My listening post today – which is Christmas Eve – is my office. Playing through my Altec Lansing speakers, which is connected to my iPod Classic – is The James Gang. Straight ahead of me (obviously) is my Lost in Space robot and an editorial comment regarding today’s listening project: German conductor Franz Konwitschny (1901-1962), … [Read more…]
My listening post this morning is the second floor of our local library. Also known as my happy place. And it’s here, right now, that I’m listening to a recording from 1961 – German conductor Franz Konwitschny (1901-1962), Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 in F major. I’ve encountered Maestro Konwitschny seven times previously, … [Read more…]
My listening post this morning is at a table, quite early in the morning, in a local franchise of the Restaurant-Chain-That-Must-Not-Be-Named. An Asiago bagel (toasted twice) with plain cream cheese, and this establishment’s signature Light Roast coffee are poised on my left. My trusty note pad and pen are similarly poised on my right. Both … [Read more…]
It’s a chilly, gray morning here in West Michigan. The trees are still in full color change. Quite vibrant. But the skies are gray and we’ve had a lot of rain lately. That, plus the fact that darkness pushes in on both sides of the day (it’s still dark at 8:15am and it gets dark … [Read more…]
My office this afternoon comes complete with Pumpkin Whoopie Pies and a glass of cold rice “milk.” (It’s actually called Rice Drink. But it’s the color of milk and it comes in a half gallon carton like milk does. So I call it milk.) This time of year is when the Pumpkin Whoopie Pies emerge … [Read more…]
My happy place again – the second floor of the local library. If not for the increasing pain in my knees (they both need to be replaced), I’d sit here all day. I love this spot. Anyway, this morning I am listening to German conductor Franz Konwitschny (1901-1962) as he leads the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig‘s performance … [Read more…]
Because I love Chick-fil-A restaurants so much, I’m back here again, this time listening to Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 in E flat Major as rendered by Franz Konwitschny, the quirky German conductor who always delivers a fine performance but who isn’t as well known these days as he probably should be. From his bio on … [Read more…]
My office this morning is a table in the back of Bagel Beanery, the purveyor of the largest, tastiest bagels in Grand Rapids (for whatever that’s worth). So, as I sip my Breakfast Blend coffee, and munch on my Dill Havarti bagel (toasted with plain cream cheese), I listen to German conductor Franz Konwitschny (1901-1962) … [Read more…]