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[bk]

We've moved to symphony three, which I heard earlier - within the first minute I know I prefer the other version conducted by Neem Jarvi, who was the dedicatee of the symphony.  It's more forward and seems to have more sensitivity and openness.  But I really like the work.

[bk]

Fascinating to hear these two performances.  The one now playing glosses over everything, there's no warmth and glow to it, and it is literally four minutes faster than the Jarvi - Jarvi a bit over twenty-five minutes, this a bit over twenty-one.  I'm always intrigued by how one "gets" to you and others don't.

[Laura]

jan, my cat Joshie was a recurring character here on HHW until he passed away two years ago. He is the best cat I've ever had, and I won't ever have another one like him.

I was going to take my time and carefully choose my next kitty. I haven't chosen a cat since I was about ten years old. My daughter always chose them or they just showed up.

Leonard showed up as a kitten in October. It seemed like fate. However, he doesn't really like me.

[Laura]

Joshie was a feral kitten that I tamed, and he didn't like me either for a long time. But after a while he decided he adored me. I have hopes that when Leonard grows up, he will do the same.

[jan]

Kitties can be so pissy when it comes to their people.

[John G.]

Curiously, I've neither received a copy nor been alerted to its publication by the Moross family!  I am very excited that it's finally in print.
https://www.amazon.com/Gentlemen-Be-Seated-Complete-Vocal/dp/1542614171/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?keywords=gentlemen+be+seated+moross&qid=1555339194&s=books&sr=1-1-fkmrnull&fbclid=IwAR2YVeKCCyqfcSifiVX64efFfiJFnCdOsP_UH26NxX_GQGQMrr5Ud9puyso

Excellent news, Elmore. Glad to see your name in print.

[John G.]

On to my favorite food store. No almond croissants today. I asked one of the employees, "They only leave one almond croissant each day?" (An outside vendor supplies them.) "No," she replied. "They leave four. They have a large fan base." I guess I'm not the only one who really likes them.

It is difficult to find good almond croissants.

This is a crime that could be easily corrected. But given my blood sugar lately, it's probably for the best that I can't get my hands on one.

[John G.]

Those of you with kitties, please post pictures so I can admire the beauties.

Ditto, please.

[John G.]

Now I'm listening to music of Arvo Part, someone whose music I know nothing about.  It's certainly from the minimalist school of minimalism, so imagine Philip Glass with soul and religiosity and you imagine what you'll get.  What's fascinating to me is that Mr. Part, at 83, the THE most performed living composer in the world and has been for years.  Does anyone know his music?  Apparently his violin and piano piece, Spiegel im Spiegel, has been used in a ton of movies.  I'm listening to Fratres, Tabula Rasa (now playing), and then I have his four symphonies (on one CD - none of them are long).  Curious to hear other opinions.

Absolutely love his music. I have several pieces on chamber music compilations, and I've heard a handful performed at various concerts. I think it's that soulfulness that I react to. It's very Eastern European to me.

[John G.]

Happy 77th Birthday to Ms. Barbra S !

And happy 204th to Anthony Trollope!

[John G.]

Arvo Part symphony number two is even weirder and more twelve-tone and serial than symphony one - it may even be thirteen tones.  And then suddenly at about 3:30 into the final movement, it turns completely tonal and appealing, with a great tune.  It's almost like a lightswitch went on and said, "A tune, my kingdom for a tune." He throws in one crash as if to say, "I haven't given up yet on the loud, but I will soon."

I don't know any of his symphonies. I will have to correct that.

[John G.]

Kitties can be so pissy when it comes to their people.

My friend Bonnie started feeding a cat who showed up in her neighborhood one day. This was six or seven years ago. He was a mess and he hated anyone who came near. Hissed and spat and tried to bite and claw. She named him Spitzer, or Spitty for short, and didn't give up on him. She got him to a vet, who had to knock him out in order to treat him.

He's now a lap cat, but only with her. Her ex could never touch him, which drove him crazy. This past weekend was the first time that Spitty jumped up on the couch while I was sitting there, and once he even snuggled next to my leg. He even let me pet him once or twice and only lightly. Progress. 

[John G.]

I ushered tonight for the non-union tour of Spamalot. I had forgotten almost everything about the show, except for a couple of the songs and some of the more famous lines from the movie ("Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries.")

It was a lot of fun. The audience loved it and laughed heartily. Yet there were several things wrong. The "orchestra" was only about five or six performers with an overwhelming emphasis on the synthesizer. And the cast could sing, act and get a laugh, but they lacked the out-sized personalities of Tim Curry, David Hyde Pierce, Sarah Ramirez and Christopher Siebert. All of the characters, if you can called them such, were indistinguishable. It made the story ho-hum. And I'm sorry, but Python has never really been ho-hum.

[John G.]

Hello, 2 guests!

[John G.]

What is your favorite Python sketch?

[John G.]

The Ministry of Funny Walks?

[John G.]

Semaphore Wuthering Heights?

[John G.]

The Summarize Proust Contest?

[John G.]

No one expects the Spanish Inquisition?

[John G.]

Listening to Sing Out, Sweet Land, which I have long wanted. Wonderful performances. Can't fault Alfred Drake at his finest, Burl Ives with Big Rock Candy Mountain and Bibi Osterwald with Casey Jones.

[John G.]

On the same disc is Drake singing Weill's Down in the Valley. Toni Morrison mentions Weill in one of her essays, which I'm listening to now in the car. The reader pronounces it Wheel and she pronounces Wagner's Ring as if he were related to Robert Wagner. Oy. Double oy.

[John G.]

On that note, I'm off to bed.

[Laura]

Not a big fan of Python, but I do like the migrating coconut discussion.

[Jane]

Lady Jane, I don't officially have any cats.  I have two, sometimes three, that I put out food and water for.  They are very skittish and won't let me near them but one is edging closer and acts like she wants to be petted so fingers crossed.

Fingers crossed.

[Jane]

18 years is a good long life.  I am tired of having my heart broken.

[Jane]

Never say never so I suppose it is possible we will have a cat or dog again.

[bk]

Arvo Part symphony number two is even weirder and more twelve-tone and serial than symphony one - it may even be thirteen tones.  And then suddenly at about 3:30 into the final movement, it turns completely tonal and appealing, with a great tune.  It's almost like a lightswitch went on and said, "A tune, my kingdom for a tune." He throws in one crash as if to say, "I haven't given up yet on the loud, but I will soon."

I don't know any of his symphonies. I will have to correct that.

Get the Neeme Jarvi disc called Tabula Rasa on Deustche Grammaphon - that has the third symphony.  Start there.  On the complete symphonies CD I don't like the performance of the third, but the fourth is very nice, although there's a single CD of that recored at its premiere.  I'm not sure you need to bother with the first two as their pretty extreme.

[Jane]

Kitties can be so pissy when it comes to their people.

My friend Bonnie started feeding a cat who showed up in her neighborhood one day. This was six or seven years ago. He was a mess and he hated anyone who came near. Hissed and spat and tried to bite and claw. She named him Spitzer, or Spitty for short, and didn't give up on him. She got him to a vet, who had to knock him out in order to treat him.

He's now a lap cat, but only with her. Her ex could never touch him, which drove him crazy. This past weekend was the first time that Spitty jumped up on the couch while I was sitting there, and once he even snuggled next to my leg. He even let me pet him once or twice and only lightly. Progress. 

Awww.  I have a friend who, after a long time peariod, now has 2 indoor cats that had been feral.

[bk]

I have a feral fingernail.

[bk]

I shall be in the hot shower for the next little while.