My YouTube channel is firing on all cylinders. At the time of writing, I have sixty-three (63) subscribers. I’d love to see that reach 100 in the next few weeks, so if you haven’t already, mash subscribe.
I’ve got some awesome stuff this week: an original composition about “Snowfall“; another composition about the mountains; and a thorough review of an at-home arcade cabinet.
For several years now I have reblogged a post about my favorite of Beethoven’s symphonies, his Sixth Symphony, the so-called “Pastoral.” I have a soft spot for programmatic music, especially music that depicts Creation/Nature. It’s a wonderful and moving symphony, depicting a day in the country.
Beethoven loved spending time in nature, and would jot down ideas on long walks. What a way to find inspiration, out in the beauty of God’s Creation!
I’ve long linked to a version of the symphony as performed by the Berlin Philharmonic, but it seems that version is no longer available. As such, here’s a version of the Pastoral directed by Leonard Bernstein, performed by the Wiener Philharmoniker:
With that, here is 19 January 2023’s “TBT^4: Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony“:
Well, well, well… it seems that, despite the best efforts of the Establishment GOP/Uniparty/Boomercons, GEOTUS Donald J. Trump can’t be beaten in a fair fight. At least, he won the Iowa caucuses, and will likely sweep the rest of the primaries as he marches towards the Republican nomination.
What scares the powers-that-be is that Trump still wields tremendous influence. The plethora of headlines screaming that Trump is no longer a viable candidate are the desperate cries of an elite who hope that if they say it enough, it will become true. Their black magic and dark incantations hold no power over the righteous.
I’m digging back into an old music journal with another piece I penned sometime in 2022, “Uninspired Étude in E major“—so-called because it’s not particularly inspired! It’s a bit of an exercise in playing arpeggios in E major, with a few little surprises. It’s highly derivative of Haydn’s work.
Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis in their prime, partying in New York City and breaking their toes dancing ballet. What’s not to love about Darren Aronofsky’s 2010 masterpiece Black Swan?
Well, there’s probably something wrong with it, but I enjoyed this film immensely. I remember when Black Swan was in the theaters. The nation was still in the depths of the Great Recession. The T.E.A. Party was a valid political movement, and hadn’t yet been co-opted by charlatans. I weighed 290 pounds and worked a job I hated.
Yet I somehow missed it at the time, although it looked like a flick I wanted to see. I’m not big on ballet, but who wouldn’t want to gawk at Natalie Portman? There are many arguments against anti-Semitism, but simply saying, “look at Natalie Portman” is probably the strongest expression of pro-Semitic sentiment.
Lustful digressions aside, my girlfriend and I watched Black Swan on our mountain excursion, and it stuck with me for days. In quiet moments as we hiked or drove throughout the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, I’d think about scenes and ideas from the film, and we’d inevitably discuss them.
I have a YouTube channel. It’s hard to gauge these things, but it seems to be doing well. My subscriber count has risen from around thirty last summer to—at the time of writing—fifty-six. By the time you read this post, I’ll have close to 100 videos. I’m not sure how many views I’ve garnered, but it’s decent for a tiny channel like mine.
So, in the spirit of promoting my channel and being lazy, here’s the first three installments of YouTube Roundup at your fingertips:
Happy Sunday—and Happy Listening/Viewing!
—TPP
Other Lazy Sunday Installments:
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Three years ago my family took a trip to the mountains around Burnsville, North Carolina, to celebrate my older brother’s fortieth birthday. I wrote about it extensively in my book Arizonan Sojourn, South Carolinian Dreams: And Other Stories (currently just $12.68 in paperback). The area is truly lovely, and is very accessible from South Carolina. Ever since that celebratory trip, I have been eager to return.
The long MLK Weekend—which yours portly extended by burning a personal day—offered the perfect opportunity to get back there. My travel-loving flight attendant girlfriend and I were super excited to hit the road with Murphy for a few days of hiking, exploring, and good eating, and scored an excellent deal on three nights at a cabin/barndominium in the mountains.
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My YouTube channel keeps getting better and better (I think), and I don’t want you, my dear and devoted readers, to miss out on the fun.
This week’s installment of YouTube Roundup features another piece of original music; a quick tour of my dusty kitchen windowsill; and a very long video about building one of France’s greatest monuments (after a fashion).
Over MLK Weekend my girlfriend and I took the dogs up to around Mount Mitchell, high in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Appalachia.
I love the mountains. The mountains are in my blood, and although my home is the coastal South Carolina, every so often I need to baptize myself in the solitude and ruggedness of the Appalachian Mountains.
This trip was not my first to this region. I went there four years ago to celebrate my older brother’s fortieth birthday. Here’s a bit my travels during that trip.
With that, here is 21 September 2020’s “More Mountain Musings“:
