Well, dear readers, I am sitting here like so much fish, listening to the amazing music of one of my all-time favorite composers, Mr. Randall Thompson, specifically his first symphony, but then I’ll go through everything I have, which isn’t all that much. Not a lot of recordings, especially of his orchestral music. The most anything has been recorded is his second symphony, which, I think, has four or five recordings by now, and which is a masterpiece. I think I have enough rare stuff by him to do a CD, but some would require major restoration, so we’ll see how that goes. His first symphony is very American in sound but nothing like his second symphony or even his third. But it’s so beautiful to hear and it’s the only recording on Koch (they did all three symphonies) that’s any good. Hearing music this gorgeous makes me very happy and lights up my world. And I don’t care WHO knows it. All three symphonies are on the Tube of You and you will thank me if you don’t know them and go listen. You want to hear the Andrew Schenk symphony one, I’d choose the Bernstein for number two, but sadly only James Sedaris does symphony three on CD and it’s pretty bad, mostly due to something having gone wrong somewhere, as it sounds either like mono or that every instrument has been put in the center – no one’s ever mentioned it but me, but I’m right about it. There is a mono version on LP and that’s what I would issue, and it’s on YouTube but a very crappy, noisy copy that’s basically unlistenable. My copy is much better but would still need some clean-up work. Other than that, I did watch a motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled Monkey Business. I’ve had the Universal Marx Brothers set since it came out and I have watched exactly none of it. I’ve always loved Monkey Business most of their Paramount films. I know Duck Soup is the one everyone loves and I basically like them all, but, for me, Monkey Business has some of the greatest comic dialogue ever, it moves like a house afire (seventy-seven minutes), the brothers are on fire, especially Groucho, and Thelma Todd is brilliant in her scenes with Groucho. Why this woman wasn’t a major star back then is anyone’s guess. She did a huge number of films and shorts in her decade of being an actress. Well, the obvious reason she never got bigger was that she died at twenty-nine – carbon monoxide poisoning from being inside a running car in a garage. It was investigated thoroughly, both for foul play or suicide, but ultimately it was ruled an accidental death. In any case, she’s the perfect foil for Groucho and very funny, as well as being beautiful. She reminded me a bit of Teri Garr. I laughed loudly throughout. Harpo and Chico get their moments as musicians, the supporting cast is really fun, and oh that Groucho dialogue flies by so fast you can barely keep up with it. I just adored it and was surprised by how excellent the transfer was. I’ll get around to everything else in the next week or so. After that, I had a telephonic conversation, listened to two masters and approved them, and then came Randall Thompson. I’m now listening to a different performance of the first symphony, the one I’d issue if it could be cleaned up enough. It’s mono but conducted wonderfully by Gunther Schuller.
Yesterday was certainly better than the day before. I woke up to an e-mail I didn’t care for and responded strongly but not meanly. I got almost eight hours of sleep. Then I talked to the person I was hoping would do the Kritzerland anniversary show, and everything worked out so I can now breathe easier. It’s Lloyd Cooper, who’d done quite a few Kritzerland shows at The Federal and also did a great job musical directing Pure Imagination back in 2013. It will be good to have him back.
Then I went to Uncle Bernie’s deli to get some chicken salad to bring home, but I ended up eating there – matzoh brei and a bagel. I also got a half-pint of the chicken salad, the same amount of coleslaw and two pieces of rye bread for a snack later. Then I came right home. I wrote two sets of liner notes and sent those off, so that’s done now. Then I watched the movie, had a chicken salad sandwich and coleslaw, and the rest you know.
Today, I’ll be up by ten and am meeting David Wechter somewhere near him in Westlake Village at noon o’clock for a lunch and brainstorming session about a project I want to do. So, that will be fun. Then I’ll come back before traffic gets crazy, I’ll hopefully pick up some packages and an important envelope or two, then I’ll come home and do the show order and write the commentary. After that, I can watch, listen, and relax.
Tomorrow, I’ll do whatever needs doing and then I have a one-thirty lunch meeting in West Hollywood – it, too, is about a project I’m thinking about doing. Wednesday, I have a three o’clock lunch meeting with a father and daughter, to see how we feel about maybe bringing her in to do the all young person’s Kritzerland show in January. Thursday, I have a noon o’clock lunch with Kay Cole. I’ll have a work session with Lloyd at some point this week, just to go over everything, then I can have a restful weekend, a long weekend, since it’s Labor Day weekend, and then we go right into the Kritzerland rehearsal week and show.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up by ten and meet David Wechter for food and brainstorming, I must hopefully pick up packages and important envelopes, I must do a show order and write commentary, and then I can watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite films of the Marx Brothers? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to be breathing easier.