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Uplifting Thoughts for the Isolated and Depressed in Times of Plague

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A great idiosyncratic Bach performance by Glenn Gould (only 28) with Leonard Bernstein. A very informative introduction by Bernstein.
Gould shows his trademark expressiveness in his face and him singing along with Bach, And his most expressive hands.

Watch this and repeat that American TV was a vast wasteland in 1960!

In his use of Hamlet for an illustration, Leonard makes a major error in understanding the setting of the play. Contrary to what he says, there is a very bold hint by Shakespeare in that first line as to what the tone should be. Do any of our literary types here know it?
 
This is my favourite Bach concerto. There are a lot of renditions on YouTube, from Lipatti, Gould, K. Richter, S. Richter to modern pianists, among whom it is difficult to make a choice, but I would prefer Polina Osetinskaya and Hélène Grimaud.

J.S. Bach - Harpsichord Concerto No.1 in D Minor BWV 1052 - Polina Osetinskaya

J.S. Bach - Harpsichord Concerto No.1 in D Minor BWV 1052 - Hélène Grimaud
 
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Praefectus Praetorio said:
In his use of Hamlet for an illustration, Leonard makes a major error in understanding the setting of the play. Contrary to what he says, there is a very bold hint by Shakespeare in that first line as to what the tone should be. Do any of our literary types here know it?
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I'm not sure what the 'major error in understanding' Bernstein is making, but his use of the opening to Hamlet does rather overlook the fact that the stage instructions make it clear that it is the 'wrong' person asking the question, given that Bernardo is coming to relieve Francisco at his post. And that doesn't really bolster his point about lack of direction in early musical manuscripts......

I particularly like the Osetinskaya rendition of that concerto. The orchestra has such a lovely rich tone, which complements her playing.

Dvorák - Slavonic Dance op 72, Number 2; Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

 
Migoz2 said:
but his use of the opening to Hamlet does rather overlook the fact that the stage instructions make it clear that it is the 'wrong' person asking the question, given that Bernardo is coming to relieve Francisco at his post.
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Correct. The sentry on duty asks the question, not the person approaching. It is wrong and alerts us to the whole situation being wrong. It sets the tone for the whole play, "There is something rotten in Denmark," The natural order is overturned due to a usurper sitting on the throne. A brilliant use of a one-line opener!

Enough high-brow. How about some low-brow fun?
View attachment Pandemic Stress Reliever.mp4
 
Thinking of those who have made this journey ...

Crossing the Bar​

BY ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON
Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;

For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crost the bar.
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Praefectus Praetorio said:
The sentry on duty asks the question, not the person approaching. It is wrong and alerts us to the whole situation being wrong. I
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You mean the sentry on duty should ask the question? As Migosz said, Bernardo, the relief coming on duty, asks out of turn 'Who's there?', and Francisco, the guard on duty, responds 'Nay, answer me: stand and unfold thyself.' I don't think it immediately tells us the time is out of joint, it does tell us the guards are jumpy, they've both got reason to think someone/ something else might be around, as becomes increasingly apparent (especially with Marcellus 'What! Has this thing appear'd again tonight?') in the 40 lines up to 'Enter Ghost'. Perhaps Marcellus's addition to Horatio's introduction - 'Friends to this ground.' 'And liegemen to the Dane.' has some irony - which Dane? Does he deserve allegiance? So - a general sense of unease, I entirely agree that Bernstein's chosen a bad example. And, while there's of course a lot we can't be sure about, musical scholarship and the rise of 'historically informed' performance has got us a lot closer to what Bach would have heard, or wanted to hear (which was probably not much like Glenn Gould, splendid though his playing was!)
 
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Praefectus Praetorio said:
A great idiosyncratic Bach performance by Glenn Gould (only 28) with Leonard Bernstein. A very informative introduction by Bernstein.
Gould shows his trademark expressiveness in his face and him singing along with Bach, And his most expressive hands.

Watch this and repeat that American TV was a vast wasteland in 1960!

In his use of Hamlet for an illustration, Leonard makes a major error in understanding the setting of the play. Contrary to what he says, there is a very bold hint by Shakespeare in that first line as to what the tone should be. Do any of our literary types here know it?
Click to expand...

Gould's coolness in this performance is simply unreachable for the rest of Humanity.
And yes, I'm absolutely partial towards Glenn Gould, he is one of my (few) heroes.
 
If only I had been born a bit earlier and raised in the UK, I might have become a member of Legs & Co. They were a dance troupe that appeared on the BBC's "Top of the Pops" over three hundred times in the late 70s and early 80s. Often scantily-clad. This is a career I was born for.

The fun starts at the 0:49 point. I love the way they come prancing out from behind the curtain. If you do not find them uplifting, then I'm sorry but you're already dead. :p

NOTE: You may have to click the link to go watch it on youtube.

 

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Jackie1111 said:
If only I had been born a bit earlier and raised in the UK, I might have become a member of Legs & Co. They were a dance troupe that appeared on the BBC's "Top of the Pops" over three hundred times in the late 70s and early 80s. Often scantily-clad. This is a career I was born for.

The fun starts at the 0:49 point. I love the way they come prancing out from behind the curtain. If you do not find them uplifting, then I'm sorry but you're already dead. :p

NOTE: You may have to click the link to go watch it on youtube.

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I am sure that you would have a starter!
 
Jackie1111 said:
If only I had been born a bit earlier and raised in the UK, I might have become a member of Legs & Co. They were a dance troupe that appeared on the BBC's "Top of the Pops" over three hundred times in the late 70s and early 80s. Often scantily-clad. This is a career I was born for.

The fun starts at the 0:49 point. I love the way they come prancing out from behind the curtain. If you do not find them uplifting, then I'm sorry but you're already dead. :p

NOTE: You may have to click the link to go watch it on youtube.

Click to expand...
great video - shame about the DJ :(
 
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