wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

Comment from Tom, Cooper Sq.
Date: March 31, 2008, 2:01 pm

In an 1810 Letter to Bettina von Arnim, Beethoven wrote: “Music is a higher revelation than philosophy.” In 1967 the NY Times quoted the skeptic George Santayana (d. 1952) “Whatever it’s suggestiveness, music, is essentially useless.” Between these quotes is a merciless dialogue about the impersonal imagination of intergenerational culture. Each music is a sequence, inviting psyche to project. Music’s effects, though various, all solicit pre-image, dreamy connectives with paralyzingly sharp emotive drifts, and illusion. Some are addicts to this vortex, like Nietzsche. The musical encounter in each life builds a library-like corridor through the jumbled aftermaths in memory. Thus music infloresces as rogue consolamentum; who inquires at all these ironies, yes, or no? Ciao, T

Comment from betty
Date: March 31, 2008, 7:05 pm

The Academy of American Poets’ website, Poets.org, has an entire section devoted to Poetry & Music: http://poets.org/page.php/prmID/198

The article on Sekou Sundiata is especially interesting to me.

Comment from Anne Fernald
Date: March 31, 2008, 7:29 pm

I wish I had a quotation for you. I don’t–though I’m rereading Ulysses to teach it and the “Sirens” chapter is on deck tonight:

“Bronze by gold heard the hoofireons, sttelyingringing imperthnthn thnthnthn.
Chips picking chips off rocky thumbnail, chips. Horrid! And gold flushed more.
A husky fifenote blew.
Blew. Blue bloom is on the
Gold pinnacled hair.”

Mainly though I wanted to concur enthusiastically with the NYT: you are a GREAT host, Terrance McKnight!

Welcome to New York! It’s thrilling to wait to hear how you’ll open the show each night…

Comment from Len Stokes
Date: March 31, 2008, 8:29 pm

“When you hit a wrong note it is the next note that makes it good or bad.” Miles Davis

“[Music]…if you don’t make mistakes you’re not really trying.” Coleman Hawkins

LS

Comment from MCD
Date: March 31, 2008, 8:50 pm

One of my favorites and very true as well!

“Music has been my playmate, my lover, and my crying towel.” ~Buffy Sainte-Marie

MCD

Comment from SuzanneNYC
Date: March 31, 2008, 9:08 pm

Did anyone see Dame Felicity’s recent performance in Peter Grimes? She was magnificent. I saw the HD broadcast where there were lots of close ups — they had no choice since the production was so dark overall. But it really gave you a chance to see the characterizations and she was just incredible. And she was a great host on the opera quiz the next week. Channle 13 seems to be broadcasting this year’s HD broadcasts on Sunday afternoon. Don’t miss Peter Grimes — it’s a masterpiece.

Comment from SuzanneNYC
Date: March 31, 2008, 9:12 pm

Did anyone see Dame Felicity’s recent performance in Peter Grimes? She was magnificent. I saw the HD broadcast where there were lots of close ups — they had no choice since the production was so dark overall. But it really gave you a chance to see the characterizations, and she was just incredible. And she was a delightful host on the opera quiz the next week. Channel 13 seems to be programming this year’s Met HD broadcasts on their new Sunday afternoon arts show. They did Hansel & Gretel this week. Don’t miss Peter Grimes — it’s a masterpiece.

Comment from SuzanneNYC
Date: March 31, 2008, 9:12 pm

Sorry for the double post.

Comment from Ed Espinoza
Date: March 31, 2008, 9:44 pm

Terrance,
You’re the best thing to happen to evening radio in a long time. Love what you do!! Thoughtful and imaginative and rich!

(sorry, no quote at the moment)

Best,
Ed

Comment from MCD
Date: March 31, 2008, 10:48 pm

A portion of the piece you’re playing now reminded me of this:

“[An intellectual] is someone who can listen to the “William Tell Overture” without thinking of the Lone Ranger.” ~John Chesson

MCD

Comment from Tom, Cooper Sq.
Date: April 1, 2008, 12:03 pm

Can we remember Erik Satie’s protean search of form with his deep ethic of intervention by non-interruptive brevity? Can we keep visualizing His tomb-niche appartment in Paris, brimfull of umbrellasand packratted projects, entered for the first time by his friends only when he had died? Do we engage the humor of his driven effort and the slip of dada persisting its inquire-effect?

Osvaldo Golijov spoke with Brooke Gladstone in 1966 about his Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind (Kabbalist rabbi of Provence): “Beginning, middle, and end in the eternal conversation; its movement is bare and recurrent, yet proceeds with hope present, yet out of reach. There is a question woven into the hardening, inescapable pulse: why this task? Repairing a world forever breaking down, with pockets full of screws. The question remains unanswered in the postlude.” Ciao, T

Comment from amorris
Date: April 1, 2008, 1:34 pm

no quote, only want to say that you are great! and i hope you are in the spot for a long time

Comment from Sarah Van Arsdale
Date: April 1, 2008, 9:07 pm

Totally off the topic, just wanted to tell you I listen to NYC often in the late evening and I love what you’re doing with the show. Like a breath of fresh spring air. Thanks.

Comment from abarefootboy
Date: April 2, 2008, 7:13 pm

yikes … coming home after work from a hard ass day .. this is not the music I needed to feel good about the world tonight.

tuning out .. I’ll be back later

Comment from Don P.
Date: April 2, 2008, 7:25 pm

Also tuning out.

Nobody wants to listen to this crap.

Comment from Lois
Date: April 2, 2008, 7:34 pm

Terence

Thumbs up to you, thumbs up to people needing something else too

I almost cut myself laughing, while chopping ginger, here on an organic farm in NJ, listening to the Parse composition you just played. Challenge, not comfort. I have room.

I like you. Thank you for shaking things up, and taking risks, and holding true to the spirit in music, especially in your beginning weeks. Don’t yield, or falter.

Good work, and thank you

Lois

Comment from Tom, Cooper Sq.
Date: April 2, 2008, 7:34 pm

It’s a big tent. in the Hudson River Valley proverb, “You can lead a kid to Vasser but you cannot make ‘em think.” Ciao, T

Comment from Lois
Date: April 2, 2008, 7:35 pm

Terence

I almost cut myself laughing, while chopping ginger, here on an organic farm in NJ, listening to the Parse composition you just played.

I like you. Thank you for shaking things up, and taking risks, and holding true to the spirit in music, especially in your beginning weeks. Don’t yield, or falter.

Good work, and thank you

Lois

Comment from Janet Henderson
Date: April 2, 2008, 7:35 pm

I strongly disagree with comments #14-15; I’ve been enjoying the music a lot. Keep it coming.

Comment from jchas
Date: April 2, 2008, 7:38 pm

well i think you’re doing a fine job, terrance. i eat dinner to the program every night and no matter what it’s a great experience.

14 & 15 had a bad day is all.

Comment from George Showman
Date: April 2, 2008, 7:52 pm

I only listen to you when I’m still AT work, for the record, which gives the show a different vibe — not looking to relax, really. Tonight I’m in for the long haul, and enjoying the variety.

To rescue Partch a bit, how about some of his more lyrical stuff? E.g. There are two Partch tracks (perhaps re-arranged?) on the Kronos quartet album of quasi-medieval stuff, aren’t there? Variations on a Greek scale, I think they’re called. I may be getting one of the components wrong here, but I *think* that’s right.

Partch was amazing, you should say more about him — 43 tone scale, made his own instruments, yada yada.

Comment from Richard Mitnick
Date: April 2, 2008, 7:59 pm

Hey Terrance-

Thanks for the Partch. Check out Philip Blackburn’s talk on Partch at americanmavericks.org. That’s where I discovered Partch. Philip runs Innova. Didn’t they just send you something for me?

If you are willing to play Partch, please think about Conlon Nancarrow, George Antheil, and Edgar Varese. I learned abnout all of these folks from the americanmavericks (http://musicmavericks.publicradio.org)project from Minnesota Public Radio. WNYC ran the series. 13 programs narrated by Suzanne Vega, and “curated” by MTT. MTT? Surely you know of Michael Tilson Thomas.

You can still listen to the 75 interviews. They are fantastic. I recorded them with my mp3 recording software, stuck them on my iRiver H10 mp3 player, and took them for walks. Believe me, it’s worth it, you will learn alot from some great people.

Then check out Philip’s American Composers’ Forum site, Http://innova.mu.

>>RSM

Comment from af
Date: April 2, 2008, 8:12 pm

Could not identify the ‘DANCE’ quote near top of show, but did like the (not so subtle) quotes of Greensleeves a few numbers later.

Comment from F.R.
Date: April 2, 2008, 8:17 pm

Dear Mr. McKnight and Evening Music listeners,

Here are a couple great quotes:

“Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.” ––Victor Hugo

As a horn player, I can’t help but share this one:

“Never look at the trombones, it only encourages them.” ––Richard Strauss

That’s all I have for now. All the best and have a great evening.

Comment from Maurice
Date: April 2, 2008, 8:20 pm

Just a word to say that your programing is fresh,innovative,eclectic, intelligent and a welcome addition to Evening Music. I’m also a fan of David Garland and you make a great one two combination.

With gratitude for your presence.

Best!

MMS

Comment from lynn
Date: April 2, 2008, 9:14 pm

Loving your show. Don’t pay much attention to the nay sayers. Sure give them some feel good stuff every so often. It’s all good. I’m listening to John Cage’s Perilous Nights these days and Duke Ellington’s Night Creatures. Finding real parallels. Very Moving.

Comment from knightsinnewyork
Date: April 2, 2008, 10:10 pm

My upstairs neighbour just came and asked me to turn it down-( the here and now) I was so enthralled and inspired and had completely lost myself in the music. I was able to salvage the relationship with the neighbour, but I am going to need a new stereo and new apartment to listen to the beautiful music broadcast from you in the evening- thank-you thank-you thank-you!

Comment from George Showman
Date: April 2, 2008, 10:41 pm

Whoa — *which* John McLaughlin tune is this?

Comment from MattF
Date: April 3, 2008, 2:01 pm

“Rotate the Body in All its Planes” caught my attention last night. I couldn’t decide if it was a call to dance or chiropractic treatment. Visions of Tom Waits and circus contortionists and an oddly-tinted movie of marching people.

I appreciate the effort to engage and challenge the audience. I enjoy being startled out of a passive listening role. And juxtapose away.

Comment from Richard Mitnick
Date: April 3, 2008, 6:54 pm

So, I see that Robert Spano is on with Terrance tonight, Thursday njight. I see that because it is in the RSS feed, today, Thursday, well ahead of Evening Music.

This is exactly what I asked for. Let us know in the RSS feed what is coming up, not what was last night or the night before. This is terrific.

Thank you so much for this radical improvement.

>>RSM

Comment from Marisis
Date: April 3, 2008, 7:06 pm

I leave the clinic at 7:45 and travel one hour from Long Island to Brooklyn listening to the show. I hardly notice the road anymore or at least it fades to part of the music backdrop….I like the little “tidbits” you throw in, like a piece’s history backstory or comparisons of works among composers. It “de-compartmentalizes” the music data files!

Comment from Richard Mitnick
Date: April 3, 2008, 7:23 pm

You might expect some heat from playing just parts of pieces, like the Higdon.

KUSC actually made it a part of a pitch to say that they only play complete works.

I did a 24 hour time study of the lengths of pieces. Take it from me, some of their complete pieces were less than ten minutes long, and I do NOT mean New Music where there are in fact many short pieces. KUSC relegates all New Music to Alan Chapman’s Modern Masterpieces 2 hour program on Saturday nights.

I mean, I am sure that they were pitching against their for-profit cross-town rival, Beethoven..

BTW, I did the same 24 hr study of WQXR and WCPE. The time curfves were identical, based upon drive-time, work time, home time, etc. These guys have their playlists down to a science. Thanks to the good Lord for WNYC2.

And for the re-born Evening Music erected by George Preston, Brad Cresswell, and the rest of the WNYC music staff. What a joy!! Partch!! C-o-o-o-l.

For me, parts of pieces is no porblem, if I can hear more new composers, living composers, and then, if I like the music, go to Amazon and look for .mp3 downloads.

>>RSM

Comment from bill
Date: April 3, 2008, 8:21 pm

Bits of pieces, voice-overs and drivel. I’ll tune back in at 11:00. Sounds like a frustrated jazz dj. I’ve caught enough to find another webstream.

Comment from Tom, Cooper Sq.
Date: April 3, 2008, 9:44 pm

In the variety, listening encounters:
Music from a primal state (& it’s special vocabulary)
Music from one’s Identity state (likewise)
Music from a tranquil state ( Oh, strange thing in city life)
Music from a deep-search connective state (What more could that be reaching for?)

It’s not all the same, naturally. Ciao, T

Comment from Tom, Cooper Sq.
Date: April 3, 2008, 10:52 pm

Terrance,
I still grieve over the murder of Dr. King.
In the mishnas it is said “One person of integrity constitutes a majority.” We are not witness to a covenant. The literature is counsel in which we are charged to discover the counsel’s incompleteness so we can discover even a finer path for our personal imperative.
Each of us is in charge of our own practice. We remember guiding insight, and rightly. Although, ultimately, the sybil is without a guide. What was para-quoted from Thoreau and Ghandi was just another single step on the venture’s stairway. Peacework is in every living step, every word, every eye-contact and smile-back on Chambers Street. When you go to move the alamo, the alamo stays still. It’s Manhattan that circles because of your personal push. Ciao, T.

Comment from Corinne, HHK
Date: April 3, 2008, 10:59 pm

Thank you Terrance. You killed it tonight!

After the beginning of yesterday’s show, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to say that tonight. Keep it up and I’ll keep listening.

Corinne

Comment from Chris
Date: April 3, 2008, 11:08 pm

I have been listening to your program for awhile now and am really enjoying the variety. Please keep it up.
Wondering what the Zakir Hussain album was tonight… did I hear Jan Garbarek on it as well?

Comment from John Singler
Date: April 3, 2008, 11:50 pm

Thank you for telling us your personal link to the Morehouse recording. You honored your college benefactor and your listeners by mentioning the connection.

Comment from megan
Date: April 7, 2008, 7:31 pm

I went to Cloisters this weekend and heard The Waverly Consort perform “The Year 1492: Spanish music in the Age of Columbus.” It was exceptional, in particular the solo performance of soprano Elaine Lachica. What a sublime voice! I know she writes and performs her own work as well–I’m going to look her up further now….

Thanks Terrance, keep up the interesting programming!
Megan (an artist in Bushwick, working while listening)

Comment from eric
Date: April 7, 2008, 10:14 pm

Hey Terrance, here’s a quote your present selection brought to mind (not that it sounds at all like Mozart): “Mozart makes me regret Adam’s sin.” -EM Cioran.

Comment from Tom, Cooper Sq.
Date: April 8, 2008, 3:56 pm

a quote, perhaps about music, from Hafiz of Persia

Dropping Keys

The petite wanderer builds cages
for everyone he knows.
While the ponderer, who has to duck his head
when the moon is low
Keeps dropping keys all night long
for the beautiful
Rowdy prisoners.