Interesting thoughts

A few weeks ago as I was soon expecting my first child, my father wrote me a note saying that his one wish was that I would take what he taught me as a father, and echo that even further to my son- to be an even "better" father than he was. It took me aback wondering how I could possibly be a better parent than he was, though he did have a point: The hope is to take everything we learned from our upbringing and expand upon that to ensure each generation progresses just a little bit further. 

I wrote this as I reflected on that sentiment and for the wild adventure that was soon to come. So for my Piano Day 2021 contribution, this one is for my Padre.

Padre

A slow, stately Sarabande from the Third Suite of Handel's Water Music, performed on virtual instruments: alto recorder, Baroque bassoon, two first violins, two second violins, 2 violas, cello, viola da gamba, 2 basses, and Baroque lute (instead of harpsichord, as scored).

Handel: Water Music, Suite III, HWV 350 - 1. Sarabande (2013.08.03)

Excerpt from https://soundcloud.com/designmatters/interactionofcolor

Background, context, and discussion <a href="http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/08/16/interaction-of-color-josef-albers-50th-anniversary/">here</a>.

Josef Albers and the art of seeing

Oded Ezer is a graphic artist and typographer in Tel Aviv. Ezer is best known for his typographic design fiction projects (such as Biotypography, Typosperma, Typoplastic Surgeries and, more recently, for his series of eight typographic videos for the V&A), his design for the New American Haggadah and SkypeType poster, and for his ongoing contribution to Hebrew type design.

Ezer studied graphic design at the Bezalel Academy of Art & Design, Jerusalem. In 2000 he went on to establish his own independent studio, Oded Ezer Typography, where he specializes in typographic and fonts design. In 2004 Oded founded HebrewTypography type foundry, selling his own typefaces to leading media companies and design studios.

Ezer’s projects, posters and graphic works are showcased and published worldwide, and are part of permanent collections of eminent museums such as the New York Museum of Modern Art (MoMA, NYC), Israel Museum of Art (Jerusalem), Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A, London), Museum für Gestaltung (Zürich) and Design Museum Holon (Tel-Aviv).

Oded Ezer was elected to the Alliance Graphique Internationale in 2009. His first monograph Oded Ezer: The Typographer’s Guide to the Galaxy was published by Die Gestalten Verlag in May 2009.

Design Matters with Debbie Millman: Oded Ezer

In 1999, Dawn Hancock founded Firebelly Design, a studio that does “work for people we think are making a difference in the world”. With the mantra “Good Design for Good Reason.™” the studio is a pioneer in socially responsible design, and continues to live the principles of sustainable innovation and social responsibility.

In 2004, Firebelly Design started the annual Grant for Good program, which “awards a year’s worth of full-scale marketing, design and business planning services to one deserving nonprofit organization.” Shortly after setting up that program, she decided to launch her own organization, which evolved into an entire socially minded enterprise.

The Firebelly Foundation, established in 2006, includes several programs, each a reflection of Dawn’s passion and ethic. Under the Foundation’s umbrella, she established the Humboldt Park non-profit Reason to Give and runs the 10-day intensive Camp Firebelly for hungry young designers. Most recently, she started Firebelly University, an entrepreneurial incubator that emphasizes taking risks and doing good.

Dawn holds a BFA in Visual Communication from Northern Illinois University and was named one of The 11 Most Generous Designers by Fast Company.

Design Matters with Debbie Millman: Dawn Hancock

Third movement — Air à l'Italien — from Georg Philipp Telemann's Suite in A minor for Recorder & Strings. Performed by virtual ensemble of recorder, strings, and theorbo. The beautiful recorder is from Wallander Instruments. It is modelled, not sampled. Playing it on a wind controller (Akai EWI USB) is just like playing the real thing. Sloppy fingering can even cause squeaks just like on a real recorder. Amazing. (Those professional classical musicians I've talked to who don't know anything about virtual instruments really need to get their heads out of the sand, because the realism of these instruments is advancing rapidly. That's what I'm exploring here on SoundCloud.)

Telemann: Suite in A minor for Recorder & Strings, TWV 55:a2 - 3. Air à l'Italien (2013.12.01)

This Too Could Change

FEDERICO ALBANESE is a composer born in Milan, Italy in 1982, and currently based in Berlin. His musical versatility is a natural gift that pushes him to explore music in all its facets. Albanese's compositions are airy and cinematic, blending classical music, electronics and psychedelia. Federico started studying piano and clarinet as a child before becoming fascinated by rock music. As a teenager he studied bass and became a self-taught guitarist and soon became one of the leading figures of Milan's underground scene, performing in several bands. Influenced by black music, folk, electronic, modern and contemporary classical music his skills as a composer soon emerged.

In February 2014, Federico Albanese released his debut album entitled "THE HOUSEBOAT AND THE MOON" . He recorded all of the piano parts with a 1969 German tape recorder, the Uher Royal Deluxe, which allowed him to catch all of the tiny hidden shades, the imperfections, the noises of the piano and its surrounding space. Federico melted this rarefied sound with electronics, live recordings, strings, and homemade instruments. The result was a combination of contrasts and colors with a variety of atmospheres that wonderfully represented Federico's musical universe

Beyond the Milk Wood

Feuille

The Angel Cried
Byzantine Easter Hymn
Music: Mily Balakirev (1836-1910)
Choral Arrangement: Paul F. Jernberg

Cor Unum Artists
Paul Jernberg, Conductor

Recorded at St. John the Evangelist Church
Clinton, Massachusetts
June 24, 2025

Audio engineer: Joel Conrad



The Angel Cried - Byzantine Easter Hymn

After his acclaimed explorations of such Handel operas as Giulio Cesare and Rinaldo, René Jacobs now tackles the first great operatic success of the ‘caro Sassone' (Venice, 1710), the climax of his Italian period. This version reconstructs the work in its original conception, the only one to combine explosive topicality with extreme dramatic cogency. As a result, this tale of amorous intrigues against a background of Roman history, the ‘prequel' to Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea, emerges more fascinating than ever.

Handel. Agrippina, Atto II scene XI & XII - Sunhae Im (Poppea) / Jennifer Rivera (Nerone) / Akademie für Alte Musik berlin

A Silver Kind Of Gray (for Piano Day 2018)

Stefan Sagmeister (http://www.sagmeister.com) is among today’s most important and influential graphic designers. Born in Austria, he has lived and worked in New York since 1993. Renowned for album covers, posters, installations and his recent book of life lessons, <i>Things I have learned in my life so far</i> (http://j.mp/XEYm4u), Sagmeister brings a fresh perspective to the role and work of a designer. In this podcast interview with Debbie Millman, he discusses his year away from his New York-based design practice, his personal time in Bali, as well as discussing his new, in-progress documentary film, <i>Happiness</i>.

Subscribe to Design Matters on iTunes for more great interviews with celebrated designers and creative minds: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/design-matters-debbie-millman/id328074695

Design Matters with Debbie Millman: Stefan Sagmeister

Nr. 12 from the "12 Etudes" by the brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos

guitar played by F.Hiemenz
recorded in puzzlepie studio Munich/Türkenfeld ('88)
-------------------------
This recording was part of an unfinished studio project. Only a compact cassette (!) copy of the original studio tape remained from this.
Sound restauration and editing with WaveLab 7, 2012/13
 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
note : I uploaded the Etudes 11+12 already a year ago, but in a very bad soundqualitiy. 
Meanwhile my abilities in restauration of old tape material increased, so I decided not to use the "replace" function but to upload them again. 
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Étude Nr.12 by H.Villa-Lobos

Excerpt from Orwell's fantastic 1946 essay outlining his 11 "golden" rules of tea perfection: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/05/14/george-orwell-a-nice-cup-of-tea/

TRANSCRIPT / DETAILS

George Orwell on how to make the perfect cup of tea

An inspiring commencement address delivered to the graduating class at San Jose State University. Transcript and discussion: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/05/15/debbie-millman-look-both-ways-fail-safe/

MORE

Debbie Millman: Fail Safe

Just exploring some sounds a little. 

Also exploring the space between art + design + writing. 

Love sunny days + bicycles + adventures.

Josef Albers and the art of seeing

brainpicker

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