Dennis Radmun's quotation and the line "We want a glimpse of God, but only through the mist" reminded me of the end of Act I in Amadeus: Salieri is railing away at God for making Mozart so brilliant and him so mediocre and he says the reason he worked so hard at music was "solely that in the end, in the practice of the art that alone makes the world comprehensible to me, I might hear Your voice…" Playin music has always been my meditation and reset switch.
Also, group singing has been shown to release oxytocin (which is why whenever I get people to sing along at my shows I ask them after if it was good for them). "This is Your Brain on Music" is a fascinating read on the neuroscience of music, which I need to probably re-read (cuz it's been a while and it was dense!)
I read the whole newsletter before listening and fully did not expect to prefer the metal anthem. You stopped me from skipping ahead when you said "oh you're skipping directly to the next section..." and I'm glad you kept me there because it was my fav song! I've already listened to it 3 times.
Loved reading about you joining a choir. The people who didn't drink in my group would just get the greasiest bar food when we went out afterward, in case that's enough to get you out more. Then again, you might want to keep some distance between you and those choir people.
Whitacre is cool but for that real feeling of acapella cosmic unity it'll always be renaissance music or bach for me. Old music for olds (or news) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3v9unphfi0
Thank you so much for the nicest shout out in my personal history of shout outs! And I'm thinking maybe I need to join the Astoria Choir, too. It sounds like a real good time.
And high five to Radmun Szikielovic, my new favorite quote generator.
Pleasure is mine! BTW, have we met in real life? At QED, maybe? Apologies if the answer is "Yeah dipshit, we've met fifty times." I know faces and I know names, but I have no idea who's face goes with who's name.
BTW, Amanda Melson just texted me that you two were roommates. Strange world, this...
I've seen you do stand up in IRL (I think at The Pit? Less than 20 years ago, I think. But not that many less!) but I don't think we've ever actually met! (I have briefly met your wife, though!)
Wild crazy world. I was texting with Amanda today at pretty much the same time, apparently.
I gotta get over to QED more, for sure. I'm only four subway stops away. It's not so far!
Dennis Radmun's quotation and the line "We want a glimpse of God, but only through the mist" reminded me of the end of Act I in Amadeus: Salieri is railing away at God for making Mozart so brilliant and him so mediocre and he says the reason he worked so hard at music was "solely that in the end, in the practice of the art that alone makes the world comprehensible to me, I might hear Your voice…" Playin music has always been my meditation and reset switch.
Also, group singing has been shown to release oxytocin (which is why whenever I get people to sing along at my shows I ask them after if it was good for them). "This is Your Brain on Music" is a fascinating read on the neuroscience of music, which I need to probably re-read (cuz it's been a while and it was dense!)
Good stuff as always, Finnegan!
I should get a Salieri lower back tattoo.
I've wanted to read TIYBOM for years, but I keep chickening out. I'm thinking audiobook might be the way to go for me.
Thanks, dude. You're aces.
I read the whole newsletter before listening and fully did not expect to prefer the metal anthem. You stopped me from skipping ahead when you said "oh you're skipping directly to the next section..." and I'm glad you kept me there because it was my fav song! I've already listened to it 3 times.
That’s so great. Love it! Btw here’s a great live set from KEXP. They totally pull it off live, which is shocking:
https://youtu.be/n0FdkbeiThs?si=oMAOQxkLeF9FG8LX
Loved reading about you joining a choir. The people who didn't drink in my group would just get the greasiest bar food when we went out afterward, in case that's enough to get you out more. Then again, you might want to keep some distance between you and those choir people.
Whitacre is cool but for that real feeling of acapella cosmic unity it'll always be renaissance music or bach for me. Old music for olds (or news) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3v9unphfi0
Wow, I clicked on that expecting to watch 10-15 seconds but was completely taken in. Absolutely beautiful.
My choir is...not quite that good.
nobody's choir is *that* good. glad you liked it!
Thank you so much for the nicest shout out in my personal history of shout outs! And I'm thinking maybe I need to join the Astoria Choir, too. It sounds like a real good time.
And high five to Radmun Szikielovic, my new favorite quote generator.
Pleasure is mine! BTW, have we met in real life? At QED, maybe? Apologies if the answer is "Yeah dipshit, we've met fifty times." I know faces and I know names, but I have no idea who's face goes with who's name.
BTW, Amanda Melson just texted me that you two were roommates. Strange world, this...
I've seen you do stand up in IRL (I think at The Pit? Less than 20 years ago, I think. But not that many less!) but I don't think we've ever actually met! (I have briefly met your wife, though!)
Wild crazy world. I was texting with Amanda today at pretty much the same time, apparently.
I gotta get over to QED more, for sure. I'm only four subway stops away. It's not so far!