The Modern Classicalist

More Pretention than thick rimmed glasses

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Music, why are you such a fickle mistress?

What defines great music? Is it a fantastic riff? No that generally means it’s catchy and fantastic single material. I’ve never personally enjoyed many singles compared to other songs on an album, for example, my favourite Queen song, ‘39. My favourite Deep purple song? April. That’s where the rock train ends though. That is why we shall dig deeply into music of a more, I shall say robust category.

I sit here typing this to Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3. Which is fantastic, stirring in the extreme.

So what you might say. I hate classical music, it’s without words. Well surely you’ll come to understand if you give my little attempt a shot. That’s the best part. Lyrics are for musicals and operas When a composer has his way with a symphony orchestra. That’s where soul wrenching action happens. So on occasion I shall attempt from now on to leave some music that will help you learn at least enough about this fantastic genre to enjoy at dinner parties.

Or maybe you’re of the it’s stuffy and boring. Well, I’ll agree in many cases, Handel is not for the likes of an inattentive and careless ear. For surely those ears will be on either side of slumbering eyes.

I’m no expert on this, but I sure as hell am going to pretend to be.

Filed under music Classical Music

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George R.R. Martin on writing women

George Stroumboulopoulos:
There's one thing that's interesting about your books. I noticed that you write women really well and really different. Where does that come from?
George R.R. Martin:
You know, I've always considered women to be people.

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By the time he turned 5, Michael had developed an uncanny ability to switch from full-blown anger to moments of pure rationality or calculated charm — a facility that Anne describes as deeply unsettling. “You never know when you’re going to see a proper emotion,” she said. She recalled one argument, over a homework assignment, when Michael shrieked and wept as she tried to reason with him. “I said: ‘Michael, remember the brainstorming we did yesterday? All you have to do is take your thoughts from that and turn them into sentences, and you’re done!’ He’s still screaming bloody murder, so I say, ‘Michael, I thought we brainstormed so we could avoid all this drama today.’ He stopped dead, in the middle of the screaming, turned to me and said in this flat, adult voice, ‘Well, you didn’t think that through very clearly then, did you?’

This kid is a total sociopath. (via newsweek)

Interesting read.

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So congratulations, North Carolina. Last night, you struck a decisive blow for loneliness. And tonight, as you go to sleep beside your heterosexual life mate, you can rest assured that all across your great state, a gay man or lesbian woman is crying themselves to sleep in solitude and making your relationship stronger with each tear.
STEPHEN COLBERT, The Colbert Report (via inothernews)

(via wilwheaton)