Category Archives: Music and musicology

What a concert is supposed to do

Posted on August 2, 2013 by barczablog

Too much fun in church means that at least one person will guiltily look over their shoulder. The church was Koerner Hall, and the fun was The Minimalist Dream House Project from Toronto Summer Music, Katia and Marielle Labèque plus … Continue reading →

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Perpetual motion and minimalism

Posted on August 1, 2013 by barczablog

It’s time. Recently I wrote about minimalist music in anticipation of Katia et Marielle Labèque playing Toronto Summer Music’s August 1st concert: The Minimalist Dream House project.  While I titled that piece The Geneology (sic) of Minimalism I was not … Continue reading →

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Exoticism –The Music of Karol Szymanowski

Posted on July 31, 2013 by barczablog

Earlier this summer I let someone pick the play I saw, observing how it’s valuable to let someone else choose what one will see and/or hear.  We circumscribe ourselves with our menu choices, our viewing habits, our purchases, boxing ourselves … Continue reading →

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Diva distress

Posted on July 27, 2013 by barczablog

Nothing is quite so delicious as a delicacy imperilled.  We love our rare wines, cheeses, hard to find films & DVDs.  Part of the enjoyment is in boasting of your exclusive enjoyment. It’s summertime, when some go to see operas … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Cat music

Posted on July 23, 2013 by barczablog

I’ve written about cats before in this space.  At one time there were two cats in my house, Tara & Scarlett.  They had been born feral but rescued, fixed and raised for years in our home. Then one day Tara … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, domestic & wild, Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

The Geneology of Minimalism

Posted on July 21, 2013 by barczablog

A one word headline might be more minimalistic than this pretentious sounding title.  A friend cited Nietzsche’s Geneology of Morals, and it stayed in my head like a verbal ear-worm I suppose.  Or I could have emulated Darwin, to call … Continue reading →

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The French Answer–Toronto Summer Music

Posted on July 17, 2013 by barczablog

What’s the question, you may ask. But it’s not that there is an answer (a noun). It’s a verb in that headline.  Swimmers swim, runners run, and for a period of time, I believe the French answered. It’s how I … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays | 1 Comment

Parlour trick

Posted on July 14, 2013 by barczablog

A few days ago I wrote about ear-worms, as an example of photographic (or “eidetic”) memory, and said there’s another kind as well.  I don’t mean to limit things by saying there’s one other kind, when there may be more … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays, Psychology and perception | 1 Comment

You say “tomato”

Posted on July 11, 2013 by barczablog

I love analogies.  Sometimes I push them too far –beyond the point where they’re helpful illustrations—simply because I enjoy the game so much, of making one thing represent another. Today I was thinking about tomatoes & voices.  Tomatoes don’t usually … Continue reading →

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Bridal grooming

Posted on June 21, 2013 by barczablog

A couple of weeks ago I was asked to play keyboard (organ + piano) at a wedding.  I said yes enthusiastically, even though I haven’t done this in quite awhile.  While I play the organ at my church from time … Continue reading →

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