Season Tickets

I went and heard the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra tonight, and it was quite the concert. It was an entirely French program, with pieces by Bizet, Honegger, and Poulenc. I'm pretty sure my favorite piece was the Poulenc sextet for winds and piano. I was familiar with the piece; I think I heard it in Nottingham once. Anyways, it's great, I'd highly recommend it.

The seats were literally in the second row, a seeming hairsbreadth away from the cello section. Being that close to the stage, to the visceral power of the strings, well, it was somewhat mesmerizing. It reminded me of those stage seats I had in Vienna. This was from a different angle though. Whereas in Vienna I could see the emotion on the conductor's face, here I could see the emotion on the musicians' faces. Always a joy to see.

I'm a big fan of people watching at orchestra concerts, mainly because there are all sorts of funny old people. I've come to realize that the orchestra concert is really one of the only socially acceptable places remaining to wear a bowtie, and old men tend to wear bowties with great aplomb. This gives me hope for the future - I have a couple bowties.

All the old folks at orchestra concerts know each other, presumably (I like to think), because they all have season tickets. I mean, what else is there to do?

I'm intrigued by the concept of a season ticket. It seems like such a big commitment, both in terms of time and money. I mean, that's a pretty big deal, to decide "Well, I think I'll go to every single concert this year." Or every single baseball game, or go skiing every single day, or spend your life at Disneyworld. That's just amazing to me. But maybe that's a reflection on my current state in life more than anything; that of the poor law student in a decimated economy.

The most shocking thing to me, is that if you have season tickets, they come with baggage. For me, this baggage comes primarily in the form of having to find places to park in metropolitan areas. I hate having to park in the city, I might even hate it as much as I hate raisins. But, in any event, there are other logistical problems too. To a certain extent, you have to rearrange your life in order to accommodate the commitment you made.

This whole diatribe might be ridiculous to some, since it's coming from the proverbial pen of someone who, in fact, has partial baseball season tickets for next summer. I think the key here though, is the word partial. Unlike the theoretical folks I've described, I haven't quite made the ultimate commitment yet.

I actually think that making commitments, at least broad, initial ones, are subordinate to the logistical concerns that underlie them. It's easy to know what you want, it's not quite so easy to figure out how to deal with those desires in reality. I think that's true in life as well as season tickets.

Thanksgiving 2009

Once again, another Thanksgiving is upon us. So, as I did last year, in no particular order, a list of sorts.

1 - Family
2 - Friends
3 - Beatles Rock Band
4 - Those rare times when the Starbucks girl asks if I want my coffee in a mug
5 - Duke Ellington
6 - Another year of good health
7 - Being able to return to England this past summer
8 - Relatively affordable diesel fuel
9 - Minneapolis Trombone Choir
10 - Striped socks
11 - Walking the two blocks from Hamline after a long day, and being able to unwind
12 - The number 12
13 - Having gone another year without losing a hat
14 - Grandma Dorothy, and a life well lived
15 - Discovering my heritage in Norway
16 - Completing a law review article without spiraling into a mental breakdown
17 - Listening to Miles Davis on vinyl
18 - The dog
19 - Being able to be honest
20 - One last dome dog at the Metrodome
21 - Good scotch
22 - The new Star Trek movie
23 - Keeping in touch with old friends
24 - Minnesota Public Radio
25 - Flannel sheets
26 - Black luggage
27 - Living in a climate where you can wear scarves
28 - That one waiter in Brussels who humored me and only spoke to me in French
29 - Another grand season of Twins baseball
30 - Getting (partial) season tickets at Target Field
31 - Frisbee golf
32 - Brass music on a cold, dark night
33 - Generally surviving law school with soul (as yet) intact
34 - Summit Winter Ale
35 - Mark Rothko paintings
36 - Learning how to snap my fingers
37 - New relationships
38 - Swing dancing
39 - Peppermint, generally added to anything during the month of December
40 - Even numbers
41 - Granola bars sans raisins
42 - Jazz
43 - Being able to be more assertive
44 - Important people and possibilities
45 - A new relative - Oliver James
46 - Finding that suit in dad's closet
47 - Grandma Lou, for a life still being lived
48 - Coffee
49 - The color blue
50 - Learning to be self-aware
51 - For living a life I can generally feel good about
52 - Balance
53 - The sweet umbrella I found at my great-aunt's house
54 - Red wine with pizza
55 - Tolerance
56 - Being comfortable with silence
57 - This Turkish rug that my feet sit on
58 - Moccasins
59 - Not taking myself too seriously
60 - Half Price Books
61 - Walking the dog
62 - Khaki pants
63 - People taking the time to read this blog
64 - Nutella

Happy Thanksgiving.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Apparently, only about 5% of the world's population knows this thing exists. So in the interest of promoting global awareness, check out the video. Or just read the document itself on the UN website.

Album of the Week: Relaxin' with Miles

I'd say, oh, the past month or so, I've been really getting into some of these mid 1950's Miles Davis quintet recordings with Prestige. So, we'll just consider this week's selection as being quasi-representative of all of these fantastic recordings. Which I suppose makes sense, since four albums (Relaxin', Workin', Cookin', and Steamin' with the Miles Davis Quintet) were all begat by two recording sessions in 1956.

First off, you look at the lineup on these albums, and your face should literally be melting. You have Miles on trumpet, some young hack named John Coltrane on tenor, Paul Chambers on bass, Philly Joe Jones on drums, and Red Garland on piano.

On a bit of a sidenote, these recordings have made me discover Red Garland's piano playing, and it has been freaking me right out. He plays with a particularly fantastic percussive tone, which is effective to the point of cardiac arrest, especially on the blues. Cross referencing, I'd particularly point to "Ahmad's Blues" on "Workin' with the Miles Davis Quintet" for some absolutely killer Red Garland action. I think I've actually listened to that track about eight billion times in the past three weeks or so.

What I really like about this album, and these Prestige recordings in general, is that they capture what I would consider the Platonic form of so-called "modern jazz." You know, it's not like this stuff is particularly mind-bending, at least from a technical point of view. There are certainly some boppish type pieces, and most definitely bop influences, but nothing is blazingly fast. Conversely, nothing is really as chill as what you'll find 3 years later on "Kind of Blue." What's left is this middle ground, the sort of jazz people think of when they want something to play in the background at their cocktail party. I think maybe that's what's revelatory about this stuff; when you sit down and really listen, you realize how great it really is.

In a way, maybe it's this familiarity that makes this album so accessible. You don't have to be any sort of jazz scholar or music snob to enjoy this music. I wouldn't say anything is particularly complex, and there are actually some popular tunes reinterpreted ("If I Were a Bell", Guys and Dolls anyone?). What you have here is just some good, straightforward jazz, which I think at times is extremely refreshing.

For me, the real highlight is the incredibly tight rhythm section (see three paragraphs up for my mancrush on Red Garland). But of course, Miles has some killer solos too. What I find sort of curious is the fact that on this album, he almost exclusively plays with a harmon mute. In fact, I'm pretty sure he only plays open on the last track, "Woody'n You." I'm okay with this, I've always thought Miles was particularly expressive with a harmon mute. Go listen to this album, and then listen to "Blue in Green" on "Kind of Blue." You'll soon see my point.

As you can expect, it's also nice to have John Coltrane along for the ride. At least from a historic perspective, it's interesting to hear him play here, while he's still sort of a young guy on the rise. When you contrast this playing with his later stuff, it's pretty shocking.

So yes, this week's album is a good one, as all of my recommendations are. If you're in the mood for some quality, straight-forward jazz, go pick this up, or any of the other Prestige recordings. Great, solid stuff. I would highly recommend listening to it with a glass of good scotch. That's what I'm doing.

Relief

I've now experienced 24 hours without the spectre of my law review article hanging over my every move. I must say, it's quite the liberating feeling. After turning it in yesterday morning, a fellow law review person and myself skipped out on international law. Instead of talking about the preemptive use of force and its implications on Article 52 of the UN Charter, we sat on the patio of the Muddy Pig and enjoyed a few well deserved adult beverages. As a friend once said, nothing empowers you more than drinking in the afternoon, when everyone else is working on something. So true.

I wish I had something really insightful to say about the whole experience. I suppose, at the moment, it's kind of hard to do that. Statistically, there is a very real chance that the whole endeavor is destined to be fruitless. And I suppose, all things considered, I'm not too concerned about that. Should it get chosen for publication, that would be great. But if it doesn't, I don't think I'm going to lose any sleep over it. Overall, I think I did a good job. That's all that should matter.

In any event, it's been strange to have the ability to sit around after I finish my homework for the next day, and be able to laze about without feeling this overbearing sense of guilt/stress. It is quite peculiar, actually. But I think I can get used to it. At least until finals start. Oh shit, that's only two or three weeks away.

ELCA Vote

Hello folks, sorry for the lack of substantive content lately. This law review article is taking over my life. In just a little over a week, it will all be over.

Some of you may know I'm a member of an ELCA Lutheran church. I've been going there quite a while - meaning my entire life. Some of you may also know that this summer, the ELCA adopted a social statement, which in relevant part allows gay/lesbian persons in committed relationships to be ordained as Lutheran pastors.

Now, I think this is a good thing. Rather, I think it's the right thing. And I can't base this conclusion on any specific reference to the Bible, or teaching of Jesus, or anything like that. Well, that's a lie, I guess I'll base it on the golden rule. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. That's in the Bible, right?

Point being, not everyone in my church is as easygoing as I am, at least not in regards to this particular topic. In fact, from everything I've gleaned from a lunch I had with my pastor and my mom's report from the church meeting on the subject last Thursday, some people are going positively apeshit.

Now, I'll be the first to admit, I don't understand this at all. Reason being, I'm fairly certain I view the whole situation from a fundamentally different worldview, at least from those who are most objected to the proposition. Now, I go to church, I'm in general agreement with Lutheran theology, but I cannot say I'm a particularly devout individual. I don't read the Bible daily, I don't have little devotion books, I don't do any of that stuff. And I can't say I get riled up about people not being Christian. To a certain extent, I think everyone has to choose their own path to ultimate truth, or a spiritual being, or what have you. It's not my position to judge these sorts of things.

Point being, I have a worldview cultivated by a certain upbringing, certain friends, a certain education, a certain conception of what "faith" is, certain events, a certain political ideology. And none of these experiences lead me to really understand what makes these people in opposition to the ELCA vote so mad. Of course, I know they think the Bible says it's all wrong, or what have you, but even with that level of awareness, from a very fundamental level, I just cannot understand it. Which I think, makes it very difficult for me to accept this argument that somehow, the ELCA is becoming godless, or heretical, or what have you.

I see this sort of opposition, and quite to the contrary, I see the very essence of un-Christian behavior. As far as I can tell, from my limited theological mind, most of the point of the New Testament is to be open to everyone. The history of Christianity, unfortunately, is too often a history of exclusion and judgment, rather than inclusion and community. Continued fraction doesn't seem to me to make a whole lot of sense.

From a more basic, less historical, less theological level, I guess I ask this simple question: who the hell really cares? How does it affect me, if the pastor of my church is a gay person? See, I take the position that it has absolutely zero effect on me. None, nada, zippo. If we expect to be taken seriously, there have to be better issues to be indignant about. Maybe like poverty, or global warming, or homeless people.

So yes, I don't get it. But if my church, the one I go to, if it caves and decides they're going to pander to the fundamentalist right, I am out. It would be a very painful decision, but I'm not going to tacitly condone this sort of exclusion.