Ahira's Hangar

On Friday my son and I went to the music store. I was delighted to see a new CD from Loreena McKennitt, the classy Canadian singer with the etherially lovely voice.

I have not seen a new CD from her in years?

An Ancient Muse is lovely. Some of the songs have a tasty Middle Eastern/Central Asian flavor to them.

Others have a lovely Celtic feel, like the old ballad of the English Ladye and the Scottish Knight. ******************************************************

Our lives are the songs that sing the universe into existence.~David Zindell
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Just bought Pink Floyd's The Division Bell (inspired by Cail's posting of their High Hopes video on YouTube at the Watch). I've been dying to have this album ever since it came out. I am NOT dissapointed, in fact I'm on !!!!

(McKennitt is outstanding, btw...) *****
Before, you are wise; after, you are wise. In between you are otherwise.
Fravashi saying (from the formularies of Osho the Fool) <i>Edited by: danlo60 at: 1/12/07 4:55 pm
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ZZ Topp's greatest Hits! ******************************************************

Our lives are the songs that sing the universe into existence.~David Zindell
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I have a hankering for some Rolling Stones today. ******************************************************

Our lives are the songs that sing the universe into existence.~David Zindell
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Some of the CD's I have been listening to lately:

Yellowjackets Twentyfive
The Beatles Love
The Best of the Doors
Dave Matthews Band The Best of What's Around
Harry Connick Jr. Chanson du Vieux Carre
Alison Krauss A Hundred Miles or More
Corinne Bailey Rae

Randy Brecker with Michael Brecker Some Skunk Funk...live jazz

Was in a jazzy sort of mood tonight:

Fourplay X
Gladys Knight Before Me
Peter White Playin' Favorites
Joyce Cooling Revvolving Door
Diana Krall From This Moment On
Mozart (a compilation CD of some of his shorter pieces)
The Who Endless Wire

Been immensely enjoying Jack Bruce's Keep it Down which you can watch in "the hottest jam on the net" thread. Hey Earthy! How are you? You Sabres are kicking some serious a...!

lately I've been really into Motown stuff...

currently Tears of a Clown by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles is playing...to be followed closely by some Marvin Gaye and Commodores...

Miles Davis Cool and Collected

Listening to Beethoven's 1st Symphony as performed by the Berlin Philharmonic under Herbert von Karajan in their 1977 version. Been used to hearing Beethoven on "authentic" period instruments for the past few years, but felt a bit nostalgic for Karajan's "regal" style. I was first introduced to Beethoven's symphonies via Karajan's '77 recordings, so they mean something to me.

Ok, on the last movement now...y'know, even if the modern Berlin sound is decidedly "thick" compared to the crisp, transparent sound of period instruments, Karajan's command of Beethoven's symphonies is still a marvel to behold. With Karajan, it's not about emphasizing the individual notes, but about being constantly aware of the organic whole and driving the music towards its climaxes. That said, I wouldn't give up my period instrument Beethoven. It's just nice to revisit the power and glory of Karajan's Beethoven every once in a while.

That's cool!

Nowadays if I were recommending Beethoven to first-time listeners, I'd first suggest period instrument or period-style performances (i.e. smaller, chamber-sized ensembles). But if we're talking modern orchestral recordings, I'd still recommend Karajan and the Berliners in a heartbeat.

I was probably like that first husband of yours, heheh: I used to think Karajan and the BPO owned Beethoven's symphonies. I was disdainful of period instrument performances at first, because I felt the sound they produced was too "thin" to capture the emotive power of Beethoven's music. But ultimately, I was won over by the fresh energy of the "authentic" approach.