At the Aquarium

Posted on September 19, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

An Underwater Exploration with Musical Accompaniment

The other day Ed and I went to Coney Island in the south of Brooklyn, and spent many hours enjoying the wonders of the aquarium.

Underwater worlds from coral reefs to canyon gorges, multitudes of sharks, seals, octopi, penguins, jelly fish, sea ray, piranha … what follows is a colorful assemblage of pics and vids of the New York Aquarium’s many attractions, annotated as much as this tourist-not-marine biologist can muster.

Oh, and it’s been a while since I included musical “accompaniment” in these kind of blog posts, but I really should bring back this distinctive feature; so for extra fun I’ll throw in a variety of apropos song/music choices, like this one, the most apropos, I would venture:

We’ll start in the tunnel walk below the shark exhibit.

Blacktip Reef Shark
Zebra Shark
Brownbanded Bamboo Shark
Adult zebra sharks can lose their pigment, appearing white.
Yellow Tang
Bignose Unicorn Tang (most likely)
Spotted Wobbegong
Yellowhead Butterflyfish & Whitecheek Surgeonfish
Hippo Tang
Longhorn Cowfish
Sea Goldie
Never did find out the name of this looker…

Seals!

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… in which Ed has to endure Danny getting “artsy” on the escalator.

Posted on September 14, 2024 by dannyashkenasi
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Kingdom of my own personal NEW YORKER CARTOON captions

Posted on September 6, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

Well, that’s one way to spin the data…

This is the 10th installment of my own personal New Yorker Cartoon captions (easiest way to find all the others is to click on the Literary Lyricism category). It’s also the fourth to reference the Planet of the Apes movies in its title. One may think I’ll have to move on from that theme now that I have worked my way to the most recent installment in that cinematic universe; ah, but there are still a few more titles from the original 60 year old film series to mine – come to think of it, the previous use of the more general “Return” sequel signifier arguably suggests I have referenced the Planet of the Apes movies five times so far.

Which may be more amusing than any of my captions this round? I hope not. True to form none of my writings have yet reached the final three in the New Yorker captions competition.

I’ll take the rabbit slow roasted.

In Belgium they tried to serve me mayonnaise…

Played the devil’s interval again?

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Montien Boonma’s HOUSE OF HOPE

Posted on August 31, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

There is much to discover and delight in at NYC’s Museum of Modern Art, MOMA. I was especially taken by Montien Boonma’s House of Hope. A work of art that invites to be explored from many angles, perspectives and pathways.

I can’t transmit the rich, soothing sense of smell that pervades the installation. Still I hope that these photos and videos will convey much of the visual and experiential richness of this work.

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Actor and Cinematography Awards for P&P

Posted on August 24, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

In a handsomely arched hall turned screening room in a stately old building filled with history, my Edgar Allan Poe musical adaptation “The Pit and the Pendulum – a musicabre”, was shown last night at the Giove International Film Festival (which I previously wrote about here) in Campo di Giove, Italy.

It also won two awards. For Best Actor (that would be me) and Best Cinematography (Jason Chua).

Jean-Luc Servino, the festival director, was so good as to send me some photos and a really cool video from the screening, which I am sharing here now.

That’s from the introductory video I sent to screen before the film (you can watch it here).

And below is a fun walk into the building and screening room as the film was in progress.

UPDATE: The certificates have arrived!

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Another P&P Screening in Italy

Posted on August 18, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

This Friday, August 23, my short film musical Edgar Allan Poe adaptation “The Pit and the Pendulum – a musicabre” (click here for trailer and much more) will screen again in Italy, specifically at the Giove International Film Festival in Campo di Giove, nestled in the mountains of the Abruzzo region in central Italy.

“The Pit and the Pendulum – a musicabre” officially concluded its one and a half year festival run last November in New York City; but Jean-Luc Servino, who has followed the film’s progress across several festivals, and also screened it at the Robinson Film Festival in Naples last year, organized a special additional screening at GIFF this summer.

Initially I had planned to be in Abruzzo for the screening, but unfortunately that didn’t work out. So Jean-Luc asked me to provide him with an introduction to show before the screening, also asking me to include English subtitles for the intro as well as providing a version of the film that includes English subtitles throughout (not just when the Judges of the Inquisition sing in Latin).

Below is the intro that will screen Friday before the film:

And here is a little taste of the film itself…

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At the OSCAR WILDE

Posted on August 11, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

Ed and I treated ourselves to a tasty meal in the even tastier restaurant, the Oscar Wilde, on 45 West 27th Street in Manhattan.

“A Public Place for Private Affairs”.

The name of the restaurant may be Oscar Wilde, but the decor is largely influenced by Lewis Carroll. (Having written an Alice in Wonderland inspired musical, I had extra incentive to explore this place.)

As you wait to be seated, a statue of Oscar Wilde hands you plastic baggies for your wet umbrellas, while an array of Carrollesque characters enjoy a tea party.

I dare say the statue refines Wilde’s cheekbones and nose in a manner than makes him resemble Hugh Grant in “Maurice” a little more than the original article?

The bar area at front is teaming with visual treats.

And then one walks into the restaurant proper…

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EVOCATION XXXI for String Orchestra

Posted on August 4, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

I recently posted this year’s viola/piano duet birthday present for Ed, Evocation XXXI – you can listen to the computer play it and follow the score here.

While I composed it, I already knew that I would also be arranging the piece for string orchestra. Todd Maki, the conductor and sound engineer who has worked on both of my short film musical Edgar Allan Poe adaptations, “The Tell-Tale Heart – a musicabre” and “The Pit and the Pendulum – a musicabre“, asked me to provide a piece for the Contemporary Integrational Orchestra Project. In an upcoming concert they will perform Evocation XXXI along with 10 other pieces composers created especially for them.

I will post about that at the time. In the mean time, you can listen to the computer do its (relatively) best imitation of a string orchestra here (and compare it to the piano/viola version):

EVOCATION XXXI for String Orchestra

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War of my own personal NEW YORKER CARTOON captions

Posted on July 29, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

We’re testing Schrödinger’s Waffles

The ninth installment of my ongoing series of New Yorker Cartoon caption hopefuls.

The third in which I mine the Planet of the Apes movies for post sequel titles…

… and how does THIS make you feel?


Oh, it says “El Garago”, not “El Dorado”.


It’s not what I imagined when coach said “The new keeper is the GOAT.”

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Layover in Detroit, Touchdown in Madison

Posted on July 23, 2024 by dannyashkenasi
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STELENFELD – Berlin Holocaust Memorial

Posted on July 16, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

In Berlin, Germany, just south of the Brandenburg Gate, across the street from the eastern edge of the Tiergarten park, lies the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, A K A the Holocaust Memorial, and also referred to colloquially as the Stelenfeld, the Field of Stelae, in reference to the 2711 concrete slabs (or stelae) that comprise the memorial.

The stelae vary in perceived height from low to monumental as the viewer walks along the wavily sloping paths along a grid of stelae, 54 of them going north–south, and 87 heading east–west, in a field spanning 4.7 acres.

It is a powerful memorial that is most effectively viewed and walked in person. I hope these photos will give some sense of the experience.

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EVOCATION XXXI

Posted on July 12, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

Today is Ed’s birthday. And I have presented him, as I have for the past 31 years, with another viola piano duet for us to play.

Below is the score you may follow along while you listen to the computer program play back the music in its inimitable, algorithmic flair…

Sigh … one of these days we may splurge on hiring two classically trained musicians to record all the Evocations… already it would be quite the box set (do they still produce those?).

Evocation XXXI for Viola and Piano

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DISGUSTED

Posted on July 7, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

To the New York Times,

I am thoroughly disgusted with the New York Times.  It has lost all journalistic integrity with the pile-on of articles and op-eds pushing an agenda to force President Biden to drop out of the race, while barely giving voice to / downplaying other views on the matter as well as news on Trump and Project 2025 – or ignoring that news altogether.  Where is the article on Trump denying knowledge of support of Project 2025? Or on the recent release of Epstein files? To name just two underreported or unreported news items while the current front page top three articles (and four op-eds) are all pushing the same anti-Biden narrative, a pattern that has been consistent now since the debate.

Where was the Times Editorial Board calling on the Republican candidate for President to drop out of the race after he was convicted of 34 felonies? 

Shame on you.  The agenda pushing has become too blatant.  You have lost journalistic integrity.   Whatever your motives, whatever your intentions, you are doing harm. You are becoming a handmaiden to the destruction of American democracy.

sincerely,

Danny Ashkenasi

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PRIDE NYC ’24

Posted on July 1, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

Ed and I made our wasy from Brooklyn to the Village to watch much of the Pride festivities and parade before joining the Quakers* at their late afternoon slot in the march down Fifth Avenue.

What follows are a couple handfuls of photo and video impressions.

Michelle Visage from RuPaul’s Drag Race

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Ruin a Band Name By Changing One Letter

Posted on June 23, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

The Polite

The Boors

The Cute

The Rolling Scones

The Beach Bots

Supercramp

Tears for Pears

Thompson Twigs

Stye

Piss

Van Haven

The Why

Yet

The Why

W2

Sample songs:

Excuse Me For Standing So Close To You (The Polite)

Light My Fart (The Boors)

LoveyDoveySong (The Cute)

Back to Bake (The Rolling Scones)

Harddrive Wipeout (The Beach Bots)

The Lactic Acid Song (Supercramp)

Bosc World (Tears for Pears)

Tree Doctor! Tree Doctor! (Thompson Twigs)

Come Swell Away (Stye)

Bath (Piss)

Jumper Cable (Van Haven)

Are The Kids Alright? (The Why)

Owner of a Wishy Washy Heart (Yet)

With or Withheld Income (W2)

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Dawn of my own personal NEW YORKER CARTOON captions

Posted on June 15, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

Looks like the food court is far far away …

I keep trying… (More here, here, here, here, here, here and here)

The elephant in the room went into early retirement.

Get back to me when it flies.

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