Author Archives: TommiaW

Leaning in Lent

Posted on March 9, 2011 by TommiaW

It has been a while, but finally made it to an Ash Wednesday Service. The somber tones of the hymns accompanying this season are a reflection of Jesus’ approaching of His crucifixion and the sins He takes with him there, … Continue reading →

Posted in From the WEL, Mad About Music- The March of a Different Drummer | Leave a comment

Undefineable, Unbelievable

Posted on March 8, 2011 by TommiaW

How else can one describe musician Bobby McFerrin – the one who conducted the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, gathered twelve singers for a series of circlesongs, sang a whimsical melody to go with a Pixar short film? Then again, I would … Continue reading →

Posted in Mad About Music- The March of a Different Drummer | Leave a comment

Too Many Choices, Too Many Oddities

Posted on March 7, 2011 by TommiaW

Today’s “Music Monday”  – when I go to the metropolitan library website where they feature Freegal.com – a legal website for free music downloads. When I saw the article in the paper about this feature, I was delighted, ecstatic, feeling … Continue reading →

Posted in Mad About Music- The March of a Different Drummer | Leave a comment

Of High Notes and Bass

Posted on March 6, 2011 by TommiaW

What is it about the lilt of a flute or the rumble of a baritone’s voice that brings a song such height or depth? What is it about the notes that are held for double-time or longer? Or the one-note … Continue reading →

Posted in Mad About Music- The March of a Different Drummer | Leave a comment

Power of the Horn

Posted on March 5, 2011 by TommiaW

First it was Joshua’s army with the ram horns, bringing down the Walls of Jericho – Joshua 6:1-27. Then it was Gideon’s army of 300 men with their trumpets bringing down a city – Judges, chapters 6-8. The power of … Continue reading →

Posted in Mad About Music- The March of a Different Drummer | Leave a comment

Final Film Focus on Music

Posted on March 4, 2011 by TommiaW

…for now. There are some actors who were meant to play a particular role, to convey the life of the singer in such a way that you see the singer, not the actor; where you see that actor alone pulling … Continue reading →

Posted in Mad About Music- The March of a Different Drummer | Leave a comment

Five Pennies

Posted on March 3, 2011 by TommiaW

I stumbled onto this gem because of a Danny Kaye marathon. True, he was the master comedian, whether playing a jester or an inspector general. He was a great singer, whether he was playing Hans Christian Anderson, the Court Jester … Continue reading →

Posted in Mad About Music- The March of a Different Drummer | Leave a comment

The King of Swing

Posted on March 2, 2011 by TommiaW

The Benny Goodman story about the King of Swing starred Steve Allen as the clarinet player, and unlike Jimmy Stewart, the actor did play the instrument – soundtrack wise for the young Benny Goodman character’s beginning years – every single … Continue reading →

Posted in Mad About Music- The March of a Different Drummer | Leave a comment

The Big Boys of Swing

Posted on March 1, 2011 by TommiaW

So after a bit of deliberations about what to focus on this month, the silly expression “March to a different drummer” came to mind. The whole quote as written by Henry David Thoreau was: “If a man loses pace with his … Continue reading →

Posted in Mad About Music- The March of a Different Drummer | Leave a comment

The end of the Roman Holiday

Posted on February 28, 2011 by TommiaW

I thought about the various ways I could wrap up this collection of Roman-centered entries. While it has been said Rome was not built in a day, alas, the same could be said of conducting a major search for items … Continue reading →

Posted in Roman Holiday - The February 2011 Project | Leave a comment