Category: Music

People With Way Too Much Free Time

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The Terran Research Ensemble, who are putting on an Opera in Klingon:

On Friday in The Hague, Netherlands, the Terran Research Ensemble raised the curtain on “U,” the first Earth opera performed entirely in Klingon. “U” is the Klingon word for “universe” or “universal,” and the opera tells the story of Kahless the Unforgettable, said to be the first Klingon emperor.

“Klingon are known as passionate opera lovers but at the same time very little was known about Klingon opera here so as far as I was concerned that was a very interesting challenge to try and make an authentic, or as authentic, something out of that as possible,” U co-creator Floris Schonfeld told Reuters and The BBC.

I will say that is only the 2nd most absurd juxtaposition of art and language, after the effort by South Africa in the Apartheid days to translate Shakespeare into Afrikaans:

Hamlet: Mein Papa der schpook!

Spıinal Tap Drummer Syndrome Claims ELO Cellistge 62

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Mike Edwards of ELO died on September 3 when a 700 pound hay bale that came down a slope and crushed his van.

My first thought was that it sounded like the demise of a drummer for Spinal Tap.*

I’ve never been a big fan of the band, and obviously, Mr. Edwards has been out of the limelight for 35 years, since he left the ELO, and my condolences go to his friends and family.

That being said, what is it with rock and rollers and bizarre deaths?

On a note closer to home, obviously none of us can be certain when death might strike, whether it’s a heart attack, or a 50 stone hay bale.

It’s something to think about this (Jewish) New Year.

*Spinal tap drummers have

  • Died in a bizarre gardening accident, that the authorities said was “best left unsolved”.
  • Choked on vomit of unknown origin, other than his own, because “[y]ou can’t really dust for vomit.”
  • Spontaneously combusted.
  • Creme Brulee commitments forced him to retire, but went on backing tambourine for tour in 1982.
  • Claimed he “couldn’t take this 4/4 sh%$”; according to an MTV interview with Spinal Tap in November 1991, he disappeared along with the equipment during their Japanese tour. He is either dead or playing jazz.
  • Allegedly sold his dialysis machine for drugs; presumed dead.
  • Eaten by his pet python Cleopatra.
  • Exploded onstage.

Fun at Garage Sales

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Charlie already has a snare drum and a glockenspiel, and today, when we were driving home, we passed a garage sale that had a nearly complete drum set, a bass drum, and 3 different sized tom-toms, and associated mounting hardware, at about 1/3 of their normal price.

We need to get a bass drum pedal, and a high hats, and some cymbals (crash, ride, and splash).

He’s already demonstrated the ability to use the drums in a Rock & Roll setting, he and his sister Natalie spent the past three weeks at Day Jams, a Rock and Roll day camp, so he’ll be able to practice his skills.*

He’s well on his way to be a heavy metal hebe.

We have videos from the concerts, and I will be posting them shortly.

Both of the kids were both very good.

*Yes, the idea of a child practicing drums does fill me with a bit of trepidation.