LETTER 2 A MUSIC LOVING FRIEND

A LETTER TO A MUSIC LOVING FRIEND

Merton talks of music, musicals, online listening, and finding time for art and literature amidst our love of music and busy sound byte lives. (And yes, even art hermits have busy lives.  Lol!)

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Dear Eric,
(Riverking on DA)

Shame, shame, Your Maaaaaaaaaajesty... not knowing Side by Side by Sondheim! A Sondheim fan, indeed! Hurumph! Wink.  Lol.  You will have to look Side by Side up at the library and check out the CD (or album, if they still have such things!) It's fab!

Love all those Sondheim musicals you listed! What about Sunday in the Park with George? I really like that one.

Just FYI, I am experimenting with a new radio music service called Pandora, which creates radio stations for you based on singers, songs, performers. So you could, I think create "radio stations," personalized ones, that feature songs from those musicals (and similar sorts of songs) based on various characteristics of the music, lyrics, performance, performers. The computer does it for you; it's really easy.

You might like Pandora or other similar services I have seen.  And you could create stations based on your celtic music (such as you dance to), too... like feed in The Chieftans or Loreena Mckennit (sp?) and create a station.

(And, anyone reading this, I am not a lacky for Pandora or any other internet service... just an ordinary mortal experimenting with what is available out there.)

I was so perplexed after Imeem went suddenly kerplunkt and it (and my huge collection of music) disappeared, that I swore of such sites. But nonetheless, having finally wended my way through my little grieving period ove Imeem, I just set up a little computer in the bedroom for music listening (so that I don't gunk up the main computer and make it slow, slow, slow).  

On this new little bedroom laptop referred to above, I made files with lists of links to my fav spiritual vids, fav public radio show links, etc. Plus, I am leaving open two browsers, one for Pandora, another for a listening site called GrooveShark (which sorta approximates what Imeem did, and another where I can pull up the various radio shows and videos mentioned above.  

And so, I have been doing much more online listening again, to radio shows, videos, and to music again! I am glad I have set this all up.  I think it will enhance my life, especially since I am a work at home author, artist and teacher, and don't venture out of my little art hermitage too much, except for the occasional appointment on a Monday, and a few dinners out with hubby on weekends.  This little internet listening station brings the world (and its learning and beauty) to me, when I want it.

I write, record, practice and teach music, so you would think I would not want any more of it. But I guess I do. Music is such a big part of life for so many people. It truly is the universal language... and contains such diversity too, just like in people and in the world.

Now, if I can just start reading again. I miss that, but can't seem to find time, except for blogs and the occasional short story, memoir, book of letters, etc. (things I can read in short installments). Ah, the modern malady... the sound byte life!

K, that's enough for now. Hope I did not talk your ear off!

(Sometimes art hermits can do that you know, when they actually do make contact with the world!  Lol.)

-Merton