Congressman Raul Grijalva is launching his own iPhone app. According to Grijalva’s office the free download will allow iPhone users to get news, follow legislation, and find out about the Congressman’s public appearances.
Arizona Congressman Ben Quayle also has on iPhone app for constituents.
A review I wrote some time ago for Fanfare:
CORELLI Concerto Grosso in D, op. 6/4. TELEMANN Suite in D for Gamba and Strings, TWV 55:D6. Concerto in a for Flute, Gamba, and Strings, TWV 52:a1. Suite in e for 2 Flutes and Strings, TWV 55:e1. RAMEAU Les Indes galantes: Suite Jordi Savall, vdg (cond); Concert des Nations ALIA VOX AVSA 9877 (SACD: 78:29)
Most classical-music lovers know Le Concert Spirituel if for nothing else as the oddly named concert series for which Mozart and Haydn wrote their “Paris” symphonies. On this new SACD, Jordi Savall and his chamber orchestra Le Concert des Nations (one of several Savall ensembles with somewhat overlapping personnel) explore Le Concert Spirituel via works of some of the most notable composers presented earlier in the series’ existence, whose fortunes rose and fell from 1725 to 1790. The series was a scheme to present concerts during Lent and other religious periods when opera and theater performances were banned. The “spiritual” element of the concerts varied from performance to performance; often there were motets or other sacred works on the program, but usually instrumental pieces also infiltrated the proceedings. The early years focused on French music, but Italians and Germans eventually made some headway. On this disc, Savall presents music by one significant representative of each major nationality.
The extensive notes in the accompanying, well-illustrated booklet (a typical Alia Vox touch) state, “The repertoire of the present project is inspired in the instrumental works for orchestra by some of the favourite composers of the organizers of the Concert Spirituel during the reign of Louis XVI (1722–74), and especially from 1728 to 1768.” The notes never, however, come right out and claim that these particular works ever figured in any particular concerts. No matter; a Corelli concerto grosso (the “Christmas” Concerto) was featured in the very first concert; Telemann’s music is documented as present in 1738, 1745, and 1751; and Rameau was an almost constant presence between 1728 and 1768.
Savall has long been known not only for his smart thematic programming but more importantly for his emphasis on sensual tone while giving free rein to a score’s dance rhythms. Take the Corelli, with its highly lyrical, Italianate opening passage succeeded by the quick, nimble interplay of the concertino violins. In the Telemann Suite for Gamba and Strings, even the ouverture feels like part of a dance suite rather than a pompous introduction set apart from than dances that follow, and Savall is a rollicking soloist. And so on all the way through to the end of the Rameau suite, which enjoys a particularly vibrant performance. Overall, Savall and company provide intricate ornamentation and their customary Mediterranean warmth and vivacity without resorting to the mania increasingly common among Italian and some French ensembles.
This generously filled disc, in the label’s typically gorgeous high-resolution audio, is a perfect introduction to Baroque orchestral music beyond Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi, and a highly desirable acquisition for more seasoned collectors. After hearing this, many music lovers will surely call for Savall to record all the Corelli concerti, and make a more comprehensive survey of Rameau’s opera-ballet suites. And who knows what further Telemann treasures they could turn up? James Reel
Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl is on the list of six Republicans who will work with six Democrats to whittle down the federal deficit by $1 trillion.
Republican leaders named Reps. Dave Camp (R-Mich.), Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas). Joining Kyl from the Senate are Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Pat Toomey (R-Penn.).
Democratic Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) were appointed to the committee. House Democrats on the committee are Reps. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).
Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly has a clear and concise understanding of the economic development and workforce issues facing his administration and his people.
In office just seven months, Shelly is rolling out an economic development plan pegged to the Navajos' vast energy resources, including alternative energies such as solar and wind, to the introduction of high technology on the sprawling rural reservation and on trade within and outside the United States.
Shelly detailed the issues and the opportunities for Arizona Week in an interview recently just outside the Navajo Nation's administrative offices in Window Rock.
As he spoke, a Navajo couple stood nearby making and selling native jewelry. The man said he and his wife were pressed into jewelry making because they can't find work on the reservation. He said he is trained as a heavy-equipment operator, his wife as a dialysis technician.
The interview with Shelly and analysis of the economic plight of the Navajos and other Native Americans will be the focus of Friday's Arizona Week.
Wil Cardon the CEO of the Mesa-based Cardon Group is the latest person to enter the race for US Senate. Cardon is running as a Republican which means he will face Congressman Jeff Flake in the primary.
Cardon says he will not be outspent in the campaign. That is a tall claim considering Flake already has a little more the $2 million in cash and an AZPM analysis of the last campaign finance reports show he’s not afraid to spend money.
Senator Jon Kyl has already announced he is not running for reelection.
In an article today, the Washington, D.C. newspaper Politico reported Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar, (R-01) has had staffing problems.
The article says two of the Republican's staffers have connections to former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Apparently that's caused some problems, and the story quotes heavily from an email former Gosar staffer Stefani Zimmerman wrote in January, the first month Gosar was in office. Zimmerman and other staffers left Gosar's office this summer.
Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick jumped into the conversation later today, sending the article to her Congressional campaign email list. Gosar beat Kirkpatrick after her first term in Congress, and she is running against him in 2012.
