Friday, February 24, 2006

Here's a wonderful suggestion as to how one might support Denmark besides stuffing himself with Havarti: buy Carl Nielsen symphonies! Though this definitely falls more into the realm of moral support than practical, I think it's an excellent idea. The symphonies sound fantastic.
The music [No. 3] held me spellbound from the first few notes -- and what notes they were! Great hammer blows from the whole orchestra, abrupt and startling -- jabs of fortissimo that each came as a shock: there was no rhythmic pattern to them, so that you could not tell when the next was coming. Each fell like a thunderclap -- and then suddenly you see that the music is actually going somewhere -- you feel it literally springing to life, taking form right before your eyes (or ears.) And all at once you are swept away: the music soars and expands.