Addendum to my Previous Blog

As I was sitting in class today, I remembered something that fits into our discussion.  During the 40's and 50's, there was another big name in humor.  Spike Jones had a band and they spoofed everyone.  

Times have changed and the way we express our feelings may have changed, but the emotions behind those expressions are still there.  I vividly remember visiting the New Jersey shore in 1979 with a group of teenaged girls from church and seeing a woman on the beach with a tattooed number on her arm.  A tattooed number like that on a older woman could mean only one thing - she had been in a concentration camp.  I hereby offer a response to the war that is funny in appearance, but covers some very strong emotions that are not funny.  (Some of his other stuff is really funny, though.)

Since the State Hospitals Have Been Closed, It's Hard to Find a Cheap Lobotomy When You Need One

And Other Nutty Ramblings

Since the topic is one step away from the funny farm, I'm thinking this doesn't have to make perfect sense - so it won't.  Once upon a time, I had a brain that worked.  Now?

My first funny shows my age.  I have loved Victor Borge since I was a child.  He was always on some television show or other and could always be counted on for a good laugh.  His material does not age, it's still fresh and funny.  This is one of the crazier skits.  I thought you opera fans would appreciate it.  Oh, and don't be fooled - like Dudley Moore, he is a very accomplished pianist.

What musical comedy would be complete without a little PDQ Bach?  I think his earlier stuff is the best stuff and this is a real gem from the very first concert album.  This cantata, Iphigenia in Brooklyn stars John Ferranti (?) as Bargain-counter Tenor soloist and it uses a few unusual instruments as Professor Peter Schikele points out.

To bring this collection to a close, I will add a little special treat - the Nairobi Trio.  In case you have never heard of them, they were popular in the 1950s and played on a little TV show put together by Ernie Kovacs.  If you have never heard of Ernie Kovacs, go and check him out on YouTube.  This guy was a genius and was experimenting with the new medium of television and what worked and what didn't.  My first exposure to Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra was on his show, as well as some other far less serious things.

I also enjoy totally absurd things, free associating, the Muppets (the Muppet Show was the BEST!), poking holes in sacred cows (not that kind, Sureka), and the first part of TH White's The Once and Future King.  And I love George Booth's cartoons for the New Yorker and James Thurber.  In answer to the question, do I take anything seriously? the answer is I take as little as I possibly can seriously.  Most of life is just hilarious.  And I firmly believe that God gets a good laugh from some of our antics, especially the unintentional ones.

Happy night-night!

Making Sure the Audience Finds You!

At last, I finally get around to getting this post done!  And it's an important concept to deal with.  As musicians, we have to sell not only the music, but ourselves as performers, composers, nice people, whatever.  So here are some things that I've found that I like.  (In other words, things I might be able to do.)

Accessing the "Arts Journal" section of Alex Ross' website, I found this rather quirky item that made the NY Times.  It is about culture meeting culture and both working together.  Apparently, Chinatown in New York has expanded into the neighboring Italian neighborhood.  As the Chinese have bought up land, they've also bought businesses including the funeral homes.  And the Italian brass bands that have always played at the Italian funerals now play for the Chinese ones, too.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/14/nyregion/italian-brass-for-a-chinatown-goodbye.html

It seems to have increased the awareness of this musical form into another culture.

For years, one of my very favorite art songs is by William Bolcom as sung by his wife, Joan Morris.

The song is "Lime Jello Marshmallow Cottage Cheese Surprise".  I did find a probably illegal copy of this song on YouTube, so enjoy.  It's just too good not to share.  I just wish it had video.

(Don't you love the hair!)  Anyway, what is important here, aside from hearing the song a number of times on the radio (always a form of marketing!) is that William Bolcom has a website at williambolcom.com and the two of them have a combined website at bolcomandmorris.com.  Never underestimate the power of a very simple, straightforward URL.

Lastly, but not leastly, I like the flash mob thing and have to add in one of my personal favorites.  This is a flash mob from a couple of years ago in New York City at Christmas time.

This was the first one that I found.  It is the work of a group called Improv Everywhere and they have some very interesting videos on YouTube.  And then there is one more that I'd like to add just because I like it.  More flash mob and watch the guy with the cell phone.

Hey, it's almost Christmas, at least for church musicians!  

Signing off until my next brilliant foray into the wonderful world of 20th Century Music - it's ME!

Oh, if you can't stop reading this highly entertaining stuff, check out this video from Improv Everywhere.

I gotta quit.