Those who are not fans of the original Star Trek do not realize what a gift to our society that show was. It gave us our first interracial kiss on TV (Plato’s Stepchildren), a searing look at racism (Let That Be Your Last Battlefield), and profound episodes dealing with what it means to be “human” (Miri, Amok Time, Turnabout Intruder, The Corbomite Maneuver, and a host of others). But my favorite episode has always been “The Conscience of the King,” a terrific look at the aftereffects of dictatorship/fascism on society and on individual lives, with a little Hamlet thrown in for good measure. Some of my colleagues should sit down and watch this.
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The Super Bowl; or What’s Wrong With Classical Music
Like millions of Americans, and indeed hundreds of millions of people worldwide, I look forward to the Super Bowl every year, even if there’s not a chance in hell that my Buffalo Bills will be playing in it (again). It’s one of those cultural rituals that interrupts the long and ghastly winter, and it’s a convenient excuse to overdose on wings and guacamole. This year, of course, there is an added reason to look forward to the big game because Renée Fleming is singing the national anthem. And then the haters come out of the closet…
What’s In A Name
Happy New Year, everyone! I’d like to suggest a New Year’s resolution for everyone in the music business who is going to play a recital this year – keep it simple and do name the piano player.
The Desolation of ……. HeDaCam
It’s that time of year, when good little boys and girls eagerly await the next installment from Middle Earth. I can’t wait for 25 years from now when at Christmas time I will take my grandkids to see Peter Jackson’s 29th installment from Tolkien’s universe – The Children of Hurin: Revenge of Mȋm. If you don’t get the reference don’t worry about it. That story also involves a dragon, and a desolation….
What Biko Taught Me
Well, it’s happened again. There goes another bitter confrontation centered around the Minnesota Orchestra lockout. What I wonder, though, is how people could manage to have so disparate views about what has happened?
Calling Joe Welch
An unfortunate thing happened to me over social media over the last 24 hours. It was, of course, related to the Minnesota Orchestra, and it rather accurately distills the raw and unfettered emotions surrounding this controversy. Somehow this got me thinking about what we, the community, have lost.
The Difference Between Simple and Easy
In the wreckage that is the Minnesota Orchestra a lot of us have been throwing around ideas on what the next move should be. Many of these ideas are intriguing, some are debatable. A large part of these discussion have rotated around very simple ideas which on the surface seem no-brainers. Unfortunately, many of these are a trap.
Setting the Record Straight: A Clarification and an Apology
In my last post I made some very pointed jabs concerning the situation at the Minnesota Orchestra. I have heard through the grapevine that these may have been misinterpreted by some involved in the lockout. I want to clarify my intent and apologize if anyone has been offended.