Media Vita in Morte Sumus
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KDHX FM 88.1
September 15, 2004
The anniversary of the 9/11 attack and the death of lyricist Fred Ebb (of the
songwriting team of Kander and Ebb) prompts a program of new releases reminding
us that (as the Latin proverb goes) "In the midst of life we are in death".
PLAYLIST
| Selection |
Source |
Performer(s) |
Comments |
| Gun Song |
Assassins (Revival Cast 2004) |
James Barbour, Michael Cerveris, Denis O'Hare, Becky Ann Baker |
This one is presented in recognition of the expiration of the assault weapons ban here in the USA. Three successful assassins (Leon Czolgoz, John Wilkes Booth,
and Charles Guiteau) and one failed assassin (Sara Jane Moore) wax rhapsodical
about the meaning of their guns. For the record, Czolgoz killed President William
McKinley at the Pan-American Exposition on September 6, 1901 and Guiteau shot
President James Garfield in the back at the Potomac Railroad Station in Washington,
DC, on July 2, 1891. Moore is the failed assassin of President Gerald Ford and
Booth, of course, is the infamously successful assassin of Abraham Lincoln. |
| Say Liza (Liza with a "Z") |
The Best of Liza Minnelli (2004) |
Liza Minnelli |
This is from the soundtrack of the 1972 TV special Liza with
a Z. It and 9 of the other 13 tracks on this disc are by the team of John
Kander and Fred Ebb (Chicago, Cabaret) – not surprising, given their
close association with Minnelli's career. Ironically, this disk showed up less
than 2 days before Ebb (who wrote the liner notes for it) died at the age of 72,
making this a kind of memorial to him. |
| Ring Them Bells |
The Best of Liza Minnelli (2004) |
Liza Minnelli |
This comic love story is also from Liza with a Z. This
disc is appropriately titled, by the way – there's not a dud track on it. |
| I Happen to Like New York |
John Barrowman Swings Cole Porter (2004) |
John Barrowman, Pro Arts Orchestra of London conducted by Stewart Mackintosh |
British singer Barrowman has the kind of light, lyric baritone that seems
to be in vogue these days and he puts it to good use on this disc of jazzy arrangements
of Porter classics. He has given this one a kind of anthem-ish character that
seems appropriate for the week after all the 9/11 observations. |
| Leg O' the Crow |
Dear Friends |
The Firesign Theatre |
We pause for a word from one of our imaginary sponsors, courtesy of the Firesign Theatre's old Dear Friends radio show. |
| Anything Goes |
John Barrowman Swings Cole Porter (2004) |
John Barrowman, Pro Arts Orchestra of London conducted by Stewart Mackintosh |
The song is from Anything Goes, in which Barrowman made
his West End debut in 1989 as Billy Crocker. He's repeating that role currently
in London. This performance has, as far as I can see, all the lyrics. |
| The Great Adventurer |
Vanity Fair (OS 2004) |
Custer LaRue; David McGuiness, fortepiano |
This song, about how love always finds a way, is a traditional tune arranged by David McGuiness. LaRue is best known for her work with The Baltimore Consort, but also has a few solo discs to her credit.. |
| Steyne the Pasha |
Vanity Fair (OS 2004) |
Orchestra conducted by Nicholas Dodd |
Mychael Danna wrote the score for this new adaptation of Thackery's novel. Prior to Vanity Fair, his extensive credits have been mostly for smaller independent films. |
| El Salaam |
Vanity Fair (OS 2004) |
Hakim |
Known as "The Lion of Egypt", Hakim is credited with bringing a style of street music called sha'bi into the 21st century by melding ancient tunes and modern technology. |
| Something Just Broke |
Assassins (Revival Cast 2004) |
Company |
Bystanders from various eras of American history react to the assassination
of JFK and others with shock and grief. Stephen Sondheim's surrealistic musical
about presidential assassins got a chilly reception at its premiere on January
27, 1991 and ran only 147 performances. The Roundabout Theatre revival was originally
scheduled to open in the fall of 2001 but was postponed because of the 9/11 attack. |
Acronyms and other mysteries defined:
OC: Unless otherwise indicated,
the Original Cast recording of a Broadway show,
along with the date.
OS: Unless otherwise indicated, the Original
Soundtrack recording of a film,
TV show, etc.
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Previous Show— Welcome to the Working Week (September 1, 2004) | Next Show— Tomb of the Unknown Show (September 29 2004)
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