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Gould Records 50-55 – Bach, Hindemith, Sibelius

Gould's frequent protestations in interviews notwithstanding, he really was a Bach specialist, so far as I can tell.  It's strange that when asked about his favorite composer, he usually answered Orlando Gibbon, of whose music he recorded something like 12-20 minutes.  There are hours upon hours of Bach.  And if you want to put in … Continue reading Gould Records 50-55 – Bach, Hindemith, Sibelius →

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

My pictorial depiction of the world's major religions, drawn for my students in World Religions:  Religion And along with the sketch, four questions to frame our ridiculously brief examination of the world's major religions: 1.  How does R characterize ideal existence?  What’s so great about it? 2.  How does R characterize mundane existence?  What’s so … Continue reading A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words →

Finnegans Wake – Book III Chapter 3

[This is part of a longer series – previous post (III.2) – next post (III.4)] Two times previously, Finnegans Wake has devolved into a trial - in Book I, first Finnegan, then HCE met their many accusers; in Book II it was Shem/Buckley charged with the murder of the Russian general.  Now, we get the final trial - that of Shaun … Continue reading Finnegans Wake – Book III Chapter 3 →

Finnegans Wake – Book III Chapter 2

[This is part of a longer series – previous post (III.1) – next post (III.3)] This chapter continues the easy-to-read tale of Shaun begun in III.1.  The literary conventions being followed are identified with almost Victorian-realist pseudo-transparency (but things get a little murky at the end). We start with another introduction of Shaun, move to a very long speech delivered … Continue reading Finnegans Wake – Book III Chapter 2 →

Finnegans Wake – Book III Chapter 1

[This is part of a longer series – previous post (II.4) – next post (III.2)] This was, by far, the easiest chapter to read in this book so far.  Why does Joyce reserve relatively straightforward prose for the 13th chapter of a book that the average reader most likely gives up on halfway through chapter 1?  In fact, the answer … Continue reading Finnegans Wake – Book III Chapter 1 →

Finnegans Wake – Book II Chapter 4

[This is part of a longer series – previous post (II.3) – next post (III.1)] After the 70+ page penultimate chapter of book II, its final entry is only 15 pages.  The drunken carousing and the tale of Buckley and the Russian general subside, and everyone in the family goes to bed.  We're left with (mostly) the four old commentators … Continue reading Finnegans Wake – Book II Chapter 4 →