Tuesday, December 15, 2009

"Passion Play"



William Fitzsimmons has this song "Passion Play" that sticks with me. Listen.

"I should not have hid where my heart can't follow
Because this grace gets so far and too hard to swallow
I've been running from Saul, he's been giving chase
When I look in his eyes
All I see is my face

Are you still on my back after all these years?
Chasing me out of hell and my nice veeners
I don't know how you stand when you've got no floor
Or how you can breathe with your hands on board

I just want to be not what I am today
I just want to be better than my friends might say
I just want a small part in your passion play

Do you hear when I call in the midst of wrong?
Do you hear these here words while I sing this song?
Are you caught up in me like I heard you say?
Or just some big cashier that I'll have to pay

I just want to be not what I am today
I just want to be better than my friends might say
I just want a small part in your passion play"



...........................................................................................................

Monday, December 14, 2009

WAR!



Edwin Starr. What is he good for? Absolutely... everything.

Truth be told, I'm not familiar with much of anything he's responsible for besides this song, War. And I think I'm okay with that. This repeat button and I are having a really good time, anyhow.

This sound is in my player, along with 15 other late 60's tracks, courtesy of Cam Hart, assistant director for TWU's upcoming production of As You Like It. We're doing the shake-com woodstock style, with direction by Aaron Caleb. Those who know Caleb's work know that his Shakespeare shows are genius. I could be exaggerating, and just trying to do some good publicity for Trinity, but I'm not. For reals, straight up, this show is going to be wicked. Cast is as follows:

Nicola Prigge
Alex Voicu
John Voth
Karyn Guenther
Mackenzie West
Kyla Ferrier
Julie Casselman
Jordan Schuurman
Danielle Spampinato
Philip Miguel
Chris Simons
Lyndon Johnson


I'll say it again, you're gunna wanna see this show. Folks who hate Shakespeare like this stuff.
There's always plenty of bawdy from the Bardy, and you with a sore stomach at the end of the night, you laughaholic you.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Audition



Your new BF.
(And I don't mean Bob Fosse)
.
.
.
It looks like a giant cheese ball, if you judge this little one by it's cover. Or maybe it's more of a cheese block. Either way, it's the inside that counts, and starts to add up.
.
.
.
Some people crack this bad boy open every time they do a show. Those people are pretty frigging smart.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Bread




People, this little 70's gem is too oft neglected: BREAD. Nice soft rock sounds. On the greatest hits album, you'll find a handful of songs you've heard before, but never knew who they were by. This band is the best thing since sliced... ooo. Don't worry. I almost went there, but I didn't.

Bread song of the day: "Diary"

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Currently Reading: The Four Loves



Lewis, Lord of Lucidity. The thing I enjoy the most about his writing is that he gives words for those feelings which are unspeakable. His examples and explanations are clear, and spot on. I'm just finishing up the chapter on Affection, the first discussed love of the four. A few highlights from what I've read thus far:

"All the things the poets say about them [the Gift-loves] are true. Their joy, their energy, their patience, their readiness to forgive, their desire for the good of the beloved- all this is a real and all but adorable image of the Divine life.... we may mistake Like for Same. We may give our human loves the unconditional allegiance which we owe only to God. Then they become gods: then they become demons. Then they will destroy us, and also destroy themselves. For natural loves that are allowed to become gods do not remain loves." (p13)

"There seems no reason for describing as hypocritical the short-lived piety of those whose religion fades away once they have emerged from "danger, necessity, or tribulation". Why should they not have been sincere? They were desperate and they howled for help. Who wouldn't?" (p19)

"Appreciative love gazes and holds its breath and is silent, rejoices that such a wonder should exist even if not for him, will not be wholly dejected by losing her, would rather have it so than never have seen her at all" (p21)

"Nature does not teach. A true philosophy may sometimes validate an experience of nature; an experience of nature cannot validate a philosophy. Nature will not verify any theological or metaphysical proposition... she will help to show what it means." (p24)

"If ever the book which I am not going to write is written it must be the full confession by Christendom of Christendom's specific contribution to the sum of human cruelty and treachery. Large areas of "the World" will not hear us till we have publicly disowned much of our past. Why should they? We have shouted the name of Christ and enacted the service of Moloch." (p32)

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Philip Glass



Philip Glass owns, big time.

Composer of operas and symphonies, Philip Glass is unfortunately too old for me to marry and love forever. His is the sort of music that makes you feel you are a part of a great thing- which is fitting, because I would venture to say we are part of a great thing. There is some kind of power in his use of repetition. He's known for his contributions to experimental theatre, including Einstein on the Beach.

Please do yourself a favor and have a listen