I want to send all my best wishes for the upcoming year. May we all enjoy many many more sing-a-longs and special musical moments together.
Enjoy the spring like weather while it last and see you all soon.
All the best
Stay safe and healthy
Magdalena
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Pussycat Diaries
We've been exchanging our thoughts on a poem that was submitted by Wendy. The comments themselves have formed their own compelling narrative. The poem is at the BOTTOM of the post. Thanks to the many who contributed. Comment is free.
Having uttered those very words often in the past 50 years, and having heard many, many, many others utter those very words, I can onlyconclude that either we are a naturally poetic species, or perhaps we are like birds who undergo hormonal changes from the influence of climate and day length, causing us to congregate at bus stops and utter this seasonal call. -Maria
I am deeply moved by the high calibre thought and feeling that went into this poem and your responses. I believe you are both right. Yes, it's cold and the poor thing is near frozen and cannot help but be both aware and responsible for its own survival. Only by taking action and skedaddling over the fence beyond its left shoulder will it arrive at the barn that is warm, thereby assuring its future cathood. But, it then must reflect upon the past ordeal to come to clarity concerning its very existance, and continue on. To paraphrase JFK: ich bin ein pussycat. -Mitch
Stunning. A see a great future for this poet... -Sudhir
Ah, yes, creative cats those humans...I was about to attempt to write something profound but am still enjoying thetime spent with a little guy who has just made contact with the sound of crunching snow under his boot and thewonder of snowflakes falling from the sky...is amazed by fire trucks roaring by...has three cats at home...one whodoesn't mind it's tail being tugged or it's fur being pulled...quite a remarkable cat this one...a one for the team cat.That's what this cat with the hat remind me of...that and Dr.Zeuss books I read as a kid. The jingle of a sleighbellin the store run by his Mom make a sound invoking the story of Santa busy with his elves and Mrs.Klaus at the NorthPole loading the sleigh up, feeding the reindeers who by now are chomping at the bit for their nocturnal journey round the world...sorry all, I did try to contribute philosophically but all I can think of on that plane is how eachsnow flake is different and apply the metaphor to humans. That and how Inuit have 1,000 different names for snowconditions and textures...part of an ancient tradition of navigating the artic. P.S. Did you see that full moon out there tonight!!! Cheers fellow poets, Peteyhoo.
I think you have totally missed the point. The poem's ambivalence masks a darker message, that perhaps awareness and responsibility are NOT enough, and there is an ineffable urge to chaos that exists in all of us. It is only through ACTION that we define ourselves, our own lives are the EVIDENCE allowing us to stand unbowed before GOD. We need more work of this nature, art that is not AFRAID to take on the outmoded, obsolete, curmudgeonly, archaic, calcified, osteoporosis-ridden thesaurus-derived mores that have so hobbled our culture.
-Glen Gary
shit THAT was funny -Magdalena Diaz
How did I get this e-mail? And I don't know what poem youse talkin' about. But there sure is a lot of intellectual , philosophic ramble that 's too much for my simple mind , especially doing e-mail. -Harve
There are so many layers implicit in this pictorial/verbal poem. Oxymorons are demonstrated -- first linguistically by the close placement of "shit", usually warm, and "cold", then pictorially by the warm hat on the head while leaving the body cold. The latter shows the cruelty of humankind that is more interested in making a cute statement than in attending to the poor kitty's suffering in a cold, and very windy environment -- so windy, that the kitty's belly is mirroring the movements of the wind. This is just a microcosm of humankind's selfish treatment of other living creatures. Taken to its extreme, it is demonstrated in another forwarded email that is currently circulating: the mass killing of our friendly dolphins on a blood-soaked Danish beach. To segue from your comment about ACTION, who of us will run out to rescue this poor kitty from its awful environment, or clothe it, if our self-interest requires its presence there?
-Esther
Hi, Glen. As a lover of great literature and movies, I thought you might enjoy the poem at the bottom of the page. Here's commentary, 1st from Bryan and then from my brother Brian.
-Wendy
........a brilliant marriage of Haiku and Minimalism; a short stroke long on genius. - Bryan
A very profound and moving poem. Its ostensible declarative simplicity masks the speaker's ambivalence towards man's ontological status. The progression from the warm and familiar to the frozen and alien dramatizes in three short words the entire history of the universe, and stands as a deeply troubling critique of man's presumption of certitude and permanence.
(fyi: from a Winnipegger)
I found this beautiful winter poem and thought it might be a comfort to you. It was to me, and it's very well written.
(And Here It Is!)
"WINTER"
"SHIT, It's Cold !"
The End
Having uttered those very words often in the past 50 years, and having heard many, many, many others utter those very words, I can onlyconclude that either we are a naturally poetic species, or perhaps we are like birds who undergo hormonal changes from the influence of climate and day length, causing us to congregate at bus stops and utter this seasonal call. -Maria
I am deeply moved by the high calibre thought and feeling that went into this poem and your responses. I believe you are both right. Yes, it's cold and the poor thing is near frozen and cannot help but be both aware and responsible for its own survival. Only by taking action and skedaddling over the fence beyond its left shoulder will it arrive at the barn that is warm, thereby assuring its future cathood. But, it then must reflect upon the past ordeal to come to clarity concerning its very existance, and continue on. To paraphrase JFK: ich bin ein pussycat. -Mitch
Stunning. A see a great future for this poet... -Sudhir
Ah, yes, creative cats those humans...I was about to attempt to write something profound but am still enjoying thetime spent with a little guy who has just made contact with the sound of crunching snow under his boot and thewonder of snowflakes falling from the sky...is amazed by fire trucks roaring by...has three cats at home...one whodoesn't mind it's tail being tugged or it's fur being pulled...quite a remarkable cat this one...a one for the team cat.That's what this cat with the hat remind me of...that and Dr.Zeuss books I read as a kid. The jingle of a sleighbellin the store run by his Mom make a sound invoking the story of Santa busy with his elves and Mrs.Klaus at the NorthPole loading the sleigh up, feeding the reindeers who by now are chomping at the bit for their nocturnal journey round the world...sorry all, I did try to contribute philosophically but all I can think of on that plane is how eachsnow flake is different and apply the metaphor to humans. That and how Inuit have 1,000 different names for snowconditions and textures...part of an ancient tradition of navigating the artic. P.S. Did you see that full moon out there tonight!!! Cheers fellow poets, Peteyhoo.
I think you have totally missed the point. The poem's ambivalence masks a darker message, that perhaps awareness and responsibility are NOT enough, and there is an ineffable urge to chaos that exists in all of us. It is only through ACTION that we define ourselves, our own lives are the EVIDENCE allowing us to stand unbowed before GOD. We need more work of this nature, art that is not AFRAID to take on the outmoded, obsolete, curmudgeonly, archaic, calcified, osteoporosis-ridden thesaurus-derived mores that have so hobbled our culture.
-Glen Gary
shit THAT was funny -Magdalena Diaz
How did I get this e-mail? And I don't know what poem youse talkin' about. But there sure is a lot of intellectual , philosophic ramble that 's too much for my simple mind , especially doing e-mail. -Harve
There are so many layers implicit in this pictorial/verbal poem. Oxymorons are demonstrated -- first linguistically by the close placement of "shit", usually warm, and "cold", then pictorially by the warm hat on the head while leaving the body cold. The latter shows the cruelty of humankind that is more interested in making a cute statement than in attending to the poor kitty's suffering in a cold, and very windy environment -- so windy, that the kitty's belly is mirroring the movements of the wind. This is just a microcosm of humankind's selfish treatment of other living creatures. Taken to its extreme, it is demonstrated in another forwarded email that is currently circulating: the mass killing of our friendly dolphins on a blood-soaked Danish beach. To segue from your comment about ACTION, who of us will run out to rescue this poor kitty from its awful environment, or clothe it, if our self-interest requires its presence there?
-Esther
Hi, Glen. As a lover of great literature and movies, I thought you might enjoy the poem at the bottom of the page. Here's commentary, 1st from Bryan and then from my brother Brian.
-Wendy
........a brilliant marriage of Haiku and Minimalism; a short stroke long on genius. - Bryan
A very profound and moving poem. Its ostensible declarative simplicity masks the speaker's ambivalence towards man's ontological status. The progression from the warm and familiar to the frozen and alien dramatizes in three short words the entire history of the universe, and stands as a deeply troubling critique of man's presumption of certitude and permanence.
(fyi: from a Winnipegger)
I found this beautiful winter poem and thought it might be a comfort to you. It was to me, and it's very well written.
(And Here It Is!)
"WINTER"
"SHIT, It's Cold !"
The End
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Joan Baez in Concert
When you take the time and spend the money ($70) to go to a concert, you have certain expectations. And, in the case of Joan Baez (at Massey Hall, Nov. 8/08) one knew exactly what to expect.
Baez' career spans 50 years. In fact, her current tour is in support of her 50th anniversary CD "Day After Tomorow". Starting out at 16 years of age, Baez found her path early: Madonna folkie of the Left.
The versatile 4-piece acoustic band included instruments such as accordian, bass, ever-changing guitars (after each song) and ukulele. In its professional casualness, there was lots of chuckling between vocal lines and much non-verbal cueing of the band. Baez and her band were thoroughly at ease, although Baez seemed slightly shy throughout (oweing, perhaps, to her notorious stage-fright).
Baez is comfortable, though, telling anecdotes and she told many. She took the stage with a coy "What's new?" which was greeted by mad cheering from the audience. She told stories of hanging out with Martin Luther King and of the spiritual death of her sister Mimi. Now in her late 60's, Baez looks wonderfully youthful - almost the same as she appeared on her debut album 50 years ago, Joan Baez. She sounds different though. The years have limited and lowered her soprano range but she remains a warm, comforting and still beautiful sound.
Day After Tomorow was produced by legendary guitar player Steve Earle and many of the songs performed were off the album and written by Earle. One in particular, God is God, came across intensely moving.
Baez also pulled out her famous Dylan imitation in her rendition of his Love is Just a 4-Letter Word. Baez withstood public humiliation by Dylan in the film Don't Look Back and survived to write the telling Diamonds & Rust. In performance, she improvised the last line of the song: "If you're offering me diamonds & rust/ I'll take the Grammy." Baez is one tough cookie.
Baez closed the night with a strong 3-song encore which included John Lennon's Imagine. The audience acted as choir to Baez' conducting of the grand finale, Amazing Grace. The night was a surprisingly spiritual, feel-good evening. Baez may deliver the expected but she is not boring.
Baez' career spans 50 years. In fact, her current tour is in support of her 50th anniversary CD "Day After Tomorow". Starting out at 16 years of age, Baez found her path early: Madonna folkie of the Left.
The versatile 4-piece acoustic band included instruments such as accordian, bass, ever-changing guitars (after each song) and ukulele. In its professional casualness, there was lots of chuckling between vocal lines and much non-verbal cueing of the band. Baez and her band were thoroughly at ease, although Baez seemed slightly shy throughout (oweing, perhaps, to her notorious stage-fright).
Baez is comfortable, though, telling anecdotes and she told many. She took the stage with a coy "What's new?" which was greeted by mad cheering from the audience. She told stories of hanging out with Martin Luther King and of the spiritual death of her sister Mimi. Now in her late 60's, Baez looks wonderfully youthful - almost the same as she appeared on her debut album 50 years ago, Joan Baez. She sounds different though. The years have limited and lowered her soprano range but she remains a warm, comforting and still beautiful sound.
Day After Tomorow was produced by legendary guitar player Steve Earle and many of the songs performed were off the album and written by Earle. One in particular, God is God, came across intensely moving.
Baez also pulled out her famous Dylan imitation in her rendition of his Love is Just a 4-Letter Word. Baez withstood public humiliation by Dylan in the film Don't Look Back and survived to write the telling Diamonds & Rust. In performance, she improvised the last line of the song: "If you're offering me diamonds & rust/ I'll take the Grammy." Baez is one tough cookie.
Baez closed the night with a strong 3-song encore which included John Lennon's Imagine. The audience acted as choir to Baez' conducting of the grand finale, Amazing Grace. The night was a surprisingly spiritual, feel-good evening. Baez may deliver the expected but she is not boring.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
CD Review
The rich and soulful interpretation of Bob Snider's "Talk to Me Babe" prompted me to go out and buy Treassa LeVasseur's new CD "Low Fidelity". "Low Fidelity" flows smoothly, goes by quickly and ultimately satisfies.
LeVasseur's sultry, mature and tasteful vocals are supported by the luscious sound of the 19 members of the Zee Choir and the result is an essentially jazzy, honky-tonk and spiritual record. Snider's is the only pop tune while "Rest of the Ride" (LeVasseur) is particularly melodic, as is "Help Me Over" (Corin Raymond and Sean Cotton).
"Low Fidelity" is technically clean. LeVasseur co-produced the record with established producer and guitar player David Gavan Baxter. They have used strong high-end keyboards and horns to offset the deeper tone of LeVasseur's vocals. Harmonica playing by Paul Reddick stands out.
The crescendo-like finale, "Amen" (LeVasseur), is a strong spiritual effort well worth waiting for: "For the paths that Mohammed or Buddah or Shanti have trod/Seemed to me equally worthy of glory and God."
"Low Fidelity" is an independently produced CD.
LeVasseur's sultry, mature and tasteful vocals are supported by the luscious sound of the 19 members of the Zee Choir and the result is an essentially jazzy, honky-tonk and spiritual record. Snider's is the only pop tune while "Rest of the Ride" (LeVasseur) is particularly melodic, as is "Help Me Over" (Corin Raymond and Sean Cotton).
"Low Fidelity" is technically clean. LeVasseur co-produced the record with established producer and guitar player David Gavan Baxter. They have used strong high-end keyboards and horns to offset the deeper tone of LeVasseur's vocals. Harmonica playing by Paul Reddick stands out.
The crescendo-like finale, "Amen" (LeVasseur), is a strong spiritual effort well worth waiting for: "For the paths that Mohammed or Buddah or Shanti have trod/Seemed to me equally worthy of glory and God."
"Low Fidelity" is an independently produced CD.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
Summer fun - Inspirational
This past weekend Ritmo y Color festival took place in Harbourfront. On Saturday we were treated to a very special performance. Puerto Plata took the stage. To learn more about this amazing singer from the Dominican Republic visit the following site:
He is an 85 years young singer who has just released his very first CD. He performed, as he danced, for one whole hour. A true inspiration to all!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Virtuality
Congrats on getting the blog going, Glen. I appreciate it because often (usually?) I don't seem to get out very much...I get lodged in family mode and all it entails. Virtual community can be a great thing! Such a nice way to keep in touch during the summer too, when so many people are traveling. I like Blogger--easy to use and update and a pleasure to read. So, thanks for getting things started and I look forward to reading more. Anyone out there writing songs this week? Learning any new ones? Inspired? Or not?
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