The Fredösphere

Don't miss the fledgling Carnival of Music at TexasBestGrok.  Host John Lanius was kind enough to include me this week without me even asking.  Thanks, John.

It's the Salvation of Classical Music, Part MCXX!  Howard Hanson's Concerto for Organ, Strings and Harp finds utility as a aid to dentistry:

Welch's playing was precise and expressive, never overbearing. But when we arrived at the thunderous climax of Hanson's tone poem, he drew upon all the organ's might, including a newly installed antiphonal tuba stop in the balcony. Those of us seated there could feel our dental fillings coming loose.

Meanwhile, yet another writer joins Kyle Gann in forgetting the sins of great artists and focusing on their art.

UPDATE:  Stop the presses!  Colby Cosh has found proof that Wagner's music is inherently racist!  I'll never listen to Die Meistersinger again -- or at least I won't let my dog listen to it!  Nazis:  I hate those guys.