Well, dear readers, I am sitting here like so much fish, listening to the music of Mr. William Walton, which is very pleasing to my earballs right about now. I am giving my eyeballs a rest from all the insanity happening right now and let’s just leave it at that. As to William Walton, what a composer. I first discovered his incredible music via what is probably his most well-known and performed piece, which runs under three minutes in length: Touch her soft lips and part – from his film score to Olivier’s Henry V. When I first heard it, I knew instantly it was one of the most beautiful things I’d ever heard. That was probably in the early 1970s and I wish I could remember where I heard it first. It may have been an Angel album of music from the Olivier Shakespeare films. Anyway, it was love at first hear and I went and got whatever recording that was, and then from there heard all the Shakespeare scores – Hamlet, Henry V, and Richard III, all marvelous. That led me to his two symphonies – the first is brilliant and I had that in what I think is its best recording, Andre Previn conducting. No one seems to like the second symphony as much, but for me it’s every bit as good and I love it, especially what is its finest recording by George Szell. From there, I discovered other film music thanks to Bernard Herrmann’s Phase 4 recordings of British film music, and from there I found his incredible violin concerto and then I found everything else, much of it thanks to what was my favorite label in the 1970s, Lyrita. I listen to it often and it always astonishes me how much brilliant music this man wrote. One of my prize possessions is a limited edition book of Façade, one of his most famous works, signed by him.
Yesterday was a weird day, given the goings on in Los Angeles and in other cities. I did get nine hours of needed sleep, so that was a good thing. What wasn’t a good thing was driving to the mail place and finding no important envelopes and no packages. I came right home and ordered food from Jersey Mike’s and that showed up about twenty minutes later. I ate the regular-sized Eyetalian – not as good as usual but certainly okay and saved the mini-sized turkey for later. I had several long telephonic conversations, mostly related to the Kritzerland show, and then at some point I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched Woody Allen’s Radio Days on Blu and Ray. I’ve actually only seen it all the way through once when it came out. I’ve owned the DVD and Blu-ray of it since it was released and only had ever watched the first ten minutes. At the time I first saw it I didn’t love it – it was so his version of Fellini’s Amarcord and I’d already seen and not loved his version of Fellini’s 8 1/2, Stardust Memories – I thought it had its moments but was too episodic for its own good. Watching it all the way through for the first time in decades, I really enjoyed it more than I would have thought. Maybe that’s because it just seems better because most of what’s made today, including Allen’s films, isn’t much to my liking. There are lots of solid laughs, it’s actually touching a couple of times, it’s still episodic but it moves along at a snappy pace, and the art direction and photography are really great, as is the large cast, filled with familiar people, some in tiny cameo roles – including Tony Roberts, Jeff Daniels, and Diane Keaton. Mia Farrow is a bit too Jean Hagen, but she’s fine, Woody’s narration is great, and everyone does well, including a very young (meaning kid) Seth Green as young Woody. The final shot is a beauty. I’m glad I watched it again.
After that, I did some work on the computer, and then began the Walton journey, going in order with everything I have in iTunes, which is mostly everything he wrote. It’s fun to do that every now and then.
Today, I’ll be up when I’m up and then I’m not doing too much. I’ll figure out what I want to eat – I could make Wacky Noodles here, but I might try some pasta papa for my meal if I’m feeling in the mood, I’ll do whatever needs doing, but mostly I’ll watch, listen, and relax, getting ready for the busy week ahead. And speaking of the busy week ahead, has anyone noticed that this is the final day of May? This month really flew by, like a gazelle playing hopscotch on a sunny day. So, tomorrow will be June and it is my fervent hope and prayer that June will be a month filled with health, wealth, happiness, creativity, and all things bright and beautiful. Because boy do we need all of those things right about now and let’s just leave it at that.
Tomorrow will be June and the entire week will be Kritzerland show stuff, including starting to plan the July show. We’re doing three Facebook Live tests – I’ll do some yakking and I’ll play one of my songs in each. I’ve already chosen the songs. Then on Saturday, she of the Evil Eye will come for the first time in ten weeks, and while I’ve done the best I can to clean, we really need a good cleaning right about now, especially the floors and the bathrooms. And then we do the Kritzerland show on Sunday.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up when I’m up, eat, watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s free-for-all day, the day in which you dear readers get to make with the topics and we all get to post about them. So, let’s have loads of lovely topics and loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, and let’s just leave it at that.