Musicale at Bridges Hall of Music at 3 pm on September 15.

 It is not normal to log on a performance without  preface, but the Musicale imperative in last piece by Paul Shoenfeld's Cafe Music. The YouTube performance is here.

Tuesday March 7, 2023 at 4:30 pm Pomona College Jazz Ensemble

 Pomona College Jazz Ensemble 

Barb Catlin, director

 

Grooves Old and New:
An Afternoon of Big Band Swing
and Student Arrangements 

 

Soupbone, John Clayton (b. 1952) 

Midnight Blue, Kenny Burrell  (b. 1931) arr. Barb Catlin

You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive, Darrell Scott (b. 1959), arr. Jasper Davidoff  

Home Basie, Bob Mintzer (b. 1953) 

How Long Has This Been Going On, George Gershwin (1898-1937), arr. Colman Gliddon

Respected Destroyer, Brandee Younger (b. 1983), arr. Colman Gliddon

Groove Merchant, Jerome Richardson (1920-2000) arr. Thad Jones

 

Mabel Shaw Bridges Hall of Music, Sunday, March 5, 2023

Music at  Pomona College

presents

A Bouquet of Music

Melissa Givens, Soprano
Genevieve Feiwen Lee, Piano 

Madchenblumen  Op, 22 (1888) 

    1. Kornblumen
    2. Molnblumen
    3. Epheu
    4. Wasserrose

Singing the Spirit

    Gwine Up (n.d.)
    Hold the Wind (1964)
    Little David (1956)
    This Little Light of Mine (1962)

The English Mendelsohhn

    Charlotte & Werther MWV K 48 (1831a )
    Sun of Sleepless MWV K 76 (1833)
    There Be None of Beauty's Daughters, MWV K 85 (1833)
    The Garland, MWV K 44 (1829)

A Night at the Movies

    Pure Imagination
        from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
    When I Fall in Love One Minute to Zero (1952)
    I'm Gonna Go Fishing Anatomy of  a Murder (1959)
    Home from The Wiz (1975)

 

Sunday December 4th at 2022 at 3:00 pm the Pomona College Choir

 

The Pomona College Choir

Donna M. Di Grazia

with

Daniel Rigall, Soprano, Haesung Park, Organ,
Allison Bjorkedal, Harp, Bill Schillt, Percussion

I. Ain-a that Good News (arr. 1937), William Levi Dawson 

    Ave Maria, R. Nathanial Dett

Mathew Cook, baritone

Let us Cheer the Weary Traveler (1926), R. N. Dett

II. Palm 117: O Praise the Lord (from a New Song), Ulysses Kay

    Soon Ah Will Be Done (arr. 1934), arr. W. L. Dawson

    Listen to the Lambs, R. N. Dett

Rosy Falzon, soprano

    My Heart Be Brave (2019), Marques L. A. Garret 

III. Chichester Psalms, Leonard Bernstein

1.   Maestroso ma energetico

2.   Adante con moto, ma tranquillo - Allegro feroce 

Daniel Rigali, soprano  

3.   Prelude (Sostenuto moto) - Peacefully flowing 

      

   

 

Tuesday, November 15fh f 4:30 pm at Lyman Hall, Thatcher Music Buildiing

 (10) Tell Me A Bedtime Story by Herbie Hancock arr. by Alan Baylock - YouTube

88 Basie Street, Sammy Nestico (1924-2021)

Beijo Inncente, Matt Harris (b. 1959)

Daydream, Billy Strayhorn (1915-1967)

Congri, Rebeca Mouleòn (b. 1962)

Moanin', Charles Mingus (1922-1979)

Our Visit to Pomona

We went to Pomona Arts Colony for "Day of the Dead" celebrations! Delicious food, performances, arts, crafts, and a car show all greeted us there.

We were even lucky enough to run into our yoga instructor, getting ready for the circus arts performance later that eve!
 

Sunday Brunch Treats

We had TWO treats on Sunday the 23rd.

First, my daughter came into town to celebrate her 30th year Webb class reunion, which coincided with Webb's 100 year anniversary.

Second, she met us for Sunday brunch, and arranged a little bday freebie for me! My partner and I are getting ready to dive into some chocolate goodness.

 
 

We see meteors! October 21-22 in Wrightwood

We headed to Wrightwood to catch the peak night of the Orionid meteor shower on my birthday weekend.

We saw many small "flashes" meteors zip by overhead. No rip roaring, sky- cleaving ones. But a wonderful time stargazing, all bundled up in cozy layers and a big blanket. 

Love and thank you's to my partner for a truly amazing packing job and all the thoughtful touches to the weekend!

This is an Orion constellation screenshot from Star Walk 2.
 

Birthday weekend, continued: California Photography Museum, Riverside

 CPM featured many exhibit spaces, a tri-level experience!

One exhibit spanned several rooms, with works from four female LatinX artists. 

One artist explored image "replacements." The two images here show multiple views of the same face.

Another series employed canvas overlays in various environments.  In each photo, she taken a live background, and hung a canvas image in it. 

For example, one background was a run-down alleyway.  She strung a colorful canvas image of a child's party scene across the back of the alleyway, bringing it to life.

I remember "Persona" by Ingmar Bergmann from the 60's! Two women "merged." The resulting image was discontinuous and counter-intuitive!

I found this artist's result equally impressive.

Another level of the museum chronicled the evolution of land cameras, from the first days of the camera boom.  

The incredible collection of cameras and manuals came from a SINGLE donor. What an amazing gift to us all.

 Here you're looking at a stereo camera from 1890!

A "wet-plate" camera, from the earliest days. The glass plate had to be wetted to activate the chemicals, before inserting it into the camera.  Then the image could be captured.

This made for a soggy experience- the wet chemicals would drip onto the bottom of the camera frame. It had to be made of very durable wood!

Eventually the "wet plate" method of image was replaced with a "dry plate." Less to lug along on photo expeditions!

 This is one of the best (and cheapest) cameras.  Note the glass plate and the sturdy frame the assembly is attached to!

The next challenges ahead: To capture images that wouldn't be limited to the size of the glass plate.

And to make cameras smaller and more portable!

And finally, continue to improve image quality.

Devil's Punchbowl (Vayermo)

 A friendly ranger met us at the Punchbowl. It's just a short drive from Wrightwood- a perfect outing! He was the lone keeper that weekend.  

The Visitor Center perished in the fire, but he gave us directions, a map, and lots of information about the fire recovery progress. 

This trail loop is about an hour. There was a devastating fire here, but there are species re-sprouting.  Looks like my partner spotted one!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is really our first slide, where we enter the park... Note the fascinating rock formations, these are signature features at the Punchbowl!

Silhouetted against the rocks are two of many blackened trees from the Bottom Fire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This tree didn't make it.  But it will become a home for insects that will feed lizards and birds.  And it will still be used as a perch!

Some species will take longer to recover than others.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The fire really blackened everything, but some species are equipped to sprout back from their base.  Others were only partially burned.  

This manzanita is making a comeback!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The landscape looks stark from here.

But once you reach the canyon bottom, you discover fresh young Sycamore trees, re-growing in the streambed. 

The trail winds around clockwise, going down deeper into the "Punchbowl!"

The formations are varied...the many outcrops are also used by rock climbers honing their craft. They have to be careful to avoid damaging the rocks.

The fire revealed the amazing rock formations more clearly. Thousands of years of folding and uplifting...

So many shapes carved by wind and weather!

These peaks looked "ghostly" to me. Also notice the plant life they are sheltering in their shade and crannies!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Birthday - October 20

 

So on the 16th, we took off for breakfast at Pann's, in Inglewood, with its vintage Googie design.

Then Peterson's Auto Museum, where I spent my time in looking at the James Bond cars! This was an exhibit titled "Bond in Motion," A review of the vehicle used over the history of Bond movies.

The interior of Pann's. We ordered from their "50's" menu: Hot chocolate, French toast, strawberries, bacon, a loaded "dream burger" with cheese and all the trimmings- lettuce, tomato, sauce, and a side of potato salad!

Photos of movie star clientele covered the walls. But the stars of the show were the wonderful, attentive staff!

Then it was off to Peterson's Auto Museum, where I spent most of my time looking at the James Bond cars! Their exhibit titled "Bond in Motion" was a review of the vehicles used over the history of Bond movies.

But there was plenty more to see, too, like this 1939 Bugatti! Such a lovely car!

Looking through the right door, we could see everything!

Great historical write ups on the placards!

One of the earliest motorcycles made. We studied it, and couldn't find the brakes. Guess what: There AREN'T any! A docent told us no one had ever asked him that question before.

Turns out, many of the first cars and motorcycles  used the THROTTLE to slow down and shut off the motor.  He added that despite the slower speeds, there were many, many accidents.  Also note the many levers that had to be manipulated while the vehicle was in motion.

Steering one-handed with no brakes-- Yikes!

Sherman Gardens - my birthday month, continued!

 Our first stop was Sherman Gardens and Library! A beautiful and venerable private garden, open to the public! It contains many mini-gardens inside.

One thing we wanted to determine was how the self-guided tour worked. You first call the number, which is 949-610-8300. 

And then you can enter the numbered stops to learn more!

Here are the various garden areas.  

You can start anywhere, but we started with the start. "Sherman Gardens Introduction."

Exploring is hungry work, so there's also a Cafe and restaurant! The smells were delicious, but the prices were really a bit much- so we picnicked instead! 

Here's all of it. They've managed to pack an amazing variety of displays into a pretty small space! There are outdoor displays and greenhouse ones, too.  

You can go from succulents to perennials to orchids in very few steps!  They also do seasonal displays, and invite guest artists to decorate the gardens with all sorts of creations.

Sunday, October 9, 2022 at 3:00 p.m.

 Pomona College Orchestra

ERIC LINDHOLM, conductor

Abertura concertante, CAMARGO GUARNIERI, 1902-1993

Film score to Redes (1936), SILVESTRE RIVUELTAS, 1899=1940

Elegia Andina (2000). GABRIELA LENA FRANK, b. 1972 

Dances from Estancia, (1941), ALBERTO GINASTERA, 1916-1983 
    The land workers
    Wheat dance
    The cattlemen
    Malambo

Libertango (1974), arr. G.L. Zampieri, by ASTOR PIAZZOLLA, 1921-1992

 (Unhappily, there was no Zampieri arrangement, so I did the Moscow Philharmonic which had tango dancers in it!)

 

Mabel Shaw Bridges Hall of Music, October 2 at 3 pm

 Sonata (1957), George Walker (1922-2018)

    Allegro passionato
    Sostenuto
    Allegro

with Maggie Parkins, cello

Song of the Seasons (1955). Margaret Bonds (1913-1972)

    Poême of Autommne
    Winter Moon
    Young Love in Spring
    Summer Storm

with Melissa Givens, soprano

Fête musicale, Hall of Music, Sunday, September 18, 2022, at 3 pm

 Density 21.5 (1936, rev. 1946) by Edgar Varèse played by Rachel Rudich, flute

 

"Mauresque" from Ombres op. 64 (1926), played by Gayle Blankenburg, piano by Florent Schmitt

 

Le Merle Noir (1952) by Oliver Messian, played by Rachel Rudich and Gayle Blankenburg

 

Quartet (1962),     Henry Cowell

    Vivace - Allegro

    Lento

    Allegro moderato

    Allegretto 

Rachel Rudich, flute; Francisco Castillo, oboe; Allison Bjorkedal, harp; Maggie Parkins, cello

Pomona College Jazz Ensemble: Barb Catlin Friday, April 29 at 9 pm

The Rolling Stones Project

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards (both b. 1943)
Arranged by Tim Ries and Orchestrated by Matt Harris

Angie

You Can't Always Get What You Want

Under My Thumb

Wild Horses

Paint It Black

Jumping Jack Flash

Satisfaction

Ruby Tuesday

Giri Kusma ("Flower Mountain"), May 2nd, 2022, at 8 pm

"Suara Suling" 

"Topeng Kras"

"Puspawrespi"  

"Gendar Wayang: Donkang Menek Byu"

David Cubek"s Performance, Sunday, May 1, 2022 at 2 pm

Overture to La Forza del distino, by Giuseppe Verdi

Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98, Johannes Brahms

    I. Allegro non tropo

   II. Andante moderato

 III. Allego giocoso

 IV. Allegro energico e passsotato  

The Santa Anita 5K

 My  Run - Jim Manley's Personal View!
 

The Santa Anita 5K Run, April 9th at 8:00 am

We had thought about the Santa Anita run for weeks. Now it was April 9th and we were going to run it. It was early that day, about 5 am, and I was up. It was dark out but I couldn't stay asleep. Krista had said that she would take me to Tony's, where I would meet my fellow runners: three in particular: Tony Brundage, John Moore, and Kurt Vandervoot, all recently retired from Cal Poly, except for Kurt, who is a member of the Physics department.

So I could do my usual maneuvers to make the time go slower. These involve making my bed, doing my weight, and  going to the bathroom. So I did those, but it was still not time to go.

I started on making breakfast. I made steel cut oatmeal in a four-day "lumps", this was the first day, as we had gotten some steel-cut oats the day before. I got out my pan and measured two cups of oats into the pan and filled it to the brim with water from the Propur pitcher, and set it on the stove. Usually I set the timer for seven minutes and then reset the timer for 22 minutes. I did this today, and time was going a bit faster.

6:15 was the time to leave to go to Tony's house. I locked up the house and made for the car with Krista driving. It was a right onto Indian Hill and then a left onto 12th and just before Mountain, we saw them gathered at Tony's. Krista joked, "do you know these people?" And I said, "Sure do." There stood John Moore, and Kurt Vandervort! Tony came out of his house a few minutes later.

After a "Good-bye" kiss from Krista, and "remember to hydrate!" I settled into a half-hour's ride on the 210. Kurt was driving his Honda and Tony was in the back seat and John was in the front.

We left the 210 at Huntington Drive and proceeded to the Arboretum. We then went to the race track and entered through 4th or 5th Avenue, and we got excellent parking.

The "stalls" through which we entered the race were not far away. We took a picture of all four of us, with help from a female "taker". Tony took it on his camera.

But it was 7 o'clock, and 8 o'clock was the start of the race! So we went back to the car! We stayed until almost 8 o'clock. We bid "adieu" to Kurt, who was going to go much faster than we were!

Looking at the "stalls" we made appropriate moves as we headed up closer. The idea was to start at the gate as a horse would! We were people, running like horses!

I took some pictures of people up close in the crowd. Then it was "Go!" and we went through the stalls. I adjusted my Garmin watch to carefully time my race: 

The first part of the race was a parking lot! Finally, we got to the green spaces. John was gone, but Tony wasn't so I stuck with him. We finished the entire race together.

Now for the twists and turns. We crossed Baldwin Ave heading towards the race park. Then we did a right turn that got us into the park, essentially bisecting it. Then a left turn which put us on the actual horse's path. We were now horses!

Tony and I  were moving very fast in tandem until the end! When we crossed the finish line, I told him, "I'm glad I stuck with you." After 55 minutes, 27 seconds we were both across the line. Now to connect with the other members!

We were already in the middle of the park. We had to find a spot that looked good for meeting John and Kurt. We saw one, but it was the "exit." The "entrance" was on the right, so we went through there and saw Kurt looking for us and - Presto - he found us! He led us to the beer. We got a good Mango IPA. He led us around, and we saw John Moore. A nice table, beers, everything!

We've not been introduced to others at the table. One girl said "We must go to Easter Services!" Another man said, "I've got a horse here. He's number 6." A nice man from Georgia, I think.

So we got ready to leave. We remembered the "exit" and proceeded there. Then we heard, "Use the South exit, that will get you back to your car." We used the South exit, but it was a long walk back! We loitered in the lobby, and then walked outside where a "Seabiscuit" statue is situated, and then on and on in a Southerly direction to parking.

We headed "Rod's," which is not far from the track. We all got in the car, which seemed a much longer walk, but still not far from the "stalls." So we finally exited from the race track.

It was a short drive to Rod's. And we were easily accommodated. Tony was to my left, John on the right, and Kurt across from me. We ordered and I must say I wanted "The Big Winner." It is bacon and eggs, with sourdough toast. A little slip up on the eggs - I received them in a little bowl, they were poached! I really liked the bacon, however! There were five pieces there!

John was reminiscing over all the races. Santa Anita is his favorite. He talked about how it is the happiest of runners' favorites. When he played tennis, you were down when you lost, up when you won, but runners were happiest, always.  It's the endorphins!

I remember my first run, in 1987, I ran as John Moore! It was Chinatown by Dodger Stadium. I remember looking upwards and - for the life of me - not able to imagine ascending to the heights involved! But I did! Always!

So we were going to get back on the 210 and come back to Claremont. There is a lull that happens during this segment. It is filled with reminiscences from everyone, in the car. But I want to say to my colleagues, thank you for sharing this!

 

Looking for YouTube Equivalents to March 27th "A Spring Musicale" at 3 pm

 Cajòn, Nina Shekhar (b. 1995), Maggie Parkins, cello

Gu Ying (Valley Echoes) (2009), Gao Ping (b. 1970),
Genvieve Feiwen Lee and Brian Keng-Lun Hsu, piano