Don't make this mistake!

Click on this link to NPR to listen to some of the most inappropriate wedding music ever selected.

Next, listen to one man's attempt to remedy the situation and create the perfect wedding reception mix tape.

Now click on this link to Northwest Public Radio's Music for Special Occasions site to select just the right piece of music for your wedding.

You're welcome.

Is it a monk? Is it a top? You decide!

This morning I played "Ah, si mon moine" performed by the Mediaeval Baebes from their cd called "Salva Nos."

The "moine" in question can be either a monk or a spinning top. Perhaps when the top was spinning it resembled the look of a monk's tonsure.

I'd always understood that this song originated in France in the 17th century, but after some strictly Internet based research most of what I find points to it being French Canadian.

My favorite tonsured monk is Brother Cadfael from the novels of Edith Pargeter writing under the name Ellis Peters. Cadfael was played by the great British actor Derek Jacobi. Please BBC.....bring back Brother Cadfael!

New York Philharmonic clarinetist retires after 60 years.

Stanley Drucker, principal clarinetist with the New York Philharmonic is retiring after over 60 years of service. He was profiled on "Morning Edition" today. Here's a link to the story.

Lautenwerk - Lute-Harpsichord

I received a new cd featuring an unusual instrument, the lautenwerk, and featured the following piece on my morning show. William Byrd's "The Maiden's Songe featuring Daniel Pyle playing the lautenwerk, a favorite instrument of Johann Sebastian Bach.

Advanced Cat Yodeling

From the people that brought you "An Engineer's Guide to Cats" (see 05/26/09 posting)
comes their new video "Advanced Cat Yodeling." I give it thumbs up! Or should that be paws up?



Check out this interview with "Guide to Cats" creator Paul Klusman.

Apparently professing your love for our feline friends can be good for one's human love life as I discovered by reading this article on Klusman on "The Cat's Meow"site.

An Engineer's Guide to Cats

And here's one Thom Kokenge, our "All Things Considered" host recently sent me.



Enjoy!

Morten Lauridsen

I saw "Angels and Demons" yesterday and was delighted to hear some familiar musical strains over the ending credits. I stuck around to see the credits and was delighted that my suspicison was correct. It was Colfax, Washington native
Morten Lauridsen's "Introitus" from "Lux Aeterna." His music deserves to be heard by as many people as possible. It's gorgeous.