Preparing for Advent

Chad Orzel is taking a poll of the most annoying Xmas tunes. To make up for it, he provides a link to a very amusing skit by Patton Oswald (warning, NSFW unless your workplace doesn't mind swearing and you wasting your work hours on humor).

Atonality's Anniversary

Alex Ross has declared today Atonality Day. I didn't do anything special to celebrate, beyond listening to some Lutoslawski while driving down to Bloomington. I'm in the midst of finishing my final grades and getting holiday plans in order. I also mini-celebrated my official letter of tenure and promotion from the university president on Friday, by going out to a local bar to hear some colleagues play an eclectic mix of Frank Zappa, Jefferson Airplane, "Fly Me To the Moon," James Brown, Weather Report, etc. Other than an accidentally transposed synth during "White Rabbit," they sounded really tight. And to complete this random set of links and announcements, my mom sent me this Xmas treatment by Indiana University's men's a cappella group, Straight No Chaser:

I feel bad for the dreidel singer.

What I got for Christmas

Two are continued efforts to grow my cornetto recordings collection, and three are continued efforts to grow my contemporary music collection. I enjoy pointing out that the seven-CD collection is of music composed by and performed by a person who gave me a hard time during a public interview. I don't take it personally, as Rzewski treats everyone that way. I also could see that he wanted to get to the truth, which I can respect. Plus I found his music very moving. The Moon, sun and all things is a fabulous collection of Baroque music from Latin America, performed by Ex Cathedra and the Quintessential Sackbut and Cornett Ensemble. Eighth Blackbird is poetry in sound, and I haven't had a chance to listen to the Golijov yet.

Stocking Stuffer?

This will only encourage Patty, but here is the latest toy sensation that will be under all holiday flora this year, the Talking Trombone Teacher Doll.

Sample phrases include:

* "I think you should go with a bigger mouthpiece"
* "Nobody's playing 88H's anymore"
* "You'll never win an audition if you play it like that"
* "You need to get a Thayer conversion"
* "I'm sick of teaching, let's go get a beer"

Speaking of "humor"

Galen H. Brown has written the theory geek's version of The Night Before Christmas, entitled "A Visit From J.S. Bach". I think I will start using these various jokes as tests in theory classes, since that is the purpose of education anyway.

All I want for Christmas is my new Yule Tunes

Chad Orzel is asking for suggestions to increase his meager Christmas song collection. I suggest Wynton Marsalis' Crescent City Christmas Card, especially the arrangements of Silent Night and We Three Kings.