Ross W. Duffin
@rosswmd.bsky.social
Music professor (retired) & author, tune detective, Canadian ex-pat
Pasadena CA & Washington DC
Pasadena CA & Washington DC
On the road again: 17 years after the effort, my son David's takedown of Honda's attempt at a musical road gets another roundabout. www.sfgate.com/california/a...
The story behind LA County's most charming botched tourist attraction
It's still a tourist attraction today, even though it was built incorrectly.
www.sfgate.com
November 17, 2025 at 2:24 PM
On the road again: 17 years after the effort, my son David's takedown of Honda's attempt at a musical road gets another roundabout. www.sfgate.com/california/a...
I must say, the Chinese UBTECH humanoid robotic army brought to mind the Chinese Terracotta Army. Plus ça change?
November 15, 2025 at 4:10 AM
I must say, the Chinese UBTECH humanoid robotic army brought to mind the Chinese Terracotta Army. Plus ça change?
Sad to hear of the death of Mary Deissler, long-time and transformative ED of H+H in Boston. Arts admin people often go unsung, but Mary was a giant force in Boston, and influential across the country. H+H is thriving now because of her leadership. RIP
slippedisc.com/2025/11/tran...
slippedisc.com/2025/11/tran...
Transformative Boston CEO dies, 69 - Slippedisc
The former CEO of Boston’s Handel & Haydn...
slippedisc.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Sad to hear of the death of Mary Deissler, long-time and transformative ED of H+H in Boston. Arts admin people often go unsung, but Mary was a giant force in Boston, and influential across the country. H+H is thriving now because of her leadership. RIP
slippedisc.com/2025/11/tran...
slippedisc.com/2025/11/tran...
It's the anniversary of the Russian revolution! Also my birthday – this year a very large, crooked number. Many of them, in the past, I've spent at AMS meetings (it's that time of year). Ah well. Still here; still doing work I love; counting blessings.
November 7, 2025 at 3:56 PM
It's the anniversary of the Russian revolution! Also my birthday – this year a very large, crooked number. Many of them, in the past, I've spent at AMS meetings (it's that time of year). Ah well. Still here; still doing work I love; counting blessings.
Reposted by Ross W. Duffin
Applications are open for Folger Library short-term fellowships! Deadline January 15, 2026.
www.folger.edu/research/the...
www.folger.edu/research/the...
Short-term Fellowships | Folger Shakespeare Library
Folger Shakespeare Library is the world's largest Shakespeare collection, the ultimate resource for exploring Shakespeare and his world. Shakespeare belongs to you. His world is vast. Come explore.…
www.folger.edu
November 5, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Applications are open for Folger Library short-term fellowships! Deadline January 15, 2026.
www.folger.edu/research/the...
www.folger.edu/research/the...
Lot of Messiah performances coming up.
New text anyone?
He was despised,
Despised and rejected
By women and men.
A man of falsehoods,
Bloviator and thief.
He gave his soul to the devil
And his aid to them
Who kiss’d his derrière.
He hid not his face
From makeup and hairpiece.
He was despised, etc.
New text anyone?
He was despised,
Despised and rejected
By women and men.
A man of falsehoods,
Bloviator and thief.
He gave his soul to the devil
And his aid to them
Who kiss’d his derrière.
He hid not his face
From makeup and hairpiece.
He was despised, etc.
November 5, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Lot of Messiah performances coming up.
New text anyone?
He was despised,
Despised and rejected
By women and men.
A man of falsehoods,
Bloviator and thief.
He gave his soul to the devil
And his aid to them
Who kiss’d his derrière.
He hid not his face
From makeup and hairpiece.
He was despised, etc.
New text anyone?
He was despised,
Despised and rejected
By women and men.
A man of falsehoods,
Bloviator and thief.
He gave his soul to the devil
And his aid to them
Who kiss’d his derrière.
He hid not his face
From makeup and hairpiece.
He was despised, etc.
Great story! Just persuade some friends to join you and you can make music together!
apple.news/AnjWCsCGwRAe...
apple.news/AnjWCsCGwRAe...
The one change that worked: I struggled with stress after work – until I made a discovery in my attic — Guardian US
When my son was growing up, his school recorder was the bane of my life. Now it’s what I reach for at the end of a hard day, rather than a glass of wine
apple.news
November 4, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Great story! Just persuade some friends to join you and you can make music together!
apple.news/AnjWCsCGwRAe...
apple.news/AnjWCsCGwRAe...
Loved @all-allam.bsky.social in Endeavour! Reflecting on The Choral, he says ‘Singing in a choir is a way of bringing communities together … and we don’t kill each other in our millions over it.’ Hear, hear!
apple.news/Ap45ib98ITA6...
apple.news/Ap45ib98ITA6...
‘I’ve played a lot of sneery bastards’: Roger Allam on bad singing, big paydays and Elgar’s level of ‘gitacity’ — Guardian US
He launched a thousand memes as the beleaguered Tory MP in The Thick of It, and starred in the original production of Les Misérables. Now the actor is making not-so-sweet music in the Alan Bennett-scr...
apple.news
October 31, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Loved @all-allam.bsky.social in Endeavour! Reflecting on The Choral, he says ‘Singing in a choir is a way of bringing communities together … and we don’t kill each other in our millions over it.’ Hear, hear!
apple.news/Ap45ib98ITA6...
apple.news/Ap45ib98ITA6...
Reposted by Ross W. Duffin
I'm giving a talk for the Digital Research Alliance of Canada on Nov. 12: explora.alliancecan.ca/events/digit.... All welcome to register!
Digital Fragility, Sustainability, and Longevity, or Whatever Happened to the Internet Shakespeare Editions?
<p>In December 2018, the Internet Shakespeare Editions server failed. In April 2020, the Shakespeare Quartos Archive was withdrawn from its Bodleian host. In October 2023, the cyberattack on the Briti...
explora.alliancecan.ca
October 21, 2025 at 10:15 PM
I'm giving a talk for the Digital Research Alliance of Canada on Nov. 12: explora.alliancecan.ca/events/digit.... All welcome to register!
Article from @earlymusicamerica.bsky.social from Kivie Cahn-Lipman on using AI in deciphering notation, but this image he created reminds me of a Weelkes madrigal (though slightly altered): Three arms, three, legs, two necks, one wreathing!
www.earlymusicamerica.org/web-articles...
www.earlymusicamerica.org/web-articles...
October 21, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Article from @earlymusicamerica.bsky.social from Kivie Cahn-Lipman on using AI in deciphering notation, but this image he created reminds me of a Weelkes madrigal (though slightly altered): Three arms, three, legs, two necks, one wreathing!
www.earlymusicamerica.org/web-articles...
www.earlymusicamerica.org/web-articles...
Struck by this in the memorial for star hockey goalie, lawyer, TV commentator, front-office exec, Canadian MP, and cabinet member, Ken Dryden. Amazingly, he played 228 NHL games before losing two in a row! Next most is 64. Also, in 1971, he worked for Ralph Nader in DC www.nhl.com/news/ken-dry...
Dryden remembered by Canadiens in stirring tribute before home opener | NHL.com
Hall of Famer, ‘best goalie in the world,’ died last month at age 78
www.nhl.com
October 15, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Struck by this in the memorial for star hockey goalie, lawyer, TV commentator, front-office exec, Canadian MP, and cabinet member, Ken Dryden. Amazingly, he played 228 NHL games before losing two in a row! Next most is 64. Also, in 1971, he worked for Ralph Nader in DC www.nhl.com/news/ken-dry...
Reposted by Ross W. Duffin
Their land brought forth frogs, their land brought forth frogs, YAY! even in their king's chambers www.youtube.com/watch?v=43A3...
October 14, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Their land brought forth frogs, their land brought forth frogs, YAY! even in their king's chambers www.youtube.com/watch?v=43A3...
Reposted by Ross W. Duffin
First encore at the Ronn McFarlane-Paul O'Dette lute duo recital today: John Dowland's "My Lord Chamberlain, His Galliard" - for two people to play on a single lute. And I thought playing piano, four hands, was tricky to coordinate!
October 13, 2025 at 12:44 AM
First encore at the Ronn McFarlane-Paul O'Dette lute duo recital today: John Dowland's "My Lord Chamberlain, His Galliard" - for two people to play on a single lute. And I thought playing piano, four hands, was tricky to coordinate!
Reposted by Ross W. Duffin
#ShakespeareSunday The Folger Shakespeare Library published my blog about Latinx Shakespeares of the 20th century. Cover image of Irene Cara in Aaron Loves Angela (1975), a Romeo and Juliet-inspired film.
www.folger.edu/blogs/shakes...
#HispanicHeritageMonth ##theatre #theatrebsky #theatresky
www.folger.edu/blogs/shakes...
#HispanicHeritageMonth ##theatre #theatrebsky #theatresky
October 12, 2025 at 3:13 PM
#ShakespeareSunday The Folger Shakespeare Library published my blog about Latinx Shakespeares of the 20th century. Cover image of Irene Cara in Aaron Loves Angela (1975), a Romeo and Juliet-inspired film.
www.folger.edu/blogs/shakes...
#HispanicHeritageMonth ##theatre #theatrebsky #theatresky
www.folger.edu/blogs/shakes...
#HispanicHeritageMonth ##theatre #theatrebsky #theatresky
Sweet Ginger is four years old today. A joy forever!
October 11, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Sweet Ginger is four years old today. A joy forever!
Reposted by Ross W. Duffin
I want this to be real.
October 8, 2025 at 10:12 AM
I want this to be real.
Terrific article on exquisite Swedish baroque dancer Julia Bengtsson. Tickled that my former grad school-mate Becky Harris-Warrick, and former student Julie Andrijeski both figure into the story!
www.earlymusicamerica.org/emag-feature...
www.earlymusicamerica.org/emag-feature...
Baroque Dance and Beyond with Julia Bengtsson » Early Music America
Julia Bengtsson has found her footing as an acclaimed dancer, choreographer, and unstoppable entrepreneur. At the 2025 EMA Virtual Summit, Oct. 18, Bengtsson will co-present 'Anatomy of a Dance,' demo...
www.earlymusicamerica.org
October 7, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Terrific article on exquisite Swedish baroque dancer Julia Bengtsson. Tickled that my former grad school-mate Becky Harris-Warrick, and former student Julie Andrijeski both figure into the story!
www.earlymusicamerica.org/emag-feature...
www.earlymusicamerica.org/emag-feature...
TFW your daughter @npr.org gets cited by @hcrichardson.bsky.social! Great reporting @selenasd.com!
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com?utm_source=n...
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com?utm_source=n...
Letters from an American | Heather Cox Richardson | Substack
A newsletter about the history behind today's politics. Click to read Letters from an American, by Heather Cox Richardson, a Substack publication with millions of subscribers.
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com
October 7, 2025 at 2:07 PM
TFW your daughter @npr.org gets cited by @hcrichardson.bsky.social! Great reporting @selenasd.com!
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com?utm_source=n...
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com?utm_source=n...
This solitary Halloween decoration seemed weird until I realized it was pointing 6 blocks down the street to the US Capitol. Then it made sense!
October 3, 2025 at 2:57 PM
This solitary Halloween decoration seemed weird until I realized it was pointing 6 blocks down the street to the US Capitol. Then it made sense!
The Early Music America annual awards are out and I want to highlight two of them here. First is Ken Slowik, receiving the Howard Mayer Brown Lifetime Achievement Award. I get to see his work at the Smithsonian up close in DC, and he is a star! www.earlymusicamerica.org/awards/annua...
Howard Mayer Brown Award » Early Music America
2025 Recipient: Kenneth Slowik Since 1972, Kenneth Slowik has consistently sought to bring HIP values not only to music of the Baroque and Classical eras, but to later repertoires as well. During his ...
www.earlymusicamerica.org
September 30, 2025 at 4:36 PM
The Early Music America annual awards are out and I want to highlight two of them here. First is Ken Slowik, receiving the Howard Mayer Brown Lifetime Achievement Award. I get to see his work at the Smithsonian up close in DC, and he is a star! www.earlymusicamerica.org/awards/annua...
Under the category of random connections, I saw the obit for Martin Neary and remembered that my grandfather, William Nelson, was a fellow choir member of Neary's father, Leonard, at St Michael's Cornhill, and photographer for his wedding on Feb. 25, 1939.
www.thetimes.com/uk/obituarie...
www.thetimes.com/uk/obituarie...
September 29, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Under the category of random connections, I saw the obit for Martin Neary and remembered that my grandfather, William Nelson, was a fellow choir member of Neary's father, Leonard, at St Michael's Cornhill, and photographer for his wedding on Feb. 25, 1939.
www.thetimes.com/uk/obituarie...
www.thetimes.com/uk/obituarie...
Reposted by Ross W. Duffin
What happens to drug use after shortages?...New study examining 2010 to 2024 in multiple countries of Europe and North America
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
September 25, 2025 at 1:18 PM
What happens to drug use after shortages?...New study examining 2010 to 2024 in multiple countries of Europe and North America
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Shocked and saddened to hear of the recent death of my former student, Mary Oleskiewicz. A wonderful baroque flutist and scholar, expert on Quantz, and a professional tango dancer as well! Gone too soon … too young. RIP
September 19, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Shocked and saddened to hear of the recent death of my former student, Mary Oleskiewicz. A wonderful baroque flutist and scholar, expert on Quantz, and a professional tango dancer as well! Gone too soon … too young. RIP
Just heard about this today. Ted was music librarian @cwru when I arrived there and for two years afterwards. Before all his Beethoven scholarship, it was his handlist of rare musical materials in cwru libraries that eventually led me to discover the Blossom Partbooks. Thanks, Ted. RIP
My dear friend Ted Albrecht died on 11 June 2025. youtu.be/f6Ka9qborgw
September 8, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Just heard about this today. Ted was music librarian @cwru when I arrived there and for two years afterwards. Before all his Beethoven scholarship, it was his handlist of rare musical materials in cwru libraries that eventually led me to discover the Blossom Partbooks. Thanks, Ted. RIP