Music is Magic.

Music is Magic!  The tenor, Ian Bostridge, wrote his Oxford thesis, "Witchcraft and its Transformations" on choral music coming on the scene when witchcraft faded away . . . and that music has acquired witchcraft's power.  There is a copy at San Jose State Library that I will have to check it out. 

Today's lectures were interesting. The first one, given by the president of the college was listed as "Finding Quietness and preparation," but was really about the history of the college and the Oxford movement of the the 19th and early 20th century, with the music provided by the men and boys.

The second, "Sound as teacher," given by James Jordan and was on the role of the conductor ala Parker Palmer, "be yourself."

There is an intellectual seduction that occurs here, that makes you glad that you have the time to study and go deep. There is the seduction of tradition. But it is a seduction.  I mentioned it briefly to my friend Ruth, an Oxford grad, yesterday.   (The evening bells are ringing right now).  One can find with the seduction an abandonment of the self . . . which is not healthy.