{"id":50875,"date":"2021-07-21T16:56:10","date_gmt":"2021-07-21T20:56:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sidebarforplaintiffs.naomifein.net\/?p=50875"},"modified":"2021-07-21T16:56:10","modified_gmt":"2021-07-21T20:56:10","slug":"berliozs-hair-and-other-startles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sidebarforplaintiffs.naomifein.net\/?p=50875","title":{"rendered":"Berlioz’s hair, and other startles"},"content":{"rendered":"

Much of the day, I have a TV music channel on, playing the stuff I love, what most people call “classical” music. I used to listen to QXR until the reception became poor. That’s when I discovered the music channel called Music Choice.<\/p>\n

Music Choice is actually Music Choices.<\/em> I could tune in to Christian rock, jazz, smooth jazz, swing, underground hip-hop, funk. Soundscapes, whatever they are. I can slide backward into the 1960’s, 70’s, 80’s. Too many choices. Fortunately, my own tastes limit me to classical, with an occasional dip into golden oldies or country hits.<\/p>\n

When I’m sitting at my computer, as I am now, the TV is behind my left shoulder; to see the screen I have to turn. This makes for some fun moments: since these channels do not have DJs, the music continues without identification except on the screen. So I can make an informed guess as to the composer, and then turn to see if I’m right. Or not.<\/p>\n

Beyond this, though, Music Choice supplies short info about a composer on the screen, under the rubric, Did You Know?<\/strong><\/p>\n

What I don’t know is how they decide on the factual tidbits they then supply. Why is it important for me to know that Rameau, whom I love, was born in Dijon? I am now unable to take my mustard jar from the fridge without thinking, “Rameau.” This is not useful.<\/p>\n

There are times I’ve wondered whether whoever writes these things is well versed in English. One favorite tidbit when Brahms is playing: “Brahms is one of the three B’s, which are Bach, Beethoven and Brahms.”<\/p>\n

You see what I mean, right?<\/p>\n

On the other hand, they informed me that Telemann had once gotten a job at the Church of the Barefoot Friars. <\/a>I love them for this one.<\/p>\n

For much of the repertory, Music Choice plants a portrait of the composer on the screen, along with the Do You Knows<\/strong>?, either a contemporary sketch or painting or photograph. (Recently, when there was no photo on my screen, I mentioned going into Wikipedia to see what Ralph Vaughan Williams looked like.)<\/a><\/p>\n

Well, the other day, Music Choice was playing Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique. I’m pretty good at identifying Berlioz. (I even know his dad made him go to med school; the first time he witnessed a dissection, he immediately passed out.) But when I turned to the TV to confirm, what did I see before my eyes? This:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

That hair! I didn’t like Vaughan Williams’ hair (see above link) but Berlioz’s is a whole other thing.<\/p>\n

I’m wondering whether this was a hair style<\/em> of the times, or just Hector’s hair. This– 19th Century French composers’ hairdos — is potentially a rich research lode to which I can bring my little hammer and chisel and chip away for gold.<\/p>\n

If I find a pattern, or more bad hair days, I will report in.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Much of the day, I have a TV music channel on, playing the stuff I love, what most people call “classical” music. I used to listen to QXR until the reception became poor. That’s when I discovered the music channel … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1175],"tags":[7473,7468,7469,7474,7472,7471,7470],"class_list":["post-50875","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-facts-of-life","tag-christian-rock","tag-hector-berlioz","tag-music-choice","tag-qxr","tag-ralph-vaughan-williams","tag-symphonie-fantastique","tag-telemann"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t