Handel Organ Concertos, Clean Lyrics Version

iTunes Customer Reviews for Handel: Organ Concertos, Op. 4, Academy of Ancient Music & Richard Egarr, which was initially listed as a "Clean Lyrics" version:

Clean Lyrics version??! *****
by Kidneykutter

Great performance, but why is this listed as the Clean Lyrics version? I demand the right to hear all the dirty words that Handel originally wrote!!!!!! I want Historically Informed Profanity!

Handel Organ Concerti *****
by Gustavmahler

Wow--I too am relieved that iTunes was able to find a clean version of these notoriously vile and degenerate works. I suppose we owe this debt of gratitude to whom ever it was that failed to identify just what organ was involved here...

Don't worry people... *****
by blue_eye_photo

There is absolutely no swearing or profanity of any kind on these classical concertos...

A great misunderstanding *****
by Attorney88

This is a great album, but seems people got it wrong. These are concertos, i.e. wordless, instrumental pieces written for music instruments, not for singing, hence no texts.

[iTunes link]

Dreadful No-Eyed Alien Fetus Head

I went outside to snap some pictures of tonight's total lunar eclipse with a standard Canon Elph and somehow turned the moon into a dreadful no-eyed alien fetus head. Now I'm cowering inside with a blanket, clutching a steak knife and humming snippets of church hymns. The last photo wasn't even magnified. It was hovering out my window TWO FEET FROM THE GLASS.

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Man of the World

Plumber Wisdom

Rule of thumb declared by our plumber, after the washing machine run-off sink in the basement started backfilling with the entire house's outbound water--from the shower, sink, dishwasher, toilets--and the plumber discovered a sizable blockage consisting primarily of flushable wipes for toddlers, which apparently aren't as flushable as advertised:

There's only three things you put in a toilet:

#1
#2
and toilet paper

Cleaning the run-off sink was a real picnic, let me tell you.

Colonization

Edwin Mlekush

A few weeks ago, I ordered a $6.98 used copy of a book called Music in the Baroque Era (1947) by Manfred F. Bukofzer. It arrived today, ice cold, with copious notes scribbled in the margins. Inside the front and back covers, the original owner had signed his name, Edwin Mlekush, with striking handwriting:


His name was unique so I Googled it and found an obituary from 2002, which I've included below. WWII army vet, teacher, wilderness lover, classical music enthusiast, violinist, pianist, singer, devoted husband and family man, Edwin Mlekush also possessed cartooning abilities, examples of which appeared on pages 19, 95, and 117. You can see them after the obit.

EDWIN MLEKUSH

Edwin Mlekush, born in Red Lodge on April 12, 1917, passed away at Village Health Care Center in Missoula of natural causes on July 13. His beloved wife of 52 years, Florence, continues to be cared for at the same fine facility. For much of their married life, they enjoyed a cozy home in Frenchtown close to nature; being close to Montana's mountains and clear water trout streams was a priority for Ed. He climbed Mt. Maurice numerous times in his youth just for fun and exercise. When asked recently by a nephew where he began his ascents, he responded with Jack Benny timing and a twinkle in his eye: "Well, at the bottom".

The son of Slovenian immigrants, Anton and Josephine Mlekush, Ed attended Red Lodge schools, and graduated from Carbon County High in 1935. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army in the South Pacific (New Guinea). After serving his country, he focused on art and music in obtaining a B.A. degree in Chicago, and later attained a Master's degree in English at the University of Montana. He subsequently taught English and music at high schools in Montana (including Roberts), California, and Germany.

Together with his wife, also a career teacher, they formed a duo dedicated to being life long learners. They complemented one another. When Florence got a personalized license plate that stated "Just Be", Ed followed suit by acquiring "Be Just".

Ed's love of music manifested in many ways, one being an immense collection of classical music albums. He sang in a men's choral group, Missoula's Mendelssohn Club, which did performance tours in Europe. When he lived and taught in the Red Lodge area, he participated in the Tamburitzan band during the Festival of Nations.

Although the violin was his first instrument, Ed pursued piano study late in life. He inspired family, friends and students to pursue music study and enjoyment as well.
Ed possessed a special talent for art in general, and cartooning in particular. His unique Christmas card creations will be missed by his family, and so will be the special sense of humor that created those cards.

He was ever looking for and creating humor even though he viewed social, political and environmental issues with a concerned and serious eye. He remained vital and engaged in the world well into his retirement years, actively supporting organizations that work to protect individual freedoms and the environment, as well as those which support music and the fine arts. He will be missed by many friends and his family.

Ed was proceeded in death by his parents and his sister, Gilda Klarich, mother of Ed's nephews Duane (Kalispell), Dave (Elizabeth; Billings) and Dean (Julie; Billings). He is survived by his wife Florence, step-daughters Jean Gray and April Gray, along with her husband Dana Smitt (McCloud,CA), Grandson Ewan Willey (Oakland, CA), and Grandson Adrian Willey (Berkley, CA), Great niece Mia Keller (Rocky; Kalispell), Great nephew Steven Klarich (Colleen; Renton, WA) and Great niece Carissa Klarich (Walla Walla, Wash.).

Cremation has occurred, and a gathering of family and friends will remember Ed on Saturday, July 23, at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Jeanne and George Lewis. The family suggests memorials be made to Common Cause or The Montana Wilderness Association.

Composers' Nicknames

Franz Joseph Haydn
Papa, for his benevolent authority, as well as for his reputation as the father of the symphony and string quartet. During the 19th century, the nickname was used to trivialize his work as that of a dusty old man. Mozart died too young to gain such a posthumous reputation. Imagine Mozart being Lennon and Haydn being McCartney, in the sense that one of them seems eternally young and vital and the other one's been around so long it's easy to forget he's the same guy who wrote 'Blackird'.

Luigi Boccherini
Haydn's Wife, a dismissive sobriquet assigned after his death, coined by violinist Giuseppe Puppo to describe the mellow charm of the composer's work. Boccherini has enjoyed increased popularity in recent years.

Antonio Vivaldi
The Red Priest, because he was a Venetian priest with red hair. Despite being an ardent Catholic, he withdrew from active priesthood only three years after his ordination, allegedly due to a chest ailment, though probably because he preferred composing. From the Dictionnaire historique des musicians:

One day, when Vivaldi was at Mass, there occurred to him a theme for a fugue. He left the altar immediately, came to his sacristy to write out his theme. Then he returned to the altar to finish his Mass. Brought before an investigation, Vivaldi was excused because he was a musician, that is to say a little mad; and was, moreover, excused from saying Mass in the future.