Professor Carol
On my mind are two famous composers: Gioachino Rossini and Bela Bartók. You would be hard-pressed to find two more different figures, truth be told. Both made their careers during artistically fruitful periods (Rossini, during the early 19th century; Bartók, across the turbulent stretch of … Read more
The last thing I expected to hear from the mouth of John Erickson, author of the Hank the Cowdog series, was this question: “Do you know the music of Morten Lauridsen?” Morten Lauridsen? The award-winning American composer whose radiant choral works have been described as … Read more
Yes, Virginia, there are live conferences taking place this summer! As proof, I’m in Texas now to speak at the 2021 Repairing the Ruins national conference attended by 1000+ headmasters and teachers belonging to the ACCS (Association of Christian Classical Schools). It’s glorious to be back … Read more
Our granddaughter is enrolled in day camp for the first time. This is big news, especially since her week concludes with an overnight stay in a real cabin! What could be more grown up? My own camp experience as a child is best described as … Read more
Haydn, Sonata in D Major, No. 50 I have been immersed lately in the music of Liszt while preparing our Composer of the Month page for June. Having a rather obsessive nature, I find that kind of deep dive rewarding, but it is also refreshing … Read more
The Wake-and-Worry period of my life has arrived in full force. Some people enter into it far younger than I. A few stay blissfully outside of its clasp and will sleep soundly every night of their lives. I guess I am somewhere in the middle. … Read more
In the popular culture, the best place to find interesting “new” material can be in the past. Were that not the case, bell bottoms, avocado-green furniture, and shag carpet would still be hiding in the sands of time. But these have reemerged, and proudly I … Read more
It’s getting busier with the shutdown ending. Real events are back on the calendar: in-person graduations with actual people sitting in front of the stage; weddings in churches (not necessarily the blow-outs they would have been, but with flowers, music, and the memorable antics of … Read more
Kids believe that we boring adults have mastered all challenges and coast joyously along. Probably it’s good they enjoy that illusion during childhood. They cannot fathom how often we go to bed praying for patience, perseverance, and self-discipline. Self-discipline serves as a critical, if less … Read more
The simultaneous discovery of four activities back in junior-high days had a major effect on me. The first three arose together: discovering hot tea, eating toasted, buttered English muffins, and watching professional basketball games on television. None of these actions sounds impressive to modern sensibilities. … Read more