Early Music Diversion

Last Saturday I attended a recorder workshop and concert with Eva Legene. Eva is a recorder virtuosa and professor of music at Indiana University. The event was sponsored by The Boulder Chapter ARS and Early Music Colorado and was held at St. Ambrose Church in Boulder.
There had been some concern from the organizers that not enough Denver folks had signed up to attend the event but as it turned out, that didn't matter much. The house was filled so to speak and it was a gracious and comfortable venue.
Churches host a variety of musical productions in the area and I am always grateful for their generosity.

Ref. C & D : Increasing state spending and borrowing

When Colorado voters go to the polls Nov. 1, ( a week earlier than the rest of the country), they will be asked in Referendums C & D to repeal the spending restraints imposed by the Taxpayers Bill of Rights aka TaBOR passed in 1992. Advocates insist it is not a tax increase, that the money due to be rebated back to taxpayers in the next 5 years will only be suspended ( and therefore spent). The State will not collect more taxes , they simply will return less.

They claim state health care, public education, transportation and the police and fire workers pensions will be at risk if it doesn't pass. But they don't mention how the money will be spent or how the state's revenues increased 6% from last year and will continue to increase regardless of whether referendums C & D pass.

Did you get a 6% raise? Apparently this doesn't matter. Proponents have spent 4 times more than their opposition scaring the voters with unsubstantiated claims. Teachers, health care workers and public employee unions have been huge contributors. Even The Denver Post published an editorial advocating its support on its FRONT PAGE!

Personally, I believe editorials should be reserved for the Editorial Page. But I have been especially annoyed at the lack of facts discussed like what the present budget is opposed to the "projected" budget and the explanation/justification of the difference. Instead taxpayers are just expected to believe the politicians when they predict a budget "crisis".

Even though TaBOR was widely praised in the late 1990's for its effectiveness in controlling government growth and providing tax relief, it is now blamed for the current budget "crisis", not the national recession, especially impacting Colorado's tech sector, or a severe drought effecting agriculture and tourism, or a mis- guided educational spending mandate that forced government to spend more money than it collected, Amendment 23.

Based on the "big money" support for referendums C&D, I think they will pass but, sadly they will not solve the pending budget crisis. Government will always want more money regardless of the revenues collected . It will always claim some "crisis" and be unwilling or incapable of providing accurate cost/ benefit analysis.

What is really required is strong leadership. If individuals have to "bite the bullet" in hard economic times, so should government. TaBOR forced government to spend "within its means" and it's repeal will allow it to expand without accountability. This is the time to save for the future and not spend recklessly.

Modern poetry in modern America

This post poetry-you-know-and-poetry-you-don't over at neo-neocon has got me thinking about modern poetry. She challenges readers to "recall a single line from a poem written in the last fifty years that has become commonly known".

Easy, I thought, as I dredged up various phrases from Carl Sandburg and Robert Frost, lines from many poems that I remembered but unfortunately were all written before 1955.

So then I thought of Rod Mckuen , not exactly a critics' darling and probably a better respected songwriter than poet but definitely well known to some (since over 45 million copies of his poetry books are in print). Even though I have never been a big fan and cannot recall a single poem of his, he is credited for the slogan Make Love Not War. But as "commonly known" as that has become, it doesn't qualify as a line from a poem.

I believe I know a lot of beautiful, provoking, amusing and inspiring modern poetry. However I cannot attest to any of them being "commonly known".
Just what does that mean any way?

Scholars and critics have always had a disdain for huge success'. Too much (and too sudden) popularity has been regarded as lowly, too common in it's appeal and somehow unworthy in elevated circles. According to many critics, the writer, poet, artist, (whomever) "sells out" when they attain commercial success, as if that is always the result of greed, corruption or the very least personal weakness.

David, a commenter at neo-neocon writes that the absence of memorable poetry (in the last 50 years) may be the result of an elitist "distribution channel", which I liken to the old game of "experts" telling everyone what they should or should not value and making available only what they regard as good. Although learning more about something may heighten my appreciation for it, I have never liked something because I was told I should.

Another commenter, HG Wells acknowledges "the lavish attractions of TV, film, popular song and the internet..." and Alex consults a friend who studied modern poetry in college and presently teaches high school. He says simply "People don't read poetry anymore". Yet another writer John Moulder says "A lot of things stopped in the 60's - art, resolve, confidence, faith innocence..."

Poetry has changed (as has American culture).
Most of what has been made available has been annointed by academia ( elitist by definition).
Many people do not read poetry.
It has a relatively quiet voice.

But this is only part of the story. Poetry has to be heard. When is the last time you heard it? Do we hear it on TV, the radio, cd's, streaming audio? Even though I have attended many poetry readings, I have yet to read one review . Have you?
As a result, most people get their "poetry" from music and movies. Afterall, that is what we hear.

"Youth is like spring, an over-praised season more remarkable
for biting winds than genial breezes. Autumn is the mellower
season, and what we lose in flowers we more than gain in fruits."
- Samuel Butler

I don't know about Autumn being the "mellower season" especially here in Denver where temperatures change so dramatically within only hours and I don't think anyone considers hurricane season as very mellow. But, I liked the "over praised" bit of of spring (and youth).

Indian Summer in Denver

The snow has completely melted in Denver. The sky is blue and the temperatures are mild. As Northeasterners are deluged with rain, we are experiencing Indian Summer. It almost makes me feel guilty.

The city and the neighborhood in which I reside was exceptionally lucky. The heavy wet snow was less damaging than in the past. But the southern and southeastern suburbs didn't fare as well. I have friends who lost 80% of their trees. The thunderous sounds of branches bending, breaking and crashing onto the ground is unforgettable and will continue to echo within their heads for some time I imagine.

To my knowledge, only one fatality was reported. A woman shoveling snow was killed instantly (mercifully) from a large 8" diameter fallen branch and 20,000 people were out of power. Things could and have been considerably worse.

Nevertheless, I have been consumed with cleaning up, my excuse for not blogging, and not an entirely unpleasant task during this beautiful time of year. Despite the snow and 40 degree change in temperature within 24 hours, broken branches and crushed folliage, some flowers have survived and the trees continue with their spectacular display of color change. I have a pin oak just outside the backdoor that is nearly radiant with crimson, chartreuse and ocher leaves, colors so intense, it almost appears unnatural.

I am constantly amazed at the ferocious destruction and devastation that the natural world imposes as well as its miraculous resilience and capacity for recovery. As horrible as the recent catastrophic events have been my respect, awe and appreciation for the powerful forces of nature has deepened.