Random Acts of Eschaton

2 Dec 20102 Dec 2010 ~ Chris Cocca ~ 1 Comment

In a way, Handel’s Messiah is a very big part of what I understand about Christmas. I’d seen and heard it long before being a person of faith was something I had to think about and wrestle with, long before I was active in college Christian fellowships or went to Divinity School. It’s one of those things that just sort of centers me in the possibilities of what the season celebrates. John Milton’s “Nativity Ode” does a similar thing. But when my friend Joe sent me this link, I assumed the “Hallelujah” in question was going to be Leonard Cohen’s (which, incidentally, is a very big part of how I think about wrestling with belief).

This video is one of the coolest things I’ve seen in a while. Thanks, Joe!

From the organizers:

http://www.operaphila.org/facebook — On Saturday, October 30, 2010, the Opera Company of Philadelphia brought together over 650 choristers from 28 participating organizations to perform one of the Knight Foundation’s “Random Acts of Culture” at Macy’s in Center City Philadelphia. Accompanied by the Wanamaker Organ – the world’s largest pipe organ – the OCP Chorus and throngs of singers from the community infiltrated the store as shoppers, and burst into a pop-up rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s “Messiah” at 12 noon, to the delight of surprised shoppers. This event is one of 1,000 “Random Acts of Culture” to be funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation over the next three years. The initiative transports the classical arts out of the concert halls and opera houses and into our communities to enrich our everyday lives. To learn more about this program and view more events, visit http://www.randomactsofculture.org. The Opera Company thanks Macy’s and the Friends of the Wanamaker Organ (http://www.wanamakerorgan.com) for their partnership, as well as Organ Music Director Peter Conte and Fred Haas, accompanists; OCP Chorus Master Elizabeth Braden, conductor; and Sound Engineer James R. Stemke. For a complete list of participating choirs and more information, visithttp://www.operaphila.org/RAC. This event was planned to coincide with the first day of National Opera Week.

For clues about upcoming Random Acts of Culture, find us on Facebook http://www.operaphila.org/facebook or follow us on Twitter http://www.operaphila.org/twitter

In Generate Issue 2

2 Dec 20102 Dec 2010 ~ Chris Cocca ~ Leave a comment

I have a story published in the new issue of Generate Magazine, out now. When my copy comes, I’ll post a picture. The piece is called “Fisher Kings”. It’s very short, and I’m very pleased that it’s included in this issue of Generate.

A Short, Good Read about First Person Narration

1 Dec 2010 ~ Chris Cocca ~ Leave a comment

Kyle Minor posted “I Like It When Thom Jones’s First Person Narrators Break Into Essay in the Middle of a Short Story” yesterday at HTML Giant. He makes a great point about where we can really go with first person narration if we choose to (and, you know, if we do it well).

You Should Listen to This

25 Nov 2010 ~ Chris Cocca ~ Leave a comment

The Weekend Comes, The Cycle Hums

19 Nov 201019 Nov 2010 ~ Chris Cocca ~ Leave a comment

I just had the best idea ever.

Happy. Days. Reunion. Set in the early 90’s. (When else?)

My wife thinks that the Fonz would have died in a horrible motorcycle stunt long before “learning to wear sweaters”, but I think he went on to turn the Cunningham hardware business into a national chain. Or became a teacher.

An Open Letter to Apple

16 Nov 201016 Nov 2010 ~ Chris Cocca ~ Leave a comment

Dear Apple,

I love you. And I love the Beatles exactly as much as I’m supposed to (that is, you know, a lot). Congratulations on settling your differences, but this is hardly “A day I’ll never forget.” When you promise earth-shattering things, I’m expecting some new paradigm shifting device. Or moon colonization. Not Rubber Soul, great as it is.

– Earth

Ah Jon Miller! Ah Humanity!

16 Nov 201016 Nov 2018 ~ Chris Cocca ~ Leave a comment

ESPN isn’t renewing the contracts of Jon Miller and Joe Morgan. Jon Miller is the voice of baseball for crying out loud. And I really don’t get all the Joe Morgan detractors out there. This is my favorite broadcast team. This decision effects Sunday Night Baseball, but the radio broadcast is in question. What am I going to listen to now when I mute the TV during the playoffs?

More.