"I have four razors and a dictaphone."
— Andrey Tarkovsky, Diaries, 1979
This blog began five years ago, with the odd little quotation above. I didn't expect it to become a daily routine — the title came from my book in progress, and I simply wanted to reserve the address — but it took on a life of its own, thanks to a lively, buoyant readership. In 2004, I knew of only a few classical blogs; now there are hundreds. To mark this unhistoric occasion, I've collected some favorite posts: Das Lied von der Brad, 12-Tony, Tiny Valhalla, Bayreuth Pilgrimage, David Raksin, Speech found the ear..., Ask Mr. Noise, The Gould, Applause: A Rest Is Noise Special Report, My latest works, John Langstaff, "You vill enjoy it!", Full fathom nine, Lorraine, Send, Schoenberg-Thalberg, On becoming a book. Go Adam!
