A Saturday Morning Concert

I am going to a concert!

Would you like to come along with me?

I squeeze the last cup of morning coffee from the pot and gather together my knitting, my glasses, a library book in case I should want to read a few pages in the intermission, and I am off to my PC where the  Berlin Philharmonik orchestra has begun to gather and the seats are filling up.....

The first violinist arrives to applause, and the instruments tune up under his direction.

Ah, - here is the guest soloist, Chistian Tetzlaff.  And the conductor, Sir Simon with his white dandelion hair and baton.

First on the program is Brahms Violin Concerto in D, which has been a great favourite of mine for many years since I first deepened my acquaintance with it to a familiarity, via a CD with Nigel Kennedy and the London Philharmonic.

The orchestra begins, - and now the soloist joins in with great enthusiam, and then great delicacy; fierce in his passion and then tender in the quiet interlude that overtakes the music.  The first movement ends with a sweet solo sentence, sometimes almost a whisper until the orchestra joins in with great vigor, and we are into the Adagio.

The violins are quiet as the clarinets and flutes and oboe carry one gently along into this lovely movement.  And here are the violins again - light and meditative.

I have still not picked up my knitting; this is too beautiful to be distracted with keeping track of a lacy pattern.

After the Adagio the Allegro - joyful, lively, melodic and rythmic.  The camera catches a lady in the audience who is listening intently, but not smiling.  How can one listen and not smile and tap one's foot, I wonder.

The conductor is smiling - all is going well!  There is great applause as the performance comes to an end, and after a number of recalls an encore to an audience and spellbound orchestra (well, they looked spellbound - certainly very appreciative of this fine talent), So moving and beautiful....

In the intermission the artist speaks of his year of residency with the Philharmonic, and interjects wonderful musical examples that don't allow me to tear myself away to think about lunch.  I eventually content myself with a boiled egg and a bit of yogurt!

The intermission over the musicians return and the first violinist does his bit again to make sure all is in harmongy.

The second part of the program is a delight.  The orchestra is expanded with added instruments, - two harps, a tambourine and I think I even caught sight of a Ukulele!  A lovely program of Claude DeBussy's Images for Orchestra - a Gigue, a Ronde of Springtime, Iberia, and Les Parfums of the Night.

It ended with George Enescu's Romanian Rhapsody, introduced by the trombones.  A little wild and wonderful, inviting visions of twirling gypsies in long skirts and flowing hair.  Everybody busy and caught up in this passionate music - nobody sitting idly awaiting a cue to play.....

Before the audience dispersed and the orchestra left the stage Sir Simon Rattle made a short farewell speech in German, and I could only guess at what he was saying, but concluded that the Flautist, who I have admired since I first became aware of the Digital Concert Hall, was retiring.

There was more great applause, beautiful flowers and he replied most graciously, I presume, 

and with humour.  I shall miss him...

A lovely way to spend a Saturday morning 

and here are just a few moments of this wonderful music

for your pleasure.

Why???

ABC Wednesday
June 17, 2015
The letter is W

for Who, What, When, Where and Why

Who, What, When, and Where provide the facts,  

but Why is always up for conjecture

If your curiosity is piqued and you want to know more about W

wander over here to ABC Wednesday

with thanks to Roger and Denise and all wise helpers.....

A trip to the library....

Popped into the library today to pick up some DVDs for a friend who has been secluded in the local Senior's home as a result of breaking her leg, and is beginning to get 'cabin fever'!

While there I found three books awaiting me - books that I had just ordered a few days ago, inspired by a little roving through literary type blogs one evening last week.

I was astounded at the size of 'Jonathon Strange and Mr. Norrell' (Susanna Clarke) but encouraged by the Sunday Times' blurb that claimed this large tome to be 'a fabulous book....dazzlimg....highly original and compelling'.

And so I am prepared to take it on!  It may take me all summer but the library lady checked and said it was probably good for two renewals (nine weeks).  One thousand and six pages!!! 

I am going to have to stem this Protestant Ethic I harbour that (even at ninety) every day must be productive if I am going to sleep self-satisfied and with a clear concscience. I shall ignore the ethics and put aside more time for reading.....

 I am still intriqued by Jack Miles' Biography of God as the 'protagonist of the greatest book'.  

 And his introductory essay to his latest work as editor of the Norton Anthology of World Religions - 'Why God will not Die' and I gather the answer to that  lies in the belief that 

"our ignorance still exceeds our knowledge, 

and we still have eminently good reason to fear the unknown"  

....and how we reasonably cope with the "impossibility of our ever living a perfectly rational life"..

Towards the end of the essay Miles quotes Mary Oliver - "what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"  and continues....

"We never truly know how to reply to that challenge, do we, since more knowledge - the knowledge we do not have - could always justify holding current plans in abeyance just a little longer.  But when life refuses to wait any longer and the great game  begins whether you have suited up or not, than a demand arises that religion - or some expedient no more fully rational than religion - must meet.  You're going to go with something.........science keeps revealing how much we don't know.  Yet humans seek closure."   

And I guess that's why I was at the Church doing Bulletins for tomorrow's service, changing the hangings back to Green after the Red of Pentecost, checking the candles 

and putting flowers on the altar..............

I also brought home Arthur Ransome's 'We didn't mean to Go to Sea', which should provide a little light hearted diversion from great tomes and heavy philosphical thinking!!!!!!!

Yesterday, a real treat, - Simon Rattle and Barbara Hannigan (a Nova Scotia Canadian) in a cabaret type late night performance with six instruments from the Berlin Philharmoniker....

Wonderful!

Advertised as being very British and a little naughty....

V is for Vestiges

ABC Wednesday
June 10th, 2015

The letter is V for Vestiges

The definition of 'vestiges'  - "traces of something that no longer exists"

My home is haunted by vestiges, - lurking in old trunks,
packed away in cardboard boxes,
stuffed into drawers,
carefully put away in files
and hanging in the back of closets!!!!

Happy momentos of life, family, early years and places where we live only in memory.

In a chocolate box is the ribbon from my mother's  wedding bouquet,
one dried rosebud, plus a few shredded blossoms.

In the garage, in the bottom drawer of Charles' desk, there was a sewing kit
used by his grandfather when he was in the Yukon
at the turn of the last century 

(recently given to one of his great grandsons).

Stuffed in one of my sewing machine drawers is my mother's tatting device, -

 which I could still use, I think, if I was so inclined.....

In my cedar chest is the treasured remnants of a silk and lace dust cap
that belonged to my great-grandmother ,
 along with a sweater I knitted for Charles in early days,
 sporting the replica of Indian paintings he found in the hills above his home.

I have in my own 'bottom drawer' a snall leather bag bought for me in Banff (Alberta)
and a hand tooled leather wallet made for me
by one of our very best friends....  

plus a small handkerchief sent from Scotland
when Charles interrupted his RAF training

 to have the mumps....

Old report cards, - innumerable momentos made for Mother by small, chubby hands - 

the receipt for payment of my piano, dated 1925 - 

the children's immunization records. - 

a collection of old poems 

and three or four large industrial shuttles which I will never use!!!

Out of date calendars with lovely pictures, treasured letters, ancient LPs

and a suitcase full of old sheet music.

A wedding dress and a little black number that I thought quite enticing -

plus dozens of C's ties that nobody wears any more

Well, you know how it is.  I'm sure you have your own VESTIGES lying around,

 reminders of life as it was, 

whose eventual fate niggles at the back of your mind as you get older

 and are not a 'thrower-out'...

Spend a little time with them and linger a bit in memory lane.

  Vestiges are great for that and for bringing a smile to your face....

For more interesting Vs visit here at ABC Wednesday, 

with thanks to Roger and Denise and their veritable helpers....

post script - no high heeled shoes
not even as a momento....

A little of This and a little of That, but mainly garden...

June 7th, 2015

When we moved from the Garden on the Hill I slowly abandoned my Garden Diary blog, and after a while was just posting now and then some of the new little additions to this town garden.  A few days ago my granddaughter, who now tends the hill garden and lives with that marvelous view of sky and mountains and valley, brought me a lovely bouquet of roses she had snipped from the Mr. Lincoln, the Prairie Princess and the pink arbour rose.....

At the same time the roses that crowd the gateway here were soaking up

that lovely rain we had last week and reaching the best part of their first flush....

Around the garden shed the Blaze Rose, which received a good pruning this

spring to keep it from wandering into the neighbour's yard,

has recovered quite nicely and its old familiar bloom reminds me of

the roses that covered that back wall at the farm, the ones that Charles'

mother grew at her backdoor, and the wonderful Blaze climbers we had 

when we gardened earnestly on 10th!!

The peonies have all pined away and dropped their petals round their feet

but the garden is pregnant with greenery and swelling buds, 

It will soon be the time of the Lilies and the poppies (although the Oriental ones have left, except for one lone pink one which I will try to squeeze in later....

In the last day or two the spider lily, which I saved from last year, has started a magnificent display....out in a pot by the back door, with the container of hot pink and white zinnias

When I was busy tidying up the wild violets that decided they would like

to grow side by each with the Hellebore I found some blooms that

had gone to seed, -  one empty of its seed, and another still white and fresh,

although a few days in the house found it drying quickly and popping

open to release the seeds.  I thought they were structurally very beautiful, and delicate.

 Along by the front gate the large purple clematis has gone wild,and is climbing

joyously up and over the entrance - the little violet one on the back fence is being

much more prim, but still very beautiful.

and here is Callie, who hides in the garden and watches all the neighbourhood cats pass

down the lane....

and another pretty picture of the Blaze rose and the pink poppy......

I rise early these days, since the weather turned so warm (hot)

and last thing at night wander through the evening coolness.....

UNICORNS

ABC Wednesday
June 3rd, 2015

The letter is U, for Unicorns

You can read here all about the ancient history of this amazing mythical creature,  but if you want the up-to-date version tune in to the Irish Rovers who lament the failure of the Unicorn to quite make it on to the Ark.....

A few months ago I went to hear the Irish Rovers on their last world tour, and was as delighted with them as when we were all young and they were a group of wonderful vibrant young Irish immigrants who made their debut as folk singers in Canada..... 

                              They are still vibrant in a more elderly fashion, but then, so am I!!!

For more unusual Us visit here at ABC Wednesday, with thanks to Denise and Roger and all their upstanding helpers.

she said, poignantly.....

picture by Pat Perrin, - dearly treasured

...amd what are you going to do tomorrow? asked my youngest son

as we ended our nightly chat from the Chilcotin.

I thought quickly - what am I going to do tomorrow???

Nothing sprang to mind.

Oh, I said, tomorrow is a surprise - I have no idea what

I will do tomorrow, but it will be something

that pleases me.....

And that's what it has come to.

I try to remain disciplined and keep my "shoulds"  in good order

and limit my commitments

so that each day is governed by that lovely question

What SHALL I do today!!!!!

I haven't yet reached the stage where I wander the streets, running my cane along fences

and picking other people's flowers,  but I definitely pick and choose

and I only really commit to things I consider very important

and anything involving family.

So last night, as I drifted off to sleep, I thought about tomorrow,

and what I would do after the obligatory pleasures of

the early morning hour in the garden -

and I thought how nice it would be to have some buttermilk biscuits

around for a few days, and what a pleasure

it would be to make them!

And I could write a little Stone about them - which

is something I am trying to do each day

(as an 'I shall' not an 'I should')

So I got the blue bowl out and the salt and flour

and rising ingredients,  turned on the oven to 450

and in no time at all they were done, baked and cooling on the counter.

I added a little water to the last of that delicious lamb stew I made 

the other day, and put it in the blender...

Presto - lamb and vegetable soup

and fresh baked biscuits

and all on a delightful whim and a fancy that came to haunt my drowsy thoughts.

Life is good if you are creative with the 'shall' philosophy

instead of the 'oh dear, I should, I should, I should!!'

Even better if you have a certain someone to share the biscuits with

(she said, poignantly)

The Trombone

ABC Wednesday
May 27th, 2015

The letter is T for Trombone and Trombonists

A little history and a little music!

The trombone is not often heard as a solo instrument, but many legendary performers have left their marks on the history of jazz, tracing the line from Miff Mole and Kid Ory through Jack Teagarden, Tommy Dorsey and on to Bennie Green and now today's original sounding trombonists, like Ray Anderson and Craig Harris.

In the early 1900s to the 1920s Dixieland, primarily improvised music with the trombonist playing a countermelody to the cornet with glissandos and other raucous effects that could be produced with the slide trombone.

Most well known of these 'tailgate' trombonists were Edward "Kid" Ory and Irving Milfred "Miff" Mole, with Miff being perhaps more technical and with a brighter sound, avoiding the glissandos and growls that Ory favoured.  Miff's composition "There'll come a Time" (Wait and See) can be heard in the modern release of 'The Strange Case of Benjamin Button' (which I thoroughly enjoyed)

As the thirties wore on there was a new trend in jazz trombone, known as Swing, and it differed from Dixieland in several ways, the most obvious being in the greater number of musicians performing

in a band, and in the tendency to arrange the music prior to the performance, so that improvisation was eliminated.

Trombonists enjoyed a prominent role in the jazz ensemble of the swing era and were often featured as soloists.  One such trombonist was Jack Teagarden who developed a lighter and smoother tone, possessing a fluidity that many other trombonists tried to imitate.

Tommy Dorsey, who was to become one of the most popular trombonists of the swing era, so respected Teagarden's playing that he refused to play a solo while Teagarden was in the same room.

In the early 1940's a new style of jazz began to develop, known as Behop.

Prior to Behop jazz style were performed for dancing, but now jazz was being written and performed for its own sake, with smaller combos allowing more freedom than was possible in a big band.

Bennie Green was perhaps the first trombonist to play in the Behop style.  His music possessed a warm and smooth tone, influenced by trumpeters Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie 

with whom he played.

A little music to illustrate the lovely sounds of the trombone!

For more Ts - visit here at ABC Wednesday,

 with thanks to Roger, Denise and the visiting crew.

May

Another May....

Beautiful days, one after the other  -   'heart's ease'

May

The blessed stretch and ease of it -

heart's ease.  The hills blue.  All the flowering weeds

bursting open.  Balm in the air.  The birdsong

bouncing back out of the sky.  The cattle

lain down in the meadow, forgetting to feed.

The horses swishing their tails.

The yellow flare of furze on the near hill,

And the first cream splatters of blossom

high on the thorns where the day rests longest.

All hardship, hunger, treachery of winter forgotten.

The unfounded conviction:  forgiveness, hope.

Kerry Hardie, from  "A Furious Place"

S for Spoonerisms

May 20th, 2015
ABC Wednesday

The letter is S - for Spoonerisms......

Definition -  an unintentional interchange of sounds, producing a phrase with a meaning entirely different from the one intended.

Example -  we'll have the hags flung out    -     we'll have the flags hung out

Of course this produces many funny witticisms, and we have the Rev. William Archibald Spooner to thank for these sayings that "fickle our tummy bone", so to speak.

The Reverend Spooner was an Anglican priest and scholar  (an albino with poor eyesight) who studied at New College,Oxford, and then went on to lecture there for sixty years in history, philosophy and divinity.

He was a kind and hospitable man, with a keen intellect, which contributed to the manifestation of sound switching for which he became well known.  His tongue barely kept up with his thought processes.

Spooner was born in London in 1844, and he is buried in Grasmere Cemetery in the Lake District, but he left behind this marvelous word-play, some examples of which follow!  Enjoy......

nosy little cook                            cozy little nook

our shoving leopard                    our loving shepherd

it's roaring with pain                   it's pouring with rain

wave the sails                             save the whales

bedding wells                             wedding bells

our queer old Dean                     our dear old Queen

hiss and lear                                listen hear


Your turn now - can you think of any good spoonerisms???

Lots more Ss here at ABC Wednesday, with thanks to Roger, Denise and strong and steady helpers.

p.s.  Thanks to Martin Chilton for some of the information about the Rev. Spooner.

A Stroll through the Garden

I took a little stroll through the garden this morning,

camera in hand

and found that spring has put all her lovely flowers to bed

to rest in peace and prepare for

next year's marvelous show of daffodils and tulips, swaying in the soft breezes

of April.

In their place summer makes a tentative entry

with that beautiful ubiquitous yellow ranunculus

and some lovely early peonies..

the first of the iris, the purple globes of the allium,

  and great growth on the hostas.

The roses are bursting with pink, and the clematis that

covers the gate are awash in long slender buds.

I take my lunch outside these days,

along with my new book

(McCall Smith's Forever Girl)

and sometimes I have a bit of ice cream and stewed rhubarb 

(fresh from the garden) for dessert.

Here is a little collage of some of the promises

summer is honouring.......

Roses Eternally

ABC Wednesday
May 13th, 2015

The letter is R, for Roses

I have been lucky to have lived in Rose country all my life.......

In Alberta, - Wild Rose Country, where I grew up

I walked to school in June on a pathway through a great cluster of wild rose shrubs,

and the memory of the fragrances remains with me to this day.

today the road that leads to Ginty's pond is lined with the same wonderful scent.

On the farm red and white blaze roses came trailing through the open windows to the kitchen

and our bedroom.

When we moved to town roses and poppies and lilies grew in great abundance over the
fence Charles built to enclose the flower bed fron the street

and in October we brought the remnants into the house to see us through

cold November.......

In the hillside garden we grew roses against the house and throughout the garden -the Abraham Darby, the Prairie Princess, the Mister Lincoln

and just scads of other shrub roses.

and here in town, the roses climb over the gateway to the side garden
 and take prime place in the raised bed

Mary Oliver writes of Roses....

What happens/to the leaves after/they turn red and golden and fall/away?  What happens

to the singing birds/when they can't sing/any longer? What happens to their quick wings?

Do you think there is any/personal heaven/for any of us?/ Do you think anyone,

the other side of that darkness,/ will call to us, meaning us?/ Beyond the trees/
the foxes keep teaching their children

to live in the valley/so they never seem to vanish, they are always there/
in the blossom of light/that stands up every morning

to the dark sky/and over one more set of hills,/along the sea,/the last roses
have opened their factory of sweetness

and are giving it back to the world./If I had another life/I would want to spend it all on some
unstinting happiness.

I would be a fox, or as tree/full of waving branches./I wouldn't mind being a rose/
in a field full of roses.

Fear has not yet occurred to them, nor ambition/Reason they have not yet thought of.

Neither do they ask how long they must be roses, and then what/
Or any other foolish question.

Well there, so much for roses and philosophy

Lots more on the letter R here at ABC Wednesday, with thanks to
Roger, Denise and relentless helpers....


A little addendum for my personal diary....

Here are the red roses I carried to the altar seventy years ago
on the 12th of May, 1945.....

ABC Wednesday
May 6th, 2015

The letter is Q

Here, for your delight is Quintessence

A saxophone Quintet playing Bach:  Fudge Fugue

For more great Qs visit here at ABC Wednesday, with many thanks to Roger and Denise and any quirky helpers who may be assisting them with this great meme.