Acts/ Dictates/ Mandates/ Mantle - Amy's Thread (Page 6 of 77)

I won't claim a review on this, but if that's an RC priest you might want to be sure whether that's a Bible or a prayer-book.

Foot and a half. New York flips a lid over a dusting and my city is just hunkering down and planning on a bit of sledding.

Well, they (the governor/mayor of course) did a good job of freaking out, because it was all over our news wayyyyyy over here on this side of the pond ... Even our 50 deg C max temperatures which would normally be big weather news, was a no biggy when that happened!

Sledding ... will be a new experience doing it on snow instead of sand, but I guess it's just as fun (except colder) 

You'll have to find another reason, it ain't your arithmetic ability.  It was to the north of the state - I think Perth "only" hit 47 deg C/117 F that day.  But I'm not complaining, it was our first hot spell this summer so far where we had more than 3 days hitting 45+.  Usually it hits us over the holiday season ...  I'd send some sun your way if I could, but until that day, some lucky person is having a perfect day somewhere in the middle!

At least I also have an excuse when I blush and I don't want to admit it! 

Is this a new design error or the one you've mentioned before?  Either way, hope you get it fixed without too much trouble!

I take it electric shavers are out?  If he can't stand the buzzy kind, you might see if they still make the Norelco rotaries.

The buzz comes from an oscillating 'motor', usually driven right off the powerline frequency.  The rotary (3-head) Norelcos don't have that buzz because they are (wait for it) ...) rotary.  That doesn't mean they don't have sounds, and maybe even a pseudo-buzz.  You should find out, assuming they are still available.

Of course, you could get him used to organ music, with its bassy pedal and its wide variety of tootling, roaring, buzzing, snarling, braying, squealing, and sparkling pipes.  Short example here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=V2rIlIsi7XA  .  (Incidentally, 'snarl' and 'buzz' are both terms organbuilders use in describing the sounds of pipes.)

Incidentally, have you read Not Even Wrong?

Damn noices! Noise cancelling headphones are now even higher on my 'like' list of favourite things.

I know what Collin looked like with half a head shaven - it would look similar to two boys who were 3 and 5 at the time and gotten hold of scissors! Looking back it makes you smile. I love how you described the process too, I'm still smiling (as bad as I feel for you because I pick up on your frustration!) as I type this.

* scribbles like mad * I have to confess, been in the southern hemisphere most (all) of my life and the times I ventured north it had been spring, summer, autumn over there, never winter. I can count the number of times I've seen snow on one hand. We have to go through deliberate planning and effort to see snow! We have a mountain range, what we west aussies call a mountain, other people would call a hill (stretch), it's more like a bump in the road really. sigh

Google lancelin dunes images, it doesn't do those sand dunes any justice, but trust me, it's the most fun you can have with clothes on! And the sand is really pure white, it's absolutely beautiful (but not in summer - you won't believe how many flies there are around here, that's apart from the temps).

Now to the shaving problem. Would there be a cream that could do the trick? But I have no clue whether hair removal cream for sensitive areas would work though - stubble can be really tough. But it probably would initially at first? * holds thumbs amy can make a plan *

I saw a hockey game at MSG many years ago and the home-team goal horn was so loud it hurt my ears.  Collin was lucky.

Organ music does tend to show off the dynamic range and timbral powers of the instrument, but there are exceptions.  I'm thinking particularly of the Bach F-Major Toccata, which is also one of the happiest pieces I know of.  It's paired with a fugue that is more dramatic, but you can find recordings of the toccata alone, especially on youtube.  Although, even there you might want to turn the treble down a bit and ride the volume.  I'm sure there are recordings which wouldn't cause a problem, but you'd have to hunt for them.  Maybe a couple of the old regordings by EPBiggs?  Organist builders and organists are fond of upper harmonics, though they often take it too far.

Organ music will vary by recording, since the organist chooses the registration to match the piece to the instrument.

Two pieces come to mind: Saint-Saens's Organ (3rd) Symphony, which provided the music for Babe and the Toccata from Widor's Fifth Organ Symphony.  The first uses the organ as several parts added to the orchestra, the second is a pure organ piece.  The Saint Saens symphony is unlikely to be strident in any recording, except possibly for a few very brief moments when flutes and piccolos are pushed.  The Widor piece is more dependent on performer, instrument, and hall.

Note that many organs are tuned to an older concert pitch.  If Collin has true absolute pitch, he may notice this.

French Romantic organs have some of the best rumble, hum, and purr, especially those by Aristede Cavaille-Coll, whose works are each landmarks in the art.  Franck, Widor, and Saint-Saens played on such instruments, or those modelled on them, will -generally- be less strident.  There are exceptions.

I'm especially fond of Franck's Cantabile, Piece Heroique, and the Chorale nr 3 in b-Minor.  Again, stridency will vary from performance to performance.  Franck's work tends to be introspective.

For harmonic complexity, you cannot beat Bach.  The problem is that organists like to use the upperwork in the densest harmonies, and much upperwork is strident.

In Bach, look for recordings of the Little Fugue in g-Minor.  You might also try recordings of The Art of the Fugue, not necessarily on the organ.  A piano or harpsichord performance will avoid the stridency while maintaining all the melodic and harmonic complexity.

Also try the Mahler 8th Symphony.  The 2-part recording on Youtube by Dudamel is a wonder, more for the circumstances of its creation.  Dudamel got just about every vocalist and chorister over the age of about five in Venezuala in one hall and rehearsed for a week or so.  At over 1400 vocalists, it's believed to be the largest one ever.  (He uses only 3 of the 4 keyboards the work is written for, either omitting the harmonium or giving its parts to the organ.)  The best recording may still be the one by Neuman from around 1980 (plus or minus).  The symphony has a few dramatic dynamic moments, but mostly it's a stream of beautiful sound.  The opening few bars are louder, in varying degrees depending on the recording.

I once kept a six-year-old tranquil for 40 minutes or so by plopping Walkman headphones on her and playing a tape of the Neuman recording.  She sat transfixed the whole time.  She'd be around 22 now.  I wonder from time to time if she ever remembers that music and wonders what it was.

The music industry could use him as a tester. They'd make a fortune.

I need you to pick 2 or three you might think appropriate.