Song of the Day: Beethoven’s Pathetique, First Movement
Sean MurphyNot winter yet, but it’s close. Dark even before the sun sets, cold even when...
Born in the U.S.A. (or, Every Day is Veterans Day)
I. Personal Remember when Born in the U.S.A. was ubiquitous? The album and the song....
Strictly Business: The Dreaded Day-Trip (A Day in the Life)
A.M.: Departure Early, at the airport. Look around: some of the pretty people, many of...
Seeing Red
Speaking of clichés, every time I watch a foreign film—recent, older, ancient, it doesn’t...
Songs of the Day: Ornette Coleman
When Obama takes office in January of 2009, it will be a half-century since Free...
I Talk to the Wind
On the dissolving horizon the sky looks good enough to eat: orange sorbet on a...
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
The only thing more impressive than the acting is the direction. The only thing...
Song of the Day: Water from an Ancient Well (Abdullah Ibrahim)
Historic times in America. Overdue times, as well. Of the myriad songs that leap to...
The American Dream of Don Giovanni: An excerpt from the novel
Overture Listen: When some of your best friends are people who exist elsewhere—characters in books...