July 22, 2008 Just back from the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival in Oak Hill, New York (just north of the Catskill Mountains). It was hot, it was rainy, it was crowded, and there was a lot of hiking up and down the hill to the stage area, but there was lots of music and fun, … Continue reading
June 26, 2008 Young @ Heart is a chorus in Northampton, Massachusetts, as well as a movie about the chorus, its challenges and successes. Two things make this chorus different from any other: the average age of the participants is 80, and they sing songs you wouldn’t expect them to want to listen to, let … Continue reading
June 17, 2008 A small group of musicians at a recent gathering of the Falmouth Chamber Players, left to right, Hilde Maingay (violin), Laura Tutino (violin), Joyce Gindra (oboe), Fritz Sonnichsen (violin), Grant Mallett (violin), and behind him: Kate Housman (French horn), Jonathan Neufeld (viola). In front are Wendy Gabriel, Mary Sholkovitz (her arm only), … Continue reading
June 7, 2008 June 7 is international Drawing Day, so pick up a pencil and draw! There is a website to coordinate the Internet aspect of this event at DrawingDay. According to the site, Drawing Day is “a worldwide drawing event encouraging everyone to drop everything and draw for the sake of art.” The goal … Continue reading
June 3, 2008 I‘m heading off-Cape this weekend to go to the Bluegrass on the Bogs festival about 30 miles away in South Carver. There will be a lot of local and regional bluegrass bands playing over the 2-day event: No Spare Parts, Lisa Bastoni and Chris Boucher, Bluegrass Invitation Review, Bradford Bog People, Crossfire, … Continue reading
May 24, 2008 About a dozen years ago, I found myself with a few hours of free time in Washington DC, following a business meeting, before I had to catch a plane for home. I decided to go to the Smithsonian Institute, where I stumbled upon a wonderful exhibit of biological illustrations. Included in the … Continue reading
May 20, 2008 Checking the official websites of the candidates to see what their positions were on the Arts, I found that: John McCain has no stated positions relating to the arts. Hillary Clinton says she is a strong supporter of the arts and our nation’s cultural and historic sites and appreciates the role that … Continue reading
May 15, 2008 I was listening to FCTV, local cable access tv for Falmouth, the other day, listening, not watching, because, in my home office, my desk is arranged so that I have my back to the tv and because my little tv is on its last legs, and has a very dark, sometimes indecipherable … Continue reading
May 24, 2008 Pianist Jon Nakamatsu wowed the audience last weekend with his dazzling performance of Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto. He and conductor Jung-ho Pak, and an inspired Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra filled the 1440-seat hall at the Barnstable Center for the Performing Arts with beautiful, electrifying music. A number of those attending on Saturday evening … Continue reading
May 4, 2008 Driving down to the Falmouth’s Artists Guild on Friday, I wondered what I had gotten myself into. Encouraged by my friend Carol, I had agreed to pose for a figure drawing class. Carol is both an artist and a cellist and had recently posed for the group while playing her cello. I … Continue reading
Notes on The Arts 