* Stephen Colbert should apologize to America for an event on his Nov-9 show. One of his guests, after playing a bassoon threw it on the floor to destroy it. Colbert joined in the destruction. The sensational way several rock-and-roll and/or country artists have ended their performances should not be blessed by anyone with a conscience.
* Years ago, a poor musician friend told me that stars should just give their instruments to needy musicians, sensationalistically if they wish.
* But there is another reason for eschewing instrument destruction. It adds to the superabundance of contempt in our society, as do Rush Limbaugh and Donald Trump.
* Colbert should investigate the dedication, devotion, knowledge, skill, care and patience that go into a hand-crafted musical instrument. It deserves great admiration and appreciation, ie respect.
* If we ever have a great civilization, its prime characteristic will be default respect -- that is, respect for everyone who hasn't earned disrespect.
* I believe Colbert could present these ideas persuasively in a thoughtful apology.
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Sing and Ring
* Recreational music has contributed greatly to my enjoyment of life. Recently I've been arranging a carol for small chorus and four instruments, a song that I translated to English back in 1995, Sing and Ring by Corner 1631. The recent arrangement is for a very small church, Bellevue Christian Church. I'm attempting to mimic the main musical themes created and performed by Michael Graham with a large chorus and small orchestra in Woodmont Christian Church about y2001.
* Here is our performance, Dec 13, 2015 in the little church: Sing and Ring , Bellevue Christian Church
* Here is our performance, Dec 13, 2015 in the little church: Sing and Ring , Bellevue Christian Church
Keyboard/Voice Score:
Sunday, November 1, 2015
Bridled Capitalism
Re: “Follies of socialism” by Wesson Smith, Tennessean Oct 25.
* Mr Smith wishes us to know that he is self-sufficient and that he resents government expenditures to help those who aren’t. He can expect a life of resentment, since the unbridled capitalism that he seeks is unsatisfying, unsustainable, unstable, corrupting and unjust.
* With each increase of productivity (goods & services) and each spread of production over a wider base, the US man hours needed to satisfy society's needs and desires falls below US man-hour capacity. White American males feel this especially, as work they once monopolized moves to women, minorities, foreigners, computers, robots, etc. Ever smaller fractions of people can be fully employed unless we reduce the full-employment hours well below 40 h/wk.
* Macroeconomic actions to increase employment are futile, resource destructive and debt intensive. Needed are regulations to achieve steady-state economics. That would include limits on annual conversion of non-renewable resources to waste, international family-planning cooperation, incentives to provide goods and services needed by society (Bridled Capitalism).
* Mr Smith wishes us to know that he is self-sufficient and that he resents government expenditures to help those who aren’t. He can expect a life of resentment, since the unbridled capitalism that he seeks is unsatisfying, unsustainable, unstable, corrupting and unjust.
* With each increase of productivity (goods & services) and each spread of production over a wider base, the US man hours needed to satisfy society's needs and desires falls below US man-hour capacity. White American males feel this especially, as work they once monopolized moves to women, minorities, foreigners, computers, robots, etc. Ever smaller fractions of people can be fully employed unless we reduce the full-employment hours well below 40 h/wk.
* Macroeconomic actions to increase employment are futile, resource destructive and debt intensive. Needed are regulations to achieve steady-state economics. That would include limits on annual conversion of non-renewable resources to waste, international family-planning cooperation, incentives to provide goods and services needed by society (Bridled Capitalism).
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