Re: what I've been grooving to, lately, these days, these years

Hi Johannes,

Well, as I said, outside of forums such as this one, where the hip 
converge, I've only come upon ONE person who knew their one single 
that hit the US charts. That's it. Of course, I know scads of albums 
that I feel are under appreciated. What puts XTC at the top of is the 
impressive combination of quality and quantity (in the vicinity of 8 
CD's or so!), and the case they (i.e. Partridge) are working in an 
accessible eclectic poppy style. What may hold them back is the 
strain in Partridge's voice. But it still baffles me that they aren't 
a major presence on the horizon, given that sustained output.

I was wondering if someone would pick up on the anomaly of the fourth 
Ballet, so thank you! It's the Song of the Nightingale, which is in 
the highly coloristic & rhythmic style of those first three ballets-- 
as opposed to the others you considered: Pulcinella, Les Noces, 
Apollo, the Fairy's Kiss. It was my favorite of the lot, back in high 
school, in that amazing version! conducted by Reiner. I wasn't aware 
of its relation to Le Rossignol, so it seems to my ignorant ears to 
be one more ballet.

BTW, I am also in upper NY State, but far east of you, in Cambridge, 
up against the VT border.

Back on topic: Does Jane still make her regular visits to Northampton, MA?

Bruce

>Two thoughts . . . first, I think XTC are more widely known than 
>people might think.  Second . . four stravinsky ballets?  I wonder 
>(as I am an avid Stravinsky collector) which you consider the 
>4th.  The first three are clearly firebird, rite and Petrushka.  Is 
>Pulcinella the 4th?  Is Les Noces?  Maybe Apollo?  or even Fairy's 
>Kiss?  Curious.
>
>Best wishes,
>
>Jeff Johannes
>
>On Wed, 23 May 2012, B Merrill wrote:
>
>>
>>One big thang that I've had no luck in introducing them to is 
>>classical music. When I was in high school, I was already enjoying, 
>>tremendously, the four early Stravinsky ballets, and much else... 
>>and I've played these for them, lent them the CD's, but it hasn't 
>>taken at all. This despite the case that their mother is a choral 
>>conductor, so there was/is much classical music in both of our houses.
>>
>>Bruce
>>
>>At 12:31 PM 5/22/2012, Ben Thomas wrote:
>>>Okay, can I simply put my two cents in about how jealous I am??
>>>Yes, they might like some music that we think (and by 'we', I mean 
>>>old people (!!) strange, but when you are sharing your love, or 
>>>their love for their music, and the simple fact that they're 
>>>sharing their music with you'se guys...the parents...now, simply, 
>>>how cool is that?
>>>I hate ENVY, but I truly envy you!
>>>And at fifty (50!!) I find you enviable, in a truly loving way!
>>>And as for Jane...none of us, I think, were able to fully 
>>>understand without repeated, faithful listening.  And I think your 
>>>kids are on the right track!!  And even if they don't "get it", 
>>>think of the wonderful new sounds you'll be exposed to!!
>>>Truly, you are enviable!!
>>>I don't think I could love you more, even without knowing/seeing you!
>>>Let the music play!
>>>BenThomas
>>> >>> B Merrill <merrillb <at> crisny.org> 5/22/2012 10:16 AM >>>
>>>Dear All,
>>>In Reply to Koen,
>>>and in regard to what I've been grooving to, lately...  ?
>>>As the father of two lads, who are now 19 & 23,  many years ago I had
>>>to deal with them enjoying Blink 182, and bands equally primitive. Argh!!
>>>But over the past two years or so we've reached a point where they
>>>are bringing tunes back home that I am mightily impressed by.... such
>>>as "Ships" by Danieleson Famile (I hope I've spelled that right) and
>>>"Rise Above" by the Dirty Projectors. (NB We're talking about "Rise
>>>Above" in particular, since after that highpoint, the DP's have
>>>migrated downhill, in tandem with increased popularity, I take it.)
>>>On the other hand, I've still not been able to bring them to the full
>>>excellence of Jane's Walking, Kate's Dreaming or Joni's Hissing.
>>>They kinda get it, but not the full force of it.
>>>-- the white tent, the raft y'all!