Monthly Archives: March 2012

A Bevy of Symphony Covers

During the San Francisco Symphony's many years with RCA Victor (and its predecessor, Victor) albums came out in a variety of packaging. During the 1940s it was the practice of most record companies to distribute single 78 RPM discs in … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on A Bevy of Symphony Covers

A Shallower Trough

I'd make a lousy agitator. When a polarizing issue pops up my first instinct is to seek détente as I rotate the thing around to see as many facets as possible. I'm not one for carving out a position then … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on A Shallower Trough

The Survey Scourge

I tip strongly towards the introvert side of the personality scale, always have. It runs in the family. My sister married into a notably extrovert family, some of which have been obliged to deal with the thick solitary shells around … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on The Survey Scourge

Dynamic Range Day

Today, Friday March 16, is Dynamic Range Day. You may not have known that. Not very many people do. Dynamic Range Day isn't a "Day" in the sense of President's Day or Labor Day. It isn't a national holiday. No … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Dynamic Range Day

I Unfriend You, Sir

An article in today's Washington Post about Facebook unfriending got me thinking about the one and only time I have ever unfriended a Facebook contact. My reason was simple and to the point: her posts ran angry, vitriolic, and bitter. … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on I Unfriend You, Sir

A Gathering of Rites

Igor Stravinsky's Le Sacre du Printemps: poster boy for modernism, proving ground for orchestras, dinosaur spectacle for Disney. According to ArkivMusic.com, the current US-available catalog boasts 188 recordings, the most of any Stravinsky orchestral work. Only Petrushka at 120 (counting … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on A Gathering of Rites

Point That Thing Somewhere Else

Here's a koan from the Rinzai Zen tradition. A fellow named George is walking along a riverbank, staring at a ferryboat raft that has just departed on its way to the other shore. George sees a Zen master walking nearby. … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Point That Thing Somewhere Else

Silly Hacker, and a Duet

My opinion of computer hackers, never all that high to begin with, has just taken a precipitous plunge downwards with an article in the March 9 New York Times about Hector Xavier Monsegur, a.k.a. “Sabu”, the hacker who turned snitch … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Silly Hacker, and a Duet

Take My Tune…Please

My thirties were partially defined by an intriguing summer gig of playing recitals on an Alaskan cruise ship. For a month or two, depending on the year, I'd board the lovable but dumpy SS Universe in Vancouver, head up the … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Take My Tune…Please

Right There All Along

I read a lot of CD reviews. I'm not sure if that's a statement or a confession. Maybe a bit of both. In my defense (if that's necessary) I can say that I like to keep up with the latest … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Right There All Along