Monthly Archives: December 2014

A Few Patter Songs

In the spirit of the holiday season, here are a few patter songs. This form is one of Western Civilizations greatest achievements. While the patter song precedes him, Rossini is the undisputed champion. Below are three of the master’s best examples of rapid fire comic singing. The first from the Barber of Seville is sung by the…


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Air and Romance

This site has been silent for the last month. I was on a trip on the Amazon River. I got as far as Manaus, Brazil and then came back out. A little later I’ll post some photos of the region, but my theme today is American Eagle. To get to most places east, north, or…


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The Paris Bulls

There won’t be any new posts until a bit later in the month so I’ve recycled an old one. In 1922, a dinner party was held in the Paris Ritz attended by Marcel Proust, James Joyce, Serge Diaghilev, Igor Stravinsky, and Pablo Picasso. Other than the guest list, no record of the event was thought…


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