223 years ago today Don Giovanni premiered at the Estates Theater in Prague. We discuss the opera here from time to time (See the Mozart ...

Selections from A Mencken Chrestomathy Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. New York. 1949. XIV. American Immortals: Mr. Justice Holmes I find it har...

Mozartian Counterpoint Part I | II | III | IV | Part V | VI | VII 13. String Quartet in A major, KV.464 Few works so clearly de...

This brief post has in fact several origins. Such is because its brevity had until now dissuaded me from posting it until I could write at g...

Last week in a broad discussion of character and disposition, we discussed the Roman concept of comitas as relief from overwhelming seriou...

Mozartian Counterpoint Part I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII We have, as we noted at the outset, not been comprehensive. We overlooke...

Earlier this week we looked at some issues surrounding democracy and government. Our look at some popular music also tended in the direction...

In a recent conference between your humble co bloggers I commented that a lack of seriousness in one's character and purpose is not admi...

A preliminary excursion to the crossroads of individual taste, society, culture, and art. We'll look at these ideas in greater detail...

On Teaching Nietzsche . Delivered at Boston College, 1983. Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V