Comments by Garrett_Harris | San Diego Reader

Garrett Harris

Garrett Harris is a Reader contributor. See staff page for published articles.

Butterworth

That's a phenomenal program!
— September 7, 2012 4:20 p.m.

Name dropping

Thank you HarryKessler for giving us these insights into to history and traditions of acting. Good stuff!
— September 3, 2012 9:16 p.m.

Did Beethoven Meet Schubert?

The murkiness is there for those who already know. This post is written on two levels and those familiar with the further history of the 19th century should recognize the reference to Austria being crushed by Prussia. If this interview happened and the Austrian Schubert had been crushed by the German Beethoven then the metaphor stands. Since the German state that defeated Austria was Prussia, I used the term "Prussian". Before German unification or not, there is a general distinction between Austria and the Germanic Tribes. As a Roman, Quintus, you should know that first hand! Since this is an online forum, I paint these posts with a broad brush. The broad brush stroke here is the difference in personality between Beethoven and Schubert. Some of the finer bristles of the brush contain the difference between German composers and Austrian composers. Beethoven vs. Mozart/Haydn/Schubert--Wagner vs. Bruckner. A further refinement leads to German, and specifically Prussian, industrialization of their military vs. Austria's reticence and how these cultural/social attitudes were reflected in music, art, architecture, and literature leading up to the Oedipal revolt of *fin de siecle* Vienna and the complete collapse of the Hapsburg and Prussian Empires at the end of WWI. I have written on these topics previously but getting into these details on a consistent basis isn't practical.
— August 15, 2012 10:05 a.m.

Did Beethoven Meet Schubert?

Good Lord Quintus. I KNOW Beethoven wasn't Prussian. I was using the term as an adjective. The further reference is to the Austro Prussian War of 1866 which only lasted 7 weeks.
— August 14, 2012 10:20 a.m.

Homage to Mozart

Did I not clearly state in the previous post that the 1812 Overture was at one time my favorite piece of music? That it was my entry into classical music? After that is was the Slavic March and so on and so forth. Have I not written of Tchaikovsky's 1812 leading me, while in high school, to attend an outdoor concert of his 5th Symphony as the full-August-moon rose over the mountains of Southern Oregon during the equally famous 2nd movement? Beings-how I've done written about the 1812 Overture more than once,does it not serve to be aware of a piece that Tchaikovsky wrote from his heart? "If I speak with the tongues of men and angels but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal". Indeed. Why can't we be aware of music that Tchaikovsky wrote for himself instead of for the masses at a state occasion? Is there not enough truth in classical music that it need not be defended tooth and nail? The 1812 Overture has its place in musical history at large and in the individual musical history of the individuals who have loved it. So far as musical history at large, it is not a remarkable piece of art and to call it such would be dishonest. In my personal musical history it looms large as the piece that started my journey. In Jr. High my friends and I played at war games with the 1812 as our soundtrack. But, to borrow from Paul once more, "When I became a man I put childish things behind me." I'm living the exact scenario you've described above but while I cherish the 1812 and recommend it or use it as a common denominator, I don't listen to it anymore; except, perhaps, in a fit of nostalgia. I've striven to write this blog in a manner that will challenge the newly initiated and the venerable establishment. I've covered Russian witches having sex with goats during a Witch's Sabbath on Bald Mountain and I've covered vowel production and appropriate portamenti in Italian Opera. For the record, I've never been a fan of Bolero and St. John of Chrysostom still eludes me. Now Rach Vespers or anything by Pavel Chesnokov? Yes. Pace Quintus.
— August 10, 2012 6:27 p.m.

Not Populist Canard

The point I'm trying to make--and not doing a very good job at--is that classical music is not threatened by half full concert halls because of the patronage of dedicated subscribers who donate money which basically subsidizes ticket sales for the rest of us--and that it has kind of always been like that. The other point, which I haven't gotten to yet, is that the closure of arts organizations is also not a threat. We can see Lyric Opera San Diego closing down its productions but her comes a group called Bodhi Tree that is going to put up G and S perfromances--all be it with more humble surroundings. This is by far the best time ever to be a classical music fan. I was at an establishment with my dad and said, "Name me any piece of music you want to hear. We can listen to it on YouTube for free plus this place has free wi-fi so we're no even paying for the internet connection". Anyone with a smart phone can listen to almost any piece of music ever written.
— August 5, 2012 4 p.m.

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Garrett Harris

Obesity is Better Than Bullying

Cartoon conductor

Child obesity awareness

Paul Ryan the runner

Butterworth

Name dropping

Did Beethoven Meet Schubert?

Did Beethoven Meet Schubert?

Homage to Mozart

Not Populist Canard

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