Zenglop The Podcast

In a journal entry from 1946, Messiaen describes fragments and symbols for a ballet - a piece he never wrote.  It's fascinating and beautiful and I'd be interested what other composers listening to this think about it.Send me a note at zenglop@gmail.com.I'm making a push to build up my youtube channel.  Here's an easy link to subscribe.  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoOlX6NXyQBABYljo1vAuHA?sub_confirmation=1

I was out for a run this weekend and learned something important.Send me a note at zenglop@gmail.com.I'm making a push to build up my youtube channel.  Here's an easy link to subscribe.  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoOlX6NXyQBABYljo1vAuHA?sub_confirmation=1

A sprawling episode...even more than usual, I guess.  Taking refuge is a gift of the meditation practice, and we can find reminders everywhere.  Including in musical moments, for example the second movement of Beethoven's last piano sonata.Send me a note at zenglop@gmail.com.more notes on meditation here: https://www.zenglop.net/zenglop/meditation/I'm making a push to build up my youtube channel.  Here's an easy link to subscribe.  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoOlX6NXyQBABYljo1vAuHA?sub_confirmation=1

What combination of pens, pencils and paper do you use? Here's what's on my desk depending on if it's for work, journaling or music. Send me a note at zenglop@gmail.com and check out the website www.zenglop.netI'm making a push to build up my youtube channel.  Here's an easy link to subscribe.  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoOlX6NXyQBABYljo1vAuHA?sub_confirmation=1

I've been thinking about titles...not titles that suggest form, or titles that suggest narrative:  but instead titles that are a necessary corollary of the musical experience.  Send me a note at zenglop@gmail.com and check out the website www.zenglop.net

Henry David Thoreau wrote an essay for The Atlantic magazine talking about walking. It includes a bizarre and wonderful experience he had one day over by the neighboring Spaulding Farm. (here's the essay: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1862/06/walking/304674/).Send me a note at zenglop@gmail.com and check out the website www.zenglop.net

the cycle of difference between aspiration and activity.more notes on meditation here: https://www.zenglop.net/zenglop/meditation/drop a note to me at zenglop@gmail.com

music is a good analogy for the human condition...both phenomena arise, do something and then stop. In between, we compose. Music, aesthetics, human narrative. drop a note to me at zenglop@gmail.com, check out website at www.zenglop.net

Reading through the book "Olivier Messiaen and the music of Time" by Paul Griffiths. Olivier Messiaen uses compositional techniques to write music that is outside of time: what does that mean and where is the individual composer in that process? more lessons and lectures on music composition over at my youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoOlX6NXyQBABYljo1vAuHA

The body and the mind both look like a mountain. More episodes about meditation here: https://www.zenglop.net/zenglop/meditation/

I'm reading all the poems in the collection "Railway Rhymes" edited by Peter Ashley. Here are all the podcast episodes from this series: https://www.zenglop.net/zenglop/poems-about-trains/

In which I sing along with two Eurovision entries.  I'm no singer, ut let's say the result is charming/endearing.  I believe that the years 1971 - 1981 were the apotheosis of Eurovision at least as far as entries from the UK. I see many similarities between the 1978 entry from Coco ( Bad Old Days) and the 1972 entry from The New Seekers ( Beg Steal or Borrow).  I was old enough in 1978 to remember the entry, not quite yet aware in 1972. more posts about Eurovision here: https://www.zenglop.net/zenglop/Eurovision/

As a child I longed to be called up as the music director for the United Kingdon song entry to Eurovision. Eurovision no longer has an orchestra and my chance to live the dream is long gone.more posts about Eurovision here: https://www.zenglop.net/zenglop/Eurovision/

"Time traveling Triangulation" . What were my aspirations as a young person, up against the realizations and experiences I have today, after 30 years of practice. As often happens, with reference to Messiaen as a case study. More episodes bout meditation here https://www.zenglop.net/zenglop/meditation/

A rollicking romp.  The honor of Birmingham is at stake, but  shared nobility of character will prevail.  This episode is a two-fer:   as well as the poem itself, you get a singalong of a song referenced in one of  the stanzas ( The Warwickshire Lads, if that sounds enticing).  I'm reading all the poems in the collection "RailwayRhymes" edited by Peter Ashley and available here   if you want to read along.  Here are all the podcast episodes from this series: https://www.zenglop.net/zenglop/poems-about-trains/

a strange fabulation about what would happen if the U.S. President stumbled across my music channel. https://www.zenglop.net/music/ More episodes bout meditation here https://www.zenglop.net/zenglop/meditation/

George Orwell wrote an essay called "Why I write", which I follow with "Why I podcast". Full notes at https://www.zenglop.net/zenglop/podcast/

Scansion and imagery in Taylor Swift's song 'London Boy'. Full notes t https://www.zenglop.net/zenglop/podcast/

I'm reading and talking about all the poems in the collection "Railway Rhymes" edited by Peter Ashley. This poem inspired me to talk about how automation *should* lead to leisure...a hot Keynesian topic. more at https://www.zenglop.net/zenglop/poems-about-trains/

some different ways to think about sound, music and meditation. Includes a reading from my book , talking about Messiaen. More episodes about meditation here https://www.zenglop.net/zenglop/meditation/