The Inauguration Quartet
From soft sounds to tumultuous joy, the music began with the quiet Coplanesque strains of John Williams’ “Air and Simple Gifts.” The vibrant cello of Yo Yo Ma and the sweet strings of Itzhak Perlman’s violin found full voice and intertwined; they were joined by a quiet, sonorous woodwind phrase that repeated and built from the clarinet of Anthony McGill. The three instruments were joined in joyous harmony by the piano of Gabriela Montero. Just as Copland’s music captured the nation’s character and geographical expanse, Williams’ music brought this historical heritage to the present. The unifying emotion of his composition was captured by this enthusiastic quartet playing as a complete ensemble, listening and responding to each other with admiration.
After all of the discussion about the brutal weather and the delicate wooden instruments and how the performers would deal with the elements, it appears as though the violin, cello, and clarinet were wooden and not carbon or rubber. The musicians brought all their best stuff, from musicality to instruments.
Williams’ and the inaugural quartet presented a musical gem to emphasize the speech of Barack Obama as he became President of the United States of America.
Here is an imperfect video.
Random thoughts about many interests and people, with a realization of the blessings of life. I try to follow my mother's advice, don't discuss politics or religion.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Winter Lights
Went out last night shortly after sunset in hopes of taking a picture of the moon. News reports said we'd see the largest full moon of the year. However, the sky was still full of clouds and light snow. 
Here's a shot of the end of our driveway instead.
We've had a long, snowy winter that actually began in Fall. The first of our deep snows came in early November, and we've only seen green grass for short periods of less than a day. The cold, the snow, and the short days have been building cabin fever, or as it's called these days, SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). The Christmas season brings a cheer to the heart and mind, but after New Years, the festivity slowly turns SAD.
We've been keeping our lights up longer to help keep a touch of cheer during this wintry time of year.
Here's a shot of the end of our driveway instead.
We've had a long, snowy winter that actually began in Fall. The first of our deep snows came in early November, and we've only seen green grass for short periods of less than a day. The cold, the snow, and the short days have been building cabin fever, or as it's called these days, SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). The Christmas season brings a cheer to the heart and mind, but after New Years, the festivity slowly turns SAD.
We've been keeping our lights up longer to help keep a touch of cheer during this wintry time of year.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Greeleyville Mystery
A very sad story out of Greeleyville, South Carolina today. A woman’s body was found in the children’s playground by a bus driver early in the morning. The driver notified the janitor who called 911.
Due to the quick action of the bus driver and janitor, most of the children had no knowledge of what happened. Not until much later in the day was the woman identified and the mystery partially resolved. Stories about the event may be read here and here. By these accounts the woman did not die by violent means. An autopsy will reveal the manner of death and she has been identified, so the mystery of why she died may also be discovered.
Nonetheless, the young woman's strange death made for an unsettling day for Greeleyville Elementary.
Due to the quick action of the bus driver and janitor, most of the children had no knowledge of what happened. Not until much later in the day was the woman identified and the mystery partially resolved. Stories about the event may be read here and here. By these accounts the woman did not die by violent means. An autopsy will reveal the manner of death and she has been identified, so the mystery of why she died may also be discovered.
Nonetheless, the young woman's strange death made for an unsettling day for Greeleyville Elementary.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Edinboro Sports Dome 3
Here are a couple of pictures of the Edinboro Sports Dome from different angles. The second picture shows the attached building, that will, I assume, be used as an entrance. Click on the photos to see a larger version that gives a better idea of the magnitude of this dome.
As an Athletic Center, the dome will be used for track, soccer, lacrosse, football, and other sports. Some of us hope tennis will be one of the sports able to use the dome. In addition, campus events such as Graduation will be held in this heated and air-conditioned structure. The dome's usefulness will probably makeup for this dreary looking white elephant,er, dome.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Clarinetist to Perform for Obama's Inauguration
The clarinet world is abuzz about the selection of Anthony McGill to play at Barack Obama’s Presidential Inauguration. McGill is principal clarinetist for the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. McGill’s relative lack of name recognition has some clarinetists wondering why he was chosen for this honor. An African-American, McGill will be part of a quartet made up of Itzhak Perlman, an Israeli-American and internationally recognized violinist; Yo-Yo Ma, a Chinese-American who is one of the world’s most renowned cellists; and Gabriela Montero a gifted pianist who was born in Caracas, Venezuela. The composer and arranger for the work that will be performed by this unique quartet is John Williams, perhaps America’s greatest living composer. McGill is in excellent company.
Diversity seems to be one of the hallmarks of this quartet, aside from the obvious musical gifts of each individual. Perlman is Jewish and disabled, Yo-Yo Ma is a Chinese-American, Montero is a Latin American woman, and McGill is a black man. John Williams has not only written two symphonies and a cello concerto for Yo-Yo Ma, he has written the music for popular films from Star Wars to Harry Potter, and he conducted America’s orchestra, the Boston Pops. A better example of the diversity of the United States could hardly be found in a classical quartet of such talent.
Just as the musicians are diverse, the instrumentation of violin, cello, piano, and clarinet is unusual for a quartet. However, instrumentalists and instruments should meld together in harmonious accord. McGill, an accomplished chamber musician, has performed in concert with Yo-Yo Ma. Montero is not only an accomplished interpreter of classic compositions, she is also highly regarded for her skills as an improviser. These two relatively unknown, but highly acclaimed, musicians will perform with the renowned Perlman and Yo-Yo Ma to create a musicians dream team playing an original work by a great American composer.
The quartets appearance will follow the Oath of Office administered to Vice President-elect Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and precede the Oath of Office administered to President-elect Barack H. Obama.
If there is a political statement in all of this it is that 21st century America is ready in all of it’s diversity to create and appreciate unique music for a new era.
Diversity seems to be one of the hallmarks of this quartet, aside from the obvious musical gifts of each individual. Perlman is Jewish and disabled, Yo-Yo Ma is a Chinese-American, Montero is a Latin American woman, and McGill is a black man. John Williams has not only written two symphonies and a cello concerto for Yo-Yo Ma, he has written the music for popular films from Star Wars to Harry Potter, and he conducted America’s orchestra, the Boston Pops. A better example of the diversity of the United States could hardly be found in a classical quartet of such talent.
Just as the musicians are diverse, the instrumentation of violin, cello, piano, and clarinet is unusual for a quartet. However, instrumentalists and instruments should meld together in harmonious accord. McGill, an accomplished chamber musician, has performed in concert with Yo-Yo Ma. Montero is not only an accomplished interpreter of classic compositions, she is also highly regarded for her skills as an improviser. These two relatively unknown, but highly acclaimed, musicians will perform with the renowned Perlman and Yo-Yo Ma to create a musicians dream team playing an original work by a great American composer.
The quartets appearance will follow the Oath of Office administered to Vice President-elect Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and precede the Oath of Office administered to President-elect Barack H. Obama.
If there is a political statement in all of this it is that 21st century America is ready in all of it’s diversity to create and appreciate unique music for a new era.
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