MNTS #44
[Week 30 / Year 2024] Bach Cello Suites, Animated Knots, Dr. Bachlava, Concerts in the Park
Mainly Notes To Self - A curated rundown of something profound, something practical, something peculiar, and something personal.
Welcome to the 44th edition of MNTS. After a brief(ish) hiatus, we’re back with a reinvigorated approach to the newsletter.
I’m much more interested in sharing high-quality recommendations1 than I am in pumping out something for the sake of consistency. So, going forward, my plan is to meticulously collect and curate the best-of-the-best (profound, practical, peculiar, and personal) bits and share them with this intimate coterie. The queue will dictate the cadence.
My hope is that we will collectively hold the quality2 bar high. If I share something that doesn’t meet the standard3, reply to this email or drop me a comment below.
Lastly, if you come across something that you think should be included in a future edition, please send it my direction4.
Without further adieu, let’s eat!
The Profound
I’m completely in awe of these renditions of Bach’s cello suites. I recommend visiting the actual All of Bach website as opposed to the YouTube channel because of the easy access to the extra “Behind the Music” videos that add a ton of context and personality to the performances. This is not intended to be background music. It’s damn near a transcendent experience if you listen singularly. I’ve listened to Cello Suite 1 in G minor (below) about 6 times now and twice on separate occasions; I’ve had tears welling in my eyes5, overcome by the magnitude of it all.
The Cello Suites have had staying power for 300 years for a reason.
The Practical
Highly satisfying animations, practical, and underappreciated know-how.
The Peculiar
In stark contrast to Bach, as ascribed above, Action Bronson’s new album won’t bring a tear to your eye. Well, it might, but for completely different reasons.
His recent slew of albums felt forced and contrived, so this makes JSB an unexpected delight. The album is chock-full of his hallmark esoteric 90’s references that flash me straight back to being 13 years old, playing Tekken 3 in the arcade at Lamp Post Pizza. The silly, outrageous bars make me cringe and giggle simultaneously. Undoubtedly, his best work since 2017’s Blue Chips 7000.
Hideo Nomo, Hogan, and Citrus Wahoo are the standouts, but it’s a fun listen all the way through.
The Personal
We took the twins to their first concert in the park courtesy of the Pacific Symphony. They take picnicking and pasta salad very seriously.
ÆSTHETIC
An image to ponder before you go.
That’s a wrap on 44. Until next time, gents. Stay spirited, stay resilient.
AP
The stuff I’ll reference and return to repeatedly
Quality is a slippery thing to define. I will likely take a stab at it in the future, but in the meantime, I will borrow a line from Justice Potter Stewart, “I know it when I see it.”
The standard for this digest will be emergent and, ideally, continuously improved upon.
I’ll, of course, attribute credit where it is due and give you a shout-out with your permission.
Once during the Courante and once during the Gigue