The spring of 1994 was a rough semester for me. It was my sophomore year in college, and in the fall semester, due to the convergence of a roommate who studied late into the night with the light on (causing me to sleep with my arms over my eyes, which made my neck & shoulder…
Read MoreAll articles filed in classical music
Kids Who Write Songs, NPM memories, and other QTs
___1___ Let’s start with a story about this boy: Alex loves to rewrite songs. And oh lordy, sometimes it’s hard for an occasional songwriter to listen to it! Last night in the car, he decided to rewrite Rudolph with shades of the Lego movie: “Big Mr. Buz-niss MA-AN, had a bi-ig crane ro-BOT!” “ALEX!” I…
Read MorePlaying at St. Paul’s in London
I don’t talk much about music on the blog, which is actually rather odd, considering how saturated my life has always been with the practice and study of music. So today I hope you’ll bear with me as I share a musical story that came to mind while Christian and I were watching National Treasure…
Read MoreLet Everything That Has Breath (or: Beating a Dead Horse)
Just before my alarm went off, 5:30 a.m. on a Sunday morning, I had the most amazing dream. We were attending Mass at the Newman Center, and singing the new Mass parts. They were chants, as a matter of fact, but the most gorgeous, melodic chants I’d ever heard, and expanded into gorgeously rich harmony…
Read MoreEnding the Liturgy Wars
With the changes to the Mass less than a year away, it seems like a good time to address a topic that’s been bothering me for quite a while. They’re called the liturgy wars, and they are as ridiculous as their name. Today I’m guest posting at Catholic Mothers Online, and my topic is liturgical…
Read MoreSpeak Clearly!
The next time you’re talking to someone—anyone—pay attention. Not so much what they say, but how. It’s very illuminating. I’ve always had an ear for language—an ability to pick out what language is being spoken, even if I can’t understand it. I attribute this to two things—one, exposure to lots of languages in the…
Read MoreA great musical gift for kids
I just posted this review at Amazon: Farkle & Friends: CD by John Lithgow, with Bill Elliott and his orchestra. “I’ve never heard John Lithgow’s other children’s music, but this CD is one of the best things I’ve ever listened to for kids. It takes you on a terrific romp through musical styles, introducing “serious”…
Read MoreOrchestra Concert
Last night I took Alex to his first orchestra concert. Christian thinks he’s too young, and I knew we might have to leave quickly and early if he just couldn’t handle it. But I think that early exposure is the best way to ensure that there is an audience for classical music for generations to…
Read More
Kathleen M. Basi 