July 2014
This is the first of a series of short communications which I hope to post monthly. Sort of a diary of the most prominent happenings in my life as of age 90.
7/8/14 Gwyneth and I went to a lecture by Martin Majkut, conductor of the Rogue Valley Symphony. It was for OLLI, the retired people’s program of courses in Ashland. It was all about conducting, and while lots of it was rudimentary (for Jenny) most was new to me. For instance, I never understood ‘downbeat’ because to did not seem to relate to when the music began. Didn’t know that every orchestra has a seconds-long lag before it plays, and it can be a s long as 10 seconds! No wonder there is a pause!. MM is very personable, seems like a real enthusiast for community and certainly is, because two weeks later I went to another event at which he MCed as well as playing piano in a duet sonata with a violinist. It was sponsored by the Ashland Schools Foundation, which is raising money to re-introduce the strings program to 5th grade students in the Ashland schools. A program that is dear to my heart, as all our daughters started on instruments in the 4th grade – an invaluable part of their education. The evening was packed with young adults who had been in the Ashland program and have gone on with their music. One was a grad student in cello at Juilliard, one a professional harpist, another a violin major at Oberlin, two currently members of the Rogue Valley Symphony; it was pretty impressive. I gave money to support some private lessons on the violin.
7/12/14 A hot day, a hot week in fact. Global warming is so believable with 95+0 days now for over a week and another week to come. So last night around 8 I took a neighborhood walk in the not-quite-so-hot evening to Clay Street Park and Eric’s bench and on up Clay in a circle. A young man was sitting on the bench and there was a long tape stretched across the upper park and secured to trees so it was taut. Puzzled, I sat down and asked him what he was doing. Tight-rope walking, and he was happy to demonstrate. He wore only shorts and a mustache, climbed carefully onto the wire (in itself an impossible feat) and walked a dozen steps to demonstrate his skill. I was impressed, in fact it made the day special. Eric would have been so intrigued.
And late in the month on another visit to the park there was a honey-colored curly wig on the post behind the bench! I sat for awhile watching storm clouds gather and an orange kitty arrived, climbed onto my lap and insisted on being ear-scratched. When I left it just sat there, looking puzzled.
7/22 Drove to Coos Bay to stay with the Forresters and be with Jenny for a few days. And to escape the incredibly long hot spell we are having. (So I missed the only 2 days in the month when the temp here did not rise above 85.) Of course it was even lovelier on the coast, and a morning’s rain on Wednesday was so very welcome. There was a concert and an afternoon of wandering around, including a visit to the house we are renting next month outside of Bandon. It far exceeded expectations and I can hardly wait to go stay there. I also took a glorious long beach walk at Bullard’s Beach State Park. Incredible – there were only 2 cars parked at the dunes when I arrived, and when I huffed up and over, there was a stretch of gorgeous beach/ocean totally empty of humans and their accoutrements. Just sky, waves and a pleasant murmur (low tide). What a coast! I had just watched an Oregon special on Tom McCall, who was responsible for our state beach park system, and his foresight left an incredible legacy.
7/30 This morning I am going to the Britt rehearsal. It will be the first one for Teddy Abrams’ new piece (to be played on opening night this Friday) and I expect to observe a ‘string rebellion’, as ever since Jenny got the music and found the tempo unplayable (15 pages of 8th notes) there is been little else on her mind. Now she is here and finds that it there is a universal reaction – the piece is perhaps unplayable at least by the strings, at the tempo he wants. Might be explained by noting that his instruments are piano and clarinet.
I had a very funny experience with the piece myself. Jenny sent me an electronic version which sounded very mechanical – loud, noisy, and packed with extra instruments. And it wouldn’t turn off. I was using my iPad and tried every trick I know to get it to shut up with no results. Finally I wrapped it in a quilt in Dad’s room, closed the door and called Jim B. Had to, couldn’t hear if I didn’t. Jim laughed and told me there are two buttons on the back of the iPad, one to raise and the other to lower volume. I dug it out and pushed the proper button and the sound gradually diminished and finally quit. So this is the way I learn more about my iPad, but it doesn’t make me happy. Now I have no sound from it whatever, no swish when an email goes out, no dingle when I plug in the charger and who cares.
So now it’s evening and the rehearsal was fascinating. Abrams knew the orchestra was grumbling and he did a play through first. I thought it merely noise, heavy with instrumental extras (snare drums, harp, piano, glockenspiel) and formless. The orchestra seemed relieved to be able to play it at all. Then he started to take it bit by bit and with only sections playing – strings, brass, winds – and it began to have shape and even melody. He worked with the orchestra for 1 ½ hr and when they recessed I could see the relief in Jenny’s face and all the other violists’. I think he needs to learn to deal with strings. But they were all relieved that it could be played at all. So maybe by Friday it will sound like music.
This was a very interesting experience, and knowing the back story was part of it. Withal, the orchestra clearly respects and admires him and wants to play it well. And both he and they are on trial, as they are new to each other. He is great to watch and reminds me ever more of the young Bernstein; has flair, excitement, energy and expressive arm and hand movements. How I do love Britt.
This July was the hottest month on record in the Rogue Valley – all but two days in the high 90s, and several on 3-digits. And it’s not over yet.