Please stop using “deep dive.” It’s not cool anymore. Also, take a moment to consider before bandying the word “iconic.”
For some reason, I was somewhere in the guts of my Facebook account recently, and found a feature that offers recommended changes for greater audience engagement (or, in the parlance of the day, to “blow up my content”). Out of curiosity, I clicked on it. Essentially, it condensed one of my carefully-crafted posts to a surplus of bullet points and exclamation marks and added a few hackneyed buzz-words.
I understand that something like this can be taken in at a glance by even the biggest troglodyte on social media, but I’m sorry, it’s not what I do. And having A.I. suggest the inclusion of “deep dive” is as agonizing as having a parent walk in when you’re hanging out with your friends as a teenager and trying just too hard to be “awesome” and “amazing” (words which, in their laziest applications, also need to be retired).
What a sad, clichéd, tabloid carnival barker world we live in.
Suggested title for this post: “CLASSIC ROSS AMICO SLAMS A.I.!”
IMAGE: A.I.-generated stupid robot stolen from somewhere on the internet (because I refuse to use A.I.)
This week for “Sweetness and Light,” on the eve of Father’s Day, give Dad what he really wants – some time alone with the radio!
Grant him the peace to enjoy a program of works by composers from classical music dynasties, music performed by composers’ offspring, performer-families making music together, music dedicated by father to son and vice versa, and the odd piece written specifically about fathers and family.
Seriously, how many neckties and cannabis pipes can a guy own? Now make yourself scarce and don’t come back until you’ve got some coffee and pancakes. Dad’s got some listening to do, to “Sweetness and Light,” this Saturday morning at 11:00 EDT/8:00 PDT, exclusively on KWAX, the radio station of the University of Oregon!
Yes, I know the winter solstice isn’t until next Saturday. However, since by then I’ll already be going full-bore ho-ho-ho, this week on “Sweetness and Light,” I figured I’d get a jump on Old Man Winter and do my best to conjure some seasonal atmosphere, in providing a pleasant background for putting together a holiday checklist and perhaps even filling out a few Christmas cards over a cup of tea. It will be all music evocative of wintry scenes and activities.
We’ll hear works by Philip Lane, Frederick Delius, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, and Leopold Mozart; also the original version of “Jingle Bells,” published in 1857 by James Pierpont as “The One-Horse Open Sleigh,” in a hilarious performance by the Robert DeCormier Singers. Be forewarned: sleighs will be “upsot!”
Put on the kettle and link arms with Classic Ross Amico. We’ll be walking in a winter wonderland on “Sweetness and Light,” this Saturday morning at 11:00 EST/8:00 PST, exclusively on KWAX, the radio station of the University of Oregon!
There’s more to Memorial Day than burgers, beaches, and beer. Take some time today to reflect on the sacrifice of those who laid down their lives for the greater good. Our security and freedom have been purchased and maintained at an exorbitant cost.
It’s been a while since I’ve revived one of my Classic Ross Amico crossword puzzles, formulated during lockdown, a period that provided all of us with an opportunity for a little undisturbed introspection. That said, I used to come up with most of my crossword clues while doing the dishes!
Test your knowledge of war songs, commemorative works, and composers who served. To fill out the puzzle, follow the link and select “solve online” at the bottom of the page. You’ll then be able to type directly into the squares. Once you feel you’ve exhausted the puzzle, you’ll find the solutions by clicking on “Answer Key PDF.”
Then, if you’ve a quiet moment, search for some of the musical selections online. I’m sure audio files for many of them have been posted, and they are all suitable for the day.
I’ve done a number of Earth Day shows over the years. Here’s a playlist from April 22, 2019. I’m adding audio links so that the musical experience can be reconstructed. Enjoy the music and, if you can think of a way to do it, kindly persuade your neighbors that just because something has metal or plastic in it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s recyclable. That includes lasagna foil, candy bar wrappers, and frozen food packaging! Or if you can’t think of a nice way to do it, just grab a Hefty bag and take an hour to pick up some trash. Then you won’t have to deal with anybody. You might think it won’t mean anything in the scheme of things, but it will make your environment more pleasant to live in. Also, I think you’ll find other people really do appreciate it. And you’ll feel good about it. If you’re in a wooded area, just watch out for ticks!
4:00 pm 04/22/2019 Classical Music with Ross Amico
IN NATURE’S REALM OVERTURE
COMPOSER: Antonín Dvořák
ENSEMBLES: Ulster Orchestra
CONDUCTOR: Vernon Handley
4:15 pm 04/22/2019 Classical Music with Ross Amico
IN THE FOREST
COMPOSER: Mikolajus Ciurlionis
ENSEMBLES: Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
CONDUCTOR: Juozas Domarkas
4:34 pm 04/22/2019 Classical Music with Ross Amico
GARBAGE CONCERTO
COMPOSER: Jan Järvlepp
ENSEMBLES: Kroumata Percussion Ensemble; Singapore Symphony Orchestra
CONDUCTOR: Lan Shui
[Incorporates percussion instruments fashioned out of recyclable material]
Tracks 1-3
5:05 pm 04/22/2019 Classical Music with Ross Amico
THEME FOR EARTH DAY
COMPOSER: Patrick Williams
ENSEMBLES: Boston Pops Orchestra
CONDUCTOR: John Williams
5:10 pm 04/22/2019 Classical Music with Ross Amico
WALDSZENEN (FOREST SCENES)
COMPOSER: Robert Schumann
SOLOIST: Clara Haskil, piano
ALBUM: Clara Haskil: Philips Recordings 1951-1960
5:34 pm 04/22/2019 Classical Music with Ross Amico
AZUL
COMPOSER: Osvaldo Golijov
ENSEMBLES: The Knights
SOLOIST: Yo-Yo Ma, cello; Michael Ward-Bergeman, hyper-accordion; Jamie Haddad & Cyro Baptista, percussion
[Inspired by view of the Earth from the International Space Station]
Tracks 3-6
6:06 pm 04/22/2019 Classical Music with Ross Amico
FAREWELL TO STROMNESS
COMPOSER: Sir Peter Maxwell Davies
SOLOIST: Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, piano
ALBUM: A Celebration of Scotland
[Protest against proposed uranium mine in Orkney Islands]
Only the first of these two pieces
6:13 pm 04/22/2019 Classical Music with Ross Amico
SYMPHONY NO. 63 “LOON LAKE”
COMPOSER: Alan Hovhaness
ENSEMBLES: Royal Scottish National Orchestra
CONDUCTOR: Stewart Robertson
[Commissioned in part by the Loon Preservation Committee]
6:40 pm 04/22/2019 Classical Music with Ross Amico
EARTH CRY
COMPOSER: Peter Sculthorpe
ENSEMBLES: New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
SOLOIST: William Barton, didgeridoo
6:55 pm 04/22/2019 Classical Music with Ross Amico
FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE EARTH
COMPOSER: John Rutter
ENSEMBLES: Cambridge Singers; City of London Sinfonia
CONDUCTOR: John Rutter
