Martin Kennedy - Notes

Top of the Popes, Papal Get Ready, etc. etc.

The Wall Street Journal reports on one of the strangest 'best of' lists I've ever seen.  Apparently the Catholic church spent the days running up to Lent reflecting on the best rock albums of all time.  Making the list are the usual suspects (Thriller, Dark Side of the Moon, etc.) as well as a few of my own guilty pleasures (The Nightfly especially).  I eagerly await the 'best of' rap albums.  I hear that Benedict is a Tupac fan...  

The composer toots his own horn...

Martin Kennedy Receives $5,000 ASCAP Foundation Nissim Prize

Eyes that last I saw in tears

Eyes that last I saw in tears
Through division
Here in death's dream kingdom
The golden vision reappears
I see the eyes but not the tears
This is my affliction

This is my affliction
Eyes I shall not see again
Eyes of decision
Eyes I shall not see unless
At the door of death's other kingdom
Where, as in this,
The eyes outlast a little while
A little while outlast the tears
And hold us in derision.

- T.S. Eliot

Scriabin, jazz pioneer

I only recently (and quite belatedly) stumbled across the Pierian Recording Society's realization of Alexander Scriabin's pianism as reproduced through piano rolls that he made in Moscow in 1910.  Beyond being astounded by his rubato, I was struck by how jazzy his interpretation was - it sounds less like a mazurka and more like a foreshadowing of Bill Evans and Herbie Hancock.  

As a means of comparison, here is Vladimir Sofronitsky performing Op. 40 No. 2:

Sofronitsky

And Scriabin's version:

Scriabin

Polkastra! (and Wagner) at Le Poisson Rouge

Put on your clogs and viking helmet!  Polkastra will be performing at Le Poisson Rouge this coming Monday, September 14th from 6:30-9:30pm.  

They'll be performing tracks off of their incredible album Apolkalypse Now! and will also be premiering a new piece arranged by Matthew Van Brink and myself - "Ride of the Polkyries," a ridiculous medley of Wagner tunes that will leave you wondering why all of the Ring Cycle isn't performed on accordion.

In Bb

This is fun.  Give it a try.

Should you be lucky enough to find yourself in Malaga in the next few days, I encourage you to visit Unesco's International Council of Dance exhibit at the Teatro Cervantes.  Daniel Santo, a brilliant artist (and the designer of this site), will be showcasing his works during the three day festival.  More information can be found here.

The bad news: Newspapers around the country are slowly  phasing out their crosswords.

The good news: Amidst all this, Peter Gordon may have found a way to bring his truly brilliant crosswords back from the print grave. 

Peter Gordon, formerly the crossword editor for The New York Sun, has been trying to revive its crossword on his site, Suncrosswords.com. To make the site financially viable, Mr. Gordon said he needs to find 1,776 people — a consciously patriotic goal — willing to pay 20 cents a puzzle. So far he has about 500. ("No Puzzle in the Paper? I'm Blank!" NY Times, 8/10/09)

Among aficionados, his crossword has been sorely missed and I'm crossing my fingers that the recent spate of publicity will go down well and get Gordon across the finish line.

Calm down / what happens / happens mostly / without you

When the band begins to play, put your troubles aside...

Although it won't be available in stores until August, polka supergroup Polkastra's debut CD Apolkalypse Now! is currently available through iTunes.  It's a fantastic recording by some of the best musicians (and goofiest people) that I know.  

You can see their Myspace page here and become their bestest bestest friend at Facebook.

Here's a video of The Hora! The Hora! - arranged by the always brilliant Matthew Van Brink (he's the one sitting on the floor smelling his knuckles in deep concentration.)