking news here at haineshisway.com. Of course with today’s stupid and inane and inept media everything is Breaking News – especially stories that are patently untrue. Well, in order to keep pace I will offer the following about yesterday: Breaking News – I got up in the morning after about six hours of sleep. Breaking News – I answered e-mails, had some telephonic calls, and went back to the Barber shop and listened to more wonderful Samuel Barber music. The more I listened the more I realized that Mr. Barber is simply one of my favorite twentieth century American composers. There’s nothing old-fashioned about him – his music has bite and purpose but boy does he know a good melody and boy is he not afraid to use it. Each new piece I heard became a new favorite, even the vocal music – I’m normally cold on classical vocal music, save for just a few things, but his are simply wonderful. I’ve uploaded his two operas, Vanessa and Antony and Cleopatra and am looking forward to hearing them.
At one we had some Breaking News – Kay Cole and John Boswell arrived and we had a really fun work session. She sang through everything. I’d forgotten some of my arrangement suggestions, but my paw prints are all over these and I was really happy with what I heard and Kay sounds great. About three times I asked for little arrangement adjustments and John figured them out in seconds, as he always does. He is just the greatest. The song selections, which took months to figure out, are really kind of perfect and always surprising – no one is ever going to second guess anything on this album. There is not one complacent moment. That lasted about two hours and then I went and picked up – Breaking News – a couple of packages. Then I did some banking then finally got something to eat at three. In Breaking News, I had chicken tenders at Jerry’s Deli – haven’t had them in ages and I have to say they were just about the best chicken tenders I’ve ever had.
Then I came home and did some work on the computer, whilst listening to more stuff I’d uploaded. A Brit composer named Geoffrey Bush – I really liked the first piece I heard called Overture, Yorick. Really nice, good melodies. Then I heard his two symphonies, which weren’t as good, at least for me. They have their moments, but after that wonderful Overture I was disappointed. I also heard some amazing Ravel, especially the brilliant Charles Munch recording of Valses Nobles et Sentimentales, a wonderful piece of music. But I like all of Ravel – I sometimes forget how much I like Ravel but then I hear it and it’s just wonderful, haunting music that really gets to me. And he’s such a master of orchestral colors and mood. I also listened to Paul Hindemith’s Mathis de Mahler – of the modernists, I rather like that piece of music – don’t really know anything else by him. I also listened to some Alexandre Tansman, yet another film composer who did a lot of classical music. I kind of like him better than the others I’ve been hearing, but it’s not a love affair or anything.
Then I had to go meet someone for a quick visit at House of Pies. I was just going to have their excellent dinner salad with ranch dressing and a piece of corn bread. They were out of corn bread, and the salad, when it arrived, had sad, wilted lettuce, no red onion (it’s what makes the salad – they were out of red onion), so back it went and instead I had a piece of butterscotch pie. It was very tasty and while I finished it, it really became boring halfway through. I was home by nine-fifteen and back to working on the computer and listening to the second symphony of Geoffrey Bush. My ears were tired of the somewhat formless and non-melodic bombast so I nuked all but the pleasing Overture, and immediately switched to the companion piece on the Barber Violin Concerto album – the Korngold violin concerto – ah, glorious schmaltz herring and so wonderful – sometimes you just need the schmaltz and the melody. It’s beautifully performed by Gil Shaham and Andre Previn and if you like Mr. Korngold’s film music, which I do, you will like this wonderful concerto.
Today, in Breaking News, I’m lunching with dear reader Jeanne at my beloved Genghis Cohen at noon o’clock. Then I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, jog, and then I’m doing nothin’ but relaxing and listening to music, perhaps even one of those Barber operas.
Tomorrow we have our first six-hour session with Kay. There are fourteen songs, so we’ll try for seven, and we’ll probably do any vocal fixes as we go – easier that way. Then I’ll probably get a bite to eat. Sunday we do the second six-hour session and then we’ll all go out for a bite to eat. Then next week is filled to the brim. Oh, and we had a day without any bad stuff but no real miracles. So, please, please, please keep sending those most strong excellent vibes and xylophones for Major Miracles. We need ‘em.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, have a lunch, hopefully pick up packages, jog, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/Blu and Ray player? I’ll start: CD, tons to listen to, as you know. Blu-ray, piles on the couch – perhaps Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, after which I will – Breaking News – get up and have a perfectly pleasantly pleasant and rewarding day.