story · music · places

Happy new year 2025, opened with trumpet fanfares that first sounded OTD in 1725 (as the Main page has). - I saw a lovely opera by Rimsky-Korsakov, - see here. -- Gerda Arendt (talk) 17:41, 1 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Happy New Year! John (talk) 20:47, 1 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Did you listen to the music? (Take the last movement if you have little time, but the yt not the lilypond). --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:57, 1 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Not yet. Home tomorrow. Will try then. John (talk) 00:22, 2 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Liebster Immanuel, Herzog der Frommen, BWV 123, my story today 300 years after the first performance, is up for GAN. Dada Masilo will be my story tomorrow. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:23, 6 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Lovely! Keep up the good work. John (talk) 23:18, 6 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I try ;) - My story today is about a composer who influenced music history also by writing. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 10:03, 8 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Fascinating. I had never heard of him. John (talk) 17:50, 8 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

same for me --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:20, 8 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Happy birthday! I'm at a birthday celebration ;) - enjoy! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 11:34, 11 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

back home - today a violinist from Turkey, Ayla Erduran, whom you can watch playing Schubert chamber music --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:57, 13 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you! - Today, pictured on the Main page, Tosca, in memory of her first appearance on stage OTD in 1900, and of principal author Brian Boulton. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 18:47, 14 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Today I have a composer (trumpeter, conductor) on the main page who worked closely with another who became GA yesterday, - small world! To celebrate: mostly flowers pics from vacation ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:15, 20 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Fascinating. Why was his composing debut unplanned? Sounds like a good story that should be explained in the article, if possible. John (talk) 22:02, 20 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

His conducting debut was unplanned, and if I don't hear anything else, I assume someone who was planned couldn't make it (sick, delayed). Did you read about "our" head of studies (at my favourite opera house) who suddenly - watching a performance as a spectator - ran when a medical need was announced, and had to face the question if he was willing to conduct the rest rest of an opera he had never conducted before? - Today Claire van Kampen and a hidden cat ;) - There would be more from the Guardian obit, if you had extra time ... too much just in the table, without nuance, assuming that readers know who wrote these plays when ... --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:57, 22 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I might have time on Friday. John (talk) 00:23, 23 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you for the offer, - she left the main page already, so the service would only be for posterity. - Of all the recent deaths I have watched, more people were interested right after the notice of her death than when it was on the main page. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:04, 23 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I have more vacation pics to offer, and today's story of Werner Bardenhewer. I took the pic, and it was my DYK on his 90th birthday, in both English and German. He spent the day in Africa, and after his return said - chatting after a mass of thanks he celebrated at Mariä Heimsuchung - that we'd have to talk about these articles. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 18:11, 30 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks, interesting article. John (talk) 23:19, 30 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

hey, it has been a while since I have done major work on Lake Michigan Monster. I am thinking of putting it up for FA nomination, however I wanted to run by you first to see if all the prose is the high quality it needs to be and if there are parts I should work on. Paleface Jack (talk) 22:04, 5 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Looks pretty good to me. What does Ceoil think? John (talk) 22:33, 5 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

He has not been on the past week or so and has not replied to a chat I sent. I guess we will have to wait and see.--Paleface Jack (talk) 23:13, 5 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Hi John, as a former administrator and thus obviously also a former rollbacker, you won't need the following information. But getting a permission (and granting it, admittedly) would only be half as enjoyable (to me, admittedly) without the message I customized for this purpose. So I absolutely have to. Feel free to remove it and welcome back! ~ ToBeFree (talk) 22:27, 6 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Hi John,

After reviewing your request, I have added your account to the rollback group. Keep in mind these things when using rollback:

• Getting rollback is no more momentous than installing Twinkle.
• Users should be informed (or warned) after their edits have been reverted. If warnings repeatedly don't help, WP:ANI is the default place to go. In cases of very clear ongoing intentional damage to the encyclopedia, WP:AIV can be used.
• Reverting someone's edits may confuse or upset them. Whenever other users message you on your talk page, please take the time to respond to their concerns; accountability is important. For most users who message you, the tone and quality of your answer will permanently influence their opinion about Wikipedia in general.
• Because the plain default rollback link does not provide any explanatory edit summary, it must not be used to revert good faith contributions, even if these contributions are disruptive. Take the time to write a proper summary whenever you're dealing with a lack of neutrality or verifiability; a short explanation like "[[WP:NPOV|not neutral]]" or "[[WP:INTREF|Please provide a citation]]" is helpful.
• Rollback may never be used to edit war, which you'll notice to be surprisingly tempting in genuine content disputes. Please especially keep the three-revert rule in mind. If you see others edit warring, please file a report at WP:ANEW. The most helpful essay I've ever seen is WP:DISCFAIL; it is especially important for those who review content regularly.
• If you encounter private information or threats of physical harm during your patrols, please quickly use Special:EmailUser/Oversight or Special:EmailUser/Emergency; ideally bookmark these pages now. See WP:OS and WP:EMERGENCY for details. If you're regularly patrolling recent changes, you will need both contacts sooner or later, and you'll be happy about the bookmarks.

To try rollback for the first time, you may like to make an edit to WP:Sandbox, and another one, and another one, and then revert the row with one click. I'm sure you'll do great with rollback, but feel free to leave me a message on my talk page if you run into trouble or have any questions about rollback. Thank you for your time and work in cleaning up Wikipedia. Happy editing!

Best regards,
~ ToBeFree (talk) 22:27, 6 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Ooooh! Rollback. How very exciting! Martinevans123 (talk) 22:31, 6 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Oh heh! I didn't know that's a thing. ~ ToBeFree (talk) 22:38, 6 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, now we can all see why users positively flock to become editors of good standing and/or lapsed Admins. Yay! Martinevans123 (talk) 22:46, 6 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

• Many thanks, ToBeFree and thanks for the really nice message and carefully crafted template. John (talk) 00:24, 7 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Template:Flashman novels has been nominated for merging with Template:George MacDonald Fraser. You are invited to comment on the discussion at the template's entry on the Templates for discussion page. Thank you. --woodensuperman 15:04, 20 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I saw you edited the lede of Die Antwoord to remove the mentions of sexual assault allegations against Ninja and the abuse allegations leveled against them by their adopted son. You listed the reason simply as "BLP", and I was wondering what your reasoning for this change was. From the sources I've found, especially those from the past five years, the assault and abuse allegations have become pretty inextricable from their reputation. It's obviously contentious material as laid out in WP:BLP, as are any allegations of that nature, but in the body, it's well-sourced not only that these allegations came out and received a reaction, but that it has been a point of thorough controversy and considerable discussion for them. LMK your thoughts. benǝʇᴉɯ 16:20, 25 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks, and thanks for not reverting. There was a central discussion (it's also linked at article talk) which was archived here back in September, and I think there is no strong consensus to include these allegations in any of the three articles. Of course consensus can change and there are always discussions to be had, but my own feeling is that, although these allegations are real, because they have not been tested in court we should err on the side of being very careful with them. That may mean not mentioning them at all. I certainly thought the mention was WP:UNDUE for the lead. Happy to discuss further of course. John (talk) 16:51, 25 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I have to be honest and say I don't really think whether or not the allegations have been brought up in court has any bearing on their relevance to the group's public image. Zheani, the singer who first came forward with the allegations, filed a police report against Ninja, but there is no policy barring editors from including allegations until a court date has been secured. In fact, WP:PUBLICFIGURE suggests the contrary: "If an allegation or incident is noteworthy, relevant, and well documented, it belongs in the article—even if it is negative and the subject dislikes all mention of it."

There are plenty of sources that cover the allegations in depth (TimesLive article, SMH, News24 article about their controversies), but practically every article I've been able to find about them in the years since the allegations were made has also mentioned them in some capacity:

• "Earlier this year, Australian rapper Zheani aimed a series of disturbing allegations..." (2019)
• "Earlier this year, Australian rapper Zheani came forward with disturbing allegations..." (2019)
• "Ninja has also been accused of sexual assault by several women." (2021)
• "Two women also accused Mr. Jones of sexual assault." (2022)
• "Ninja has also previously been accused of other incidents of sexual assault." (2022)
• "It wasn’t until 2019, however, that allegations of criminal misconduct began to surface. In March of that year, Australian musician Zheani Sparkes ... accused Ninja (whose legal name is Watkin Tudor Jones) of sexually assaulting her in 2013..." (2022)
• "In 2019, Australian female rapper Zheani Sparkes went public with elaborate allegations that Ninja had drugged, sexually assaulted, and human trafficked her into South Africa." (2023) benǝʇᴉɯ 08:30, 26 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Interesting. These arguments would be better made in article talk or at WP:BLPN. John (talk) 19:22, 29 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for uploading the above picture, which receives up to 1000 views per day. I thought that any additional description details may improve its value, like perhaps: location, type of agriculture practiced here, type of crop planted or prepared, month and time of day, heritage of people depicted, or any similar details. JMK (talk) 17:39, 28 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I'm sorry but after this length of time I cannot remember any details securely. I think it was in the Western Cape, but even that isn't certain. John (talk) 19:23, 29 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

How to implement a template? What are the advantages of a template? (WorldGoodday (talk) 02:23, 2 February 2025 (UTC))[reply]

A template is a good way to add the same information to many pages. You create it as [[Template:Foo]] and then you add it as {{Foo}}. John (talk) 03:22, 2 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

story · music · places

On the main page today, 300 years after its first performance, Bach's cantata BWV 125, - a lovely very intimate piece, with peace and joy in the title. Enjoy listening with score - I discovered that only now! - Today is also the birthday of James Joyce, who has an article by many authors. -- Gerda Arendt (talk) 22:34, 2 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

For once I am ahead of you: I saw that on the Main Page earlier and thought it might be one of yours. I'll try to listen when I get a chance. As for Joyce, I got properly stuck into that article earlier. It's basically sound but there were some terrible bits in it for a TFA. I love Joyce; a truly complex figure and a man for our times. "The Dead" never gets old for me. Take care and keep up the good work. John (talk) 23:24, 2 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I had a long travel day before I could begin February ;) - glad you saw it yourself! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 23:37, 2 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Back home, my story torday is about an actor who played in almost every German TV series and in internal cinema. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 17:52, 4 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

"Wahr", what you said below. I looked at the discussion with interest, but was too tired after a great trip to my brother's performance, singular in a very literary way, and then a complex GA review. Thank you for your gnomish work for every FA, especially James Joyce! ... teaching me English every time I take the time to look! My story - not yet written - will be about a Turkish composer whose name I can't type: İlhan Usmanbaş. He deserved a better lead, but I didn't get to it yet. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:57, 7 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

more pics, and the next nominated, German-born gallerist and museum founder, - she seems to have known all the artists. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 18:27, 7 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you for sharing, and for your tireless work on article creation and improvement. I've always rather looked down on my gnoming; a now-banned editor once described it as "shuffling commas around" which is a bit much but still resonates sometimes. I think what editors like you and Ceoil do in writing articles is probably less replaceable than my comma-shuffling activities (I could imagine an AI busting bad subjunctives or pruning unnecessary adverbs in the near future), aber es freut mich. It keeps me off the streets. Does German have a similar idiom? Look after yourself. John (talk) 19:11, 7 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

"Es hält mich von der Straße." - Finding and adding references isn't much "more" than shuffling commas, and commas can change the meaning ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:32, 7 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Danke schön. I shuffled a few more commas. I was pleased to find an incorrect spelling on an article that has recently been TFA. How childish. It makes me realise that having lived in the States I am probably better than average at spotting UK/US usage issues. Have a good evening. John (talk) 21:53, 7 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

today: a German-born Spanish art collector, - the video in her honour is remarkable, as what she gave the world. - If you come to Germany through Frankfurt consider a stopover. I live 20 minutes by car from the airport (when traffic is without problems), and showed Floq and Graham around in the Rheingau for a few hours, - Graham was even pictured in the Signpost ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 18:44, 8 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Many thanks for the invitation Gerda. Planning for the summer is still at an early stage but I always lobby for Germany. If I appear it will be in an electric car; I don't like to fly unless I can't avoid it. John (talk) 10:47, 9 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

That's fine, Idstein has a highway exit. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:34, 9 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I find today's birthday child particularly inspiring, by enthusiasm and determination. That was - believe it or not - a pictured DYK in 2021, without the last line though. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:07, 9 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Today's story is about Edith Mathis, who portrayed young women by Mozart. The video of a 1993 interview has videos of her performances. - I saw my brother on stage, - see places (A 2). --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:58, 13 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Your workrate is very impressive. I wonder how you manage to write so very many interesting articles. Keep it up Gerda! John (talk) 16:04, 13 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Well, usually I just find some refs. In this particular case, however, almost nothing remained as it was from the article of last week. I also have great helpers, such as Grimes2 and you! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 16:19, 13 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Look at places also for Valentine's food and flowers ;) - with a story, and more music there --Gerda Arendt (talk) 10:04, 14 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I point at a composer today, as the main page does. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 22:28, 20 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Lovely! Keep up the good work, and keep being you. John (talk) 07:36, 21 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you, blushing, - I had nothing to with his article, but liked it ;) - today's is about an opera singer on her 35th birthday, - don't miss the short video which shows her in movement, - they had a Japanese movement coach for the production that impressed me in 2022. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:58, 21 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Schön. Mein Vater, der in 2019 gestorben hat, war ein Opera-fan. Wir haben in 1994 La Traviata zusammen gesehen. Süsse Erinnerungen. John (talk) 21:41, 21 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

one of the first operas I heard on record, - my mother loved it. - spring flowers pictured --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:04, 28 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Hi John. I just posted a message somewhere and noticed your preceding comment. What an excellent description. I would have plagiarised it for some of my lectures, but I had already retired from academia in 2006. Kudpung กุดผึ้ง (talk) 00:16, 3 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you! It's nice to meet someone else who understands this obscure but often misused facet of our language. As I get older, I often think that, as with the possessive apostrophe, it may be more trouble than it is worth. German uses a similar form to English for the subjunctive, but manages without the apostrophe when expressing belonging. I envy you your retirement! Just a year or two left for me. Take care, John (talk) 07:39, 3 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

PS, if you liked that, you might also enjoy this. Funny how things like this come in bursts. John (talk) 09:09, 3 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I loved it. Like I also love the complexities of the French subjunctive which contemporary Francophones do their best to avoid, and highly inflected languages such as German and Russian (thank heavens I was forced to learn Latin, which I hated at the time, from my first year in primary school). My use of English, perforce, used to be quite pedantic but nowadays I don't bother much unless I'm writing a Wikipedia article. I no longer speak in capital letters either! Kudpung กุดผึ้ง (talk) 22:12, 6 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you. I never had the benefit of learning Latin, so German was my first experience of a properly complex grammar. Of course native speakers frequently mix up the dative and the genitive, but life goes on. Nicht wahr, Gerda Arendt? As for the French subjunctive, I'm aware of it, but have never attempted to use it. Keep well, John (talk) 00:36, 7 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Richtig! (Grüß Dich Gerda! 😘) I don't think it's possible to master the French subjunctive at less than graduate level in FFL plus a long stay in France. My close relationship with the country goes back 62 years and I lived and taught there for 12, I still don't always get it right, but nor do they. Kudpung กุดผึ้ง (talk) 04:05, 7 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

It sounds like your French and German will be way in advance of mine which can best be described as intermediate. I learned French at school and hated it (I found the accent ridiculous) but was surprised at how much I had retained when I first visited France as a young man. I tried to teach myself German from Deutsch in drei monaten, a book I bought at a jumble sale when I was 11. I found the grammar impenetrable at that age but again was surprised how much help it was when I tried again in my 20s. I have since spent many, many good times in both countries and derived enormous pleasure from both languages. I've learned that idioms are the key, both to effective communication and to "getting" good grammar. Le petit matin for "the small hours" and um die Ecke ("around the corner") are two I particularly cherish. I've also found my knowledge of these two languages greatly enriches my enjoyment of my native Scottish English. I can speak a few words of Setswana, but that's another story. Best wishes. John (talk) 17:38, 7 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Interesting that you can get by in a Bantu language. I can usually pass for a native in French and German but despite living here in Thailand for 26 years my Thai and Lao which we speak in my region (a difference like Spanish and Portugese) although reasonably 'fluent' haven't developed much. I'm challenged by what for me is an almost total absence of grammar as we know it - no determiners, no tenses, no punctuation. Being a musician helped to grasp the enormous importance of the tones though. Get the pronunciation wrong by just the difference between Edinburgh and Glasgow accents wrong and it means gobbeldygook. In Thai you can have up to 5 words that sound identical to a Western ear and each one means something completely different: ไม้ ใหม่ ไม่ ไหม้ ไหม - mai mai mai mai mai = New wood doesn't burn, right? In Lao its "ໄມ້ ໃໝ່ ບໍ່ ໄໝ້ ບໍ" - mai mai bo mai bo . I expect the African languages also have their oddities. Kudpung กุดผึ้ง (talk) 12:49, 8 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I lived in Botswana for two years but only picked up a smattering. Very useful for the frequent police and army checkpoints they had in those days. The Setswana word for "child" (ngwana), with a very slightly different emphasis, can also mean "vagina". Imagine complimenting a new acquaintance: "Madam, what a beautiful child you have!" Nightmare. I have almost completely forgotten it all now. I like the glottal clicks in Xhosa very much. Another century, another era. The most I can hope for now is a few days in Dusseldorf or Leipzig. John (talk) 14:03, 8 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

With English being a mix of Germanic and Romance, false cognates are the bane of any German-French-English translator too who is not perfectly bilingial, and they are the hallmarks of machine translation which I come across frequently when patrolling new articles. Your ngwana is a perfect example of the dangers - speakers of Peninsular Spanish have to really their our tongues when talking to Hispanics. German pronunciation is relatively easy for us Brits and it's a reasonably phonetic language to read, but I don't come across many who can get their tongues around the nasal posh Parisian French with it clipped vowels - I get away with it but I love the chance to lapse into my melodic accent du Midi. I really love Berlin German too, it's fine in Berlin and Brandenburg but if I use it in the wrong company further West I come out as being dead common; I suppose it's the nearest German equivalent of Cockney whereas nowadays Brits can generally speak their regional accents with pride.

You have lived in the US. What I find truly fascinating are our 'nations divided by a common language'. I love their euphemisms. I had a dinner party for some visiting profs in my rambling XVII siècle pile near Avignon. An American asked if he could use the bathroom. 'Sure,' I replied, 'third floor, end of the corridor, on the left'. He came back down to the dining room and rather quietly whispered in my ear 'Er, I was actually needing the john.' 'Oh,' I said, 'It's just outside in the hall. You can't miss it, it's got WC on the door.' Good thing he hadn't asked for a restroom, I would probably have sent him to the master bedroom on the 4th floor! Mad Dogs and Englishmen! Kudpung กุดผึ้ง (talk) 01:03, 9 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Five years in northern California, which was where I had the TEFL gig teaching Chinese kids the niceties of English grammar, which was where we started this conversation with the irrealis mood. Having been to school in the 1970s, I'd never formally learned the grammar of my own language and had to learn it from scratch. Knowing German grammar was a great help of course as ours is pretty much a subset of theirs. Yes, there are all the hilarious misunderstandings like asking if someone wanted to go outside and "smoke a fag" being interpreted as incitement to a hate crime. But beyond the different words that most UK speakers know well from American cinema, there are more subtle but pervasive differences between how we use our (mostly) common language. US English has a strong tendency towards formality, euphemism and hypercorrection. I shouldn't complain as it's been a large part of my fun on Wikipedia changing "individual" to "person" and "passed away" to "died". I think many Americans receive a very poor and shallow knowledge of English, mind you, so do many of us Home Islanders. Sala sêntle. John (talk) 10:40, 9 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Hi John

The Byzantine Empire has now had all sections reviewed: sourced verified, scholarship added, and rewritten where necessary. We plan to have it go to a FAR vote this month. I hope this article, as the oldest FA now, can reflect a best standard in prose. Your expertise would now would be greatly appreciated! Biz (talk) 15:18, 14 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you. I'll be happy to take a look at that.John (talk) 15:22, 14 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

What a beautiful and fascinating article! I was terribly ignorant about this empire and reading it has been fascinating. Here is what I've achieved in three hours; I need to take a break now to eat and rest. I might come back to this later or else tomorrow. I think it is looking good but there are still one or two bits I'd like to work on. John (talk) 20:59, 14 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

You are a legend! Thank you so much. That's fine this weekend is no problem. It needed someone detached from the content to read it so very happy you could do this. I'm glad you liked it: its taken 14 months! The amount of scholarship I've had to read personally has been exhausting. Biz (talk) 21:12, 14 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Not at all, the few hours I have contributed are nothing compared to your and your co-editors' Herculean efforts. I've made some suggestions at article talk. John (talk) 13:01, 15 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you John, I've responded. I appreciate not just the time you've put in, but how you provide feedback. Happy to address issues you raise. Biz (talk) 16:12, 15 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

		The Copyeditor's Barnstar
		For your work on Byzantine Empire. Always nice to have a skilled copyeditor follow up on your verbosity. ~~ AirshipJungleman29 (talk) 14:23, 17 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks a lot! As I said just above, my work on the article is tiny compared to yours. Good working with you. Any time. John (talk) 16:21, 17 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

story · music · places

New month: today is the birthday of Chopin and Ricardo Kanji, see my stories of today and yesterday, with dream music by the first and Bach played by the other. -- Gerda Arendt (talk) 11:16, 1 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks Gerda. I'll take a look when I get home. Happy March! John (talk) 13:36, 1 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you! - Today: Carmen turns 150, as the main page and my story tell you. I chose a 1962 concert of the Habanera, - enjoy! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 17:19, 3 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]

On Ravel's birthday, we also think of a conductor and five more composers ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:42, 7 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Today Rossini's latest "sin", as the main page has --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:21, 14 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Today I could have written five stories off the main page, and chose Sofia Gubaidulina. I find the TFA also interesting, and two DYK, and a birthday OTD. How about you? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 22:10, 16 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Beautiful and fascinating. John (talk) 07:42, 17 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you! - Today's story is about a unique composition --Gerda Arendt (talk) 22:50, 20 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I like it. Particularly like "frage: worauf hoffen? / es gibt nichts was zu erreichen wäre, außer dem tod". John (talk) 07:42, 21 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]

yes, and he decided to reach it, after writing one more piece that should have an article - he lived in walking distance of my parents, DYK? - Today: an opera, 100 years old OTD, on Bach's birthday. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:30, 21 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]

That's a remarkable story! John (talk) 17:59, 21 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]

yes - today, 300 years of Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, BWV 1! We sang works for (mostly) double choir by Pachelbel, Johann Christoph Bach, Kuhnau/Bach, Gounod and Rheinberger! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:17, 25 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Today Jörg Streli, an architect to whom you can listen (in German, though) and the Jahrhundertring, nominated for GA (both hidden on the main page) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:17, 26 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing. John (talk) 07:42, 27 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you! - Two RD stories to say bye to March --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:52, 31 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Missed the duplication, so it looked (from the diff and the lack of meaningful edit summary) that Network Rail was simply being removed from the list altogether. See what you mean now. Danners430 (talk) 13:39, 1 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]

No problem, that's what I thought happened. My edit summary was 'rep' and I guess it isn't obvious that was meant to signify 'repetition'. Cheers.John (talk) 14:59, 1 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I greet you, sir. I have heeded your request. 67.247.13.141 (talk) 17:55, 14 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]

story · music · places

Tout est lumière -- Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:46, 7 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Check out my talk: for a great woman's Johannes-Passion (listen!), our music in detail, and three people who recently died and are on the main page (where she isn't). My call for collaboration has the first "no", and the second - for the Easter Oratorio - seems inevitable. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 18:32, 18 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Very cool. John (talk) 09:27, 19 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I guess you don't mean that showing the Easter Oratorio on Easter Sunday is a problem because of teh rulez? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:06, 19 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I don't see any problem with it, and have said so. Good luck. John (talk) 13:23, 19 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:13, 19 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

All but one said so but nothing happened. - My story is about music that Bach and Picander gave the world 300 years (and 19 days) ago, - listen (on the conductor's birthday) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:44, 20 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

The next cantata made it to the main page, - listen ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:46, 21 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I finally managed to upload the pics I meant for Easter, see places. - Also finally, I managed a FAC, Easter Oratorio. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:43, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Nice article. John (talk) 18:47, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

This is to let you know that the above article has been scheduled as today's featured article for 5 June 2025. Please check that the article needs no amendments. Feel free to amend the draft blurb, which can be found at Wikipedia:Today's featured article/June 2025, or to make comments on other matters concerning the scheduling of this article at Wikipedia talk:Today's featured article/June 2025. Please keep an eye on that page, as comments regarding the draft blurb may be left there. I also suggest that you watchlist Wikipedia:Main Page/Errors from two days before the article appears on the Main Page. Thanks and congratulations on your work! Wehwalt (talk) 10:14, 30 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks! I hardly did any work on it but I'll take the praise... John (talk) 12:42, 30 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

story · music · places

Bach's cantata was performed 300 years ago, by occasion. -- Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:33, 4 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Today's main page has again memories of three people who died, for two just the name and for the third an image (great!) coupled with a little bit from her life which seems too little for my taste. What do you think? - A friend of mine sang in Verdi's Requiem at Trinity Church, - you can watch the lifestream (Verdi about 30 minutes into it). --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:55, 5 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks Gerda, I'll take a look at that discussion. John (talk) 09:48, 6 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

It was resolved after all, - thank you, - different call for collaboration on my talk today. Travellling. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:57, 6 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Recommended reading today: Christfried Schmidt, a story about patience. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:22, 8 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

What a super story! I think it could do with some background on the nature of the DDR. A light touch is needed, but a new generation is coming up for whom the Berlin Wall is as historical as the Yalta Conference is for me. The political nuance of where he lived over time (Weimar-Dritten Reich-DDR-modern Germany), without moving much, probably needs to be explained. John (talk) 20:13, 8 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Would be great but the next (apartheid) story is already in the making, and he was an outsider in all systems. Also travelling. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:27, 8 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I've posted at article talk. Apartheid? That sounds interesting. John (talk) 06:35, 9 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Check my user page for what I do, here May Abrahamse. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:31, 9 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

How fascinating! I was in South Africa a few times at the end of apartheid. An amazing country with a lot of soul. I'd like to go back some time. John (talk) 21:19, 9 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you for your help! I wish we had an obit I could see. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:02, 10 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

What do you think of using her daughter's blog (now external link) as ref for private info such as middle name (there, and no other ref) and Alzheimer's (not there yet)? She should know ... --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:56, 10 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I don't think that's the best. It's hard to imagine there won't be some kind of obituary for such an interesting and significant subject. I'll do some digging later, see what I can find. John (talk) 13:27, 10 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

There's an obit that I can't see and that I couldn't read if I could see it, and that's the only trace so far. I nominated because time is running. Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:38, 10 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Abrahamse now on the main page (with uncertain licensing of portrait), and yes, you were right, there were two obits (one yesterday), - Vakhtang Machavariani was nominated --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:09, 13 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

That worked out! John (talk) 15:28, 13 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, even the conductor! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:38, 13 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

listen to his Mariupol --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:49, 14 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

musings on 15 May --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:38, 15 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

birthday of Erik Satie - can we get his article to GA for his centenary of death? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 17:58, 17 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Don't see why not. John (talk) 19:10, 17 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Someone has to nominate, and someone has to review. You could nominate ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:14, 17 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Did you see the response on Classical music? The editor who wrote 81% of the present content declining further involvement. Nobody else nominating so far. You could ;) - You could also give it (first) a copy-edit round, and perhaps comments - like an informal PR - on the talk, - how is that? A formal PR would take too long. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 10:21, 19 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Alla Osipenko, too tired for more than a link, - I like your copy-editing. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 22:23, 19 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

all Verdi today: tenor Luigi Alva and the premiere OTD of his Requiem, see my talk - remember that early in the thread there was a link to a performance? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:01, 22 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Yes! Nice work... John (talk) 21:35, 22 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

thank you for improving article quality in May, - one of mine was Jadwiga Rappé. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 18:18, 24 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Same to you. I'm in a nice, low-key rhythm of editing that I think is sustainable for me. Good place to be. John (talk) 15:26, 25 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you, sounds good! - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, born 100 years ago, described by Alan Blyth --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:09, 28 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Interesting. I hope you were ok with my minor copyedits. John (talk) 20:21, 28 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

yes, and I believe it should have better referencing, but had too many other projects - reasons to look at Bach (and listen): it's a recent GA (not by me), he assumed the position of Thomaskantor OTD in 1723, he's up for PR, and several of his cantatas for GA, and his Easter Oratorio for FAC --Gerda Arendt (talk) 11:39, 30 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

another reason: the village organ he played, and we can still listen to its sound --Gerda Arendt (talk) 16:19, 31 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

story · music · places

The places: a day full of great discoveries, culminating in Oliwa Cathedral which was called a must-see by Graham Waterhouse (subject of my first article, filling a red link) who played the organ once. Dinner right next to the Abbot's Palace, where Penderecki had also been a guest.

The story: Bazon Brock spoke at an exhibition at Kolumba to honour Anna and Bernhard Blume on her 80th birthday. [1] Did you know "An Anna Blume"? -- Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:53, 2 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I have Easter Oratorio on the main page, but of course told the story, which is admittedly complex, on Easter Sunday for the music's 300th anniversary. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:43, 7 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Stravinsky pictured on his birthday + Vienna pics - but too many who died + I have a "defiant" cantata up for GA --Gerda Arendt (talk) 18:56, 17 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Looking... John (talk) 19:14, 17 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I took a small hack. "In" in English corresponds to "in einem" in German; "into" to "in einen". Deduce means to infer ("ableiten"), deduct to subtract ("abziehen"). I'm guessing you meant the former. John (talk) 19:28, 17 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

You are so right, thank you! Found a reviewer ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:15, 17 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

too many died, see my story and listen to Comfort ye (sung in German) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:55, 18 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

... and today look at the autograph of Beethoven's last piano sonata and listen to a pianist who wanted to serve the compositions most of all --

Very cool. Brendel was a great favourite of my dad's. John (talk) 17:25, 21 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I love his playing, but his article was a challenge - should have looked sooner. - I'll hear today's topic today, - you can listen before I do because it was streamed yesterday. Thank you for the Holst post! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:48, 22 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

While you are of course invited to check out my recommendations any day, today offers unusually a great writer of novels, music with light and a place with exquisite food. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:35, 28 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Wow! Very interesting. John (talk) 22:36, 28 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I saw you are doing very good "copy-editing for style" at Emmy Noether. English is not my native language... I am working hard at Vladimir Arnold article. Would you be interested in "copy-editing for style" there too? Thank you very much! Best wishes, Esevoke (talk) 06:49, 16 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I took a look. I'll look again. John (talk) 07:22, 16 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you very much! Esevoke (talk) 07:27, 16 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

	The Copyeditor's Barnstar
	For your valuable work at the article about Vladimir Arnold. Thank you very much! I am impressed! You are amazing! Esevoke (talk) 18:47, 16 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you! No trouble. John (talk) 19:06, 16 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Hi, dear John! Would you be interested in applying your super powers on this article? Best wishes, Esevoke (talk) 15:39, 17 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I will gladly take a look. John (talk) 19:14, 17 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I took a small hack. "In" in English corresponds to "in einem" in German; "into" to "in einen". Deduce means to infer ("ableiten"), deduct to subtract ("abziehen"). I'm guessing you meant the former. John (talk) 19:28, 17 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I only know the meaning of three words in German: "Hund", "Wir", and "Volkswagen", haha (that's because my father is a native German-speaker and he told me these ones). I barely know English. My native language is a secret! I did not understand very well your reply. I am sorry for that. :( P.S. 95% of that article was made by a native German speaker (and mathematician). Esevoke (talk) 19:38, 17 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Ach! That's because I mistakenly posted in the wrong section. Sorry. John (talk) 19:56, 17 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I see you did most of the work on a decent little article on my Dad's old colleague and HP Association friend Hazel. Thank you! Guy (help! - typo?) 19:42, 20 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Not at all. That was a while ago. Very cool that your dad knew him. Good to see that you're still around. Take care. John (talk) 17:23, 21 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

story · music · places

Kafka's birthday again, 12 years after the one with the Google doodle. I admire the flowers for blooming although it looks dry. It took a week to get the composer of Mission: Impossible to the main page. The concert I listened to was remarkable, pic added to the performer. -- Gerda Arendt (talk) 18:58, 3 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks Gerda, good to hear from you. I have been busy doing a number of things and a number of my family have been over. I have a number of days off for the summer which is nice. Question; how does one explain the basics of writing style to someone who just doesn't seem to get it? Perhaps it can't be done... John (talk) 20:03, 4 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

You are my number one language expert ;) - seriously, you may want to check the Easter Oratorio review for such things - returning from a concert (New World Symphony on Independence Day), busy weekend ahead, pleasantly busy with company and more music --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:37, 4 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Nevermind, the article just became FA. Feel free anyway to check between now and next Easter if "a number of" or other clutter crept in. --(forgot to sign)

Check out my talk, - if you have little time, listen to Gilda Cruz-Romo in the final scene of Aida, if you have more read her article, and if you have still more check out my music, some sung with me in choir, some played by friends, all heard with friends. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:57, 8 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

What do you think of the recent edit history of Stuart Burrows (and there are at least two more)? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:14, 11 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Nicolai Gedda would have been 100 today. If you have little time, just listen to his flower song. If you have more read about Helena Tattermuschová, the cunning little vixen. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:35, 11 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Nice work, all of it! I'm a little busy in real life and I've a number of things I need to follow up on Wikipedia. I'll add that to the list. Gute Nacht! John (talk) 23:35, 11 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you! - Today you can listen to what the DYK says. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 22:13, 12 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Perhaps you can listen to yesterday's concert of all Brahms. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 16:10, 13 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

What do you think about the header "and death"? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:48, 13 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

... and now also the wording of the death sentence as on Talk:Helena Tattermuschová? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:00, 14 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

The wording was reverted (by an ITN person), but the new user whom you warned a few times, restored "death" in the header (which I reverted again). Please watch, also Ihor Poklad. - What I came to say: I remember a 2016 TFA in today's story, in memory of 16 July 1916. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:45, 16 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Check out places for a great smile, - he had just stepped in to play Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2, successfully! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:19, 18 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Three Ukrainian topics were on the main page today, at least at the beginning, RD and DYK, - see my talk. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 17:13, 20 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Three of "my" recent deaths bios are on the main page right now, one my story today, Gary Karr, and I loved to find his breakthrough concert in 1962 as a video. In my music today I match it with 9 other double bassists, 7 conducted by a person who's birthday is today - coincidence ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:08, 23 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Yesterday there were four! - Today just Béatrice Uria-Monzon and her story. Also Julia Hagen and her no story --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:13, 26 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

On Bach's day of death, I decorated my user pages in memory of his music, and my story ends on "peace". --Gerda Arendt (talk) 10:11, 28 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Jahrhundertring remembered, with the picture of a woman who can't believe what she has to see --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:08, 31 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

story · music · places

Can I interest you in the art of Herbert Brandl? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:20, 4 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

The last three stories were Bach's Mass in B minor (because I heard it), and two women. - What do you think about this nom? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:10, 9 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

today would be Harry Kupfer's 90th birthday. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:19, 12 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

pics of the feast of the Mass in B minor --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:07, 15 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Today's story mentions four singers which I all heard, soprano (whose birthday would have been today) and tenor were soloists with my choir in Hannover, and alto and tenor (married, singers of NDR Chor) were the soloists in the Verdi Requiem of my choir in Idstein, in 2010. Enjoy listening to soprano in a Telemann aria, and also pics of a hike on a hot day above Lorch. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:43, 16 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Today's story - short version: ten years ago we had a DYK about a soprano who sang in concerts with me in the choir, - longer: I found today a youtube of an aria she sang with us then, recorded the same year, - if you still have time: our performances were the weekend before the Iraq war ultimatum, and we sang Dona nobis pacem (and the drummer drummed!) as if they could hear us in Washington. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:09, 18 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Check out my talk for an Independence day, or: the pic of Oksana Lyniv was taken on 24 August. There's listening and reading in today's story, and I like both. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 17:05, 24 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

On top of my talk: birthday of a great violinist and Requiem for a great friend. We sang Paradisi gloria from the Stabat Mater in the end. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:02, 31 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I stumbled upon your user page and came to the mildly humbling realization that I have misused irrealis mood many times. I probably sounded like nails on a chalkboard or like a pompous loser, but at least my life is looking way up in this very specific regard. The new me can hardly even remember what it was like to be so young and foolish about five minutes ago, LOL. Thanks for all you do around Wikipedia, grammar tips and otherwise! Crunchydillpickle🥒 (talk) 05:03, 30 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

In everyday life stuff like this doesn't really matter. On an online encyclopedia it kind of does I think. I am a descriptivist rather than a precriptivist, but a decent encyclopedia should use "correct" grammar and not pretentious hypercorrection. Thanks for making contact. John (talk) 20:12, 6 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Nominations for the upcoming Wikipedia:WikiProject Military history coordinator election have opened. A team of up to ten coordinators will be elected for the next coordination year. The project coordinators are the designated points of contact for issues concerning the project, and are responsible for maintaining our internal structure and processes. They do not, however, have any authority over article content or editor conduct, or any other special powers. More information on being a coordinator is available here. If you are interested in running, please sign up here by 23:59 UTC on 14 September! Voting will commence on 15 September. If you have any questions, you can contact any member of the current coord team. MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 00:03, 1 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

story · music · places

My story today is about a composer and his ballerina wife, pictured as I saw them in 2009. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:51, 2 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks Gerda. Got a lot going on here in real life and likely to for a while. Look after yourself. John (talk) 20:13, 6 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Understand, best wishes for that. - I enjoy a DYK that pictures a person together with achievements in art. - I thought of you when I noticed the discussion about how to mention a subject's wife for Berlioz. They argue with the sourcesm which call her by just given name. I think we could do better, and think that I managed for Clara Schumann. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 11:40, 7 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

As you will know, Arvo Pärt is 90 today, - I met him once. Did you know that it tool me some trouble to get him to the main page? Listen! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:53, 11 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Today is the birthday of the 16th Thomaskantor after Bach, remembered. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 11:59, 20 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

My 100th biography to the Main page in 2025 is Siegmund Nimsgern. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 16:11, 22 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

John Rutter 80 today! I sang his major choral works with four choirs, and many of his uplifting anthems, 13 DYK? I watched him explain his Magnificat in person in 1998, and now see it on Youtube: he wore the same outfit. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:46, 24 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

My story today is about the principal violin of the Concentus Musicus; she would have been 95 OTD. I felt connected when the second oboist of our recent concert, of Haydn's Stabat Mater, said that he built an English horn for his performance of the work with the Concentus Musicus. - Concert weekend pictured in "places". --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:40, 26 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Voting for the Wikipedia:WikiProject Military history coordinators is now open! A team of up to ten coordinators will be elected for the next coordination year. Voting closes at 23:59 UTC on 29 September. If you have any questions, you can contact any member of the current coord team. MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 00:25, 15 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

story · music · places

My story today is about a woman and her husband who played Bach's Sonatina for us (Rheingau Musik Festival, long ago) on an upright piano, and it made me cry, and I still remember. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 10:51, 1 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Happy 50th birthday, Alain Altinoglu!) - I let the video begin with a closeup of the octobass ;) Gerda Arendt (talk) 18:49, 9 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I am proud to have brought two performing women to the main page. Sadly, death kept both from performing more, one sooner, the other much later. If you have little time just listen to the one who died young and see if it touches you (in today's story, - I don't want to sprinkle youtube links outside my user pages). --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:26, 12 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

marked to be sung "Happily" --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:21, 15 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you for improving article quality in October. My latest: Roberta Alexander, - listen. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:03, 20 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Beautiful. John (talk) 21:27, 20 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you! - Can't believe that Toshio Hosokawa is 70 already. Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:08, 23 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

70 is the new 60. He looks younger than I do! John (talk) 20:30, 23 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

The lead pic is from 2011. He looks a bit older now ;) - Of the five living composers whose works were performed for Walter Fink's birthday in 2010, he was one of three present. Two of the five died. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:19, 23 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Today Sequenza III on Luciano Berio's centenary. You can listen with the score or to the first performer, Cathy Berberian (link in the work's article), - I couldn't decide ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:01, 24 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

299 years ago, a Bach cantata was first performed --Gerda Arendt (talk) 18:09, 27 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you for copy-editing! Could you do the same for Unser Mund sei voll Lachens, BWV 110, and perhaps visit the peer review? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 22:07, 27 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

No problem. John (talk) 07:41, 28 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you! - 300 years ago: another one, Gott der Herr ist Sonn und Schild, BWV 79, on the occasion for which it was written, Reformation Day - it's not only Halloween today. Thank you for watching over it! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:11, 31 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Hi! Just letting you know that your talk page is a little broken on mobile - all the threads are in the "Learn more about this page" pop-up (which is intended for things like headers) instead of displaying properly below the button for that pop-up. Suntooooth, it/he (talk | contribs) 17:07, 22 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Weird. I never use mobile view but I believe you. I don't suppose you know how to fix it, do you? John (talk) 20:42, 22 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Absolutely no idea how to fix it, sorry - this is the first time I've come across a talk page acting like this. (And something I just found out: this also breaks replying to threads, throwing an error & requiring editing the whole page instead of using the Reply function...) Suntooooth, it/he (talk | contribs) 23:49, 22 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Here's the help page the aforementioned error links to, in case it helps. Suntooooth, it/he (talk | contribs) 23:52, 22 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Many thanks to both of you for spotting this. I read the help page but am none the wiser. If you can see how to fix it, you are (or anyone is) welcome to just fix it. John (talk) 20:29, 23 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

The issue is definitely something to do with User:John/Talktemplate. I don't know exactly what's going on, but I (hopefully) managed to fix the replies issue by moving the table from that template directly into this page instead. It still displays in the "learn more about this page" pop-up on mobile, and I have no idea how to fix that. Suntooooth, it/he (talk | contribs) 00:31, 24 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]