Showing posts with label Moments of Significance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Moments of Significance. Show all posts

For an old friend: Mozart's Sonata in C major for piano & violin, K. 296

>> Wednesday, September 2, 2009



Josepha Barbara Auernhammer (also Aurnhammer) was born in Vienna on September 25, 1758 to Johann Michael Auernhammer and Elizabeth Timmer. Her first music teachers were Georg Friedrich Richter (or Joseph Richter) and the Bohemian pianist Leopold Anton Kozeluch. In 1781 her family took in a border, newly arrived in Vienna, named Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and she became one of his first students in this city. In Mozart’s many letters to his father this year he frequently mentioned her. It seems that she had a sound technical facility, but he noted “in cantabile playing she has not got the real delicate singing style”. Soon, though, he declared that he was thoroughly pleased with her progress and delighted with her keyboard skills.

During the summer of 1781 Mozart prepared for publication a set of six sonatas for piano and violin, what he called his “Opus 2” and are now labeled K.376, 296, and 377-380. These he dedicated to Josepha and they have become known as the “Auernhammer sonatas”.

Link to information source.

I've featured the 3rd movement of the Sonata in C major, K. 296. Welcome home, dear friend.

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We love you Papa

>> Sunday, May 31, 2009


On this, the 200th anniversary of the death of Franz Joseph "Papa" Haydn, I would like to present this lovely video tribute created by the city of Vienna in honor of the occasion. There was perhaps no composer in Vienna who was loved more than Haydn.

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Our love song

>> Saturday, February 14, 2009



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The hope of a nation expressed in the songs of her people

>> Thursday, January 22, 2009


What could be more beautiful or moving than this arrangement of Amazing Grace sung by Wintley Phipps, yesterday morning at the National Prayer Service at the Washington Cathedral? President Obama and the First Lady seemed genuinely moved, as was the rest of the congregation. Our prayers as a nation are for our new President and his family. May he lead us into a new era of peace and prosperity, and may we follow him with courage and determination to live in a way that honors that hope.

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Letters to President-Elect Obama from Harlem 4th graders

>> Friday, November 7, 2008

Dear President Obama,


I am so happy you are our new president! And it is not just because you are black, it is because you have some great ideas! And I wanted to be a singer, dancer, and actress but you open new doors for me. You open the doors for everybody. Now I think that now I can be the first female black president! And we went from black people not being able to vote and that changed and then black people never got a chance to be president but you changed that. And for that, it is like you are my and the whole world's hero!

Love (a 9 year old),
Tatiana

P.S. I won't put TV before homework.


Dear President Obama,


Congratulations. I'm glad we have our first black president and I'm glad we all (the United States) have a great president like you! I am very sorry about what happened with your grandmother, but I know if she was here right now, she will be very proud of you! I am very sure you will make the best decisions for all of America! I was hoping you can make a recycling rule to help something called Global Warming.

Love,
E'Raya


Dear President Obama,


I want to say you are the bomb. I love all your speeches. Even my grandma does. I feel sorry for your grandmother but she's there up in heaven watching over you. When you get to the white house you will have our help.

I'm so happy that you are becoming president. Can you make a change about the cops? They need to pay more attention at the Lincoln Tunnel.

Write back.

Your friend,
Asia


Dear President Obama,


I like the way you think about turning off the T.V. and letting kids do their homework. I know so many things that the people in the world want you to fix. Do you think you can do it? We CAN make change. I believe you. Everybody believes you. Barack, we can do it. Yes, we can.
Don't forget leadership and responsibility is what we are looking for.

Change we make. Change we believe.

Sincerely,
Hawa


Dear President Obama,


I knew you would win. You easily won by a landslide. Do you think you can lower taxes? Just 20 dollars. My mom wants to move. I do too. The house we want to move to cost twice as much. So, can you please do that? I hope you have a good time being president. I know I would. I also hope you get free time. How did you get to spend time with family and do the election? Also can you really bend the rules? If you can please make children do less homework. Especially on holidays. On holidays they load us with homework. One last request. I promise it's my last one. Can you make Friday a weekend like Saturday and Sunday?

Sincerely,
Darnell


Dear President Obama,


Congratulations on your win to be president of the United States of America. What are you going to change about littering, gas, and wars? Are you going to make hunting stop? Are you going to lower taxes? Are you going to give more money to schools? What are you going to do about stock markets? What are you going to do about parking spaces? What are you going to do about more jail time, book store prices, gas prices, robbers, the laws, houses, and long lines in Pathmark?

Your Biggest Fan,
Rafi


Dear Barack Obama,


My name is Shareef and I am writing to you to say congratulations on being the first black President. Your wife must be very proud of you. Also your kids too must be proud. Also I'm African American too and I might be just like you. When you get to the white house please try to stop the war for once and for all. Obama I'm very proud of you especially my mom. She's really proud because she woke up 5:30 AM to go vote for you and I went with her. Please write back to me when you get a chance. To tell you, I'm nine years old in the 4th grade. Obama, you're the man.

Sincerely,
Shareef

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"Please don't screw this one up!"

>> Tuesday, November 4, 2008


I belong to an online list called "Oklahomans for Obama". For the past several months I have been sharing with 366 of my fellow Oklahomans. We've shared our hopes and fears, we've organized voter registration, we've passed word along about various rallies and events. We've been in the trenches together and we've grown close. This morning this message was in my mail box from one of our members who has never disclosed himself, until today. I was so touched by it that I had to share it with you.

You guys don't know me but I have been here from the beginning, always silent but always reading. The reason I have not been involved up until this point is due to work reasons which I will not go into detail but all I ask is one thing. Please do not screw this up. There is so much at stake and the feeling like the walls could come tumbling down any minute all around you only proves that there is much need for change. This is why I believe an Obama presidency would make everyone's lives better. So I beg of you for the sake of your friends, families, co-workers and yes even your government, please vote. That's it, don't vote because I asked you to or because Obama has asked you to, vote because the lives of everyone I mentioned are affected by this one shining moment in history when the world turns its eyes to America hoping that it will wake from its destructive coma and become the shining beacon the world once turned to in times of crisis. I myself have never voted even though I was eligible in 2000 and 2004 nor have I even been registered to vote till recently. I am voting for my unborn daughter and the woman that I love so that our lives can be just a little bit easier and safer. Whatever your reasons are please think of them when you experience long waits at the polls and are thinking of leaving because the wait is too long. Thank you for your time and please vote.

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The World loves Obama

>> Sunday, November 2, 2008


Just yesterday I was reading that the entire world is watching the U.S. presidential elections with great anticipation and that when Barack Obama wins the U.S. Presidency, the people of all nations will embrace him as the World's President. What an awesome and incredible honor and responsibility that will be. I believe this behooves us to lift this man up in prayer, to pray protection, guidance, compassion, wisdom, and strength upon him and upon his entire family.

The following is an African song in honor of Obama simply entitled, The Obama Song, expressing the gratitude and hopes of the world for this incredible man, the man destiny has called to pave the way for peace and healing for a broken world.

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She's all grown up

>> Monday, April 28, 2008




Just had to share some photos of Heather with her friends at her senior prom this last Saturday night. She looked so beautiful...

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Taking a vacation day for music

>> Friday, April 18, 2008


I'm not going to work today because I took a vacation day to go and hear my daughter, Heather, sing her solo at state solo and ensemble music contest in Shawnee. This is her senior year and her last year to get to sing at state contest and so I wanted to be there. As an added plus, I'll get to hear her sing Voi che sapete from my very favorite opera of all, Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro and one that she sings so well!

UPDATE: Heather sang beautifully and received a Superior rating (I) on her solo, Friday! Way to go, Heather!

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Aint she sweet?

>> Wednesday, April 2, 2008




My daughter, Heather, just had her senior portraits taken this last weekend by photographer Averi Blackmon. We just got the proofs back yesterday and I couldn't resist showing a couple of them off! Averi did a great job, but I have to admit that her subject didn't stink!

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My heart took a picture

>> Tuesday, November 27, 2007


There's a new family in our cul de sac. They moved in a few months ago with their loads of bright plastic Little Tikes outdoor toys, trikes, wagons, and picnic tables. The family consists of a very nice young couple and two small children, a girl probably around three years old, and a little boy who is no more than a toddler. The dad is the one who stays at home with the kids while the mom works. They're a precious family, and on nice days one can often find the dad outside with the children while they ride around in their little peddle cars, and pull their brightly colored plastic wagons through the cul de sac.

Last night, as I was walking out to the car to leave for Chamber Singers rehearsal, I was met with a sight that was worthy of a Norman Rockwell painting. Like our family, they decorated their home for Christmas over the weekend, and their brightly lit tree sat in the front window of the house. As I looked over towards the end of the cul de sac, I could see the children through the window, all dressed in their pajamas, excitedly dancing around the tree, looks of glee shining as bright as the tree lights, upon their faces. The little girl pointed at several different places on the tree, and then jumped up and down and clapped, while the little boy stood and watched, seemingly mesmerized by the glow.

As I stood and gazed into their living room, I was caught up in the children's excitement, and I heard myself giggle out loud, my whole being warmed by their joy and youthful enthusiasm, and for a moment, I was a child again. I felt for just one instance, what those children felt, and remembered those Christmases, years ago, when I was a child with my family, and my heart took a picture.

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The Winds of Change

>> Saturday, November 17, 2007


The past two-and-a-half weeks have seen Steph and me beset with a whirlwind that has brought with it a season of change and transition in our lives, the likes that I've not seen in the nearly eight years since I was divorced. That's not to say that the past eight years have been a piece of cake, by any means, for every year, it seems, has been beset with its triumphs and challenges. It has been an interesting life. However, these past couple of weeks have brought a strange wind, that portends destruction, but rather, in its wake, is leaving the chance for a new start, a new life, and new opportunities.

I had a dream last week that I was sitting on a front porch of a house with my boss from the real estate office where I work. If you know anything about my boss, Grace, you will know that practically nothing alarms her. She's solid as a rock, and seemingly unaffected by anything. As we were sitting together sipping some tea, I looked to my right and about a mile down the road I saw a great, terrible storm cloud. It was black and churning and ominous, and it was coming right towards us. Alarmed, I turned to Grace and exclaimed, "Do you see that? It's coming right towards us!" In typical Grace fashion, she replied, "Awwwh...don't worry about it. We're in Oklahoma. We see stuff like that all the time." I turned towards it again, and it was even closer, and then suddenly a huge tornado fell out of the black cloud, and began consuming everything in its path. Then, suddenly, as it advanced towards us, it broke up into a bunch of smaller tornadoes, that kept coming down the road. What was interesting, however, was that although the tornadoes were consuming everything in their path, what they left behind in the wake was not destruction, but beauty! The sun was shinning, there were lush, green trees, fields full of green grass and flowers, birds singing--a virtual paradise. As the storm came closer and closer and eventually passed us, we were caught up in the wake, but we were never touched nor harmed, but left in peace, surrounded by all of this new beauty.

For a little less than a year, now, Steph and I have been intensely visualizing a dream that we have held since we have been together, and that Steph has had since 1994--that of moving to and living in Vienna. Around Thanksgiving last year, we were introduced to The Secret , and through the things that were revealed to us in that film, we learned about how living a life of joy, expectancy, and gratitude would open us up to a fuller and more abundant life through the Law of Attraction. Since then, we have been putting what we learned into practice, and now, a year later, we are seeing the beginnings of the harvest of what we have created.

I know that my blog entries have seemed rather cryptic over the last couple of weeks, and indeed they have been. As much as I would love to, I am not yet free to indulge myself in shouting from the mountain tops, just yet. That time is soon to arrive however. Let's just put it this way--there is a will, we have a lawyer, and our dreams of Vienna will soon be a reality.

And I am so very grateful...

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Out of my dreams...

>> Wednesday, October 24, 2007


I've been having some interesting dreams lately, extremely symbolic, and containing some unusual animals. A few weeks ago it was baboons, and last night I had a dream that I was standing next to a very gentle, giant turtle. I reached over to feed it some lettuce and it looked directly into my eyes.

I looked up turtles in the dream interpretation dictionary and it says that they are symbols for good fortune and opportunity. Interesting...

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House cat night

>> Friday, September 28, 2007

Last night was an unusual Thursday, one where I was actually able to come home and relax without the usual whir of activity--running here and there, etc. When I got home from work, I was greeted by Steph with a warm embrace and a kiss, as well as, "I missed you today". That warmed me all over. Then after I taught my Thursday voice lesson, I took a little snooze on the couch while Steph prepared the ingredients for "build-your-own-burrito" night for dinner. Steph and I then took our dinner upstairs to our room and watched the DVD of "Immortal Beloved", which I gave to her for her birthday, and lay on the bed together, like a couple of house cats, cuddling and purring. Afterwards, we continued to lay on the bed and listen to music and talk of our personal growth, our dreams, and our move to Vienna.

What a pleasant way to spend a Thursday night!

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Bravo, Tenore, Bravo!

>> Thursday, September 6, 2007

Luciano Pavarotti (October 12, 1935 - September 6, 2007) was an Italian tenor and one of the best known vocal performers in contemporary times, in the world of opera and across multiple musical genres. He contracted cancer and eventually died from kidney failure on September 6, 2007.

He will be remembered as one of the greatest tenors in history, and will be mourned by millions. Considered the modern Caruso, he thrilled audiences with his powerful, soaring, and flawless execution. In my opinion, Caruso couldn't hold a candle to the amazing Pavarotti. Heaven's opera stage is all the brighter today for now Pavarotti and Beverly Sills are singing duets.


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Still my favorite photo

>> Tuesday, August 28, 2007


I snapped this picture of Steph looking out of the music room window of the Figarohaus in Vienna, nearly two years ago. It wasn't taken with a fancy digital camera, but with an ordinary 35mm with old fashioned high speed film.

For me, this photo says it all.

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Sending Her Off With a Smile

>> Thursday, August 23, 2007

Lauren's dad took this picture yesterday morning in the Oklahoma City airport just moments before Lauren went through security. Since 9/11/01, non passengers are not allowed to go with a passenger to the gate, so we stood and watched as Lauren made her way through the security check station, waving at her each time she turned around to check if we were still there. Finally she gave us one last wave and turned towards the hallway that took her to her gate and disappeared.

From left to right is Lauren's younger sister, Heather, then Lauren, and myself.

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She's Leaving on a Jet Plane

>> Tuesday, August 21, 2007

The day is nearly upon us. At exactly noon, central time, my little girl will take off from Will Rogers International Airport with her final destination being Rennes, France. She will arrive in Rennes at 2:45 p.m. on the 23rd and will be met by her host family, the Rouauds. I won't see her again for nearly a year.

This is a day we have worked towards for over a year now, and it has finally arrived. I greet it with a sense of pride mixed with a deep sadness. My girl is no longer a child. We have now entered into a new phase in our relationship. I've always known that this was inevitable, but nothing one can do or say can really prepare you for it. It happens and it hits you in the face like a cold bucket of ice water. I've had knots in my guts for three days now and I've had a difficult time sleeping, but no tears yet. Tomorrow I may cry.

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Creating Memories

>> Tuesday, August 14, 2007



This week is a full one as I help Lauren get all of the final details squared away before she leaves for France, and Heather starts her senior year of high school. Saturday I drove both of the girls to Pawnee to the Pawnee Bill Ranch so that Lauren could get pictures and gifts for her host families, and to spend a little quality time with them before Lauren leaves.

The Pawnee Bill Ranch was the home of Gordon William Lillie , who later became known as "Pawnee Bill", when in 1883 he created a Wild West Show that rivaled the popularity of the better-known Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. The ranch and mansion were built in the early 1900's and today include a museum as well as a large reserve where buffalo still roam. It's a great place to take one's kids to have some fun and learn a little about Oklahoma history and culture.

After our excursion at the ranch, we went into town and had a late lunch at one of the local eateries, called "Honest John Fibber's". This quirky cafe is located in one of Pawnee's original, historic old buildings and still boasts the original ornamented tin ceiling and wood plank floors. The girls and I had some of their incredible homestyle burgers and homemade fries! Major yum! And then we walked next door to the little antique shop and did a little browsing.

It was one of those days that won't go down in my memory as particularly monumental, but it's one I won't ever forget, because it was quality time spent with my girls, and as Steph often says, my heart took a picture.

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Musical illustrations of life

>> Sunday, April 2, 2006

My kids grew up in the 90's, in the middle of the era of the animated movie musical. I swear that every time Disney or Don Bluth put out a new animated film, we not only took the kids to see it, but as soon as the video came out, we bought it.

The songs in these films, just as in a Broadway musical, serve as audio illustrations and enhancements to the story line. As I began to recall and identify some of my favorite songs from these films, I realized that they were all songs that I related to, that had meaning for me, and in a very real sense serve as illustrations of events in my life, or at least of my thoughts and emotions, if not my real life. The following are a list of some of these songs and the event(s), and/or emotions that they illustrate.

  1. "Somewhere Out There" from An American Tail, 1986: This song became very popular and was played on all the radio stations. The first time I heard it, I cried. I had been married for four years, but I knew I wasn't with the right person and that "somewhere out there" was the one I was supposed to be with.

  2. "Once Upon a December" from Anastasia, 1997: When we took the kids to see this film, I was mesmerized by the haunting music and lyrics of this song. Since I was a small child, I had experienced foggy memories of a life not in this time or place and I couldn't make sense of it. I knew what Anya sang of when she sang, "Things my heart used to know, things I long to remember...". It was only two years later that I met the person who would help me remember the things my heart used to know.

  3. "Once Upon a Dream" from Sleeping Beauty, 1959: This film debuted the year before I was born and has always been my very favorite Disney animated film. And the song illustrates exactly what I felt when I found Mozart on line, in May of 1999.

  4. "Belle" from Beauty and the Beast, 1991: The opening scene of this film was my life until May of 1999.

  5. "A Whole New World" from Aladdin, 1992: This song became my life beginning in May of 1999. I've flown on the magic carpet, and now I can't go back to where I used to be...

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