Remember that old dinner party game, where each person has to pick 10 dead people to bring back for a dinner party? I thought of a new version. Pick a few musicians to bring back for a concert. Or, maybe a series of concerts, since Wolfgang opening for Richie Valens might not be quite the thing. Actually, I haven't thought this through yet, so I don't even have my own list. We may have to drag this out all week, amending here and editing there. I do think I want to bring back some of them, not just for their music but also because I really want to ask them something.
For instance, I'd love to ask Mozart about musical precociousness and how it happens: "So, yo, Wolfgang, how did you DO that???"
I don't know that I'd have a specific question for John Lennon, except maybe, "Do you still think it was a good idea to marry her?" I'd just like to hear him talk about the Beatles, and watch him write a song, and listen to him say witty things.
Are there any musicians you'd like to bring back for dinner and a concert?
Take your time. They're in no hurry. :)
26 comments:
No list at the moment (will try to think one up), but your mention of Mozart and 'HOW he did that' brought to mind a recent show here in Louisville. Each year we have this thing called Idea Fest that brings together the best minds in every field to discuss, perform, and inform. Dr. Richard Kogan was here playing the music of Mozart and explaining the psychology behind the man and music. I was told by a local Dr friend (also an artist) that it was an astounding, humbling program. You might like to research his work, Nancy. I'll cut and paste part of the Docs bio: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) is universally regarded as perhaps the greatest child prodigy and genius in music history. What was the impact of Mozart's complex personality on his creative output? Dr. Richard Kogan, a distinguished psychiatrist and virtuoso concert pianist, is uniquely qualified to examine this question. A graduate of Juilliard and Harvard Medical School, Dr. Kogan will discuss the unique ideas and talent of Mozart and illustrate his points by performances of some of Mozart's most glorious music. Kogan has a distinguished career both as a concert pianist and as a psychiatrist. He has been praised for his "eloquent, compelling, and exquisite playing" by the New York Times, and the Boston Globe wrote that "Kogan has somehow managed to excel at the world's two most demanding professions." He has gained international renown for his groundbreaking work on the connections between music and healing and on the influence of medical and psychiatric illnesses on the creative output of composers such as Mozart Beethoven, Schumann, Tchaikovsky, Gershwin, and Leonard Bernstein. His DVD entitled "Music and the Mind : The Life and Works of Robert Schumann" was recently released by Yamaha. Dr. Kogan is a first prize winner of the Concert Artists Guild Award and the Chopin Competition of the Kosciuszko Foundation, and was a recipient of the 2005 Artsgenesis Creative Achievement Award. He is a frequent chamber music collaborator with cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
My brain is way too foggy this early to do any real thinking abut complicated but interesting questions so for right I'll just stick to doing the Monday Picture Post which has an very appropriate theme.
Foggy, [LINK]
foggy, [LINK]
morning [LINK]
And welcome jasonscs -- I'll be ready to take in your post after some more coffee.
Well, I would say any thought I had about dead musicians pales right now.
Wow Jason, you got chops at 2:47am.
I am fascinated by what you talked about. This is the type of connections I love hearing about.
Nancy, great idea.
Andi--Thanks so much for something I can wrap my mind around this early. BEUTFUL tree/forest pictures.
I'll have to ponder this one.
Marvelous Monday to All.
John Lennon would definitely be among my top choices as well. I always thought Yoko Ono got a bad rap, she seems pretty cool in my book. My question for Lennon would be about whether he believes he would've stayed true to his ideals over a longer lifetime or wound up caving like everyone else to rake in obscene amounts of cash doing ad spots for Verizon or Cadillac. (This is not a casual question.)
Also, though she's not been gone for all that long I'd like to bring back The High Priestess of Soul, Dr. Nina Simone. What. a. voice. The only question I could formulate, being nearly immobile with awe, would be, "How was it possible that you were such an incredible badass in such a hostile social world?"
I'd like to ask Mama Cass Elliot the same question, actually, and wow wouldn't another album from her be a fine thing.
::yawns:: morning, my peeps!
Jasonscs - too much thinky this early--amazing! Andi - the photos are perfect for the fog in my brain.
Good morning, Lisa. :)
Jen - yes! Nina Simone and Cass Elliott would be 2 of my choices.
I shall ponder my list as I try to make it through my work day.
Andi, that first picture could be my own state of mind right now!
I'd have to think about the question for the day. Jim Croce and Harry Chapin would be up near the top for me. Maybe the guys from the Lynyrd Skynyrd Band that went down in the plane crash — I didn't appreciate their music until later in life.
It would have been especially interesting to see Jimi Hendrix get older… I expect that he'd be like Keith Richards, falling out of trees, and still schooling the other wannabe guitarists.
BTW, today's episode of FAR Future starts a new sub-series. Y'all will probably figure out where this one's going…
Back from my morning walk which provided a fine milieu for thinking about this and now I have three:
Clara Schumann [wiki info] so this monumental talent would get the acclaim and the creative life she deserves. Bonus would be if that also made more people read Janet Galloway's brilliant novel Clara.
Janis Joplin because seeing her in concert was one of the most emotionally wrenching and yet satisfying experiences I've ever had and I wish more people could have had it.
And I'd bring back the first woman to sing her child to sleep because I think this is how so many people first learn that music is an integral part of their lives.
Morning Lisa, Jen, Maria, and Farf. Jen and Farf, enjoyed your selections and looking forward to reading what everyone's selections.
And I'm glad I stuck a picture post chord with all you other dense folks -- nice to know I'm not alone. ;)
Dense folks--can we get buttons to wear maybe. I'm thinking what kind of logo?
Sorry, I digress.
I'm not too deep. But I pondered this all morning. Henry Mancini actually came to mind first. His movie scores and songs were the background of my childhood/teen years. Followed by Richard Rodgers and both Hart and Hammerstein who wrote the musicals of the 50's and 60's that have songs that I still find circling my mind. Max Steiner was one of the first well known movie composers. I would love to hear the stories of music and the movies over the years.
Then I think about the Rat Pack. Frank and Dean and Sammy Davis Jr. all have interesting stories.
Then maybe Nat King Cole and Louis Armstrong were great entertainers I would enjoy visiting with.
I would prefer George Harrison rather than Lennon.
I would love to just look at Jim Morrison. Who cares what he has to say.
Mama Cass I did love and Janis Joplin was gritty energy.
John Lennon for the obvious reasons.
Woody Guthrie and Phil Ochs for the very same reasons.
I'm laying low, in fact this is the first time I've been online for several days.
I didn't watch the "debate" because after work I learned that my mother is riddled with cancer. They haven't diagnosed which type or the orgin yet. She's 58
Tomorrow is Danni's 14th bday. (They swept the competition this Sat and brought home ALL the hardware, btw) We were supposed to go and have her ears pierced at this funky Portland place but her room was so filthy she couldn't find her ASB Student ID card. I was upset because it was probably the last non-crying time we'll have during this season. I was just wanting to get through her bday without falling apart you know? It's like everything after this moment will be defined by "when grandma died of cancer" or "Just before grandma died of cancer". I'm not being pessimistic. My mom can't fight this. Remember, What's eating Gilbert Grape?
Anyways, I'm just miserable. I blew up last night because I saw some fragile time with Danni just wasted. Now I feel worse for blowing up... of course.
Yeah I have major Mom issues. I think my mom ate her way out of having to make any choices. It was her way of staying safe from criticism.
Has this stopped her from being uber critical of all that I do or say? Naw. It just means that I have to completely take it. And I will. I've been taking it for some time now. Non-offending parents have that sense of entitlement to dish it out while ignoring reality all around them. It's not like I can fight back or reason with her because she falls apart and becomes more ill.
And lets not forget her extremist family who I have to deal with regarding ... so much. I'll make sure to send you a memo from that certain circle of hell.
Anyways... Hello from the Needle in the Haystack. I'll be okay. I always am at some point.
Hmmm I almost said George Harrison... but in this house he's very much alive.
Not a week goes by that someone in this house isn't playing him.
UNICEF has been a high priority charity for my daughter. She talks about wanting to one day be
THE PRESIDENT
...
of UNICEF.
(((Janet))) So sorry to hear that news. Sending you good thoughts to help you through the days.
DJ, all my sympathy to you and your family. And especially wishing the best birthday possible to Danni.
It might be entertaining to have a duel (ala dueling banjos) between piano and violin by musicians with large egos. Like Liberace vs Paganini.
Janet--More than anything find the music and words that bring you calm and comfort. You do for and think so much about others. But being the strong one sucks too. Family is a tough act to juggle at times. I'm thinking family divorce has a place in this world.
Your daughter is lucky to have a mother that cares so much about creating memories.
Thoughts and prayers your way.
Dave--You da' man. I'm in the front row waiting for music smack down. Got my shades on, ready for that Liberace sparkle.
{{{{DJ}}}}
Hi!
Well, these are the ones who immediately come to mind. (I'm thinking that music that really touches my soul would be a good reason for wanting to talk to the creators of said music. Like maybe our souls would touch in person? How awesome would THAT be?!)
John Lennon, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Mama Cass Elliott, Janice Joplin.
I'll have to think some more for the other what 5?
Wow, Jasonscs, that's impressive work that gentleman is doing! I wonder if he does any work with idiot savants and how that all works. That would be fascinating to find out.
Andif, I love those pictures. It makes me feel like I'm right there taking the walk. Wonderful. The setting reminds me of a place in southern Ohio called Old Man's Cave. Have you ever been there? Beautiful. It's between Columbus and Athens.
Janet, I am very sorry to hear of your mom's illness. I know how hard it is when parents reach the end of their lives. My mom died 3 months after discovering she had cancer. Even though I was an adult, I felt like an orphan when she died. Good thoughts are sent your way.
Howdy, Jen, Lisa, Maria, Maryb, Farf, Dave and Nancy (who I know is around here somewhere!). It would be interesting to see what type of music would emanate from the group we've all mentioned! (Andif, I've never heard of Clara Schumann. I'll have to see if they have anything by her at the library I can check out.)
This is totally off topic, but I've just seen the best movie! First, I should say I love Angelina Jolie. I want to BE Angelina Jolie in the movies she makes. The movie is called WANTED. It reminds me of Matrix. So if you liked the Matrix, I think you'd really like this.
ok, here's my problem. I can think of tons of musicians (and you didn't differentiate between composers and performers so I'm not) I'd love to hear in a concert. Can I have a symphony there for Beethoven to conduct? I'm with Andi on hearing Clara Schumann. I'd love a Cole Porter concert. I'd like to hear Rachmaninoff perform his own 2nd piano concerto with orchestra. I'd like to hear Maria Callas sing during her prime. And I'd throw Patsy Cline in there too. And Chick Webb (maybe get Ella to sing along). I'd even get Elvis up there.
But dinner? I don't want to have dinner with any of them.
Ba-da-bum. Lol, Lisa!
First of all, ((((Janet)))).
It seems abrupt to go from hugs of sympathy to another subject, but such is the nature of this kind of communication. ((Janet)), I have a feeling you understand.
Jason, thank you. I am *definitely* going to look him up.
Andi, I'm saving your photos to look at in a minute, but I think I can safely predict I'll love them. :)
Jen, Maria, far, maryb, HI DAVE!, bono, and I hope I got everybody--I'm off to read your comments now.
Do you know that the poem did not say, "musick hath charms to soothe the savage beast"? It actually says "musick has charms to soothe the savage breast." I just found that out yesterday!
Lisa, lol about looking at Morrison. Indeed. He can sing, too, if he wants to. And wear those black leather pants.
Patsy Kline, yes! (maryb)
I really like your picks, you guys. Wandering around back stage would be a hoot.
Nobody brought back Elvis! Millions will be so disappointed.
Johnny Cash.
ahem ... Elvis was on my list.
Oops. He was, indeed. I stepped on his blue suede shoes.
re: Elvis...didn't Charlaine bring him back? ;-)
Janet - mucho, mucho hugs!!
::the lima slips back out quietly from whence she came::
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