Monthly Archives: November 2010

Don’t Play It Again, Sam

Posted on November 24, 2010 by midiguru

I know this may outrage more than a few readers, some of whom are my friends, but I’m going to go out on a limb here. Loop music is stupid. If you’re stupid and want to be a musician (or … Continue reading →

Posted in music | 5 Comments

The Good Stuff

Posted on November 22, 2010 by midiguru

Sometimes a memory drifts up out of the remote past, and you’re struck by how directly it speaks to today’s concerns. In 1972, to begin this essay with what will turn out not to be a digression, I was working for … Continue reading →

Posted in music, society & culture | Tagged , | 5 Comments

The Age of the Lizard

Posted on November 22, 2010 by midiguru

I’ve been reading Morris Berman’s The Twilight of American Culture. Though loose in places, it’s fascinating reading. Berman traces some important parallels between the decline of the intellectual life in the waning days of the Roman Empire and the all … Continue reading →

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A Joyful Noise

Posted on November 20, 2010 by midiguru

Community orchestras are a wonderful thing … sort of. Last night I played a concert with the Silicon Valley Symphony. Tonight we’re repeating the program. It’s a good orchestra, capable of tackling fairly challenging repertoire and bringing it home. But … Continue reading →

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Combat Readiness

Posted on November 15, 2010 by midiguru

Given the insane eagerness with which the U.S. government gets embroiled in ruinous land wars in Asia, I’ve decided that I support the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. If the Army is kicking out gay soldiers, that will make the … Continue reading →

Posted in politics, random musings | 3 Comments

Three’s Company

Posted on November 13, 2010 by midiguru

An inspiring concert tonight — the Tilden Trio onstage at the Bankhead in Livermore. They played Beethoven’s Op. 1, No. 3, the Dvorak F minor trio, and … well, apparently there was a chaotic scene last night at some hotel … Continue reading →

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Lingua Franca

Posted on November 11, 2010 by midiguru

So you’re describing the human species to a xenosociologist named Erbq, who comes from a planet somewhere near Aldebaran. You tell him (actually, Erbq is a him/2, but let’s not get into that) that we humans use tools and communicate using spoken … Continue reading →

Posted in evolution, music | Tagged , | 3 Comments