Category Archives: aesthetics

Ask not what this movie can do for you…

Posted on November 17, 2019 by L. M. Bernhardt

This is, in a roundabout sort of way, a review of The Report (2019, Amazon Studios). Not the whole thing, of course. Really, it’s more of an executive summary of an even longer and more substantive review that I started … Continue reading →

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A Tale of Two Lowells

Posted on March 10, 2019 by L. M. Bernhardt

As I was helping out a bit in the archives at work last week, I came across a familiar name in an unfamiliar context: the name of Lowell Mason, which (as it turns out) refers to two very different men … Continue reading →

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Art for Life

Posted on July 27, 2018 by L. M. Bernhardt

It is very easy to think of a house (or any dwelling space, really) as an expression of its builder/designer and/or its residents. The house as a sign (just like one’s car, or the sort of clothing one wears) comes … Continue reading →

Posted in aesthetics, Iowa, Philosophical Mess-making, Scenes From The Road, travel, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Exeunt, Riding on a Lion

Posted on June 24, 2018 by L. M. Bernhardt

One of my favorite recent additions to the Library of Congress Flickr Stream is this charming image from around 1915 of Antipodean operatic soprano Frances Alda: The lion (according to some clever research in the comments on the photo at … Continue reading →

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First Chair, Last Chair, Any Chair, No Chair

Posted on April 9, 2018 by L. M. Bernhardt

Experience suggests that conventionally trained symphony orchestra and symphonic band musicians (especially we non-pros) probably don’t think all that much about the physical arrangement of their performance spaces, once certain fundamentals are settled to their satisfaction: section leadership and playing … Continue reading →

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A Little Southern Harmony

Posted on April 7, 2018 by L. M. Bernhardt

In a previous post, I spent a little time looking at shape note music and sacred harp singing, mostly in the context of considering the authenticity — whatever one takes that to mean — of various settings of “What Wondrous Love … Continue reading →

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What Wondrous Tune Is This?

Posted on March 30, 2018 by L. M. Bernhardt

I am not really the sort of person who would normally have a favorite hymn (although I have worked as a church musician). Weirdly, I happen to have two: “Be Thou My Vision” and “What Wondrous Love Is This” (sometimes … Continue reading →

Posted in aesthetics, music, Philosophical Mess-making, Philosophy, traditional music, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

An Entirely Unnecessary Defense

Posted on March 17, 2018 by L. M. Bernhardt

According to my dear old Dad, if there is any justice or truth in the world, the phrase “…and one more thing” will be the inscription on my headstone after I shuffle off this mortal coil. He’s not wrong. Last … Continue reading →

Posted in aesthetics, music, Philosophical Mess-making, traditional music, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

“…but it’s all right.”

Posted on March 10, 2018 by L. M. Bernhardt

As I read John Dyck’s “In Defense of Country Music” the other day, I found myself remembering a compliment, thinking of an amazing recording by an amazing woman, and struggling to disentangle the reasons why some of what Dyck said rang … Continue reading →

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When the Levee Breaks

Posted on February 3, 2018 by L. M. Bernhardt

Recently, I came across a wonderful reminder of past projects in the form of magic shared on Facebook: some television footage from 1965 or so of the magnificent flamenco dancer Antonia (also sometimes listed as Antonita) Singla Contreras, known to … Continue reading →

Posted in aesthetics, Dance, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments