Sitting At The Kitchen Table

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 15 Mar 09 - 06:17 PM

I'd best claim 2301 then!

Jerry, I very nearly had a very similar experience, driving home late one night from a folk club. A guy ran out in front of my car on a darkened stretch of road in town. Luckily I was able to swerve and missed him. Also luckily, there wasn't anything coming on the other side of the road.

It really shook me up and I phoned it in to the police when I got home a few minutes later. I found out later from some of my police contacts that the guy had been reported as suicidal and awol by his distraught wife and was picked up a few minutes after I phoned in - they found him by the river, wanting to jump.

I'm all cold just thinking about it again now.

Jerry, I wish your story had a better ending.

Deirdre

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 15 Mar 09 - 08:15 PM

The man I killed was emotionally retarded. He'd been on a trip with a group from an institution in Atlantic City and had wandered away from the group. They never figured out how he ended up standing in the middle of the road on the Hutchison River Turnpike north of New York City. I guess that explained why he made no attempt to move.

The beautiful, powerful thing about music is that it can calm you in the darkest of nights. The song slowly came up from the recesses of my mind where I'd driven it. It didn't come in any order. I'd remember what turned out to be the third line of the second verse, and then the second line of the first verse. But, it all eventually came back. I led a group at a Potluck dinner/gospel sing between my Lutheran church where I was a member at the time and the black Baptist Church across the street. It took more courage than I thought I had to sing the song, and I had to give the background before I sang it in order to do it. When I was done, this guy from the black church came up to me, threw his arms around me and said, "Man, I love you!" I'd never seen him before. He turned out to be Frankie, who I asked three months later to join my gospel quartet.

These are the words to the song"

I take cold comfort in the ways of man
I see no justice in this land
I feel the anger of the unstayed hand
May my heart find rest in Thee

CHORUS:
And in the darkness, give me the eyes of faith
In my sorrow, send down your healing grace
And on my journey, may my path be straight
May my heart find rest in Thee

Give me the wisdom that I might understand
Give me the courage that I might take my stand
And when I'm weary, lend me a helping hand
May my heart find rest in Thee

Some spend their lives in a search for power
Ignoring treasures time can't devour
All that I ask in my final hour
May myu heart find rest

I was given that song to carry me safely through the darkness of that night.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: maeve
Date: 15 Mar 09 - 08:36 PM

Thank you, Jerry.

maeve

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 12:41 PM

Yes, thanks Jerry.

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 04:40 PM

Hello Jerry,

A lovely set of words. I can see how they sustained you. You know what I'm going to ask next (apart from is the coffee hot) don't you?

What is the tune?

(By the way, that drizzle cake was amazing....did we finish it?)

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 05:25 PM

It goes like this, Pete:


hmmm,hmmm,hmmm, hmm, hmm...


It's suppertime around our kitchen table right now, but I'll respond more sensibly after we eat. Susan Trump has recorded the song.. you might check her website and see if there is a sample of the track.

More after supper...

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 06:18 PM

Sounds like I'd better make another lemon drizzle cake. I have to admit that I enjoy cyber cooking - I'm just useless at it in reality!.

(And, as a bonus, NO WASHING UP!)

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 06:48 PM

No calories, either.

I checked Susan Trump's website. There's no way to listen to the song.

Ah, well...

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: billybob
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 10:35 AM

Coffee pot is on and a few bottles of Guiness on the table,Happy St Patricks day to you all.Some diddle diddle music on the CD player in the corner,just been reading through the past few days, Deidre did you get a shoulder rub? Normally I would give you a lovely aromatherapy, but I am in need of a good massage myself! We were driving Scarlett back home on Sunday when an idiot in a BMW reversed out onto the road directly in front of us, thank goodness Billy has quick reactions as he did an emergency stop, the baby was in her safety seat and was fine, but my seat belt has left me with bruises, I feel like someone has squeezed my ribs with a metal belt.Here am I owning a beauty salon, therapists not busy and worried that if I have a massage it will make it worse!
Never mind, reading about your accident Jerry, puts everything in perspective!
I have a big apple and blackberry pie here, cream anyone?
Wendy

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 02:53 PM

Hi Wendy, no, I'm still in need of my shoulder rub. Sory to hear about your argument with the BMW. Glad that you are mostly unscathed, hope the bruises heal quickly.

The apple and blackberry pie sounds good - no cream for me please!.

Deirdre

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 18 Mar 09 - 09:34 AM

Ruth and I are going to a funeral this morning. Not that is always a downer. Mary Evans was one of the first friends I made at the black Baptist Church when I first started going there 12 years ago. She was allready retired from teaching school. We struck up a conversation sitting at a table with a couple other people at coffee hour after church and immediately liked each other. I'd taught nature classed to kids for many years, and she'd grown up out in the country down South as I had in Wisconsin, so we had a lot of common experiences to talk about. What impressed me most about her was her humility. I'm a sucker for humility, it being so rare. She'd had a stroke a while back and when she came through it, she couldn't talk. She prayed to God to help her say the Lord's prayer, and that's how she slowly got her speach back. She said it took her several weeks, slowly struggling to mouth the prayer one word at a time. When she was telling me this, she was as fluid a speaker as she must have been all the years she taught. In the first few years I knew her, she was always frail, but she managed to make it to church most sundays. Then I'd see her less and less frequently, and she started slipping fast. The Deacons at the church are very good about going to pick up the sick and shut-in to bring them to church so I'd see her once in awhile. She always had a beautiful smile and would hold my hand in hers, beaming up at me. Ruth had known her casually too, many years before I joined the church.

Today is Mary's Home-going service and I'll sing with choir. She always loved to hear the Men's Chorus, and I know she'll have a good time. The most joyful thing about today is that I know Mary's forwarding address.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 18 Mar 09 - 09:42 AM

That is a truely lovely thought about knowing Mary's "forwarding address'. There's a song in that, Jerry.

Stephen Lee

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 18 Mar 09 - 10:12 AM

Hey, Stephen: How nice to see you. It's been a long time.

I like the Spirit of funerals, or Home-goings in the black churches.
The whole range of emotions is openly expressed, from moaning and crying out to laughter, upbeat music and even dancing in the aisles. All reactions are equally respected. I've sung at a Home-going for the sister-in-law of Frankie in the Gospel Messengers and we got people up and dancing. I have no idea what it will be like today, and that's the beauty of it. It will be whatever people feel.

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 20 Mar 09 - 07:30 AM

Hello again,

How did the funeral go, Jerry? I like the idea of celebrating some-one's life and their departure from it in more than the traditional way! It is always a difficult time, but sometimes I think we make matters worse rather than better in the ways we 'bring closure'. ('orrible phrase, but I can't think of how else to express it at the moment. Need some of that coffee, Jerry!)

I hope the concert goes well, Deidre!

With regards to the song we were discussing, I guess we will have to invite Susan Trump over and she can sing it to us round the table!

Best as ever,


Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 20 Mar 09 - 04:04 PM

The funeral was very moving, Peter. Even though our friend Mary was 92 and it might seem would have "Outlived her friends and her enemies" (From Old Summer Wine,) there was a good turnout. Good people touch all generations and races. When Ruth and I went up to offer our condolences to the family I was quite surprised when Mary's son who is very simple, recognized me immediately. He looked up with a big grin and said, "You're Jerry Rasmussen from the Stamford Museum. You can really play that guitar!" I only met Mary's song three or four times in my life, and not in the most desireable circumstances as he was putting in his time in Community Service at the Museum, propping up a rake hours at a time. I wasn't even aware that he'd ever heard me play, but Mary loved to hear my quartet, the Gospel Messengers.

The music that was chosen for the Home-going service was rather formal choral music because Mary sang in the Sanctuary Choir (which rarely does gospel music.) As people were filing out, the director of the Men's Chorus led us in doing I'll Fly Away, and that was great fun. My friend Joe who sang bass in the Gospel Messengers and was Best Man at our wedding was on one side of me, and my friend Arthur from Jamaica who also sings bass was on the other. Joe sang bass, Arthur sang the melody and I sang the baritone harmony. I threw an arm over each of their shoulders and that's the way we sang. Not very formal looking, because I love Joe and Arthur and the feeling is mutual. But I knew Mary was enjoying it.

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: maeve
Date: 20 Mar 09 - 06:09 PM

"I only met Mary's song three or four times ..."

That's a poetic typo, Jerry. I thought for a long time that my children would be my songs; rather than the reverse as it is now.

I would have liked your friend Mary. Thanks for introducing her to us.

maeve

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 20 Mar 09 - 07:34 PM

Hey, maeve: Yeah, nice typo. By the time I met Mary, she'd already been through that first, hard stroke. When she was younger, she directed the youth choir and was a wonderful soloist with a beautiful voice. I've been think about Mary a lot today. She was a wonderful, beloved teacher, a gifted musician and singer and a very elegant lady. When she had the stroke it might have seemed that all of what made her such a fine woman was taken away from her. She not only coudln't ing, she couldn't speak, or teach. She couldn't even play piano anymore. But the most precious thing about her remained: her generous, loving Spirit. It almost seemed like all of the most obvious wonderful qualities of hers were stripped away until all that remained was the beauty of her soul. That shone brighter than ever.

I know I am going to write a chapter in my next book about Mary, drawing on what I have posted here.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 21 Mar 09 - 05:59 PM

Hello Jerry,

I'm glad it all went well.

I notice that you and Susan Trump have a gig coming up in U'nI Coffeehouse on 14th November (which just happens to be the boy John's birthday). How I wish I could be there!

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 21 Mar 09 - 06:55 PM

I was at a funeral a few years back at which the deceased got in the last word. He had actually written out what music he wanted played at his funeral while he was on his death bed. Most of it was very beautiful "goodbye" songs. At his request, however the funeral closed with what he called his final thought for us all. It was Roger Miller's "You Can't Rollerskate In A Buffallo Herd". It was completely nuts and completely appropriate. His life philosophy had always been "You can be happy if you've a mind to". It's the only funeral I have ever attended at which everyone left laughing.

Stephen Lee

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 22 Mar 09 - 04:22 PM

Hi Everyone,

Jerry, reading your postings about Mary's funeral has given my spirit a refreshing, grinning lift. Thank you for that!.

Peter, you'll be pleased to hear that my concert yesterday went well, much better than I'd dared hoped or expected. Not note perfect all the way through but we gave our best performance of those works on the night. All I can say is that it was a huge relief!.

I'm really looking forward to my next concert next Saturday 28th at Lincoln Cathedral - Verdi Requiem.

In the UK, today is Mother's Day and I've had a visit from my mum-in-law which was very enjoyable and relaxing. She didn't stay for tea, so I've some Thornton's chocolate cake going spare. Anyone care to join me and to save my waistline from expanding even further?.

Kettle is on the boil..............

Deirdre

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 24 Mar 09 - 12:11 PM

I just got booked for my first book signing at a bookstore in the area. Never done one before. I guess I'll have to pull out our Murder She Wrote DVDs to see how Jessica did it. I'll bring along my guitar and sing some of the songs from the book, too. It should interesting...

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 24 Mar 09 - 05:33 PM

Well done, Jerry!

Don't forget to take lots of pens!

Best wishes,


Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 24 Mar 09 - 05:57 PM

Sounds like great fun, pity we'll miss it!

Have fun with it Jerry!.

Deirdre

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 24 Mar 09 - 07:24 PM

Thanks, folks... it will be a new experience for me. I'm looking forward to it.

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: maeve
Date: 24 Mar 09 - 10:55 PM

Jerry, enjoy your book signing adventure and relish the instigation of music in a public place. I suspect you will find yourself meeting yet another person who will strike that lovely chord of "Wayfaring Stranger Turned Friend" that seems to follow you.

maeve

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 25 Mar 09 - 08:13 AM

You got that right, maeve. I love people, and the book signing will be just another opportunity for sitting around and talking with new folks. I'll learn a lot about them, as they learn a little about me.
Not that I need a book signing for that. But I'll break down the author/audience thing.

Several years ago, I sang at the Big Muddy Festival in Boonville, Missouri run by my friends Dave Para and Cathy Barton. The evening concert was held in a historic theater and they had the microphones set up twenty feet back from the front of the stage. I felt like I was singing in an adjacent room, I was so far away from the audience. I warned the sound man not to be surprised if I got up and walked to the front of the stage and did a song without the sound system. After three or four songs, I put down my guitar, walked to the front of the stage and told people I was tired of sitting so far away and that I wanted to see them. I taugtht them The Old Account Was Settled Long Ago, with different parts for the men and women and we ripped through the song at full throttle. It felt good. It was a house concert with 500 people in the house.

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 28 Mar 09 - 04:47 PM

Hello again,

Jerry, have you done your book signing yet? We went to a book signing the other month with a local newsreader who had a great time chatting with everyone. There was a lovely atmosphere and I imagine that your signing may well be like that!

I'm sure I'm not alone in hourly expecting you to come up with a book-signing shanty?

What is everyone else up to? I'm amazed that "my thread" that old dude started is still running. I never expected it to get beyond three posts!

We had an exciting time at one of our sessions when the local radio came and put us all on the spot! We got a very good plug from them, however. They did the music and the venue a great favour. This is encouraging when, so often, folk music is the butt of jokes.

The coffee at the cafe is good, but not as good as yours Jerry! Is the kettle on?

Best wishes,


Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 29 Mar 09 - 09:57 AM

I'm just heading off to church, finishing up a large mug of coffe, Peter. I have a story to write about last night and will get to it on here this afternoon. As a one sentence summary, Ruth and I went to a dinner honoring 9 women who have made a difference in their community, given by the Muslim mosque where my two son-in-laws are deeply involved, honoring women of all faiths, and expressing love for not only Christian and Jews but for Buddhists, Hindus, and even Agnostics. Would that Mudcat could have such graciousness and love.
An aquaintance of mine, who happens to be a highly visible member of another church we attend when told that we were going to a Muslim dinner said sarcasstically, "I hope that they're not like those Muslims in Iran!"

Some folks don't get it. I rendeth my shirt for them.

Love is all you need.

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 29 Mar 09 - 03:02 PM

Jerry,

Looking forward to hearing the full story about last night.

My "last night" was singing Verdi Requiem at Lincoln Cathedral - wonderful evening. Today I've been to a Sacred Harp day with friends and it was fantastic. I've now got no voice left but a big smile in its place.

Please pass the lemon tea!.

Deirdre

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 29 Mar 09 - 05:53 PM

There was a certain irony to it. When I mentioned to someone the other day that Ruth and I were going to a dinner hosted by a Muslim mosque, they said, "I hope they're not like those Muslims in Iran."
Ruth's two sons, and mine now too, are both Muslim. They've been Muslims since the 60's and are very dedicated to their faith and service to others. Each year their mosque hosts a dinner honoring women who have given generously of themselves to the community. Ruth and I have been at previous dinners, but this one turned out to be espcially memorable. There were nine honorees from all faiths, including Muslim, Jewish and Christian. The people who attended the dinner were equally varied in background. There were four hispanic women sitting at our table, along with a Muslim woman and two Muslim Immams.

As speaker after speaker came to the platform, there was one common message. "Despite our differences, we all serve the same God." An Minister who was honored spoke powerfully about the fear and ignorance of Muslims that she found in her congregation. She called the Immam at our son's mosque and asked if her church members could come to a service. In preparation, they spend many weeks in bible study, studying the Kuran. That was the beginning of a warm friendship between the Covergational church where the minister is pastor, and the Muslim mosque where our son's go. We've come to know the Immam there and socialized with him, and he is a delightful, holy man.

Throughout the evening, there was such respect, love and reverence expressed by each speaker. There was a powerful feeling of oneness
that was openly acknowledged, despite the wide diversity of the people at the dinner.

After the program ended, I went out to talk with my son Ali. He was busily selling bean pies he'd made, but stopped when he saw me. He's been reading my book and thoroughly enjoying it, even though we don't share the same faith. He wanted to buy a book to give to someone. The "someone" turned out to be the keynote speaker, a woman who is Editor of the Muslim Journal which is distributed internationally. When she arrived, he offered her the book and she seemed quite moved. She asked me if I'd autograph it for her which I did with a warm message of appreciation for all she is doing. Ali suggested that I place an ad in the Muslim Journal and despite it sounding like an unusual idea, it made some sense. There was a Muslim author doing a book signing at the dinner and it wouldn't have suprised me if they'd ask me to do one too. After all, Muslims, Jews, Agnostics and Atheists are all reading the book.

At the end of the program they announced that there was going to be a breakfast at the hotel the following morning, with the keynote speaker delivering the message. The person making the announcement extended a warm invitation to everyone whether they are Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist,or Atheist. I felt the sincerity of the invitation.

This morning, Ruth and I talked at length about what a beautiful, spiritual evening we had and when we went to our daughter's church today, her sermon was on the dinner.

There may be hope for this old world, after all.

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 31 Mar 09 - 01:20 PM

So. where'd everyone go? Sheesh!!!!!!! the first sign of spring and everyone's outside.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 31 Mar 09 - 04:47 PM

Sorry Jerry!

Wish I had been out in the Spring weather. Instead, I've been holed up at work trying to get the new accounting system set to go. 10 hours stuck in front of a computer screen getting a headache from trying to make sense of it all means that I'm just vegging out when I get home :-).

Lovely story about the meal and I hope that seeds sown bear good fruit in the future.

Deirdre

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 04:05 AM

Hello Jerry,

Yes...spring is sprung around here too. The thing about being out in the open air is that we work up a great appetite! Get that virtual stove a-cooking!

The meal you shared sounds very positive. It's meetings like this that bridge so many artificial gaps and divides.

Still, great day yesterday, out in the countryside with owls, rabbits, pheasant and...oh yes, steam trains!

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 04:39 AM

It's spring here in Wisconsin, but that means that it's cold and raining. We'll probably get more snow before it's all over.

Stephen Lee

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: billybob
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 08:51 AM

HI Jerry,
yes, thank you for telling us about the dinner.How wonderful to be able to share the evening with so many people in peace and harmony.Shame you cannot put that in a bottle and sell it, or maybe give it away.

Spring is here on the Essex coast, smiling folks and even the odd bare leg ( man in shorts) I have a question.... do all man forget to look in the mirror when starting the shorts season? It certainly does not suit all you chaps, but I think the English win the prize of worst look! Black socks with trainers? Socks of any colour with sandals? Shorts MUCH too short, please just above the knee no further! Summer below the waist and office shirt above!What sort of look do you do in the summer guys?

Coffee and cake here for you for the best answer
Wendy

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 03:25 PM

We just got back from having our income tax done and we're getting a lovely refund. The doughnuts are on the house!

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 08:00 AM

Thanks Jerry!

Would they be from 'Heavenly Donuts' by any chance?

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 10:52 AM

Funny you should ask, Peter. There is a little doughnut shop down the hill from us called Heavenly Doughnuts. It's not a chain... just run by a local guy. To my taste, he makes the best doughnuts I've ever tasted. Truth in advertising.

I was diagnosed as being diabetic five years ago and haven't eaten a doughnut sinece. I'm surprised the guy had been able to stay in business without my orders...

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 05:37 PM

I love doughnuts and, as today is my birthday, I'd like two please!

(That's mine and Jerry's!).

Hope everyone is well.

Deirdre

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: maeve
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 06:36 PM

Happy Birthday, Deidre!

maeve

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 07:23 PM

Happy birthday, Deirdre!

I'll put a candle on you doughnut. May you have many more. Birthdays, that is. But hey, your the birthday girl so you can have many more doughnuts, too.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 09:42 PM

I picked up a used copy of The Honeydripper, the John Sayle's movie. I've appreciated some of Sayle's movies, especially Matewan, so I was excited about having a chance to see this one. I just finished watching it. I hesitate to call it a movie. I've seen parking meters that moved faster. This has to be the most stretched out, undramatic poser of a movie I've ever seen. The whole movie builds to a climax that seems as hokey as a Frankie Avalon movie.

I think I'll rent Beach Blanket Bingo.

Oh did, I mention that I was dissapointed?

Anyone else see this one?

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: billybob
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 10:32 AM

Happy birthday Deirdre, the sun is shining here in Frinton, hope your day is sunny too!I've made a chocolate cake with a candle on top...enjoy
Wendy

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 11:45 AM

Belated Birthday wishes, Deidre!

Hope the day was splendiferous.

The sun is shining here too. One birthday a couple of years ago, I was given a flowering cherry tree. It is out in full glory at the moment and looks stunning.

Thus...a slice of cherry cake for your celebrations!

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 05:56 PM

Damnation! I just typed and it disappeared into the cyberether stuff.

Wanted to say thanks for all the calories (oops, I mean cakes)!.

Looking forward to my sister and brother in law visiting this weekend. We'll probably be scoffing hot cross buns instead of doughnuts!.

Toasted and smothered in jam - delicious!

I'm sure there will be plenty for you all to join us.
Deirdre

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ron Davies
Date: 04 Apr 09 - 09:26 AM

Glad to see the coffee is still on at the Table--though I don't drink coffee--rather gravitating to kids' drinks these days--Nesquik-which Jan tells me constantly can't rate as cocoa-- apple juice, grape juice, orange juice. And a lot of water.

Anyway, like some of the rest of you, I've had some great musical experiences lately. Things really worked out--and it was a near thing--could have been real frustrating.

As I said earlier, we in my group (of about 180) had to choose 1 of 2 concerts for the late winter-early spring. We split in half. I'm not a big fan of modern music (to put it mildly). So I picked the one with the pieces we had already done years ago-albeit 2 of the 3 were 20th century--Britten and Vaughn Willliams. At least I knew them.


After about 3 weeks of rehearsal, I found to my horror I had screwed myself up royally. The concert for my group was on the same weekend as an annual music weekend in West Virginia with a bunch of fellow folkies, singing country, bluegrass, parodies, Irish, doo-wop, gospel, and anything else. And really fun people. Among others Bill D and Rita go there--Rita organizes it.

But as Deirdre and some others have intimated, being in a chorus can be like being in another world. And you don't want to get tossed out of Paradise. Which may happen if you skip a concert without a real good reason. A folk weekend in WV just might not qualify.

So, three rehearsals in, I had to call our director and ask if I could could switch into the other concert (Tavener) (which only had 6 rehearsals to go)--doing the piece I had tried to avoid since it was a "North American premiere"--and when I hear "premiere" referring to classical music, I have an overwhelming urge to run the other way.

But our director OK'd it after all. And the other conductor--also our pianist--let me in also. Possibly since I was a known quantity to him, having just sung Porgy and Bess and before that a Family Christmas concert with him. And some other concerts--including an all a cappella concert last year.    And a recording of Latin American and African folk masses earlier, among other things.

Anyway, I now I was so glad to be allowed to sing the modern piece, since it meant I wouldn't miss the WV weekend.

Some of the singers wound up singing a drone (same note for pages and pages)--since Tavener has made the piece somewhat of a chant. When I got in, I felt--hey, no problem--give me the drone, I'll sing anything, just let me stay in so I can go to WV. But the guy next to me said he was having problems with his part. The general tonality was F but some singers would start on G and end on G. Not easy against the rest of the group and the orchestra all firmly in F. But I had noticed that even if you start on G and end on G you have to still realize the tonality is F. So when you hit an F, even in passing, you have to realize that's the tonic (home base) and orient yourself to that. When you do that , it's not so hard to sing the G to G part.

I hope I'm not boring you.

Anyway, it was great fun holding your own against the rest of the group. And I even got picked, as one of three out of 22, to sing the punctuation, at the end of each chapter, so to speak--"He wept over her" (in Greek--in fact most of our part was in Greek, and we had the president of our group, who happens to be Greek-American, coach us.

And the piece turned out to be a wonderful experience. It's Tavener's meditation on Jerusalem. It's amazing how an English composer managed to capture the atmosphere of the Middle East. He uses quotes from Matthew (Christian), from a Psalm (Jewish), and from Rumi, a very famous Arab poet (I found out). Jerusalem is not just the physical city, but a symbol of the perfection we all strive for and can never reach. It was a glorious experience--with gongs and other percussion, in addition to brass, strings and woodwinds. And a wonderfully smooth, yet emotional   countertenor--and I don't usually like countertenors. Tavener really evoked a Middle East atmosphere.

On top of that, of course, I was able to get to WV and had a spectacular time making music there. Up til 3 AM Saturday, 6 Sunday, and 2 on Monday. Saw some old friends I see rarely, and made some new friends. The viola harmonies were amazingly well appreciated. One duo even told me they wanted me on their next CD.

And Jan and I sang more duets than ever--we were lucky enough that her voice was in good shape despite the rough trip down there. We sang close harmony country songs and several people said we sounded really sweet.

So I've been remarkably lucky in all sorts of ways. And the Tavener wasn't just making lemonade out of lemons--it was a great opportunity.

Great to hear your Verdi went well, Deirdre, and that others' musical and other types of activities are proving so satisfying.

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 04 Apr 09 - 11:35 AM

I'm really happy to see you back at the table, Ron. It sounds like you ahd two wonderful experiences, very different on one level, but it was all music.

Don't wait until you do another concert before you stop by again.

My wife Ruth has never like muffins. I've been a sucker for them but don't eat them anymore because I am a low level diabetic and I control my blood sugar without medication. We visited a friend in the hospital last week and the conversation turned to food, as it always does. People can hardly wait to get out of the hospital so they can have their favorite food, whether it's pizza, ice cream or a thick steak. Our friend was hankering for a muffin from the super market right down the hill from us. Ruth decided she wanted to try one, and I got a cranberry orange muffine for her yesterday evening. It was an enormous muffin and her intention was only to eat half, but she ate the whole thing and wanted more. So, this morning I went down the hill and got another cranberry orange muffin and a triple berry muffin for her. When I walked in the door with the muffins, it was suddenly Ruth's break time. Funny how that happens. I hardly had my coat off.

Care to try one?

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 04 Apr 09 - 12:49 PM

Jerry, the cranberry orange muffin sounds good, please pass a few crumbs this way!.

Ron, so glad to hear you back on this thread. Reading about the Tavener was really interesting - sounds like he's going the route that Karl Jenkins travels. He too does un-English stuff, using language and tonality to express other cultures and beliefs. Have you sang any of that?.

I'm just waiting for some friends to arrive for a birthday tea.

See you all soon.
Deirdre

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ron Davies
Date: 04 Apr 09 - 01:03 PM

I like muffins, and donuts and such also. Jan is dead set against donuts. And really exasperated that 4 year old Henry, her main charge, now eats donuts for breakfast--and not much else.   She says when he used to have breakfast at our place--and still does from time to time--she served him fruit, toast and yogurt. Now his own parents only give him donuts for breakfast.


And his 8 year old sister never has to eat any vegetables she doesn't want.   Nor go to school if she doesn't feel like it. And she stays up as late as she wants. And she hates homework. Whereas Henry, whom Jan has taken care of since he was 6 weeks old, eats all vegetables, fruit etc. served by Jan, and loves to do "homework"--word games on the computer. Which annoys his sister no end: "You don't do homework, Henry". Henry who actually has both mental and physical problems--had to start with sign language and did not talk til about age 3-- now is reading books--at age 4. And not just Dr. Seuss. It's truly amazing what Jan (and Henry's school) have accomplished with him.

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 04 Apr 09 - 01:08 PM

Doughnuts for breakast. Sounds like a song title to me, Ron. Actually, one of the chapters of my book is titled Belssings For Breakfast and for a long time, that was the working title for my book. Blessings for breakfast are even better than doughnuts, although doughnuts have their place in life. Otherwise, why would God invent them. Or was it Al Gore?

Jerry