Jing-reed's Musings from Thailand

The Center of All Things

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. . .  and a more lyrical view of the same concept by that poet/astronomer Carl Sagan:

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Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau 1925 – 2012

"Few artists archieve the level of recognition, admiration and influence of Fischer-Dieskau, and even fewer live to see, that influence realised during their own lifetime. Ushering in the modern recording era, he challenged our percepton and processes of how recordings could be made, explored the possibilities of modern recording and exploited the potential for popularity of classical music; and all this while setting standarts of artistic archievment, integrity, risk-talking, and the aestetic ideal that became our new norm. Whetever we bask in the beauty of his tone, revere the probing, questioning power of his intellect, of simply wonder at the astonishing physical abilities throught all that he has archieved in his long recording career, we must also pause and say THANK YOU to this great artist, whose legacy, like a great and bright star lighting the way for those who follow in his passion for singing, is exemplary in every way."
—Thomas Hampson, May 2012, Hall of Fame, Gramophone Magazine.


I had the honor of attending one of Mr. Fischer-Dieskau's recitals many years ago.  Still recall the majesty of that experince.

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The Black Cat — Le Chat Noir

Nearly 60 years have passed since I was first introduced to the poster art of Théophile Steinlen and 'Le Chat Noir' [The Black Cat], an event which I had fogotten until today when I received an email from a friend in California with a link to a video on Youtube.

The year was 1953 and I was stationed at an Army Intelligence school about 40 miles from Boston, Mass.  Upon arriving at Fort Devins and being assigned to a two man room for my six months of schooling there, I soon realized that I had fallen in love with my roommate.  Fortunately it was mutual.

I was only 19 years old and had never been in a gay relationship before.  Completely new territory.  As a part of my introduction to the world of gay men, one night Gregg took me to a gay bar in Boston, 'The Black Cat'.  Over the large bar was an enormous poster of 'Le Chat Noir' by Steinlen. 

Memory and recall is such an odd quality of human beings. Although I haven't thought about this incident of the past for nearly 60 years, it was suddenly as vivid as if it had happened yesterday.  . . . . .

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Richard Feynman and Tannu Tuva

Richard Phillips Feynman - The Last Journey Of A Genius

"I'm an explorer okay, I get curious about everything and I want to investigate all kinds of stuff."

 

   The Quest For Tannu Tuva[1988] - Nova

 

   Tuvan music and throat singing

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   Tannu Tuva in a fractal image

   Full sized image of image above

 

Japan Remembers The Earthquake

Japan remembers earthquake, tsunami

"With a minute of silence, prayers and anti-nuclear rallies, Japan marks on Sunday the first anniversary of an earthquake and tsunami that killed thousands and set off a radiation crisis that shattered public trust in atomic power and the nation's leaders.

A year after the magnitude 9.0 earthquake unleashed a wall of water that hit Japan's northeast coast, killing nearly 16,000 and leaving nearly 3,300 unaccounted for, the country is still grappling with the human, economic and political costs.  . . . . "

 

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Sunday Morning at home . . .

The above list is one of my iTunes playlists.  It contains primarily the slower adagio movements of some twenty of Mozart's many compostions.  Heavenly music.

As I have no doubt mentioned several times before, my love affair with the music of Mozart began at an early age.  I was perhaps 3 or 4 years old and seated on the piano bench next to my father.  He was playing something by Mozart on his enormous Bösendorfer piano when, in my young mind I made the connection that the movement of his fingers was producing the divine music that I was hearing.  It was one of those young 'eureka' moments which has helped to define my entire life.

For me the music of Mozart has served as a direct connection to that 'divine life force', whatever it may be, that characterizes our humanity.


Adagio in E for Violin and Orchestra, K. 261

"The Adagio in E for Violin and Orchestra, K. 261, was composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1776. It was probably a replacement movement for the original slow movement of his Violin Concerto No. 5 in A. It is believed that Mozart wrote it specifically for the violinist Antonio Brunetti, who complained that the original slow movement was "too artificial." The work is scored for solo violin, two flutes, two horns and strings."

 

[Free mp3 files of all Mozart's music at: http://www.mozart-archiv.de/ ]

Bill Moyers Returns

Bill Moyers: Back With a New Series

"Dear Friends,

You already may have heard that I'd be coming back in January with a new series on the public television station nearest you. But you may not have heard exactly why. It's not just that I lack retirement skills, as my wife and co-editor, Judith, keeps reminding me. Or that the squeaky rocking chair on the front porch got on my nerves. I'm coming back because in tumultuous times like these I relish the company of people who try to make sense of the tumult. These are the people I'll bring to our new broadcast, Moyers & Company.

Journalism has long been for me a continuing course in adult education. Given what's happening in this country, it's time to sign up for more classes. The lack of civility and common sense that has paralyzed our democracy, the vast economic and social inequality that sends both left and right raging into the streets, the corrosive influence of money in politics - we're in a tailspin with little hope for a course correction from our elected leadership or corporate-dominated media. The need for voices of reason, simple and eloquent, has rarely been stronger. ,,,"

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The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

The Artistry of Don Hong-Oai

Chinese Photographs Look Like Traditional Paintings

"These images may appear to be traditional Chinese prints, including the beautiful calligraphy and stamp work that decorates such classic works… but in fact, they are all photographs. The serenely peaceful craft of Don Hong-Oai, a Chinese born artist who immigrated twice and never left behind the stunning aesthetic of his homeland.

Don Hong-Oai was born in Canton, China in 1929. The youngest of an astounding 24 siblings, his parents passed away when he was just 7 years old and soon he was sent to live within the Chinese community in Saigon, Vietnam. He would spend most of his life there doing odd jobs until he became a student at the Vietnam National Art University. He remained in the country throughout the Vietnam War, but when conflict broke out between the Peoples Republic of China and Vietnam in 1979 he fled to the San Francisco.

Now 50 years old and speaking no english, Hong-Oai was able to procure a small dark-room in the city and continue his photographic work, returning to China every few years to make new negatives. It wasn’t until the last few years of his life that his work was discovered by the public and became popular with collectors worldwide. The artistic master passed away in 2004, leaving a legacy of beautifully meditative art, the result of a life-long persistence and passion for beauty. You can see more of his prints on flickr."

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Thank you Christopher

Of the many tributes to Christopher Hitchens, this is by far one of the best.  Eloquently spoken, beautifully realized.  Much like Mr. Hitchens himself, this video is a work of art.

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Christopher Hitchens 1949 – 2011

Christopher Hitchens memoir to be published in January  [The Guardian]

"There is no-one like Christopher Hitchens. He was the most brilliant and versatile non-fiction writer of modern times, whose prodigious output was of stunningly high quality, a showcase for his vast range, deep knowledge and fierce wit. When he was diagnosed with cancer, he faced it with characteristic honesty, courage and rigour," said Mundy. "He is, quite simply, irreplaceable."

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