The Times Quotidian

Desire is the first datum of our conciousness; we are born into sympathy and antipathy, wishing and willing. Unconciously at first, then conciously we evaluate: “This is good, that is bad.” And a little later we discover obligation. “This being good, ought to be done; that being bad, ought not to be done.” – Aldous Huxley

I return repeatedly to Aldous Huxley’s Perennial Philosophy. It is a comprehensive compendium of metaphysical thought. It investigates topics ranging from, “Personality, Sanctity, Divne Incarnation” to “Good and Evil” to “Time and Eternity” to “Faith” and “Suffering”. Excerpts from authors include Eckhart, William Law, Chuang Tzu, The Bhagavad Gita, Maitrayana Upanishad, Kabir, Rumi and St. John of the Cross. All of us, who put time aside to contemplate the relationship between Atman, “the personal self”, and Brahman, “the universal Self”, will profit from these readings. In Chapter 1 “That Art Thou” Huxley opens with these words:

“IN STUDYING the Perennial Philosophy we can begin either at the bottom, with practice and morality; or at the top, with a consideration of metaphysical truths; or, finally in the middle, at the focal point where the mind and matter, action and thought have their meeting place in human psychology.”

Paul Cabanis 2008 – IPhone Photography

George Frideric Handel (23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) Here, for a taste comparison, are two versions of “Ombra mai fu” from Handel’s opera Seres (Xerses).

The first selection is from the late mezzo-soprano Lorraine Hunt Lieberson. Handel Arias, Harry Bicket and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.

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Selection two is from the counter-tenor Andreas Scholl. Here from the Heroes CD, Sir Roger Norington, also with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. 

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It is difficult not to become rhapsodic when describing Lorraine Hunt Lieberson. Her voice possess a pure emotionality tempered by intelligence. When she died at the age of 52 in 2006 it sparked in me a moment of mortality that I could not shake for days. How was it possible that a presence so vital, visceral, could be lost?

IPhone Photography – October 2008

I was in San Francisco in October 2008 visiting SFMOMA where I was astounded by the Brought to Light, Photography and the Invisible, 1840-1900. It was an exhibiton that highlighted early photographic work exploring micro and telescopic investigation. Delicious.

When I emerged I was a witness to the installation process of Martin Puryear’s Ad Astra (2007), a 63-foot-tall work that rises to the museum’s fifth-floor bridge. I hope these photographs give you a good sense of the shear scale. This is SFMOMA’s Haas Atrium and the crane that you see extends 2 floors. The title derives from: Ad astra per ardua, meaning “to the stars through difficulty,” and Ad astra per aspera, which translates as “to the stars through rough things or dangers.” This sapling navigates delicately, with dexterity and tremendous ambition towards Valhalla.

The Famous, The Infamous and The Anonymous is a 2 hour Power Point presentation on the history of portraiture in photography. Although Power Point is the vehicle for presentation, the actual program was composed using flash and then embedded. Cantwell Studio was the producer of the project. The presentation features sound, film clips, animation and uses both Macromedia and Power Point navigation systems. This lecture has been presented in Santa Fe,  New York, Frankfurt, and Munich. In 2006 it was presented London, Lausanne and San Francisco. A smaller version is being prepared to use to solicit funds for a traveling museum exhibition. The co-curators are Lorraine Anne Davis, Santa Fe and Celina Lunsford of Frankfurt. Nancy Cantwell is the project director.

There is so much to say about this project and the history of portrait photography. As I was going through the files, I remembered that we included some my own personal family portraits taken in the 1950’s with a stereoscopic camera. Here is a teaser. To this day I prefer to sit at a counter vs a table.

Joanne and Nancy at their Grandparents sipping Shirley Temples

Leon Fleisher was interviewed by Jim Svejda on KUSC in October 2008 in a two part broadcast. I was glued to the conversation. A profound examination of the art of music, playing, and above all listening. Fleisher lost the use of his right hand due to focal dystonia. In the interim he focused on teaching, conducting and continued performing the left-handed repertoire. Unfortunately these inteviews are not available for transcript due to copyright laws. Below is the playlist from program one, all performed by Leon Fleisher. All Impressive. 

This track is from Fleisher’s first recording in 40 years after regaining the use of his right hand, “Two Hands”, released by Vanguard Classics in 2004. Please enjoy listening to “Sheep May Safely Graze” by J.S. Bach from “The Birthday Cantata”.

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The Record Shelf with Jim Svejda
The Best of The Record Shelf:
A conversation with the American pianist Leon Fleisher. The first of two programs.
(All recordings with pianist Leon Fleisher, unless otherwise noted)

J.S. BACH: Cantata No. 208: Sinfonia; Sheep May Safely Graze.
Bach Collegium, Helmut Rilling.
Hanssler 92.065.

GRAINGER: Blithe Bells. BBC Philharmonic, Richard Hickox.
Chandos 9493.

BACH/PETRI: Sheep May Safely Graze.
Vanguard 1551.

BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat, “Emperor.”
Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell.
Sony 42445.

SCARLATTI: Sonata in E, K. 380.
Vanguard 1551.

BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, “Pathetique”
Artur Schnabel, pf.
Naxos 8.110695.

LISZT: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 11.
William Kapell, pf.
RCA 68994.

STRAUSS: Don Juan.
Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell.
Sony 36721.

MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 25 in C., K. 503.
Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell.
Sony 42445.

RAVEL: Alborada del Gracioso.
Philips 456775-2.

BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata No. 20 in G Major, Op. 49, No. 1.
Artur Schnabel, pf.
Naxos 8.110694.

BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat, “Emperor.”
Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell.
Sony 42445

BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat.
Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell.
Sony 42445.

SCHUBERT: Wanderer Fantasy, D. 760.
Sony 47667.

RAVEL: Piano Concerto in D, For the Left Hand.
Boston Symphony, Seiji Ozawa.
Sony 47188.

The Record Shelf
with Jim Svejda
The Best of The Record Shelf:
A conversation with the American pianist Leon Fleisher. The first of two programs.
(All recordings with pianist Leon Fleisher, unless otherwise noted)

J.S. BACH: Cantata No. 208: Sinfonia; Sheep May Safely Graze.
Bach Collegium, Helmut Rilling.
Hanssler 92.065.

GRAINGER: Blithe Bells. BBC Philharmonic, Richard Hickox.
Chandos 9493.

BACH/PETRI: Sheep May Safely Graze.
Vanguard 1551.

BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat, “Emperor.”
Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell.
Sony 42445.

SCARLATTI: Sonata in E, K. 380.
Vanguard 1551.

BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, “Pathetique”
Artur Schnabel, pf.
Naxos 8.110695.

LISZT: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 11.
William Kapell, pf.
RCA 68994.

STRAUSS: Don Juan.
Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell.
Sony 36721.

MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 25 in C., K. 503.
Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell.
Sony 42445.

RAVEL: Alborada del Gracioso.
Philips 456775-2.

BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata No. 20 in G Major, Op. 49, No. 1.
Artur Schnabel, pf.
Naxos 8.110694.

BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat, “Emperor.”
Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell.
Sony 42445

BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat.
Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell.
Sony 42445.

SCHUBERT: Wanderer Fantasy, D. 760.
Sony 47667.

RAVEL: Piano Concerto in D, For the Left Hand.
Boston Symphony, Seiji Ozawa.
Sony 47188.
The Record Shelf
with Jim Svejda
The Best of The Record Shelf:
The conclusion of a two-part conversation with pianist Leon Fleisher.
(All recordings with pianist Leon Fleisher, unless otherwise noted)

BRAHMS: Quintet in f Minor
Emerson String Quartet
DG 871802

RACHMANINOFF: Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini
Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell
CBS/Sony 37812

RAVEL: Piano Concerto in D, For the Left Hand.
PROKOFIEV: Concerto for Piano left hand no 4 in B flat major
Boston Symphony, Seiji Ozawa.
Sony 47188.

KORNGOLD: Suite for Piano left hand and Strings, Op. 23
Joseph Silverstein, vl.; Jaime Laredo, vl.; Yo-Yo Ma, vc.
Sony 48253.

CHOPIN: Nocturne in Db Op. 27
Vanguard 1551

BRAHMS: Concerto for Piano no 1 in D minor
Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell
Sony 63225

Welcome to the Times Quotidian. This is the Malibu Estuary on stunning September day. Here you can watch with equal pleasure the flight of birds or surfers. I recommend a Sunday breakfast across the highway in the Malibu Country Mart. You might even catch a glimpse of the Governor.