Comments for Miss Music Nerd

Comment on Miss Music Nerd’s Zydeco Debut! by Andrew Abshier

Andrew Abshier — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:49:10 +0000

Austin? Great Mexican food? An actual zydeco band? You playing washboard? I’m part Cajun so I have that kind of music in my soul already.

Now I’m officially envious of you going. Nancy and I just couldn’t do it this year–but we’re going to make a serious effort to be in Pittsburgh next year!

Andy

Comment on Hearing With New Ears? by Rembrandt, Beethoven, And The Rest Of Us « Meandering Missives & Musings

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 20:26:41 +0000

[...] listed Linda’s site on my blogroll. She recently had another very interesting post titled, “Hearing With New Ears?” Among others, she asks these thought-provoking questions: ” . . . I wonder, when a piece is [...]

Comment on Hearing With New Ears? by Mike

Mike — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 19:42:21 +0000

When I was a very young cub, I had the occasion to visit the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The year was 1976, and I had just finished my first year of studies toward a music degree at my local community college. I was not much acquainted at all with the visual arts. When I walked into the room that displayed Rembrandt’s “Night Watch,” I knew immediately that I was in the presence of something great—something much, much larger than myself or my ability to comprehend it. There was so much to absorb from this magnificent painting that I could have stood there all day and not taken it all in, let alone completely understood the work. The textures, the colors, the form, and the sheer magnitude of this work: they completely overwhelmed the senses and the mental processing ability of this young aspiring musician who, up until that time, thought he knew a thing or two about the arts.

I think that it is the same with music, even music that we know very well. There is always more to discover in a well-known work. When I listen to a Beethoven Symphony, or string quartet, concerto, or sonata, it is nearly like listening for the first time, every time, even though I know some of this music so well that I can pick any part and sing along without missing a note. I am in awe of this magnificence, and I appreciate so much more about it at the age of 50 than I ever could have at the age of 20. Some of that deeper insight must come from age. I would not have thought that possible at the age of 20, but clearly see it now. The musical senses become more full-bodied and infused with fine nuances of appreciation and understanding as we age; much like a fine wine that has been allowed to sit on the rack for years.

As to why we go to live performances to hear music that we have heard a hundred times before: A live music performance is to a recording exactly what seeing the “Night Watch” at the Rijksmuseum is to seeing this work in a book at the library.

Comment on Hearing With New Ears? by McDoc

McDoc — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 03:18:15 +0000

Where did Miss Music Nerd go?

There she was, and then there she wasn’t.

I had gotten used to the solace of a MMN post-a-day.

Now, I only have my own miserable existence to endure.

When will this living Hell come to an end, or is this eternal damnation?

Comment on Hearing With New Ears? by virgomusic

virgomusic — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:46:07 +0000

Thanks for your kind words, Fran!

Comment on Hearing With New Ears? by FranIAm

FranIAm — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:11:49 +0000

Hi it is FestinaLente from SP. I saw your link and decided to stop by- what a great blog!!

I loved what you said here - very beautiful.

I shall return. Peace to you!

Comment on A Lucky Day for Detroit! by "Jose Cheung"

"Jose Cheung" — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:15:55 +0000

Hello! I followed your link from SP.

I haven’t been to Detroit since around 1980. I recall reading an article in Harper’s last year, about how depopulated neighborhoods were reverting to native prairie, and the residents who’d hung on had taken up farming on the vacant lots.

I live in Seattle, and my main interest is choral singing. I just started with a new community chorus, which has a summer session, as the one I’ve been singing with for the last couple of years does not. We got our music Tuesday, and it includes 4 madrigals. By coincidence, I’m working on a couple of songs by Purcell this summer in a group voice class. I chose the songs because I wanted to work on melismas. So I’ll learn a lot (more than I knew before, anyway) about music from that time and place this summer.

There is a good amount of classical choral music performed here. I saw a performance of Rachmaninoff’s Vespers by Seattle Pro Musica last month. I’m going to see “Aida” at the Seattle Symphony in August, which has a large chorus.

Comment on Guestbook! by Chris Felcyn

Chris Felcyn — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 02:13:55 +0000

Nice blog. Welcome to Detroit, home of one if the best concert halls on the planet AND the Stanley Cup.

Chris

Comment on Criticism: It Sucks! (part 1) by Zoe Lang, Musicologist Aspiring to Tenure

Zoe Lang, Musicologist Aspiring to Tenure — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 17:49:52 +0000

Well, I have to say that it is quite a honor to be cited in a blog after ranting on a blog. In fact, while very little of the musicological community is able to learn about my scholarship through publications, my one blog entry seems to be furthering my reputation by leaps and bounds!
The article has since been rejected again, although on a much faster timeline and with helpful feedback. In answer to your question ‘How did that happen,’ I sent it to a history journal instead of a musicology one.
I do appreciate your commentary, as it is always useful to Put Things Into Perspective (and as I’m sure you know, in academia Putting Things Into Perspective is rarely a priority).
Congratulations on completing your blog a day for a month, which is quite an achievement!

Comment on Your Questions Answered, vol. 2! by Miss Mussel

Miss Mussel — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 03:06:52 +0000

This is the most random setting of an orchestral melody I think I’ve ever heard. It sounds like a hymn that has been given the jazzed up treatment. Very strange.