I wanna try something that I never had; Look out world, I’m about to be bad

[rolanni]

So, the day-job.  Busy today, in a non-frenzied way.  I had, alas, hoped to have time to write some correspondence, so I could write fiction when I came home.  Alas, no correspondence written at work, so — no Ghost Ship words at home.

Man, I need a wife.

Have I mentioned here that I subscribed to Pandora and set up Radio Rolanni?  The mix of music is, um, eclectic.  Today, I not only heard “Bad” by Kristy MacColl, immortalized in the title, but two different versions of “Night on Bald Mountain.”

The repeat didn’t bother me; I like “Night on Bald Mountain.”  What was. . .interesting was a point of execution.

For those who don’t know the story, there is a “witches sabbath” taking place on Bald Mountain, and it’s just as noisy and as raucous as you’d imagine, what with the demons, and the rum, and the demon rum, and the karaoke, and kids today, where will it all end?  At one point during the night, a church bell suddenly sounds, and the whole party falls Dead. Silent.  as if the witches and their demon dates are looking over their shoulders for Mom, or maybe the Yeti, before they resume their revelries.

In today’s first version, which was done by a Russian orchestra of some flavor, the church bell is like the silver tone you might get from a bell on the harness of an elf lord’s mount, so impossibly frail and distant that the party on the mountain couldn’t possibly have heard it.  The fact that they did, and for a moment stopped, was. . .unexpectedly moving.

The day’s second offering was from the Chicago Orchestra. Their church bell sounded like an axe.  No way you’re missing that baby, it don’t  matter how high you got the karaoke box dialed.  And it was not as moving.  In Chicago, the church is a contender — a player.  In Russia, it’s a pretty fantasy,  regarded, perhaps, for the memory of  its power, which is now fading.

So, that’s what I got today.  Tomorrow is more day-job, then a three-day weekend.  Monday, I start back full-time.  Maybe I’ll have a writing blitz on the weekend and finish that first draft.

It could happen.

Maybe.

Originally published at Sharon Lee, Writer. You can comment here or there.

Comments

[prismakaos.livejournal.com]

I would love to listen to Radio Rolanni (it sounds like the level of eclecticism I'd like) but because you've set your profile to be private, I can't access it.

Would you be willing to share the link? (To do so, log into Pandora, click on "Your profile", click on the station name to go to the page for the station, and then in the upper right hand corner it says: "To share this station, send your friends this URL:
http://www.pandora.com/?sc=longstringofalphanumerics")

Good luck with the blitz!

[keristor.livejournal.com]

Those of us on the right side of the Pond can't get it at all, Pandora is apparently only available to USians and not likely to be extended in the forseeable future.

Radio Rolanni

[(Anonymous)]

I Loved yesterday's Code Monkey; did that come from the same venue?

Tuning in to Rolanni is opening up all manner of new things for me. Because of your report, I tried online bill-pay. Color me embarrassed at how simple it was, as reported, and why hadn't I been doing this simple little thing for years?

So, thank you very much for sharing your experiences. You are most appreciated.

Barb in Bandon

Re: Radio Rolanni

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

No, "Code Monkey" pre-dates the Pandora subscription. I made a "driving disc" a year or so ago with "Code Monkey," and "In These Shoes?," "Don't Pay the Ferryman," "Dancing in the Light," "Cafe Europa," "Copperhead Road," and I don't remember what-all about a year ago. It's a mix of music people on my f'list mentioned and old personal favorites -- and works really well for its intended purpose.

[saruby.livejournal.com]

Please do let us know how to listen to Radio Rolanni. I'm intrigued. Guess I'll have to create Radio Saruby (doesn't have the same alliteration, tho')

[(Anonymous)]

How about Saruby Station?

--Susan

Night on Bald Mountain

[claire774.livejournal.com]

I just sent the Wikipedia entry about Night on Bald Mountain to your Live Journal e-mail address. Don't know where that will end up. Yes, I think I'd like the Russian version better. Probably anything from Chicago - and hope I'm not offending anyone too badly - doesn't really match with a charming Russian fantasy. I lived in Chicago for 3 years. It got so cold in the winter that my feet almost stuck to the pavement. Being from NYC we kind of have a snooty attitude towards Chicago. Sorry about that. It's probably in the genes. Anyway the Wikipedia article pointed out, which I guessed, that it's called Bald Mountain because there are no trees on top. Think there's mountain in N. England called Mt. Baldy for the same reason. Now about you subscribing to Pandora and setting up Radio Rolanni, that is way beyond anything I can understand at this time. I'll go Google Pandora Radio or some such. I wonder what gizmos one would have to own to achieve all that. I miss music. The radio doesn't work at my house. Would need a big antenna on the roof to get NPR. So far haven't gotten it together. So... don't listen to music much. Off to look up the Pandora thing. Have a good three day weekend coming up. C. and the Gang.

Re: Night on Bald Mountain

[grassrose.livejournal.com]

If you've got good Internet access, LOTS of sites stream NPR. One that I know of is KUT, in Austin, Texas. They're http://www.kut.org . Pandora radio takes a little fiddling to get the mix just right, but you don't need any fancy doodads to set it up - just an idea of genres or artists.

Re: Night on Bald Mountain

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

What grassrose said. Also, a lot of local radio stations stream their shows on the internet. Google your favorite station's call letters and city and see what you get. No need to be without music or NPR if you have a computer with a good connection, a sound card and speakers.

[rdmasters.livejournal.com]

Kirsty McColl was one of my favourite singers, and her songs are still among my favourites, and Bad was my introduction to her, so it holds a special place in my heart.

She lives on.

(Now I'm going to have to investigate Pandora... RR sounds like my sort of eclectic mix!)

[rdmasters.livejournal.com]

I'm in Oz, so no Pandora for me :(

The bells, the bells (as I clutch my head)

[(Anonymous)]

You made me laugh at the bell description...that was great! I was
picturing a Wise Guy swinging a hand bell like it was a
switchblade.

At the bookstore, I stream a variety of radio stations through iTunes radio. FolkAlley and GrassyHill are favorites but the local
NPR stations are fun, too. The NPR website also has some amazing
stories, song samples and whole concerts. They'll offer up a whole
album the last week before it releases. My latest favorite was the
Marsalis Family's release. We truly live in wonderful times.

Lauretta@ConstellationBooks, who wants her own personal Bunter or
Jeeves. I think Bunter was a better cook but Jeeves was better at
hangover remedies.

Eagles over the Kennebec header -- the gingko leaves

[sfminou.livejournal.com]

The gingko leaves are terrific -- as long as they are on my computer screen. Did you ever smell the trees in breeding season? Pee-yew!I love the trees for their antiquity, their grace, and the shape of the leaves, but I've never been tempted to try one in my landscaping.
Once I knew a poem about them -- something about the fact that they drop their leaves in a shower of gold, the poet suggests, at the word of some invisible authority saying "Go!"
Kathy

Re: Eagles over the Kennebec header -- the gingko leaves

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

I love how bright the leaves are, and the book, of course. And it was past time to retire the Rainbow Spaceship.

I haven't, to my knowledge, ever met a gingko tree in the bark. I hope the fallen leaves aren't smelly!

Re: Eagles over the Kennebec header -- the gingko leaves

[sfminou.livejournal.com]

The fallen leaves are beautiful, and odor-free, thanks be.