“Pandemic” and “epidemic” are principally nouns, even though they can be used adjectivally, just like any other noun: e.g. “car horn.” (I say “used adjectivally” rather than “adjectives” because some linguists would argue that “car horn” is just a single compound noun [like German Autohupe], not an adjective plus a noun. Either way, “car” specifies…
In a report on his message to the 2021 Bach Festival, Benedict XVI was somewhat misrepresented by the Catholic News Agency. According to CNA, “Benedict’s message said: ‘The faith that produced this music and which Bach, as a musician, loyally served, is now extinguished and continues to have an effect only as a cultural force.’”…
Oh, my! I would estimate that 10% of all editorial corrections I make at the level of copyediting are connected to the use of hyphens, en dashes, and em dashes. “Though the differences can sometimes be subtle—especially in the case of an en dash versus a hyphen—correct use of the different types is a sign…
A classic problem of English usage. Unfortunately, the commonest advice usually simplifies the matter as follows: Affect is a verb meaning “to change or to make a difference”; effect is a noun meaning “the result of a change.” In fact, both affect and effect can be either a verb or a noun, and there is a much wider range…
I’ve been doing a lot of extra editorial work during COVID-19. I recently came across this startling opinion of a New Grammarian, who would have us write, “Who’s learning from who.” They (sg.) contend that the interrogative pronoun is always who, uninflected for case, and that it is only the relative pronoun who(m) that is…
Rebecca Barrett-Fox (Sociology, Arkansas State University) offers an interesting and useful perspective on higher ed’s sudden shift to online teaching, aptly summarized in her title: Please do a bad job of putting your courses online
The Bach Collegium Japan live-streamed a performance of Bach’s St. John Passion today on philharmonie.tv, Kölner Philharmonie’s “digital concert hall.” I was delighted that James Gilchrist was singing the role of the Evangelist. Gilchrist is one of my favorite Evangelists—not for the sound of his voice as such, but because he is one of the few, it…
A note on American English: Both centennial and centenary can be either an adjective (“every century”) or a noun (“centennial celebration”). In writing, it is commendable to reserve centennial for the adj. and centenary for the n., but it is a distinction that only connoisseurs will care about. (CMOS 17 is silent; Webster’s cross-references each…
The 1730s were characterized by two factors for Bach. The first was the recurrance of squabbles with civic and school authorities over the prerogatives of his office. For example, in late 1728 a clergyman demanded the right to choose the Vespers hymns, something the Cantor had always done. Bach reacted strongly, saying his rights had…
Matthew J. Hall, harpsichord and organ Music by William Byrd (c. 1539–1623) Fantasia in C, BK 25 Fantasia in C, BK 27 Pavan and Galliard in a, BK 16 Pavan and Galliard: Ph. Tregian [in F], BK 60 Walsingham, BK 8 – pause – Fantasia in d, BK 46 Clarifica me, Pater, BK 47–49 Gloria…