Well, dear readers, I was able to take care of one impending disaster yesterday, but in so doing, two other impending disasters presented themselves and now I hope that I’ll be able to take care of both of those before they change their status. Actually, it’s fine if they change their status, as long as it’s to no longer impending and now not a problem. That would be a lovely status. But at least I got the big one taken care of. It’s always important to start right at the top, impending disaster-wise. What the HELL am I talking about?
Yesterday, I must tell you, was a day, sorta kinda. I only got maybe three hours of sleep and I kept hoping I could get back in bed to get at least another hour or two, but that was not meant to be. It was a rough night due to upset tummyville – it’s something at Vitello’s because it was just like the other night. I suspect that my carbonara was not, in fact, made with cream but with oil and if that’s the case then that’s the culprit. May I just say, at this juncture: O Fortuna. I say that because I am listening to Carl Orff’s immortal Carmina Burana. I feel like these here notes have suddenly become a coming attraction from fifteen years ago. Back then, every trailer began with, “In a world” and then at some point in the trailer, the music would be from the Carmina Burana, specifically O Fortuna. Back then, I could not for the life of me figure out why a big chorus was singing what I thought was Oh, for tuna. I thought to myself, “Myself, why did Carl Orff write a choral piece about pining for tuna?” I don’t know what any of this has to do with the price of a lime rickey, but that doesn’t stop me, as you can plainly see.
The helper sent her mother here to pick up a few things, which is why I couldn’t go back to bed. Once that happened, I answered e-mails and felt heavy-lidded and tired. Then Grant and I decided to have an early lunch, which was good because of acid reflux or whatever, I wanted to get that yucky taste out of my mouth. So, at eleven-thirty, we moseyed on over to Island’s for food. I had my usual Big Wave with cheese and bacon and a few of their yummilicious fries. Their burgers really are tops. Then we came back here, I did a few things on the computer, and then I went to the mail place and picked up one package and no mail, then did some banking (thankfully not crowded), then came home. I happily avoided the big impending disaster in nimble fashion (ten-gallon hat and twenty-gallon pants). Then I chose a couple of songs, and then began putting together the singer list for the Group Rep cabaret benefit. It’s going to be tricky to assemble, but I think I’ve got a handle on it. If it were a classical music benefit, I would, of course, have a Handel on it. We don’t allow groaning here at haineshisway.com.
My Darling Daughter had texted me earlier in the day to ask if I’d watched something called The OA. I’d heard of it but it didn’t really interest me. She wanted to know what I thought of it, so I sat on my couch like so much fish and watched episode one of season one’s eight episodes. It seems pretty ordinary to me – a little New Agey, kind of typical in its writing, and with a surprising amount of nudity. I have no idea where this thing played originally (they have it on the Flix of Net now) – Wikipedia said something about web series, but how can that be? Does anyone know where this thing first aired?
After that, it was already ten o’clock and I hadn’t eaten in eleven hours, so I made about three ounces of spaghetti (if that) and put a little butter and cheese on it and ate it up. It hit the spot and then the spot hit it back.
Funnily, I’d heard the Carmina Burana in its entirety only a week ago, with Stokowski conducting from an early stereo Capitol album. I read up on it and everyone enjoys it but thinks it’s weird and that the chorus isn’t really up to the piece. I certainly enjoyed it but didn’t really have anything to compare it to. So, I found a third-party seller on the Amazon and found what everyone considers to be a classic performance for two bucks – on Deutsche Grammaphon conducted by Eugen Jochum, a wonderful conductor and with excellent soloists and chorus. It’s a lot smoother than the Stokowski, missing a bit of his quirkiness and that sometimes peculiar early stereo sound, but this one by Jochum really is excellent in really good sound. But I think we must take Mr. Orff to task for writing music that sounds like it’s from a coming attraction. Kidding, of course.
After that, I listened to some more Francis Poulenc – another performance of this concerto for two pianos – I really love this piece, but this particular performance on Chandos isn’t really compelling.
Today, I will sleep in. Once up, I’ll do more work on the June Kritzerland and the Group Rep cabaret benefit, I’ll eat something VERY light (perhaps I’ll make a little something here), hopefully pick up some packages, but mostly I have to rest because I am quite behind on my sleep. Tomorrow may be a lunch with Kay Cole, so that will be fun. The weekend will be the dual cabaret shows and finishing song choices and getting people their music.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, sleep in, do more work on the Kritzerland and Group Rep cabaret shows, eat, hopefully pick up packages, and then relax. Today’s topic of discussion: I’m not that into choral music, but always enjoy learning and experiencing new things, so what are your favorite choral pieces? I do enjoy the Carmina Burana once every six years or so, I love Vaughan Williams Serenade to Music, although I do like it better in its orchestral version. I love that choral piece I posted a couple of weeks ago – can’t remember the name of the composer or the piece, but that was just stellar, I thought. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where I shall fall asleep whilst saying, “In a world” whilst humming O Fortuna. And actually, I have a hankering o for tuna so maybe that’s what I’ll have for food.