A lot was happening in October 1941. Germany began its all-out offensive against Moscow, prompting the Soviet government to move to another city and Roosevelt to approve $1 billion in aid to Russia. The Nazis executed up to 7,000 Serbs in the Krakujevac Massacre. The Reichsfuehrer SS and Chief of the German Police decreed that the emigration of Jews was to be prevented, taking effect immediately. The destroyer USS Kearny was torpedoed off Iceland, killing eleven sailors – the first American military casualties of the war. Two new Prime Ministers gained power: John Curtin in Australia, General Tojo in Japan. Disney released Dumbo.
And the Brooklyn Dodgers faced the New York Yankees in the World Series. Here’s a musical piece commemorating the fifth and final game, in which the mighty Yanks beat the lowly Dodgers 3 to 1 at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. It’s composed by Annie Gosfield and performed by Blair McMillen. If you get bored, skip ahead to about the 2:50 minute mark on the video. Whaddaya say: is this a celebration or a dirge?
Ktismatics 
???… yawn… LOL!
My piano teacher never taught me these techniques. I feel so left out. I do find parts of it very creative, but creativity isn’t everything.
LikeLike
I previously heard another piece by Gosfield that I liked a lot, and in looking into her stuff I came across this odd composition and performance. It turns out that I was wrong about the title of the piece: it’s supposed to be October 5, not 6, which was the date of the fourth game of the World Series which the Yankees won 7 to 4. This game featured one of the most infamous events in Series history. The Dodgers were poised to win the game and even the Series at 2 games to 2 when their catcher dropped a third strike with two out in the ninth inning. This blunder allowed the batter to reach first base and precipitated the Yankees’ winning rally. Does this new knowledge change your evaluation of Gosfield’s composition?
LikeLike
This is the first time I’m hearing Gosfield and it is good. It did indeed seem to be a strange way to celebrate a win!
LikeLike