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Concert Review: "The Baseball Music Project"

Not long after the Cubs' big win yesterday in Cincinnati, I packed up my kids and headed out to the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, to take in something different from their normal classical music fare, The Baseball Music Project. From their website:

Founded in 2004 by a group of music professionals with a nearly uncontainable love and passion for both baseball and music, The Baseball Music Project is dedicated to fostering greater awareness of the cultural lineage and historical significance of music written about baseball, through concerts, recordings, and related outreach events and projects.

So while we await the Cubs' attempt to tie the Brewers (who are idle today) for first place, a little something for all you Culture Vultures.

The Ravinia Festival, if you've never been there, is held during the summer months, with mainly classical concerts featuring the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and a few pop/rock concerts (later this summer, for example, Hootie and the Blowfish, Natalie Cole, and Aretha Franklin are scheduled to appear), with a pavilion seating about 5,000, and lawn seating for several thousand more, where some people set up elaborate picnic tables complete with balloons and candles, and food that's more expensive than you'd find at most fancy restaurants.

We didn't go that route -- a couple of folding chairs and sandwiches were enough -- and settled in to both hear and view this show, which featured some baseball photos and paintings shown on large video screens.

The show was hosted and narrated by Cubs PA announcer Wayne Messmer. He played to the overwhelmingly Cub-centric crowd by throwing in some topical references to his narration ("Half a game out, baby", and "Who would have thought we'd be rooting so hard for Albert Pujols to hit a home run today?"), and in addition to narration, Messmer also sang the National Anthem to begin, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game", and, to the accompaniment of the Ravinia Festival Orchestra, did a dramatic reading of "Casey At The Bat", as well as several other baseball poems, including one of my personal favorites, Bart Giamatti's "The Green Fields of the Mind", which begins with these evocative words:

It breaks your heart. It was designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone. You count on it, rely on it to buffer the passage of time, to keep the memory of sunshine and high skies alive, and then, just when the days are all twilight, when you need it most, it stops.

Many in the crowd were wearing Cub T-shirts and jerseys, though I also saw a Jason Varitek T-shirt and, inexplicably, a Pujols jersey. I've been to classical and pop shows at Ravinia before and this crowd seemed much more like an average group you'd find at a Cubs game (there seemed very few White Sox fans there, though I did spot a couple of A. J. Pierzynski T-shirts).

The conductor of the show was Bob Thompson, whose biography says that his baseball claim to fame is:

that he played trumpet at George Steinbrenner's daughter's wedding, for which George gave him two crisp one-hundred-dollar bills which Bob in turn blew on Yankees' tickets.

And, the guest soloist, Misty Castleberry, sang well-known baseball songs, including "Joltin' Joe DiMaggio", and "Slide, Kelly, Slide", a song written in 1889 about the legendary Mike "King" Kelly, profiled last January as #41 in the Top 100 Cubs of All Time series; the song was not only the first song about baseball to really reach all levels of public consciousness, but may have been the first true "pop culture" hit song ever.

This was an enjoyable evening and for me, an attempt to get my kids somewhat interested in hearing and seeing something other than the music of their own generation. They seemed to enjoy it, although Rachel appeared more interested in the mostly-overpriced merchandise at the gift shop (we didn't buy anything), and though Mark was listening to the music, he spent a fair amount of time playing Tetris on his newly-acquired cellphone.

If "The Baseball Music Project" comes to your town, go see it -- their website doesn't list any performances after May of this year, but I imagine they'll have others this summer and fall.

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other good times in baseball
If you want to experience more baseball culture, everyone should check out the Honus Wagner play at the Goodman. It is in the childrens theatre, it is about 90 minutes and great for the kiddies. The even play catch with the audience to wake the kids up.  

by JoeSmoe23 on Jul 30, 2007 9:12 AM CDT   0 recs

Sox Fans
Well Ravina IS pretty far north of chicago.

I'll leave it to others to take a cheap shot at the cultural verisimilitude of white sox fans.

paging dr. crawdad in 5...4..3

One of Us!One Of Us!

by HerrProf on Jul 30, 2007 9:17 AM CDT   0 recs

Coming to Wrigley!
Al,
I've been reading BCB all year as a connection to other Cubs fans since I've been living in southern Mississippi. I'm in town for the week and will be at tonight's game. I'd love to meet you and say thanks for the great site!
I'll be in the terrace, Aisle 201, Row 2, Seat 101-104 with my wife and some friends.

Go Cubs!

"You must try to generate happiness within yourself. If you aren't happy in one place, chances are you won't be happy anyplace." -- Ernie Banks

by MississippiMalaise on Jul 30, 2007 9:32 AM CDT   0 recs

Check your email.
n/t
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jul 30, 2007 9:41 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Come on Al
Nice review, sounds like an enjoyable event, etc.

But come on.  I need something more - some news, some analysis, some fresh rumors--anything . What, it's only 9:30am?  

Anyone got an update to that Excel chart posted a few days ago showing the Cubs' and Brewers' trend lines (+ or - .500)??  Can't wait till the lines meet, later tonight I hope...

Why does everybody stand up and sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" when they're already there? ~Larry Anderson

by JohnM on Jul 30, 2007 9:41 AM CDT   0 recs

There isn't really any big news this morning.
Maybe I'll have some by the time the game thread is up this afternoon.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jul 30, 2007 9:42 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I know
Just feeling a bit giddy with the team 1/2 out and all.
Why does everybody stand up and sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" when they're already there? ~Larry Anderson

by JohnM on Jul 30, 2007 9:45 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

And I know the Cubs may lose tonight, but
if they win, they'll technically be ahead of the Brewers:

Cubs   (56) - 48  .5384
Brewers 57 - 49   .5377

OK boss, I'll get back to work now.....

Why does everybody stand up and sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" when they're already there? ~Larry Anderson

by JohnM on Jul 30, 2007 9:49 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I don't care what the standings say
I say the Cubs are ahead of the Brewers already.  The loss column is what matters, the only reason the Brewers are still in 1st is because they've played more games, unfortunately for them, everyone (usually) plays the same number of games by the end of the season.  If a team controls their own destiny like the Cubs do (since, technically if they win their last 59 games they are division champs), I think that makes THEM the division leader.

by eamuscatuli1881 on Jul 30, 2007 10:20 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Works for me!
Why does everybody stand up and sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" when they're already there? ~Larry Anderson

by JohnM on Jul 30, 2007 10:23 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Playoff Odds
The Cubs odds are actually higher than the Brewers right now according to BP
Be sure to check out The View From The Bleachers

by viewfromthebleachers on Jul 30, 2007 10:51 AM CDT   0 recs

That makes sense
because the Cubs are currently ahead in the loss column.

by cubsbak on Jul 30, 2007 11:35 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I can understand
statistically that makes sense, but in baseball logic it really doesn't.  

When you are leading a division because you have played less games it is because you have had rain outs early in the season and you will be playing double headers later one.  Statistically most teams split double headers which would actually be below the Cubs' current winning percentage.

It is better for your chances to win to not play double headers.

by Joe on Jul 30, 2007 11:46 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Huh?
The Cubs have 1 remaining double header and they're ahead by a game in the loss column.

The point is the Cubs control their own destiny.  The Brewers can't make up a loss, but the Cubs can make up the wins.  Statistically or otherwise it makes sense that the Cubs have the better shot at the division.

by cubsbak on Jul 30, 2007 3:32 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Ravinia
We live around the block from Ravinia and my 7-year old son wanted to go last night, but we're too busy with a home re-modeling project and had work to do. Sounds like a fun time - wish we could have gone.
"Have Keith Moreland drop a routine fly. Give everybody two bags of peanuts and a frosty malt, And I'll be ready to die." -Steve Goodman

by danimal15 on Jul 30, 2007 11:20 AM CDT   0 recs

Sorry you didn't!
Also sorry I didn't know you lived so close, or I'd have stopped by.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jul 30, 2007 12:34 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Call
if you're ever in the neighborhood (your old neighborhood) again! (e-mail, actually)
"Have Keith Moreland drop a routine fly. Give everybody two bags of peanuts and a frosty malt, And I'll be ready to die." -Steve Goodman

by danimal15 on Jul 30, 2007 4:19 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Hey Al.
I will also be at tonight's game. Section 417.
Would love to stop by and say hi.
Should be a great game. Hamels and Lilly has the makings of a great match up.

by Tangled Up In Blue on Jul 30, 2007 11:32 AM CDT   0 recs

You can't come out to the bleachers...
... with your ticket. If I have a chance maybe I'll hike up to 417. Otherwise let me know if you can get to the bleachers later this year.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jul 30, 2007 12:37 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Sounds good Al.
I should be making it out to the bleachers sometime before the end of the year. I'll let you know.
Go Cubs tonight! I'm already getting nervous! Feels good to get nervous at the end of July!

by Tangled Up In Blue on Jul 30, 2007 1:10 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Green Fields of the Mind
Al, it's stuff like this that show me once again just how much I love baseball.  After my memory being jogged with the quote from Giamatti, and of course with the Cubs playing superb ball, I'm going back and will re-read his musings in the Great and Glorious Game.  

That quote is one of my all-time favorites.  Just as is the following from The Natural....

   Pop: You know my mama wanted me to be a farmer.
   Hobbs:  My dad wanted me to be a baseball player.
   Pop:  Well, you're better than anyone I ever had.  And you're the best god damn hitter I ever saw.  Suit up.

Gets me every time.  Every single time.  Go Cubs.

Eighty-five percent of the f*ckin' world is working. The other fifteen percent come out here. -- Lee Constantine Elia, 1983.

by krummy12 on Jul 30, 2007 11:34 AM CDT   0 recs

Pie to be traded?
Anyone believe the reports that the Cubs MIGHT trade Pie?

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2007/07/fast-food-for-6.html

I would be pretty upset if they did. Do we really need that many upgrades to make a playoff push? If anything Pie could be the guy to help us get there.

by Willgly on Jul 30, 2007 11:37 AM CDT   0 recs

Not for one second.
n/t
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jul 30, 2007 12:35 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I'd trade him
for someone like Junior Griffey.  I'd do it for Dontrelle Willis if we actually needed a left-handed starter, but we don't.  Maybe Torii Hunter, but I doubt it.  But the Felix Pie for Gerald Laird stuff makes no sense at all.  That's the Rangers trying to drive up the market for Laird.

by Josh77 on Jul 30, 2007 1:01 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Winning the Wild Card just got harder
mlbtraderumors.com says:

Braves Acquire Mark Teixeira

"According to Ken Rosenthal, the deal is finally done, pending a review of medical records.  The Braves will receive Mark Teixeira and lefty reliever Ron Mahay, while the Rangers will get Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Elvis Andrus, and two pitching prospects.  Matt Harrison is said to be one of them; his MRI today came up clean.

I'll have some analysis of the deal once we have all the details.  Kind of makes tomorrow anticlimactic, doesn't it?"

I think the Phillies are the toughest team for the Cubs in then NL East while facing them.  But the Braves have some seriously good baseball players, the best manager in baseball over the last 20 years, and know how to win.

Now they have a switch hitting power bat who can hit for average hitting 4th and they can move A. Jones to the 5th spot where he truly belongs.

The have two great starting pitchers and a Bull Pen that is over achieving but effective.  Their Offense just got scary and is truly frightening when you consider the Phillies and the Mets both have huge holes in their starting rotations where the Braves Offense will be able to score 7 runs a game against them when ever they face the back end of their division rivals starting rotations.

Either the Braves or the Mets are winning that division and it would not suprize me to see both of them win over 93 games this season.

by Joe on Jul 30, 2007 11:37 AM CDT   0 recs

Braves don't scare me
Yes they have two good starters ,the rest are mess. They have a closer that makes Dempster look like Gagne when he was with the Dodgers. Bobby Cox is the smartest manager in baseball but even he can't make pitching magically appear where it isn't
"It's the Cubbies. There's always a vibe. It's the greatest vibe in baseball." Greg Maddux on Cub fan's optimism even after the 06 debacle.

by jessica on Jul 30, 2007 12:26 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Agreed.
n/t
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jul 30, 2007 12:35 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm surprised Shurholz (sp?)
didn't figure out a way to get Gagne in the deal. Must have been too much salary. No one really knows yet how the new owners of the Braves are going to be with the purse....

by LT on Jul 30, 2007 12:40 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Dotel
Latest has Braves after Dotel
"It's the Cubbies. There's always a vibe. It's the greatest vibe in baseball." Greg Maddux on Cub fan's optimism even after the 06 debacle.

by jessica on Jul 30, 2007 2:09 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I just saw that
It makes more sense now... The Braves are going to be a lot tougher if both deals go thru.

by LT on Jul 30, 2007 2:13 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Your Analysis, like Kip Wells?
JOE: "I'll have some analysis of the deal once we have all the details..."

Didn't you want to bet that Kip Wells was going to finish, "with a .500 record" during the Cubs/Cards series? (I think he's 4-13 now)

Will your analysis be along the same kind of thinking? ;-)

We can't wait!

It is July, and we're STILL IN IT! YES!

by TheEman on Jul 30, 2007 11:53 AM CDT   0 recs

That was from the mlbtraderumors post
That was not Joe saying he'd have analysis, but the author of the mlbtraderumors.com post.

by John Q Freejazz on Jul 30, 2007 12:29 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Whoops!
My Bad!

Sorry JOE!

It is July, and we're STILL IN IT! YES!

by TheEman on Jul 30, 2007 12:39 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Ravinia ...?
Al, how upper crust of you  ... honestly!

--t.

"One of the worst writers on this board: !Neifi! didn't do it, honest."

by Littlerock Rynofan on Jul 30, 2007 12:13 PM CDT   0 recs

LMAO
Honestly, it didn't feel that way last night. And you can't beat the price - $10.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jul 30, 2007 12:35 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Hopefully it wasn't "$10"
Like the "listening only" lawn tickets for Wilco at Millenium Park in September.  Ticketmaster sure are math magicians - who would have thought 2 X $10 = $30?  

I know its not a bad price, all things considered, but I just wish Ticketmaster would put the price up front.  Let the consumer see the full price of the ticket, with all "fees" and "convenience charges" and "pay this money because I said so surcharges" already added.  

OK, non-Cubs related rant over.

by SuperContext on Jul 30, 2007 1:03 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I hate those surcharges.
I agree, just tell me upfront there's an extra charge and add it in. It's kind of like those "come-on" airfares -- when you add in all the taxes and fees, they come to 30-40% more than the advertised price.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jul 30, 2007 1:12 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

oooh
I love ravinia!

I saw Itzhak Perlman perform last summer! Fantastic!

Unfortunately you can't really see anything unless you have seats in the pavilion.  

ZAMBRANO!

by KChiCubs on Jul 30, 2007 12:18 PM CDT   0 recs

True, but...
... for last night's show, they did have video screens so you could "see" part of the show from anywhere. Also, they don't mind if you walk up and stand behind the pavilion for a while if you want to watch the orchestra perform.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jul 30, 2007 12:36 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

yeah...
I stood on the railing the entire time!

btw Al, I'm gonna be in Chicago in a few weeks for an "extended stay" (College)...

what kind of bleacher tickets should I buy so I can visit u guys out there??

ZAMBRANO!

by KChiCubs on Jul 30, 2007 2:46 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Bleacher tickets are bleacher tickets...
... there's only one kind. Just get whatever you can. Tickets are getting hard to come by. Email when you know what game you are coming to.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jul 31, 2007 3:53 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Trading Pie
I'd only trade Pie for a World Series trophy and since their is no guarantee of that - he should NOT be traded.

I have 4 tickets and bringing my family of 5. How tough would an extra ticket be to find tonight?

Ryne Sandberg Game, June 23, 1984, he was 5 for 6, 7 RBI's

by mweil on Jul 30, 2007 12:48 PM CDT   0 recs

Don't EVEN SWEAT!
You'll find a single!

Get there an hour early, hold up 1 finger (the INDEX!).

You may not get one in the area where the other seats are, but you'll find one.

It is July, and we're STILL IN IT! YES!

by TheEman on Jul 30, 2007 12:58 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Interesting!
I've gotten a couple emails from Sullivan and he's always been cordial. Seems to be a nice guy, and his review in that link is accurate.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jul 30, 2007 1:14 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Prediction
Brewers to finish 3rd behind the Cards. Cubs to win it by 6 games.

Will the flags be changed tonight?

Ryne Sandberg Game, June 23, 1984, he was 5 for 6, 7 RBI's

by mweil on Jul 30, 2007 1:20 PM CDT   0 recs

I will be in the left field bleachers tonight
leaving in about a half hour so I can get there for batting practice, cant wait!
Bring back the damn cowbell!

by CubsBall2202 on Jul 30, 2007 1:33 PM CDT   0 recs

Batting practice
What time does BP start normally?? 2hours before the game?

by GoCubsGo! on Jul 30, 2007 1:44 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Cubs start BP...
... 2.5 hours before gametime, so they will be hitting when the gates open. They'll hit for about 30-40 minutes after that, then the Phillies will hit.

If you're in the LF bleachers stop by the top row in the corner and say hi.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jul 30, 2007 2:05 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Jealousy......
All this talk of going to the game is making me upset....  I'm a displaced cubs fan in Denver.  Can't wait to get back to Chicago.  (although I do have all four of my tickets for the cubs/rockies series coming up!)  Change those flags tonight!
"I don't know why we bought the Cubs. We already had a perfectly good company softball team." ~ Tribune Co.

by Lou In Blue on Jul 30, 2007 2:33 PM CDT   0 recs

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