Ubi Caritas

Random song du jour

nobody@vox.com(Ubi Caritas) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:16:09 -0500

Flamingo Dancer, I'm sure you have heard this song far too many times. :P For the rest of us, however....

One of the things I am eternally indebted to my parents for is the WIDE range of music to which they exposed me. My mother, when I was quite small, sang in French and German to us, as well as in English. She'd sing a variety of songs, mostly folk songs. I grew up thinking it perfectly normal to sing, "Oh Can Ye Sew Cushions," "Dido, Bendigo," "O Donnell Abu," "Annchen von Tora" (I'm spelling that phonetically, as I've no idea of the German spelling) "Whiskey in the Jar" and oh-so-many others. Interestingly enough, my mother is neither Irish, nor French, nor German, nor Australian. She's half English and half Norwegian--though no one would think the latter to look at me, as I very much resemble Dad's side of the family. Anyhow, this was one that we would sing sometimes, and, honestly, this is the best rendition I've heard of it. And, for those of us who are not Aussies and have not spent significant time in Australia, there is even a brief (and humorous) explanation of some of the words for the first minute or so in the beginning.

The Seekers - Waltzing Matilda

Enjoy, mates!

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Sutherland autobiography

nobody@vox.com(Ubi Caritas) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 01:59:35 -0500

I've FINALLY received Joan Sutherland's autobiography. The post office had returned it to the sellers because I supposedly do not live at this address. I've lived here for nearly two years, this is my legal address, and I've received countless packages here in the past, but whadeva. It finally came, after being sent once more.

While I've only dipped into it a little so far, I would like to say right now that this woman fits my definition of diva, which does not seem to be the common meaning. When people hear the word "diva," most think of someone who is completely self-centered, makes insane and unreasonable demands, and would as soon slit your throat as have you compete with her. I, on the other hand, think of my lovely and many diva friends, who care deeply about one another and who want others to succeed as much as they do.

Ms. Sutherland falls plainly into the second category.

Her writing is gracious, authentic, and slightly humorous. She seems to be at once a wonderful musician and a delightful human being. So far there has not been even a hint of prima-donna attitude, of improper snobbiness, or of crudity. She keeps the drama on the stage. In short, she appears to be what my grandmother would call a "lady."

I'll write an actual review after finishing the book.

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Fellow vox-er gives corporate bad ideas

nobody@vox.com(Ubi Caritas) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 02:29:20 -0500

After my last few posts on my store's playlists, I thought it only fitting to give this further update.

Today we received a CD of modern Irish folk music--complete poorer lyrics than the old ballads, but with bodhrans, tin whistles, and bagpipes galore. Not to mention the rather strong beat.

Flamingo Dancer, I'm blaming you for this! :P

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Corporate letter update

nobody@vox.com(Ubi Caritas) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:11:03 -0500

Unlikely as it sounds, I'd almost vow that corporate read my rant of a few days ago regarding their choice of music.

What are we listening to now?

Would you believe La Boheme and Mamma Mia?

"Take a Chance on Me" followed by "Mi Chiamano Mimi" followed by "Super Trooper" followed by Che Gelida Manina followed by "Dancing Queen" followed by "Quando M'en Vo" is an experience that has to be heard to be believed.

I think I should have been a bit more specific when I said "showtunes."

Though I hear that the soundtrack of the South Pacific revival may be going on our playlist soon. (crosses fingers)

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Make it stop. For the LOVE, make it STOP!

nobody@vox.com(Ubi Caritas) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 02:46:19 -0500

Dear whatever-higher-up-chooses-the-music-that-will-be-played-in-our-store,

You, sir, are either a raving and incompetent idiot or have severe mind-altering substance issues. I sort of hope that it's the latter, because there is hope in such a situation: you may seek treatment. If it is the former, you are probably reproducing.

The Native American chants were annoying as all get out, and not a single CD of those chants sold for the two and a half bleeding months that we were forced to inflict that upon ourselves and our innocent (for the most part) customers.

The Josh Groban Christmas CD was just plain nauseating. Look, the little old ladies who are old enough to be his mother will buy his wretched CDs whether or not we play his tiresome music (some of the remarks they make about his physique are just creepy), and the booksellers will be oh-so-happy if they neverevereverever have to listen to his rendition of "Silent Night" again. His Christmas CD, though, was a joy to listen to compared to that "off-balance washing machine mating with an abused phonograph" noise propagated by the the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Neil Diamond's latest offering is possibly his worst to date--and that's saying something. Even his fans can't stand it. And I've had to listen to it for WEEKS.

Finally, the B-52s may or may not be a talented punk rock group. I wouldn't know, not being punk rock sort of person. Any song, however, that includes the clearly-spoken lyrics "there's a rest stop, let's hit the _ spot, pull the car over, pull the car over/keep doing what you're doing 'cause you're doing it right/keep doing what you're doing 'cause it's what I like! /PULL THE CAR OVER !" is less than ideal for a family store. That racket going on during Storytime? Nice. Very nice. Not.

One of the latest selections just might beat Joshie, the Trans-Siberian Orchestcrap, Neil and even the B-52s to the title of Most Gosh-Awful Song On The Store's Required Listening.

In the names of various and assorted deities, what made you think that a CD that includes a bonus yodeling track would be a good idea?

I realize that you aren't going to have us play opera. Fine. I accept that. Comparatively speaking, not many people like opera. Plus, it's hard to talk over. I mean, if (fill in diva of choice) is dying extensively while singing an E-flat, it's a bit hard to concentrate on a transaction or a customer question. This is understandable.

But could we go with something instrumental? Or a non-rap, non-popera-rock, non-obscure-religious-ceremony vocalist? Sarah Vaughn? Ella Fitzgerald? Dean Martin? Showtunes, or Bach, or Mozart, or Handel?

No?

Could we just agree on "no more yodeling?"

Is it asking so much?

Love,

A Bookseller

PS-I really should remember that it could be worse. After all, there was the Christmas that the store at which I was employed played "Alvin and the Chipmunks Sing Christmas" from October- February. Did I mention that this store had but ONE music tape at a time?

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books have been ordered

nobody@vox.com(Ubi Caritas) — Wed, 28 May 2008 17:44:11 -0500

Oh, abebooks.com is a wonderful place!

For those of you who love books, consider going there. Any out-of-print book (or, for that matter, in-print book) imaginable is available on there via their sellers--who, incidentally, seem to hold themselves to a VERY high level of customer service.

I ordered the following:

The Autobiography of Joan Sutherland: A Prima Donna's Progress

Joan Sutherland

I really don't know much about La Stupenda, except that she was born in Australia, her music is just breathtaking, and a few notes in another diva's book. So, I ordered this. It's out of print; I got it hardbound and in good condition for $1 plus $4 shipping.

Hints to Singers

Lillian Nordica

On the recommendation of the carapiccoladiva, I also ordered this. It is also hardbound and in good condition, and cost $6 plus $4 shipping.

Don't get me wrong--I love my job and my store. However, there are certain books I can't just walk in there and get (though, in fairness, they now offer used books via their website), and, frankly, many books are often cheaper used and online. Not all of the sellers on abebooks offer free shipping, but many are now doing so.

Oh, to have unlimited book-buying funds!

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Hello! (waves)

nobody@vox.com(Ubi Caritas) — Sun, 25 May 2008 22:24:31 -0500

Yep, I'm alive. And everything is fine. And so help me, there WILL be a pic-filled post if I can get this #*%^ computer to cooperate.

First, there were finals. Those were stressful, but I did well. Another 3.9 semester, and I've officially finished my first year as a music major! Scholarship apps have been filled out, and more will be worked on over the summer.

Once finals were over, I found myself utterly drained. I don't know if it was accumulated lack of sleep + stress or a touch of flu or all of the above, but I slept about 12-13 hours every day for the first 10 days or so after school let out. Even sleeping that much, I'd have to drink an indecent amount of coffee to get through a mere 8-hour day at work; if I wasn't at work, I'd be on the couch with a book or watching TV or napping. I don't know what that was about. However, I'm pulling out of it. In the last few days, I've built and stained and bracketed-to-the-wall a bookcase (gorgeous, if I do say so myself--six feet tall, dark cherry color), cleaned the entire house (how the heck can three short-haired animals shed THAT MUCH HAIR and not be bald?), cleaned out my car (downright frightening), did many loads of laundry, mowed the lawn, grocery shopped, and cooked. The house has that lovely feeling that a really clean house has. Yay me!

Then, too, my computer has had issues, and lots of 'em. It wouldn't connect to the Internet for over a week, has taken to freezing when I ask it to upload pictures, and will randomly close programs because it feels that it is running low on memory. The computer guru-ess, AKA themaureencorps, has diagnosed it as "you can either lay out a LOT of money to get it fixed, or you can use slightly more money for a new computer." Ouch.

However, life is good. New music for next semester has been assigned. And so, I will leave you with the incomparable Dame Joan Sutherland as she sings an aria that I am learning:

Handel - Acis & Galatea - part 5

Handel has this indescribable smooth beauty that I find particularly enchanting right now. (does that last sentence make any sense?)

I must go running tomorrow morning...

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i love my job sometimes

nobody@vox.com(Ubi Caritas) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:19:51 -0500

One of the many reasons I love my job is that my coworkers are better-read and more familiar with certain types of music than some of my former coworkers. Ergo, we have some common ground and reference points and lots and lots and lots of interesting discussions.

Case in point: I'm working at the cashwrap (line of cash registers). There are two other coworkers with me, also working registers. We have a small line, but are merrily and briskly working through it, while sending customers on their way with smiles on their faces. Only one customer of this group was cranky. Actually, he was just plain rude, but my coworker still rang him through and told him to have a nice day. His response was some sort of grunt, but earlier in the transaction he had had a brief discussion with the cashier about his book. It was apparent, from his very strong accent, that he was British. The customer following him (female) made some remarkably inane comment about how the British customer was a bit rude, but "who cares, what a sexy accent." She was the last customer of the line. Evidentally his utter rudeness is excusable due to his manner of speech (erm, oooookay.)

That remark was overheard by all three cashiers. As soon as she left the store, our eyes met. And we broke into a chorus of

"He is an Englishman!"

(head cashier solo) "He IS an Englishman!"

"For he himself hath said it,

And it's greatly to his credit,

That he is an Englishman!"

(all) "'That he is an Englishman!"

"For he might have been a Roosian,

A French, a Turk, or Proosian,

"Or perhaps Eye-tal-i-an!"

(all, much louder) "Or perhaps Eye-tal-i-an!"

"But in spite of all temptations,

To belong to other nations,

He remains an Englishman!

(head cashier, who, incidentally, has an excellent baritone voice, solo) "He remains an E-e-e-e-e-englishman!"

At which point a manager walked up, took one look, shook his head and walked away. (giggle)

A few hours later, we had a brief meeting at the customer service desk. We were informed that we'd been hit rather hard LP-wise over the last week, and were polled for suggestions for ways to deal with shoplifters.

Me, looking thoughtful and stroking an imaginary beard: "Something lingering. With boiling oil, I fancy."

(howls of laughter from those who had been at the cashwrap earlier, as well as a few others. One of the three managers got it.)

Yes, I do love my job.

***if you aren't a Gilbert and Sullivan fan, you a) should be, and b) won't get any of this. Let me give you a visual.

He is a English Man QMTS Patrons Evening 2008

HMS Pinafore is unquestionably one of my favorite G&S operettas, though it is rather hard to choose. Pirates of Penzance, Mikado, and Iolanthe would all rank up there, too. Of course, I've never seen a G&S I didn't like. :P

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I'd like to skin him alive and put his pelt on the wall of the store...

nobody@vox.com(Ubi Caritas) — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 00:39:04 -0500

but I have to give him points for creativity.

Lots and lots and LOTS of points for creativity.

And he did make me laugh, so more points.

Okay, backstory:

I covered the lunch break of a girl in music last week. Whilst tidying a wall of DVDs, I was approached by what could only be described (or so I thought) as my weirdo du jour (WDJ).

First he asked if we had any documentaries on the Mormon church, then asked my opinion of the shenanigans in El Dorado (I don't have opinions about anything in the news while at work), inquired as to whether I was part of that community (huh?) and then wanted to tell me all about how inspired he was by the recent events in that area. In fact, he was so inspired that he decided to write some songs about the aforementioned events. And he wanted to tell me ALL ABOUT THEM.

At this point, I dived frantically across the department to ask another customer if "Do you need help ma'am? Are you sure? Let me tell you about all our specials this week...." just to get away from the WDJ.

When my coworker returned to music, I mentioned this guy to her. We agreed that he had overqualified in the WDJ department and thought nothing more of him.

Until today, when the music manager walked over to me and said, "Hey, ubicaritas, remember when you covered a lunch back here last week and some bald guy talked to you for a few minutes near documentaries?"

"Oh, do I ever!" I explained the backstory.

She laughed. "Well, thing is, he walked off with about $420 worth of documentaries."

Me: "WHAT?!!!"

Her: "Yeah. Oh, and he's that guy who's made off with at LEAST a grand or two worth of DVDs since Chrismas."

Me: (expletive expletive expletive)

Okay, buster. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. THERE WON'T BE A NEXT TIME. You've never been hit music before while I was back there, and if you EVER do so again, I WILL have a manager call the cops and I WILL get your license number if you (as you probably will, since the response time stinks) get away.

I have to say, though, that his approach was certainly original!

To end the evening, we had the incident involving about 4-5 boys who were about 10-12 years old. They were running around the store acting like idiots, and were later found with several "gentleman's magazines," which are illegal to sell to under-18s. Marcia, one of the managers, told them to cut it out. One of them said, "You can't tell me what to do, and you can't make me leave because I haven't done anything." Another of these young gentlemen suggested that Marcia perform several anatomically impossible acts. She promptly had them removed from the store. I might add that these were kids who were nicely dressed and fairly clean-cut. A customer later told me that she had been down the street at another bookstore a few minutes before and that the kids had been there and pulling this crap there, too. Their parents needed to be slapped.

I know I haven't blogged much about singing lately, and I apologize. The fact is that there is something going on there. That something is definitely positive--I'd even say that it's a breakthrough--but at the same time it's indescribable. I've tried to put it into words, but I can't yet. All I can say is that things are clicking and lightbulbs are going off and I've just never (despite massive amounts of stress due to finals and finances and so forth) been this happy. Ever. It's glorious and awesome (in the original sense of the word) and incredible and undefinable and completely and totally overwhelming. Thus, I'm letting it work without really thinking about it because I still don't handle emotion well. I know that that's all really vague but it's as close as I can come for now.

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on cloud nine of singer-bliss

nobody@vox.com(Ubi Caritas) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:26:58 -0500

Today=Monday. Mondays are usually good days to begin with, despite their 9 AM piano class (I love the sound of a well-played piano, but that isn't what one hears if I sit at a keyboard, and 9 AM ISN'T MORNING YET, why does no one understand this? But I digress). There is a voice lesson in the afternoon, and a vocal repertoire class that evening. Plus, lots of unstructured free time through the day, as I never work on Mondays. Much of this free time is spent in homework etc, but I occasionally fit a nap into the early afternoon. Naps are lovely things.

Today we had a guest master class in vocal rep, which is precisely what it sounds like. A guest "lecturer" comes in and works with a few students while the rest of us watch and learn. New perspectives, different approaches, all that good shtuff. With me so far? Excellent.

This was the first time that I sang for a guest lecturer. I expected to be terrified, or at least nervous and unable to take a deep breath. The latter frequently happens when I get onstage, even with people with whom I am very comfortable.

I wasn't nervous. Just...not at all. I felt fine. I felt at home on the stage. I didn't feel at all self-conscious, yet I wasn't just "zoned out," which I will do to avoid stressful situations. I was there, I was comfortable, I didn't think once about how I looked. I just became an anxious and upset servant girl, and sang about how dreadful it was that I had lost a pin, Heaven help me!

I enjoyed every second, and genuinely LOVED being onstage and making people laugh. It was awesome, in the original sense of the word. I'm just in awe.

Miracles abound, and are beautiful.

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