Clef Notes: Holiday escape, and the indelible sounds of Streisand - The Baltimore Sun’s classical music critic Tim Smith blogs about the sonic art, local and beyond

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Holiday escape, and the indelible sounds of Streisand

Dear cyber readers: I've managed to escape for a few days, so please forgive any dearth of postings before the new year. Meanwhile, have a great holiday.

And if you're looking for musical ways to enjoy the holiday spirit, after all the Messiah performances and Leroy Anderson goodies, don't forget to relax with the best holiday album of them all (IMO), Barbra Streisand's A Christmas Album from about 1966. Her "Silent Night" remains without peer for sheer beauty and expressive depth, and her poignant "I Wonder as I Wander" leaves an indelible mark as well. Then there's her de-construction of "Jingle Bells" -- still a hoot after all these years. Christmas is never complete unless I get to bathe in the sound of this vintage Streisand collection.

Cheers.

Posted by Tim Smith at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Comments

Not really a posting... but Merry Christmas and thanks for your music reviews and articles, much appreciated!

Thanks for the thanks.Tim

Posted by: L. Bothwell | December 24, 2008 4:06 PM

With you and the Lady Elizabeth away, maybe the Sun could do a short-term rental on the desk and make a couple of bucks.

Excellent idea. GIven the number of empty desks, unrelated to holiday leave, there could be some long-term rentals, too.Tim

Posted by: Robert (the Single One) | December 24, 2008 4:07 PM

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About Tim Smith

I was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up there. Initial thoughts of becoming a cocktail pianist faded when I realized I hated taking requests. I decided to study music history instead, and got a B. A. in that field from Eisenhower College in Seneca Falls, New York, and an M.A. from Occidental College in Los Angeles. After free-lance gigs for the Washington Star and the Washington Post, I worked as classical music critic for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel during the 1980s and '90s, a period when I also ventured into radio, contributing to NPR and hosting a weekly show on a West Palm Beach station. Since April 2000, I've been classical music critic at the Baltimore Sun. Over the years, I've written occasional articles for the New York Times, BBC Music Magazine and other publications, and I'm a longtime, regular contributor to Opera News and the U.K. magazine Opera. You may still be able to find on the remainder racks my one and only book, The NPR Curious Listener's Guide to Classical Music (Perigee, 2002).

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