When enjoying art, music, literature, etc., it’s so easy to get fixated on big names – the Picassos, Beethovens, or Dickens (Dickenses?). Over-indulgence of these big names often means little gems get overlooked. José Silvestre White Lafitte was an Afro-Cuban virtuoso violinist who left us only a few composed works. He lived a long life, traveled the world, and received accolades for his violin playing. Here is his “La Bella Cubana”, a habanera, which (likely) captures the sound of 19th century Cuba in a more authentic way than some more famous 20th century American examples.

The music is great. The video, however, changes camera angles  WAY too often. The piece ends at 5:45, and after that it’s a fade-out replay.

Lots of kids want to grow up to be president. Then one day, they realize that being president is probably the worst job ever. The second you’re elected, you’re hated,  despised, and abhorred by millions of people. Then, if anything bad happens – anything – in the next four years, it’s all your fault.***

So I will salute those people who held this very difficult office with a march by John Philip Sousa – “The Gladiator“, because of the bloody arena of politics and the wounds and stress that come with having this job.

An interesting side note – Before writing this, Sousa had only written a few marches, and these were unpopular. He was actually pursuing a compositional career in operettas – light operas that were the precursor to the modern musical. “The Gladiator” became a huge hit and within ten years, he had written all his best-known marches; his place as the master-of-marches was established.

***And for the record, if a meteor carrying zombie ninja Nazi dinosaurs armed with laser crossbows and death rays fell to earth and conquered humankind, it’s all Obama’s fault!

You could celebrate the day by listening to the first two acts of Giacomo Puccini‘s La bohème. So much love, so much emotion …

On the other hand, if you’re single this Valentine’s Day (and indeed, many refer to this day as S.A.D. – Singles Awareness Day), you can enjoy the final act of this opera instead. It’s full of betrayal, misery, death – you know, the good stuff.

But for now we’ll stick with those who are celebrating the day and listen to this orgasmic duet.