Beautiful

“It’s a beautiful day in Pennsylvania!” Thus spoke Pete Wambach on his daily radio program for over 20 years. I grew up in Pennsylvania, so I remember it well. Fred Rogers used to sing his title song, “It’s a Beautiful day in the Neighborhood” for his children’s show. “The night is beautiful, so the faces … Continue reading Beautiful →

Narratives

In 1971, Cher’s song, “Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves,” rose to number one on the charts. In addition to having a great hook, the recording called out the hypocrisy of “the people of the town,” who called others cruel names, as though they had a right to judge. But let’s not congratulate ourselves. In many ways, … Continue reading Narratives →

Ban Me

In the 1980’s, the PMRC (Parents Music Resource Council), led by prominent Washington women, such as Tipper Gore and Susan Baker, sought to require labels on record albums to protect young people from what they considered violent, sexual, or profane content. The PMRC was successful, however their parental advisories meant that many albums were given … Continue reading Ban Me →

A Remembrance

Recently, an old friend died. For my first fifteen years, he led our department as chair and dean. Dale Bengtson was a wise man, offering good advice and a listening ear. He valued collegiality, the idea that the music faculty ought to work as a team. He once asked, “Would all those who work with … Continue reading A Remembrance →