The World's most beautiful music: Mozart's Clarinet Concerto, Adagio

Three years ago today, Steph and I were being filmed in around various places in Vienna--atop of one of the spires of St. Stephan's, inside the apartment where Mozart lived when he composed, "Le Nozze di Figaro", in the building where Mozart lived when he died, (which is now a department store), and finally at the place which once was the front of the customs house near the Karinthian Gate where he and Anna Storace bid one another a tearful good-bye as she prepared for her return trip to her home in London.

Today I feature the Adagio movement from Mozart's Clarinet concerto, composed in the summer of 1791, only months before his death in early December of that same year. Some claim it to be one of Mozart's most beautiful compositions. Listen for yourself and decide. Featured is Andrew Mariner, clarinet, and the London Symphony Orchestra.

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Three years ago today...

Steph and I were in Vienna, Austria, filming at Laxenburg. The memories are so fresh that it's hard to believe that it was three years ago!

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Just exactly what does the VP do?

Well, Sarah, if some of the qualifications were "hunting and eating buffalo burgers", I suppose you'd be at the top of the list of the most qualified, but I don't think that those things are listed among the qualifications for the second in command of our country. I'm still trying to figure out just what qualifications you have that would appeal to all those disgruntled Hillary supporters. In fact, if I were one of them, I'd be rather insulted by McCain's choice of you for his running mate. You're no Hillary Clinton, that's for sure!

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Dawn

Every morning, when we wake up we have twenty-four brand new hours to live. What a precious gift! We have the capacity to live in a way that these twenty-four hours will bring peace, joy and happiness to ourselves and others.

~ Thich Nhat Hanh

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Kindness counts

When you have the choice between being right and being kind just choose kind.

~ Wayne Dyer

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Wake-up call!

I've just finished reading a powerful book entitled, American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America by Chris Hedges. This book exposes the agenda of people like James Dobson, Timothy LaHaye, Pat Robertson and the like and brings to light their push for power and how they have become bedfellows with conservative, right-wing politicians, as well as with mega corporations like Wal Mart, large industry, big oil corporations, and manufacturing to form a base so powerful as to take over the entire structure of this nation and usher in a totalitarian, theocratic, government.


It is a must-read for anyone who is concerned about the direction in which this country has been heading under the current administration and a wake-up call to all who are dedicated to the preservation of liberty, equality, and freedom in this land we call "America".

Click here to see the Amazon.com link

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The World's most beautiful music: Jacques Brel _ La Chanson des Vieux Amants

song of the old lovers

in spite of all we're still together
so many years of smiles and tears
how many times we'd part forever
and i would leave for parts unknown
a day a week and i'd feel terror
and crumble on the telephone
and then in bed we'd play confessions
and tell the truth what truth we knew
that's how it's been with me and you
and then we'd start upon a new digression

oh my love
my old, my sweet, my gentle love
from year to year as all the seasons fall
i love you more, you know i love you

in spite of all we're still together
so many years of smiles and tears
how many times i found another
but you loved others too my dear
a day a week and i'd need a pardon
and fumble out the key for home
and take a wound that went unhealing
for you'd forgive without forgiving
but of course we went on living
our sorrows locked in christmas seals

oh my love
my old, my sweet, my gentle love
from year to year as all the seasons fall
i love you more, you know i love you

and sometimes we were almost open
and sometimes we would almost touch
i think we wanted very little
but that always seemed tot much
and did we say we wanted children
i really cannot quite recall
what we wanted was our freedom
to dance through life
i think that's all
we are just surrealist pilgrims
melting clocks in marble halls

oh my love
my old my sweet my gentle love
from year to year as all the seasons fall
i love you more, you know
i love you ... still.

(translation: eric blau, mort shuman)

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It's about the change in me

Do not change people; they are only messengers telling you who you are. Revalue yourself and they will confirm the change.

~ Neville Goddard

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On reaching milestones

I went to work this morning without even giving it a second thought. When I got to work, I saw the school bus go by and it dawned on me that today was the first day of school. And then it hit me--"I didn't take anyone to school today!" With Lauren starting at OU in 10 days and Heather starting at OSU on Monday, (my son lives with his dad in Oklahoma City), I've entered a new phase in my life.

Today I started collecting boxes for Lauren to pack her things in. She's moving out. She now has her own apartment, and in less than two weeks she will be out of the nest. I'm not really sure how I feel about it yet.

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On slowing down

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

~ Lao Tzu

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The law of giving

In our willingness to give that which we seek, we keep the abundance of the universe circulating in our lives.

~ Deepak Chopra

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The World's most beautiful music: The Grande Adagio from the Ballet, "Sparticus"

Spartacus, or Spartak, is a ballet by Aram Khachaturian (1903-1978). The work follows the exploits of Spartacus, the leader of the slave uprising against the Romans known as the Third Servile War, although the ballet's storyline takes considerable liberties with the historical record. Khachaturian composed the ballet in 1954. It was widely acclaimed by the critics as a masterpiece with Leonid Jacobson's choreography in Moscow in 1956. Khachaturian revised the ballet score in 1968 and it was choreographed by Yuri Grigorovich. It remains one of his best known works and is prominent within the repertoires of the Moscow Bolshoi Theatre and other ballet companies in Russia and the former Soviet Union. (Information source: Wikipedia)

I first heard this music from the Third Act, the "Grande Adagio" when it was played on one of my favorite classical music stations on my way home from a Chamber Singers rehearsal not too long ago. I was mesmerized.

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The inner waits for you?

I can't tell you how many times I have checked my site meter and someone has come to my blog by googling the phrase "the inner waits for you". I'm sure that they're looking for the song by Billy Joel entitled, "Vienna Waits for You", from his album "The Stranger", but have misunderstood the lyrics.

So once and for all, I'm going to dispel the ignorance and give you the lyrics and the U-tube video of this song.

Billy Joel's father lives in Vienna. Many think there is a direct corollary between when he wrote this song and his return from a trip visiting his dad. Billy was asked about the significance of Vienna, and why it was dedicated a song, and replied (paraphrased by Ann M. Leonhardt (amlst20@pitt.edu)):

He told us that he was very impressed at the respect given to elders in Europe. One day he saw an old woman sweeping a public street with great pride, and it made an impression. He wanted people to realize that there is time in life to accomplish our goals and everything doesn't have to be at a break-neck speed. Instead of fearing old age as we do here, it should be anticipated and valued. So, instead of rushing to accomplish everything in youth you should remember, "Vienna waits for you."

Slow down you crazy child
You're so ambitious for a juvenile
But then if you're so smart
Tell me why are you are still so afraid?

Where's the fire, what's the hurry about?
You better cool it off before you burn it out
You got so much to do
And only so many hours in a day

But you know that when the truth is told
That you can get what you want or you can just get old
You're gonna kick off
Before you even get halfway through
When will you realize
Vienna waits for you

Slow down you're doing fine
You can't be everything you want to be before your time
Although it's so romantic
On the borderline tonight

Too bad but it's the life you lead
You're so ahead of yourself that you forget what you need
Though you can see when you're wrong
You know you can't always see when you're right

You've got your passion, you've got your pride
But don't you know only fools are satisfied?
Dream on
But don't imagine they'll all come true
When will you realize
Vienna waits for you

Slow down you crazy child
Take the phone off the hook and disappear for a while
It's alright
You can afford to lose a day or two
When will you realize...
Vienna waits for you.

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The Enneagram Personality Test: Which one are you?

I took this personality test online and found it to be pretty accurate. You can take it, too.



I tied for The Helper (2) and The Adventurer (7), but the latter seemed to fit my personality best at this point in my life. Number 2 was more dominant before the last several years since I was divorced, although #7 was laying in wait and was who I wanted to be all along.



The Adventurer (the Seven)

Adventurers are energetic, lively, and optimistic. They want to contribute to the world.

How to Get Along with Me

* Give me companionship, affection, and freedom.
* Engage with me in stimulating conversation and laughter.
* Appreciate my grand visions and listen to my stories.
* Don't try to change my style. Accept me the way I am.
* Be responsible for youself. I dislike clingy or needy people.
* Don't tell me what to do.

What I Like About Being a Seven

* being optimistic and not letting life's troubles get me down
* being spontaneous and free-spirited
* being outspoken and outrageous. It's part of the fun.
* being generous and trying to make the world a better place
* having the guts to take risks and to try exciting adventures
* having such varied interests and abilities

What's Hard About Being a Seven

* not having enough time to do all the things I want
* not completing things I start
* not being able to profit from the benefits that come from specializing; not making a commitment to a career
* having a tendency to be ungrounded; getting lost in plans or fantasies
* feeling confined when I'm in a one-to-one relationship

Sevens as Children Often

* are action oriented and adventuresome
* drum up excitement
* prefer being with other children to being alone
* finesse their way around adults
* dream of the freedom they'll have when they grow up

Sevens as Parents

* are often enthusiastic and generous
* want their children to be exposed to many adventures in life
* may be too busy with their own activities to be attentive

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The World's most beautiful music: Till There Was You from "The Music Man"

An incredible performance from Disney's 2003 release of the Broadway hit, The Music Man, starring Matthew Broderick and Oklahoma's own Kristen Chenoweth.

If you like schmalz, this is the song for you!

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The power of the joyful woman

Joy is our goal, our destiny. We cannot know who we are except in joy. Not knowing joy, we do not know ourselves. When we are centered in joy, we attain our wisdom. A joyful woman, by merely being, says it all. The world is terrified of joyful women. Make a stand. BE ONE ANYWAY.

~ Marianne Williamson

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Hidden strength

The work an unknown good man has done is like a vein of water flowing hidden underground, secretly making the ground green.

~ Thomas Carlyle, Scottish historian and essayist, 1795-1881

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The World's most beautiful music: John Williams' Love Theme from "Superman"

One of the premiere composers of our time and Oscar winner several times over is John Williams. With some of the most amazing film scores in the history of film to his credit, (Star Wars, E.T., Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, Schindler's List, Indiana Jones...), this incredible composer continues to thrill movie audiences over and over again, generation after generation.

In the 1978 film, Superman, starring the late Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, & Gene Hackman, Williams presented us with a sweeping love theme that made every girl in the audience wish that she were Lois Clark being swept off of her feet by the strong & dashing man in the red cape!

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Wow! Was I ever THAT young?

An old friend just sent me this picture. Not only was I that young, (about 13 or 14), I was a, (gasp!), GIRL SCOUT! (Guess which one is me.)

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An afternoon at the theater

For the last couple of months my girls and I have been looking forward to today, for just before Lauren came home from France I bought tickets to take them to see the touring production of Andrew Lloyd Weber's The Phantom of the Opera at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. Both of them have seen the film, but neither have seen it on stage. I saw it a number of years ago, when the kids were small, and I loved it. Now that they are young adults, I thought it a great experience to have with my girls. Afterwards we will be meeting their grandparents for dinner at one of our favorite spots, Mimi's Cafe. We're looking forward to a wonderful day!

Here's a clip from the film of my very favorite scene!

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