blog
Latest from 2008
I'm now working with yet another DAW (digital audio workstation) application: Logic Studio. I have to say that so far, I'm very pleased. It comes with a boatload of samples, synths, and processors that so far all sound very good, and are pretty friendly to work with. In the past I've made extensive use of both Pro Tools and Digital Performer, and this application has already proven to be a much more effective creative tool. I like the fact that, unlike Pro Tools, I can get an...
I was listening the other day to Hillary Hahn's recording of Bach Violin Concertos from way back in '03. It's a decent record, except that all the fast movements are just too damn fast. I was particularly disappointed by the D minor concerto for two violins. I have a special fondness for that piece. J.S. arranged it for two harpsichords, and that version appeared on a Nonesuch recording from the seventies. It was one of the very first records I bought with my own money, and I...
Remember when I wrote about pentatonic scales way back when? I said I'd continue that thread. Here's a little study using only a C pentatonic scale. It's definitely not a polished realization; just a raw Finale file, but it shows that one can do a lot with just five pitches. MP3: cpentatonicexercise.mp3
I figured that by now no degree of lameness from our Congress could surprise me, but Thursday's Senate vote on the the FISA Amendment bill - yes, I know it was expected, but still... - left me sad and very angry. I read through most of the bill last night. The bulk of the text has to do with procedures the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court is supposed to follow when certifying surveillance authorizations, and fol-de-rol the Justice Department's goes through when submitting...
Last week I started drafting a post about how the Hillary Clinton's campaign was profoundly historic whether or not she won the nomination and the great good it did for womankind in general and how I hoped her die-hard supporters didn't give up on the Democrats because an Obama presidency can also be a vehicle for moving the feminist agenda forward and because a McCain presidency would just be no damn good, but one of my favorite Nation columnists, Katha Pollitt, wrote a piece that I...