Category Archives: Music

JOY!

Posted on December 19, 2014 by

“Take a music bath once or twice a week for a few seasons, and you will find that it is to the soul what the water bath is to the body.” Oliver Wendell Holmes At the close of 2014, a year of … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Happiness, Music | Tagged , , , , | 22 Comments

AUTUMN LEAVES

Posted on October 22, 2014 by

It’s late October. We’re past the blue and gold, and into the fallen, fading autumn leaves of ocher, beige, dull red and brown. They’re EVERYWHERE! On the patio: Sitting on the chairs: It’s clearly time to wrap up outdoor living for the winter, … Continue reading →

Posted in Autumn, Loneliness, Memory, Music, Nature, Pioneer Valley, winter | Tagged , , , | 27 Comments

TODAY’S PORTRAIT: HIBISCUS, BABY!

Posted on August 6, 2014 by

And now for something COMPLETELY different — La Hibiscus! Talk about in-your-face!  No shrinking violet she. Her philosophy is, If you’ve got it, flaunt it! A hot-blooded lady from the tropics, our hibiscus is right out there. In her gorgeous color, … Continue reading →

Posted in Color, Flowers, Memory, Music, Photography | Tagged , , , , , | 35 Comments

It’s All Connected, Even the Dragons —

Posted on June 1, 2014 by

I woke up this morning and found I was thinking about dragons. A little strange, when I think how the sun was shining on hot pink rhododendron blossoms and the sky was blue and brilliant. Nothing fierce or dragon-y in sight … Continue reading →

Posted in Happiness, Loneliness, Memory, Music, Personal Essay, Quotes, Wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Boundless Joy!

Posted on November 18, 2013 by

Will you hop aboard my train of thought with me? It’s heading toward a place of harmony and — you guessed it — joy! The starting point was a dull morning with not much needing to be done. So I … Continue reading →

Posted in Angels, Art, Etcetera, Happiness, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , | 29 Comments

A Glimmer of Hope (3): NATURE

Posted on April 25, 2013 by

Last week, the bombing of the Boston Marathon, another “little death” of innocence, plunged me into despair. Very slowly I began seeking, and finding, some glimmers of hope in an inner darkness: first came music, next came sharing of food, … Continue reading →

Posted in Color, Definitions, Etcetera, Flowers, Music, Nature, Personal Essay, Spring | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 30 Comments

A GLIMMER OF HOPE (1)

Posted on April 18, 2013 by

(Gemma, this post’s for you. We have a deal.) When I wrote the post What Does Being Human Mean, Anyway? the morning after the Boston Marathon Massacre, I was angry, distraught, and in despair. Despair = de spero = out of … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Death, Etcetera, Happiness, Music, Personal Essay | Tagged , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

The SESSIONS Session

Posted on April 3, 2013 by

This is a follow-up to previous post, Why I Haven’t Been Posting Lately, wherein I lamented having to deal with 20th century composer Roger Sessions’ musical setting of Walt Whitman’s poetic elegy for Abraham Lincoln, “When Lilacs Last in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Challenge, Death, Etcetera, Music | Tagged , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Why I Haven’t Been Posting Lately —

Posted on March 29, 2013 by

I blame it on this guy: Roger Sessions (1896 – 1985) was the most prolific and illustrious 20th century composer I had never heard of. That is, until I entered the continuing education seminar I’m taking now, Music for Mourning. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Challenge, Life and Death, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

XYZZZZZZZZZ Rated!

Posted on February 28, 2013 by

Here you have an unexplored (by me) staircase descending into the basement of Thornes Marketplace, Northampton’s showcase new/old shopping center. It’s alluring, in its promise of fun and unexpected goods at low prices, but so far I’ve not dared to descend … Continue reading →

Posted in Etcetera, Music, Pioneer Valley | Tagged , , , | 16 Comments