More Passionate Intensity in Sculpture, Politics, and Music
My friend John marvels that someone paid $23.8 million for this "piece of junk." A legitimate point of view, I'd say.
Down the road, in Hillsdale, Michigan, the newly elected mayor is getting a lot of attention. He's eighteen years old.
A week before the election, the city's firefighters union threw Sessions its support. That didn't necessarily deliver many votes -- with only three members, it's tied for the distinction of being the state's smallest union. It wasn't a typical endorsement: Before they backed him, firefighters called Sessions' teachers to ask what they thought of him.The Standing Room couldn't stay awake for Robert Ashley. Monsieur Ashley has a strong Ann Arbor connection; I suppose he's the best known composer of Ann Arbor (he was born here) who never taught in the University of Michigan school of music (although he was an R.A. in Acoustics and also worked at the Speech Research Lab). He's been on my list of people to research, since at least June. But. But, the local library doesn't have the 4 American Composers series M. C- mentioned, or even any CDs of his music (a shocking omission) and the bits of Ashley I've heard did not exactly envelop me in a warm, inviting embrace. No, let me rephrase that: the biiiiits of Aaaaaashley I've heard did not exaaaaaaaacly enveeeeelop me in warm, inviiiiiiiiting embraaaaaace.
I mention him because I know some of you will go absolutely gaga over his schtick, a slippery combo of passionate intensity and trippy otherworldliness...do I detect a hint of Asperger's in his personality?* Hey, I think I'm warming up to the guy now! Anyway, if there's an Ashley fan who wants to leave a comment explaining why he is worth our time, please do. I'm ready to be convinced.
*I'm a 32.
Umie the Umlaut says, "ask your doctor about the Fredösphere!"
2 Comments:
i never heard of robert ashley until i started working for his wife. i can't say that i love his stuff in the way that i love, say, ravel's string quartet and can listen to it repeatedly, or love reich's 'it's gonna rain," which i can't listen to repeatedly but get a visceral reaction every time i do. but i find his use of language compelling. not to be a simple-minded jerk, but i think his greatest contribution is eliminating melisma from american opera (i'm sure someone will provide examples before him, but...). he is a fantastic storyteller, but it's not the most direct style of storytelling. i would start with 'dust' if you're a newbie to bob.
cheers,
andrea
http://antisocialmusic.org
I'm originally from the Hillsdale area. From what I read in the news, when I return, the city council basically keeps their eighteen year old mayor in check. It's too bad, because he genuinely has some innovative ideas, like pursuing state grants to pay the salary of another (and much needed) fourth firefighter. Then, the Hillsdale Firefighters' Union would be that much bigger!
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