by Thann on April 7, 2010
Wendy Carlos is best known for her incredible work on the soundtracks of “A Clockwork Orange” and “Tron” She is an innovator of electronic music. Her “Switched on Bach” released in 1968 was an instant classic—it went platinum and helped popularize the Moog synthesizer. She took a new technology, combined it with classical music, and created a unique and compelling genre.
To achieve this she needed three things: knowledge of music history, understanding of the potentials of new technology, and mastery of her medium. She couldn’t have invented a new sound without an appreciation of classical music. She needed to envision what the new technology offered. And she needed the skill to actually play the music. Without all three elements it would not have been possible. [click to continue…]
by Thann on September 14, 2009
A friend of mine was considering a new business venture, it was the kind of deal where some of the top earners are making $10,000 a month, although the average income was $100-$200. The problem is that this commitment would tie up his considerable talents, and he wouldn’t be able to make much money in other places. My advice to him was this: “If you are going to do this, then make damn sure that you are not average, because you can not afford to be average” It sounds like obvious advice, but how many of us go into business assuming that we will be at the top of the heap, when statistically we are more likely to be average? You only have one option here if you want to be in the business of being a photographer, Don’t be average. There is just no money in being average, and there is not much of a future in it. Let me explain why. [click to continue…]
I would like to share with you one of my favorite photographs. It is a favorite because it shows two of my heroes, Col. Jack Dunn (my grandfather), and George S. Kaufman. My apologies to the late Joan Blondell who was probably the most well known of the three at the time, But there it is.
Jack Dunn, Joan Blondell, George S. Kaufman
During world war II my grandfather was in charge of recruiting in Baltimore for the WACs the Woman’s Army Corps. Part of that was doing a radio show called “This Woman’s Army” I am not sure how but my grandfather was able to get all of the big stars of the day to come on the show. I had heard the stories, but I was young at the time, so they were just old stories, finding the the photographs years later helped bring them to life.
The name George S. Kaufman may not be a well known name today, unless you are an English major like I was, to me he is a rock star. A member of the famed Alqounquin round table, he would trade quips and barbs with the likes of Dorothy Parker, Robert Benchley, Alexander Woolcot, and Harold Ross (the founder of the New Yorker). These were New York intellectuals, and if I could go back in time to one place, I would choose to have lunch at the round table.
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by Thann on April 30, 2009
The Author at the Gates of Hell
Hell’s Kitchen is a guilty pleasure of mine. The drama of competition is engaging, and watching the chef’s try to function while Chef Ramsay rips into them with barbs and insults, always brings to me a smug sense of schadenfreude. It is fascinating to me the dynamics of the show. There is something about watching people compete and lose which makes us feel superior to the players involved. Maybe we feel our decision not to compete is the better one, maybe our fear of losing overwhelms our fear of trying. As much as I am a fan of taking risks, and putting yourself out there, there might be something to this concept of not competing.
Years ago I made my living as a magician. I remember a conversation I had with a magician I worked with about sleight of hand competitions. He told me he never entered competitions, so I asked him why, his answer surprised me. [click to continue…]
Wendy Carlos is best known for her incredible work on the soundtracks of “A Clockwork Orange” and “Tron” She is an innovator of electronic music. Her “Switched on Bach” released in 1968 was an instant classic—it went platinum and helped popularize the Moog synthesizer. She took a new technology, combined it with classical music, and created a unique and compelling genre.
