The classic American dessert for Thanksgiving is, of course, pumpkin pie.
But let me suggest something different this year – something a little smoother, richer, spicier. So once you’ve downed your turkey, and your host asks if you’d like a slice of pumpkin pie, you should reply, “No thanks – Cheesecake for me.”
Pull up your favorite chair, pour yourself a cup of hot coffee, and grab a slice of New York Cheescake. Then listen to one of the best saxophonists of all time:
This track comes from Gordon’s 1962 album, Go. The rest of the album is great, too; if you want more, check it out here.
go ahead and revel in the joy of the moment – because reality is about to strike …
Only three workdays this week? How am I supposed to squeeze five days of work into three days?
Mozart. Mozart, played ridiculously fast. Mozart, played so fast that the cellos and basses are catching fire. That’s how.
Put this on your iPod and you will not only finish your work, you’ll also clean the house. You might even have time to go to the gym – and you can listen to Mozart there, too. For an extra boost in productivity, increase the YouTube play speed to 1.25 or 1.5!
I want to say as little as possible about today’s piece, only because I’m afraid that I’ll ruin it. Maybe you should listen first, then read:
Christian Zeal and Activity was written by John Adams, a living American composer. It’s very simple (most classify it as minimalist), but it has the ability to strike deep. This 10-minute piece is ONE verse of the hymn, “Onward, Christian Soldiers“, played excessively slow – about 1/12 of the normal tempo. The voice leading is also out of place – for example, the basses might move to the next note five seconds before the melody note gets there, etc. It feels as though time is standing still (or at least going very slowly). About halfway through, a speaking voice enters the music – it’s a recording of an evangelical preacher. Words, sentences are repeated for no particular purpose. Oddly, it is the speaking voice that becomes the melody (there is a melody present in good public speaking – just listen to any successful auctioneer!) while the hymn remains in pseudo-suspended animation.
I’m not really sure what to call this piece – I can’t exactly call it “sacred”. It’s not something you’d hear in church, even though the two major elements of the piece came right out of the Christian church (a preacher and a hymn.)
When I first heard this piece, it had a profound effect on me. I’d love to hear your response to the piece (please comment!), whether positive or negative (or something in between).
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