Slogged my way through Chapter 4 of the book so far. Another two chapters to read, and then I can set about writing the review. Chapter 5 actually looks interesting; Chapter 6 looks a little less so. I still think I'd be swifter about all this if one of you would kindly come to my house and hold me at rifle-point until I completed the damn review. Without the threat of bullet and bayonet, I have moments of despair that I will ever finish the fucking thing.
On a side note, I downloaded a ton of hella cheap classical music this week. It blows my mind that, in the age of mp3 downloads as purchasable commodity, I can actually buy an entire opera for $3.00. Time was you had to shell out $20.00 just for the cheapie recordings by Eastern European companies no one had ever heard of. I also bought every piano sonata that Beethoven ever wrote, for a total cost of $2.00. Staggering.
I think I shall try working with Artur Schnabel and Maria Callas – not necessarily together – as my new background music. Better than listening to pop music right now. I find I'm still a little sensitive to the lyrics of all those happy and sad love songs. And a man can only listen to so much Billy Bragg.
Here's a taste of one of the operas I got. (Not this recording, but you get the idea.)
On a side note, I downloaded a ton of hella cheap classical music this week. It blows my mind that, in the age of mp3 downloads as purchasable commodity, I can actually buy an entire opera for $3.00. Time was you had to shell out $20.00 just for the cheapie recordings by Eastern European companies no one had ever heard of. I also bought every piano sonata that Beethoven ever wrote, for a total cost of $2.00. Staggering.
I think I shall try working with Artur Schnabel and Maria Callas – not necessarily together – as my new background music. Better than listening to pop music right now. I find I'm still a little sensitive to the lyrics of all those happy and sad love songs. And a man can only listen to so much Billy Bragg.
Here's a taste of one of the operas I got. (Not this recording, but you get the idea.)
As a pacifist, I can't hold a gun to your head. But I can withhold booze or something. Would that do it? :)
ReplyDeleteDidn't realize you were also a classical music fan. You are truly my male doppelganger.
ReplyDeleteI often like the Elgar Cello Concerto in D minor. Devastatingly beautiful, and great soundtrack to working. Also a huge fan of Chopin's piano works, as I was a serious pianist for over 15 years. Ballade Number 1 = the shit.
It's settled: Koshary and Hap are pretty nearly the same person in different bodies. There are too many similarities for this to be mere coincidence; I posit alien intervention as the cause. (Hey, it works for the History Channel!)
DeleteOn another note, dear doppelganger, are you quite certain that concerto is in D minor? The only one I can locate so far is in E minor.
Derp, typo! Yes, it is E minor. Perhaps it would be best if I proofread more? :)
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