To thine own self be true

Four interminable years of crime, lawlessness, non-stop lies, continuous fraud, total hypocrisy, innumerable fears-stoking, nasty divisiveness, insults, crude behavior, a major breakdown in civility and accord, defiance of conventional values, destroying people, customary relations and institutions, barbarism, incited violence, stirring up chaos domestically and internationally, vendetta and vengeance against opponents, unlimited ego, limitless greed, extreme focus on materialism, autocratic power, corrupt agendas, cruelty, mass confusion and deliberate confuting, cynicism, terminal laziness, total irresponsibility, and unmitigated evil under Trump.

Biden represents a return to civility, courtesy, conversation and civilization, decency, light and spiritedness, common sense, reason, truth, empirical evidence, law, justice, clarity, positive changes and corrections, day-to-day stability, honesty, compassion and benevolence, dignity, passionate engagement, knowledge, functioning institutions, globalism and international accord, vigor, energy, vitality, creative solutions and problem-solving, a sense of order, hope and confidence.

In short, a long dark delusory age of evil, corrupt barbarism replaced by a sudden and very welcome return to actual harmonious civilization process.

(The U.S. Post Office has honored her.)

(the generic 1951 program; this one from her Edmonton concert)

(a glimpse into her concert life from the program)

the impressive Marian Anderson (1897-1993), the internationally famous black American, classically-trained rich contralto-superstar who led the way for racial equality on the entertainment scene.

She was the first black singer at the New York Metropolitan and, after being denied performing at a concert hall in Washington, D.C. by the American Daughters of the American Revolution, was enabled with the help of the Roosevelts, the N.A.A.C.P., and others to perform in front of 75,000 at the Lincoln Monument in 1939.

Despite prejudice, discrimination, and censoring, she performed in innumerable concert halls throughout the world, including Europe, where she first achieved social acceptance and initial fame in places like Sweden and France.

The above program was from her Feb. 17, 1951 concert in little old Edmonton, long before the Jubilee Auditorium was built.

There is also a new PBS documentary about her and you can see clips from her performances, including the Washington Monument show, online. Her voice was called a female version of Caruso’s and her records were widely listened to as ‘classical entertainment’ much as his were.

I first read about her in a ‘rags to riches’ story in a 1950s school-textbook reader, but knew/appreciated nothing of the political scope of her significant accomplishments on behalf of her people till lately. The above interesting documentary is a celebration of the latter.

about a good article on the problems with/limitations of identity politics:

“As the article posits, free-minded discussion, rational argument, and lack of agendas have run off the tracks big time. There is a lot of truth and accuracy in the observations. The current world of Screwball Central that is the States. The opinions are now competing for self-righteous power and control over the many. In particular, the agendas have simply run amok. And now more than ever, individualism and being an autonomous individual are more important and necessary than ever to stem the innumerable wanna-be’s tides.”

All that is true as is the narrow, limited/limiting, irrational, wet-dream, Hitleresque agendas of authoritarianism as ‘necessary quick-fix solutions’ to complex social problems and issues of the day. 1984 revisited.

9 of his essential pieces on this Best of: #1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11.

“Father of the symphony, string quartet, piano sonata, piano trio, and concerto.”

(Have ordered his 160! CD boxset.)

Greatly underestimated. Friend of Mozart who called him “Papa”. Taught Beethoven!

Back on January 18, 2021, Jimmie Rodgers passed from kidney disease and Covid. He was a remarkable entertainer whose main claim to fame was his work in the 1950s and ’60s.

These were his famous singles:
“Honeycomb” (1956)
“Kisses Sweeter Than Wine” (1957)
“Oh-Oh, I’m Falling in Love Again” (1958)
“The Long Hot Summer” (theme for a 1958 movie)
“Secretly” (1958)
“Make Me a Miracle” (1958)
“Are You Really Mine?” (1958)
“The Wizard” (1958)
“Bimbombey” (1958)
“I’m Never Gonna Tell” (1959)
“Ring-a-Ring-a Lario” (1959)
“Wonderful You” (1959)
“Tucumcari” (1959)
“Waltzing Matilda” (a big hit in U.K.–1959)
“Just a Closer Walk with Thee” (1960)
“The Wreck of the John B” (1960)
“Woman from Liberia” (1960)
“It’s Over” (1966–later sung by Elvis)
“Child of Clay” (1967)

It is remarkable he lived to 87, given his medical history: brain surgeries of the mid-’60s which left him with a plate in his head for many years and later surgeries for his voice problems. Jimmie was a true survivor and I corresponded with him in the 2010s (his signed autobio above). He even staged a brief comeback when he could sing some of his songs at a Nashville dinner theatre.

The two best albums to own:

The first has all the early hits plus “It’s Over” and “Child of Clay”. The second album has all the best of his mid-late ’60s folkie material.

Love’s Philosophy

The fountains mingle with the river

And the rivers with the ocean,

The winds of heaven mix for ever

With a sweet emotion;

Nothing in the world is single;

All things by a law divine

In one spirit meet and mingle.

Why not I with thine?—

See the mountains kiss high heaven

And the waves clasp one another;

No sister-flower would be forgiven

If it disdained its brother;

And the sunlight clasps the earth

And the moonbeams kiss the sea:

What is all this sweet work worth

If thou kiss not me?

(Thanks to kindred-spirit poet Clint for this one.)

by watching the “Lovely Flowers” episode on Shaw’s Frame Channel. Lots of color top counteract the prevailing white and black.

Death of a Salesman debuted.
Olivier’s Hamlet won Best Picture.
Orwell’s 1984 was published.
The Third Man movie came out.

All were favorites before I checked.

All of them say something about my consciousness and sensibility.

Home Handyman. Ah, his/their thoughts be with me!

“All you need is love.”
–The Beatles