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This week on Need To Know, we’ve got red shoes on the ground as NBC’s George Weigel checks in from Rome to discuss the Conclave and the process to choose a new Pope. Then, Mona pummels those who don’t share her love of Hummel, the death of a tyrant (Mona’s must-read column on Chavez is here) and the ideals of the left that won’t die, the sequester fight, drones and the filibuster, and the surprising new Miss Israel.
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I referred to a movie but misstated the title. It was The Big Chill, not The Big Sleep.
Back when I was a tadpole, Mom collected Hummell figures. Quite the thing in it’s day and we kids could look at them in the glass case where they lived. They were rather romantic things and not of interest to a little boy, for if you ever touched one – It generated a stern and painfull rebuke.
Mona and Jay were referring to the composer Johann Nepomuk Hummel, not the figurines.
As much as I love this podcast, I need to complain a bit.
Mona mentioned twice that her listeners were silent about Hummel. Plus, she admitted she still knew nothing about the other Hummel of figurine fame.
My post last week included both a link to M. I. Hummel and a compliment of J. N. Hummel. It may not have been the resounding endorsement Mona wanted, but it was more than silence.
That was understood, Mona did plead lack of knowdege on the figurines earlier. Thought perhaps she might have looked them up for an addition in this issue.
Jay’s discussion of the words used by the Left versus the words used by the Right was valuable and every speech writer shoukd take in his point made. Just make sure O’s speech writers do not listen to this podcast.
Having been forced out of Rhodesia myself and having my McGill university campus celebrate the war “hero” Bob Mugabe, the conversation about “Oogo” went a long way to healing my wounds, to know that others see the poverty inflicted while they live like all dictators live, with billions stashed away.
Obama huggung his friend, Chavez, was all too familiar a sight to me. These are leaders who put themselves above the people and who love themselves, their power and using their position to enrich themselves and those around them and theur own interest groups. They do not care about their country. Thank yiu for such a great podcast with educational points that I can take away and use.
After finishing the podcast I found some Hummel recordings on spotify… I loved the Antonio Pompa-Baldi recording of the first piano sonata, and plan to continue listening! Thanks for the suggestion, Mona.
Dear Wilbur Forge,So sorry. I didn’t see the second page of comments.Mona
Meant new rabble. Sheesh, shouldn’t try to do this on iPad late at night.
We have two examples of an administration making a determination of guilt and killing American citizens on American soil, Waco and Ruby Ridge. We also have high level administration officials identifying Tea Party people and other conservatives as potential radicals and terrorists. Given Obama’s proven disregard for the Constitution it is essential that the use of Drones against American citizens on this continent is outlawed, and a clearly enunciated statement is made to that effect.
I believe that Rand Paul was absolutely correct in what he did and said.
Listened to some Hummel.
It figurines that the Philistines (Hey, Joe/where you goin’/with that jawbone of an ass) would dislike the ouvre of Hummel.
They have ears of fired clay.
I hear there was another fan of Hummel: Zarasthustra.
I hear tell that Also sprach Zarathustra.
Now I am off to get my pun-ishment.
What was so gratifying about Rand Paul’s actions this week, was his willingness to take a stand and defend it. Obama, as much as I detest him as president, doubles-down on his radical stance on abortion (just as one example). Conservatives need someone willing to do the same for our principles.
Sorry Ms. Charen, but I agreed with Jay on Hummel, and I was horrified by your assessment of Chopin. You, however, are still tops in my book.
To Edward Smith: You’ve referenced another of my favorite movies, Breaking Away. Classic!
Thanks. I’ll be hearing “Kill the Wabbit” in my head for the rest of the day. Nothing takes the edge off Richard Wagner like Elmer Fudd.
An “intellectual” is anyone who can listen The Ride of the Valkyries without thinking about Bugs Bunny. (“Kill the wabbit, kill the wabbit”)
Hummel figurines
That rules me out.
I can’t manage to listen to the Overture to Il barbiere di Siviglia without picturing Bugs Bunny as a hair stylist … or bicycle racing in Indiana.
And I can’t think about Bicycle Races without this song coming next to mind:
I’m just hopeless!
I would be glad to hear an episode of “Need to Know” about music!!
About Hummel and his place in the musical pantheon: I think that classical-era composers disproportionally represented in the musical pantheon as compared to romantic-era composers, and my theory is that this is becuase they are overshadowed by Haydn, Mozart, and early Beethoven. For this reason, we don’t pay due glory to composers such as Hummel, Clementi, Cherubini, Boccherini, Maddalena Sirmen, Kuhlau – all wonderful artists. We do know more about composers that followed in Beethoven’s ground-breaking footsteps of self-expression because that is more in line with the spirit of our modern era than is the more polite, respectful-to-authority sound of the afforementioned classical bunch.
And as for Wagner, one question: what about Bruckner? I and several other I know are Bruckner fans, more so than Wagner. He was less controversial as a person, so it may be easier to discuss the musical merits of the Wagnerian style through his music. And he was a favorite of no less than Celibidache!
Thanks for such a wonderful podcast.
Celibidache?
Love the outro. Was I the only one singing along? Kill da waaaaaabbit! Kill da waaaaaabbit!