Tunes : Sound Systems, Stradivari and The Ciaccona any one ?
OK, my first post on Knots years ago was about music and what do you like in the shop. Since then I have added to that now and again. T’is is again: For me Classical music and especially strings makes it just grand in the shop. I stumbled across this recent recording, well 2007, and it seems to be just great to me. I was looking for The Ciaccona. I didn’t know anything about it. Yes I am a barbarian and now you know just how bad my condition is. : ) I found it on iTunes and is called : The Bach Album Inventions & Partita played by Janine Jansen, Maxim Rysanov and Torleif Thedeen To keep your attention I will say the album comes with a video of Janine Jansen playing a couple of pieces and she is totally “Hot”. Be sure to update your computer software , free to Apple user , or you may not be able to play the video. This is very professionally done footage by the way. To find this on iTunes just search under: The Bach Album or Janine Jansen It was really buried in their system; it doesn’t come up under other obvious searches. This album contains : some solo violin some violin and viola some violin, viola and cello only. Not symphony, just chamber music. like twenty three cuts. Yah . . . I thought “can I really listen to that much droning violin ? ” But most of the pieces are short, lively and unique so I find it enjoyable and never boring. All wood here so bear with me. I strongly recommend a sub woofer when listening to this album to really hear the deep stuff. Another FIND that I came across while searching for The Ciaccona, not for the shop because it is a video, is a Metropolitan Museum Of Art video of Eric Grossman playing a violin on camera. What is so great about that you may ask: First I must say the camera work is none existent it is a camera paned back a bit and doesn’t vary except to rather comically allow him to “drift” off to one side for a bit. Rank, amateur work to the hilt. And there is some funky all bet brief noise in the small audience that I won’t even attempt to identify. BUT ! This is why it is of interest : • Available on iTunes • Free of charge from the iTunes University series. • Is a truly great piece of music; Bach’s Partita for Violin Solo No 2 in D Minor The Ciaccona • The Ciaccona is about fourteen minutes long ! where else can you get a fine musician playing one of the worlds finest and most valuable instruments , in color, with modern recording equip. for that long for free ? • The instrument is ” The Antonius ” made by Antonio Stradivari in 1717 http://www.metmuseum.org/TOAH/hd/strd/ho_34.86.1.htm Woodworking at its finest ! ! ! ENJOY ! Since I am well into another one of my novels I might add this . . . I was using a Mac Book Air for music in my shop because I can see the long titles of the classical music where on my iPhone I can not. But the key board is vulnerable to saw dust so I was looking for an alternative. I believe I have found a bargain and jumped on it and am passing it along . . . The Apple on line store http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/ipod/ipod_classic has, through the holidays on and off, had refurbished iPod Classics in the 120 GB older size. They sell for $189 plus your local tax. That is like sixty dollars less than the most recent 160GB. but 120GB is not 160GB you say. And I say do you really need more than the 30,000 songs in your shop that will fit on the 120GB ? I have, knock on wood, had excellent luck with Apples refurbs. The long titles scroll by so it is possible to read the whole title. iPhone does not do this. The outer case of the iPod is not a dust catcher so should work well in this environment. I have the dock on order but am using it as I type this with a stereo cable plugged into the ear phone jack. Advantage of doc is remote control, stands upright so you don’t need to handle it with dirty hands to see the screen, charges iPod, and you don’t need to turn the volume way up on the pod and get blasted later when you use head phones. Reviews on Amazon are way positive but there are a few who say the sound quality of the huge gig iPods are lesser quality than say the 8GB, 16GB and 32GB. That may or not have been true in the past but mine is very high quality sound and equal to my computers and my iPhone so you can buy with confidence. If there was ever a problem they have corrected it in the refurb. HAPPY NEW YEAR LADS AND LASSES !
Replies
roc,
Ah, you are so right about Ms. Jansen - and, she is a fine fiddler also....
I had a friend that for the last ten years of his life would practice the Bach Chaconne every morning for an hour or so. He was never able to actually PLAY it, but enjoyed the prolonged attempt at trying to. He also kept the practice sessions private, which was quite thoughtful of him.
Q: Do you know how to tell when a violin is out of tune?
A: The bow is moving.
Q: Do you know how to tell a violin from a viola?
A: The viola burns longer....
Ha, ha, ha, aaahhhh, Ha, ha, ha, ha
Naz,
I've heard it said that
Naz,
I've heard it said that the definition of a "gentleman" is someone who knows how to play the bagpies - but doesn't.
Zolton
>definition of a "gentleman"<
: )
Jansen is incredible - I listen to classical while writing but no music in my shop - never have. When I was turning wrenches I didn't like it when anyone played anything in the shop as I always thought it a distraction, in my own m'cycle shop it was never allowed and now that it is only me in a garage - Maybe I'll try - Janine Jansen would not be on that list though, she's far too good looking and distracting in the imagination!
btw the four seasons and Mendelssohn & Bruch albums with her are life altering. I'll check out the Bach Partita.
my 120 is full.
EDIT: slpeling
>Music etc. a distractionMendelssohn & Bruch albumturning wrenches<
I was thinking of pursuing a job recently where I would be working wood all the time but think I would miss the mechanical/electrical. Also I just heard a podcast that said seventy percent of this small niche of woodwork is now concentrated in China. Will it never end ? At least people won't be sending their machines clear across the world to have them tuned up. Or will they ?
Roc,
This cracks me up. I went to itunes and typed in: Bach Partitas Janine Hansen.
Did you mean, "Bach Partitas Janine Jansen?" Click here.
Why yes, Mr. Computer, that is what I meant. Click.
Sorry, no results found.
-jonnieboy
>Did you mean, "Bach Partitas Janine Jansen?"<
Yep Yep. As I said :
It was really buried in their system; it doesn't come up under other obvious searches.
Part of the problem is the key words used to link to the actual work in question. Part of the problem is yes there are key words "Janine Jansen" and others that are "Bach Partitas". But together we don't get egg role. Or a cigar.
To find this on iTunes just search under: "The Bach Album"
or
"Janine Jansen"
PS: well actually I entered the "Bach Partitas Janine hansen" and got there is nothing by this name and I corrected it to "Bach Partitas Janine jansen" and it took me right to the album.
I blame it on Mercury in retrograde. I goes direct in about five days or so according to Queenmasteroftheuniverseandbabybunnytrainer so hang in there.
sorry link changed
Seeing that this thread is still alive, I'll add a few more chuckles:
Q: What's the difference between a violin and an onion?
A: No one cries when you chop up a violin.
Q: What's the difference between a seamstress and a violinist?
A: The seamstress tucks up the frills.
I am enjoying this thread about classical music in the shop. Woodworking and classical music have been my passions for only about 56 years, but I am still a neanderthal with the media. I use CD's, and amp-receiver and multiple bookshelf speakers. Also use music choice on Comcast, but they deleted the opera channel. You may want to check out the Bach cello solo(forget whether they are sonatas or partitas)...
Whoever has the cracking fingers in the winter, consider it may be due to chemicals. I had this problem while in practice as an ophthalmologist. When I stopped using the little cotton wipes soaked in rubbing alc. to clean my instruments(about 30 times per day), my finger cracking went away.
>Bach cello solo<
You got that right ! I enjoy those quite a lot, especially since I got a nice subwoofer bass speaker.
Rubing alc
Well in my case it is not that. I been using that on a paper towel all winter since the big flue scare to constantly sanitize my fingers and tools. Common tool handling at work. One guy's wife had it so far.
Anyway no prob except dryness since Sept. Oct. Just now, in Jan., I am getting cracking in my thumbs. Not bad. Not dripping with blood while I work. That's how bad it gets at the worst. Gotta tape up to keep my brains from leaking out through my fingers.
I got into something though.
"Also use music choice on Comcast, but they deleted the opera channel."
Music choice on Comcast? Do tell.
--jonnieboy
chanell 440 for classical, and there's another one for "light classical". They have about 15 genres of music..for a price, of course.
Ahh... A price... Got it...
I was just now trolling around on their site. I didn't know they offered music.
Thanks for the response!
--jonnieboy
seeemore,
Have you heard this album ? I really enjoy it.
Cello Spice A Celebration Of Cellos
with Alison Lawrance, Gillian Copp, John Davidson & Mark Bailey
>media/music choice on Comcast<
Have you tried the NetFlix video service ? They send DVDs in the mail to use for a while then you mail it back in the envelope provided and they send the next on your list or can view over the internet to your TV. I have had fine luck with them. Have subscribed for years now.
Anyway they have full length videos of Classical performances in quite nice quality. Recently we viewed Daniel Barenboim, Itzhak Perlman and Yo-Yo Ma putting it all together to play Beethoven's Triple Concerto. Then we saw Anne-Sophie Mutter directed by Herbert von Karajan conducts the Berlin Philharmonic in a performance of Beethoven's "Concerto in D Major for Violin and Orchestra."
I just went back to view the "view viewing history" and they show that one not available right now. Some body must have swiped it. I thought about.
: )
No one has mentioned Renaissance music!
Don
A tool and die maker told me to use Eucerin moisturizing crème to help with finger cracking.
Who's good? They are all
Who’s good? They are all good, of course some of the Georgian chants can get to me.
I listen to Baroque; for Period and French Country styles, Renaissance; for Greene & Greene and Arts and Crafts, Crossover; for the Contemporary style. The music helps be focus.
Don
OoooooohKaaaaaaa . . .
. . . . .
. . . . . . .
Sound of crickets . . .
. . . .
Hey, don't blame me. Can't
Hey, don't blame me. Can't keep up. Back here in the dust with my REO Speedwagon 8-track.
-jonnieboy
jonnieboy,
Nah I like the REO !
Ridein' The Storm Out !
Goooood stuff. When we cross counrty skied into Brown's cabin (sits at tree line ~11,000 ft) one night for New Years that song kept going through my head. ". . . full moon night on a Rocky Mountain winter".
There was a big full moon.
Yep Yep !
or maybe you are kidding but I'm not.
Sophisticated lady with your blue jeans on--you're anybody's baby when your moma's gone!! (REO/REO)
Yeah---that's the stuff!!
Mack,
Okay then, who's
Mack,
Okay then, who's better, REO or Aerosmith?
Train kept a-rollin' all night long...
-jonnieboy
>REO or Aerosmith<
Easy now . . . next thing you know Aqualung will be shambling in . . . I don't like the way he looks at those girls in the park.
For your finger cracking try super glue. Overnight and all the pain goes away. Have a lot of experience with winter canoeing and wet/dry hands in the cold - it really works! --- woodhors
woodhors,
>super glue those cracks in fingers<
Hey thanks !
I have been leery of the stuff. Ooooooh weird chemicals and all like that. I did some reading about it since your post. Looks like a real solution.
I am posting some of the things I found for any one needing to use it. I always like to come at a problem from the root cause rather than the band aid fix but some times the band aid is important until the root cause can be found.
In my case recently I think it may be from eating some tamales sold door to door by a local Mexican family. Sure were great tamales though. First time I had some that weren't spicy; but quite flavorful. They may have used Crisco instead of lard in the mix but I don't really know. Or may be from the fats in some cookies I been eating lately.
Any way here are some "facts":
About 5% of the population can become sensitized to CA fumes after repeated exposure, resulting in flu-like symptoms. It may also act as a skin irritant and may cause an allergic skin reaction. The ACGIH assign a Threshold Limit Value exposure limit of 200 parts per billion. On rare occasions inhalation may trigger asthma. There can be no singular measurement of toxicity for all cyanoacrylate adhesives as there is a wide variety of adhesives that contain various cyanoacrylate formulations.
The United States National Toxicology Program and the United Kingdom Health and Safety Executive have concluded that the use of ethyl cyanoacrylate is safe and that additional study is unnecessary.
2-octyl cyanoacrylate degrades much more slowly due to its longer organic backbone which slows the degradation of the adhesive enough to remain below the threshold of tissue toxicity. Due to the toxicity issues of ethyl cyanoacrylate, the use of 2-octyl cyanoacrylate for sutures is preferred.
Reaction with cotton
Applying cyanoacrylate to materials made of cotton or wool (such as cotton swabs, cotton balls, and certain yarns or fabrics) results in a powerful, rapid exothermic reaction. The heat released may cause minor burns, and if enough cyanoacrylate is used, the reaction is capable of igniting the cotton product, as well as releasing irritating vapor in the form of white smoke.
Material Safety Data Sheets for cyanoacrylate instruct users not to wear cotton or wool clothing, especially cotton gloves, when applying or handling cyanoacrylates.
Thanks again,
I've got a nasty rash on the
I've got a nasty rash on the backs of my hands, mostly my right hand. I have an appointment with a dermatologist, but cyanoacrylates might be a suspect. I'll see what she thinks.
-jonnieboy
I would have to second the use of a "super glue" for small cuts and cracks - I use it for small cuts mostly when it is a clean one - like from trying to put a chisel tip into one of those fancy plastic holder things and it slips across the finger. - Also why I don't use those fancy things.
I have found that I cannot listen to Beethoven while trying to do anything else where concentration is necessary - like writing or driving.
Also , Coltrane, Davis, Blakely, Mingus and other Jazz greats are Fantastic to do stuff to - Like I said - I don't while playing with sharp things but while I am writing. I would start with Kind of Blue and/or a love supreme and find my way from there.
Coleman Hawkins: Body and Soul.
--a high-water mark of jazz improvisation.
The New Miles Davis Quintet: Miles.
I think this Miles disc is very nearly the equal of Kind of Blue.
--jonnieboy
Oh yeah, I couldn't agree
Oh yeah, I couldn't agree more. I didn't know there were actual Jazz fans around here. Have you ever listened to Charles Mingus's Epitaph? The first and as far as I know only Jazz Symphony. The only bummer about the piece is that he never heard it complete before he perished - I am sure, however, like Beethoven - he heard it in his head.
I was also saddened to hear about David Graham's passing late 08, what he did for Guitar was amazing in my opinion.
They were saying in the climate change thread how another site shut down a climate change melee after six pages.
We better sneak some wood into this "Hep Cat" thread before we get tossed out. Or have our lockers searched.
David Graham's Guitar. So what kind of wood did he like in his guitars?
: )
PS:
I am adding the jazz recommendations to the shopping list. Thanks to you both.
I had the thought the other day, months ago now, that if I had to pick one album only to take to a deserted island it would be this one.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000A02WW/ref=ord_cart_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=A71XFGD9K0VTJ&v=glance
Strange huh. The jazz is for the city and when around people. All alone; in the "wilderness" it would be different music. Alsion Krauss, Jerry Douglas, Dan Tyminski, Barry Bales, Ron Block.
I can fly all around with the symphony stuff, and jazz but there is something about blue grass, and this album/performance most particularly, that touches my quiet core like nothing else.
When I was a teen, I would hang out with old bluegrass players around Chicago - some of my better memories. Also, while vacationing in Pa, around the hilariously named towns of Virginville, Blueball and Intercourse - I found a bluegrass band playing in a little town square - I listened to their set and after teh Guitar player said to - "your a guitar man, aren't you? Well, c'mon over here son..." he showed me some stuff and gave me a tape of his - GREAT memory really. Any way this is a huge digression isn't it?
I believe Davy Graham would have played a spruce top guitar as they were popular and I still cannot condone music in the shop, I can accept that it happens though.
Did you ever hear this podcast about why Kind of Blue is so great ?
http://www.npr.org/programs/jazzprofiles/archive/miles_kob.html
I have always liked it very much but this just drove home what a jewel it is.
I grew up listening to Joni Mitchell and Louis Armstrong was always there in the back ground. I found I had taken these and other great performers for granted but it has been the last ten years or so I learned how important these people were.
The Ken Burns/Wynton Marsalis interview on Charlie Rose
http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/1223
educated me about Louise. I never realized what a huge influence he is on music since his time to the present.
Roc,
I suffer with the same
Roc,
I suffer with the same winter induced dryness and cracking of the hands and digits (sometimes called hand eczema)...a few years ago, I found a product at Bath and Bodyworks called "Look Ma, New Hands" works better than anything I ever tried in the past...if the Eucerin isn't effective give that a try...on the subject of music, for those who like Mark Knopfler, his newest CD has a bunch of songs about "working men"...a particular favorite is about a guitar maker entitled "Monteleone"...starts off with the lyrics "The chisels are calling, it's time to make sawdust..."
Neil
>New Hands and Mark Knopfler's latest<
Thanks
My parents were clasical music lovers so I grew up hearing the replay of the Saturday night opera and my dad practicing the clarinet. I played piano learning classical music in the 60's. Very tough when I liked Hendrix, The Who,..... so I quit.
Now I like to have Bach and the others playing in the shop. I really enjoy going to a concert with my parents when I can. BUT, many times I have to have Metallica, Pantera, Ozzie, etc playing to match the work and mood. The Brandedburg concertos many times to not fit the task at hand like pounding a nail or deconstructing a failed project.
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