blog.sinden.org

Labels: funerals, Obama, organ music

First from the Episcopal Café: "Say no to Christian seders"

Then in today's New York Times: "The Obama Seder"

Labels: Christianity, food, Obama

Labels: Obama, sports

Beginning at 9:30 a.m. EST today, you can watch the National Prayer Service at the Cathedral Church of Sts. Peter and Paul in Washington. President Obama will be in attendance.

President Obama has been around the Episcopal Church a lot lately.

On Saturday, Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire gave the invocation at the Lincoln Memorial (video). Bishop Robinson detailed his experiences in a post entitled "i thank you God for most this amazing day", the first line of a poem by E. E. Cummings.

Yesterday, Cummings's words were sung in a setting by Eric Whitacre at St. John's, Lafayette Square, just a block from the White House. Then president-elect Obama was in the front pew.

Labels: Episcopal Church, National Cathedral, Obama, Whitacre

President-elect Barack Obama worshipped at Nineteenth Street Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. yesterday. Word got out that he was going to be there, and seats for the 11:00 a.m. service were claimed quickly.

At 9:15 a.m., a Secret Service agent announced to a disappointed crowd that the church had reached capacity, with the exception of the members of the choir and church officers. A light moment occurred when presiding usher Gerald Young asked the crowd where the organist was and 15 hands immediately shot up.

Wright, James. "Final Sunday before Inauguration Obamas Worship at Black Church in Washington". Afro News 18 January 2009

Labels: Obama, organists

Is Michael Chabon a vocal proponent of early music in American public schools? Or is he merely a nescient novelist?

Our children need training and encouragement and support—they need rehearsal space and tempera paint and bass violins.

"Postamble" to the Obama campaign's arts platform. Emphasis added.

On Remixing Obama: This sort of personal emendation seems to fit in nicely with change.gov's new copyright policy

The term bass violin refers to what is literally a large violin, not a cello or double bass (or contrabass, if you like). A bass violin is an "early music" instrument like a violone.

Chabon would likely have Obama convert innocuous elementary school orchestras into elite period instrument ensembles replete with gambas, recorders (non-plastic, one would assume), theorbos and sackbuts.

The breathy offerings of school choirs would transmogrify into straight-tone prepubescent polyphony.

Now that's the kind of wealth I like to spread.

On classical music and instrument terminology: Prepared piano is really a "modded" piano.

Labels: early music, Obama

Gene Robinson who, like Obama, is not
afraid to be photographed with pipe organs.

Bishop Robinson described his conversations with him as part of Mr Obama’s “extraordinary” outreach to all religious communities, not just Christian groups. Mr Obama, although not a member of The Episcopal Church to which Bishop Robinson belongs, is a committed Christian with the United Church of Christ.

He said that the Mr Obama was taller than he had expected and described him as “Lincolnesque”, both literally and metaphorically. They discussed the dangers both of being demonised by opponents and idealised by supporters.

Gledhill, Ruth. "Barack Obama asked gay bishop Gene Robinson what it was like to be 'first'". Times (London), 6 November 2008.

Labels: Anglicanism, Obama

The New York Times reports that Barack Obama's half-hour infomercial attracted more viewers than the network's usual shows:

On NBC, the disparity was even greater. Its regular show there, “Knight Rider,” has been averaging just under 7 million viewers. Mr. Obama pulled in 9.8 million for his half-hour special.

So, while there was no turbo boost this week, the political interruption does beg raise [see comments] the question: when will we see Obama drive KITT?

Maybe sooner than we think:

During a season where television hits are hard to find, one NBC executive suggested jokingly Wednesday that Mr. Obama might be invited back to fill the 8 p.m. Wednesday time slot on a regular basis.

Possible episode title: "Election Knight"

Labels: Obama, television

A visual followup to my "Bach for Barack" idea: "Baroque Obama"

Stabler, David. "Barack Obama: It was only a matter of time" The Oregonian 28 August 2008

Taft Chatham's image is for sale on a shirt.

Labels: Bach, Obama

Inspired by "Artists for Obama", I find myself thinking about a project I call: "Organ for Obama", or even better, "Bach for Barack".

O Mensch, bewein' dein' Sünde groß, BWV 622

B Minor Prelude, BWV 544

An Wasserflüssen Babylon, BWV 653

Meine Seele erhebt den Herren, BWV 648

Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr, BWV 715

Are these good choices?

Is anyone interested in recording these and getting them on the web?

Discuss.

Messiaen for McCain? Anyone? It is a centennial year. For Messiaen I mean.

Labels: Bach, John McCain, Obama

It was within ten percent, then, five, then four . . .

CBS called the race for Clinton at 21:15.

An hour and a half later, we pick up the story with Obama trailing Clinton:

23:43 - 48.3% to 51.7%

23:49 - 49.1% to 50.9%

0:37 - 49.3% to 50.7%

1:00 - Still too close to call for everyone except stupid CBS.

1:12 - Something gives, and everybody starts calling Indiana for Clinton. Let me just point out that if I believed CBS, I could have gone to bed four hours ago.

Labels: Obama

Barack Obama -- diligently courting the church musician vote -- is again pictured with the organ at Brown Chapel (African Methodist Episcopal Church) in Selma, Alabama in today's New York Times.

Previously: New York Times - organ on the cover of the

Labels: Obama, organs