At home today

Ellen went to Marlboro today but I stayed home. She heard a beautiful performance of Beethoven's song cycle, An die ferne Geliebte, Op. 98, by tenor Dan McGrew and pianist Ignat Solzhenitsyn, and also a repeat of a cycle we heard yesterday of Ravel's Chansons Medécasses by Norwegian mezzo-soprano Eira Huse and pianist Ariel Lanyi, Marina Piccinini, flute, and Oliver Herbert, cello. She was thrilled by what she heard.

Mezzo-soprano, Eira Huse.

Tenor, Daniel McGrew. ************************************************* I stayed home to work on my sermon for July 31st at Guilford. At first, my mind was simply not working. I was reminded of a time in graduate school when I was under a lot of stress and my mind turned into cement and I had to take a leave of absence from my work - something that my academic advisor and teachers actually approved, which is sort of amazing. Today is not that serious, but for a while this morning, I could not function. But I managed to write an opening paragraph to my satisfaction, and that seemed to prime the pump, so to speak, and things began to flow. I ended up with a draft that is actually at or even under the recommended length of time for a sermon at Guilford - fifteen minutes. Yes, they do recommend that. Here is what is stated in the "instructions" given a guest preacher: "Please time your sermon to be no longer than 15 minutes. This translates to about six pages in Word using 14-point type, or approximately 1000 words. In reviewing our archived recordings, we have noticed that some guest worship leaders, while having strong messages, have delivered sermons of 20 and sometimes 30 minutes. Our congregation appreciates a succinct message." I am one of those guests in the past who is guilty of preaching for 30 minutes! I was sort of infamous for long sermons even back when I was a regular preacher along with Shirley (she preached three-four Sundays a month and I always took the last Sunday of the month). When I preach, I like to unpack a biblical passage, refer to the Greek or Hebrew text, and in the case of a Gospel passage, develop the original context and setting both in Jesus' teaching and in the gospel narrative in which it is imbedded, etc., and you just can't do that in fifteen minutes. But this time, I am going to get my act together, which means leaving out most of that. My draft is not quite 5 pages, although it is 1300 words. I will read it out loud and time myself. I have from now until the 31st to put the sermon into final form. The Gospel text I am using is the Parable of the Talents, which is a notoriously difficult, disturbing and complicated text. It would take literally hours to do it any kind of justice. So I won't even try. But I do allude to the possibility of starting up a Bible Study Group in the Fall, when we could actually unpack a text like that. That would be fun for me - the question is, are there others who would like to spend the time doing that? I think so, and hope so. Well, actually, there is another question I have to answer - do I still have the physical and mental stamina to do that and still have it be "fun?"

Marlboro Music Festival

The event we have been longing for has arrived! The Marlboro Music Festival began on Monday. We were there for the first note of the first rehearsal, which just happened to be one of the most beautiful pieces of chamber music ever - the Brahms Piano Quartet, Op. 60. We got to hear the whole piece, from beginning to end, which is not always the case with rehearsals. It is being performed tonight (Wed.) at the week-night concert in the Dining Hall - a concert we have had a pass for in the past, but have not received one for it since the pandemic began. We thought it had been suspended, but maybe now it is strictly for the musicians and the "public" is not admitted. In any case, we got to hear both the Brahms and the Barber, Dover Beach, in their entirety. The latter is for baritone and string quartet. It has long been a favorite of mine, something I wish I had been able to perform myself. The baritone, Jarret Porter, is primarily an opera singer. He has a lovely voice, but the vocal coach, Benita Valente, pointed out that his diction could be better, and I agree. If I hadn't had the lyrics in front of me, I would not have understood everything (although many phrases are very familiar). It will be performed today again, and we'll see if he has improved. We did not come up to Marlboro yesterday - the hearings of the Jan. 6th Committee. took up the afternoon, and we are following them faithfully.

The Dover Beach Ensemble

The Brahms Quartet Ensemble

Jerret Porter******************************** In the 2022-2023 season, Porter joins the Internationale Opernstudio at Oper Frankfurt, where he will make his debut as Hausofmeister in Brigitte Fassbaender’s production of Strauss’s CAPRICCIO, under the baton of Sebastien Weigle. Throughout the season with the company, he will sing Leone in R.B. Schlather’s critically acclaimed TAMERLANO, create the role of Edgar in Vito Zuraj’s World Premiere BLÜHEN, sing the Elder Son and The Herold in Britten’s THE PRODIGAL SON / THE BURNING FIERY FURNACE, and sing Herzog Hoël in a rare staging of Frank Martin’s LE VIN HERBÉ. Porter returns to Opera Theater of Saint Louis to create the role of Oliver Sacks in the World Premiere of Tobias Picker’s AWAKENINGS, and will join the roster of Artists in Residence of Marlboro Music, collaborating with Mitsuko Uchida, Jonathan Biss, and Lydia Brown.**********************************************

Samuel Barber (1910-1981) One of Barber's earliest musical memories was a visit to the Metropolitan Opera where, at age six, he attended a performance of Aida with legendary tenor Enrico Caruso as Radames and Louise Homer, Barber's aunt, as Amneris. A host of childhood experiences like these seemed almost to predispose Barber to compose for the voice. By the time he graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Barber had developed into a fine baritone and was in some demand as a recitalist. It was Barber himself who made the first recording of his own Dover Beach. These settings of English Victorian poet Matthew Arnold begin with a reverie on the English coast, describing its stoic beauty, yet revealing an "eternal note of sadness." The opening texture is comprised of two solo violins, one of which presents a steady, undulating rhythm while the other invokes the pensive main theme. The music becomes immediately restrained, characterizing a more reasoned state of mind, with the stanza describing the sound of the sea, which "Sophocles long ago heard…on the Aegean." The activated violin texture returns, with the incessant overlapping of short motives. The cello intones the main theme for the last three lines of text bringing us back to the melancholy opening.************************* DOVER BEACH The sea is calm tonight. The tide is full, the moon lies fair Upon the straits; on the French coast the light Gleams and is gone; the cliffs of England stand, Glimmering and vast, out in the tranquil bay. Come to the window, sweet is the night-air! Only, from the long line of spray Where the sea meets the moon-blanched land, Listen! you hear the grating roar Of pebbles which the waves draw back, and fling, At their return, up the high strand, Begin, and cease, and then again begin, With tremulous cadence slow, and bring The eternal note of sadness in. Sophocles long ago Heard it on the Ægean, and it brought Into his mind the turbid ebb and flow Of human misery; we Find also in the sound a thought, Hearing it by this distant northern sea. The Sea of Faith Was once, too, at the full, and round earth’s shore Lay like the folds of a bright girdle furled. But now I only hear Its melancholy, long, withdrawing roar, Retreating, to the breath Of the night-wind, down the vast edges drear And naked shingles of the world. Ah, love, let us be true To one another! for the world, which seems To lie before us like a land of dreams, So various, so beautiful, so new, Hath really neither joy, nor love, nor light, Nor certitude, nor peace, nor help for pain; And we are here as on a darkling plain Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight, Where ignorant armies clash by night.

Food Truck Roundup Time!

Ah, the good old summer-time! The Retreat Farm has started it's Food Truck Round-up with live music. Last night it was Zara Bode and Her Little Big Band. Zara Bode is the wife of Stefan Amidon, who is the younger son of Peter and Mary Alice Amidon. She has a terrific voice, and sings old jazz classics, like All of Me, Undecided, and Goody Goody! She is backed up by 7 fabulous musicians: clarinet, trombone, saxaphone, trumpet, guitar, drums, and bass viol. We had dosas from the South Indian Dosa Kitchen Food Cart - one of about 7-8 carts to choose from, and one of the most popular. It was a beautiful evening and the food and the music were both great! We were eventually joined by Nancy Tierra and her friend, Twyla, and then by John and Cynthia and three of Cynthia's great-nephews, Joe, Ethan and Paris. You don't have to pay to get into this event, so it is popular. You can make a donation and you pay for the food. The Retreat must get a cut on the food, but I'm sure the carts do very well indeed with so any people there. It is sort of a unique event, and it is fabulous.

The Round-up setting

Last night's event from the perimeter'

The Dosa Kitchen Cart

Zara Bode Poster (Stefan and Zara).

Zara with four of her musicians.

Peter and Mary Alice Amidon, holding their grandchildren (Stefan and Zara's children).

Cynthia's three g-nephews, Ethan, Joe and Paris**************************** Wednesday, we went down to Shutesbury. Ellen took Brendon to the movies in the afternoon and I stayed at the house with Katie and Savanna. It was nice to have a chance to visit with them. Savanna was dozing quite a bit, but we talked a bit, and Katie and I talked quite a bit, and I showed her pictures from Tuesday's baby shower and explained some things about that. I also had a chance to do some things on the computer. We also had some mulligatawny soup that Ellen had made, which was yummy. Today, I met Jerome at Pine Heights Nursing and Rehab Center and helped him make his transition back to his apartment. A month ago, I would have not thought it possible that he could be back in a situation where he would be on his own, but there he is, and he seems to be managing it ok. I actually made two trips, the first to help schlepp him and his four bags of stuff back to his place, and get him settled in; the second was to take him a meal Ellen had prepared and do some shopping for him at Dollar General - a few everyday items he needs. Tomorrow, Ellen is going to join the Feinands for a visit to MassMOCA, and I have the option of staying home or going to Shutesbury again. I'm still mulling that over. I originally thought that I would get to watch some Wimbledon tennis, but I guess that is all in the morning and would be over by the time I got there.

Baby shower!

Today we picked up Anne Janeway in Marlboro and drove over to Bennington for a baby shower for Mark Nissen and his partner, Jenn. Mark and Jenn live in Denver, and they had come all the way to Vermont for this shower - but so had Mark's sister, Erica, and her husband, Tom, and children, Julien and Clare - they came all the way from Capetown, South Africa! Also there were Mary's sister, Chris, from North Carolina, and her sister-in-law, Jeannie, and Jeannie's daughter, Lily, also from North Carolina. Tom's parents, Nancy and Len, were there from their home near Boston; Sue, a friend of Mary's, and an old friend and work colleague of John Nissen's, Timmy, also came. And of course, Mary Anderson herself, mother of Mark and Erica, who was the host, about 17 all-told. The event had been planned for Mary's backyard, but it rained. Fortunately, some folks were staying nearby at an AirBnB which was sort of amazing - a beautiful old brick building, the Old Academy, a former school, which provided a large room in which we could gather and not be jammed together. It was a very nice event, with a beautiful custom-made cake which featured a scene of Jenn and Mark running with a jogging stroller - anticipating the future! Jenn is a dedicated runner and will probaby enter a big marathon next summer. There were snacks and gifts as well. I had a comfortable place to sit and people came by to visit, especiallly Mark and Jenn. I had not seen Mark since the year Betsey died - 2016 - he came to see her in Boulder. And I had never met Jenn. I have a strong connection with this family having married both John and Mary in 1974 and Erica and Tom in 2003, as well as having been a work colleague of John's for over a decade and a friend for over forty years, up until his death in 2013. So this was a special event. I'm so glad we were able to be there.

The Old Academy, where we had the baby shower

The specially-made cake.

Mark and Jenn, preparing to cut the cake.

The group gathered in the kitchen.

What can we celebrate today?

Yesterday, Lea Morris, an African-American woman song-writer and choral leader was the guest choir director at the Guilford Community Church, and as a part of the service, she sang the song "When I Wake Up in America" by David Kinnoin and Jimmy Hammer. It has a very hopeful message which Ellen felt deeply and wrote about to her friends. Thank you Ellen for this insight! The song is celebrating what many feel is the original intent of the phrase in the Declaration of Independence: "All men are created equal" = All PEOPLE, of every kind, no matter what, are created equal." It originally was just white, wealthy men who were equal, but gradually the list has lengthened, and even though today we seem to the slipping backward, it is still a worthy dream and aspiration that EVERYONE should be respected, treated fairly, cared for, etc., in America. We can still celebrate that. Here are the lyrics: WAKE UP IN AMERICA words and music by Jimmy Hammer and Dave Kinnoin ©2016 Sync Track (ASCAP) and Song Wizard Music (ASCAP) 1 When I wake up in America, I see my neighbors there With every kind of clothes and shoes, Hats and skin and hair, Every strange belief and custom, Scores of songs from who knows where. When I wake up in America, Our stories fill the air. Chorus: Wake up. Wake up. Wake up in America. The light in the harbor shines for us all When I wake up in America. 2 When I wake up in America, I hold my head up high. I find my way as others do Beneath the same big sky. I repeat the pledge of allegiance In a voice that’s clear and strong. When I wake up in America, I’m right where I belong. (repeat chorus) bridge: See the kids, see the kids playing. Happily, happily swaying. Good to be, good to be staying In a place like this With a face like this. 3 When I wake up in America, I put away my fear And love my neighbor as myself And say, “I’m glad you’re here.” We have found ourselves together In a land we dreamed could be. When we wake up in America, Everybody will be free. Chorus Wake up. Wake up. Wake up in America. The light in the harbor shines for us all When I wake up, When you wake up, When we wake up in America.

Lea Morris, guest choir deirector at the Guilford Community Church, sang "Wake Up In America" yesterday.

A restorative day

Today I really took it easy! I was awake pretty early, and I stayed in bed until almost noon, working on Wordle, Quordle and Spelling Bee. I did something I had never done before and really didn't think hardly possible - I completed Quordle in just five turns, which means I entered the first word (which was"ARGUE"), and then found the right word the first try in each quadrant, bang, bang, bang, bang! Wow! I think there had to be some luck in that, but I also gave each one a lot of thought. The first one I solved had three yellow letters - "A," "G." and "U," in that order, in positions 2, 3, and 4. I entered "GAUNT" as my guess, and it was right! It could just as well have been "LAUGH." There are undoubtedly other words it could have been. "GAUNT" was the first one I came up with that was possible, and it was right. The same for the other three words (TITAN, APNEA and NINNY). The last quadrant, I was looking at __ I N N __. I suspect that "NINNY" might be the only word that would fit into that pattern (you can only use the letters that are left to you to use. A, E, G, P, R, T and U had all been ruled out in that quadrant. So, for example, TINNY was not an option). Anyway - I was amazed. It made up for the fact that in Wordle I had to use all 6 lines to get the right word. That's better than total failure, but it isn't great. I aim for three or four, and that's what I usually get. As you can see, I'm really into these word games! I got up a bit before noon and had a lovely breakfast on the deck. Then John csme over at about 2pm, and we talked for close to three hours. That was really nice, sitting on the deck, listening to the birds and the wind in the trees, and talking about this and that (our health, summer plans, contemplative ecology, what's happening in his and Cynthia's working lives, our pending decisions on what kind of heating system to install as a backup to the wood stove, etc.). One thing that came out was a book he found on a website that was a free download - a study of Thomas Merton as a "radical ecologist." It's by Donald St. John, and it is pretty amazing what Merton was thinking back in the 1950's and 1960's. He was WAAAY ahead of his time. John was excited to find it and feels confirmed in his own thinking - he is not a total "outlier." He feels that a lot of what Merton was saying could have come out of his own mouth. But much of it is found only in his journals - it was not published before his death in 1968. So the public was largely unaware. More's the pity!

The book John told me about

More files to save!

Thursday was a Savanna day, and I spent about five hours at the house in Shutesbury while Ellen took Savanna to her chemotherapy and Katie and Brendon went on an excursion to the MassMOCA Museum (Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art) in North Adams- something Brendon has been wanting to do for some time. I could have gone with them, but decided that with my knee so sore, walking and standing around in a museum would not be fun. So I was alone at the house, and I had brought with me more "stuff" to digitize. I ended up spending quite a bit of time writing a note to Ted Vogt, Winnie Vogt's son (I wanted to write in the guest book yesterday, but others were busy writing in it and I decided to go home). But I did eventually find the time to digitize some files.One was a folder of copies Rob had made for me of notes people sent him at the time of Betsey's death back in July, 2016. It was quite touching to read these notes again. And I discovered - or rather, had confirmed an earlier realization - that the notes I regard as most precious today are those that are quite specific in identifying something about Betsey that that person admired, and will miss not having in their lives in "real time." (This is a good insight to remember when writing a sympathy card - be specific!). So, for example, a friend of Betsey's from Columbia, MO, named Neil, wrote and said ".....For some reason we were talking about (games like Sodoku) and Betsey said something like, "well, those games are just logic". And at the time, I thought, "well, heck, Betsey, it is a lot more than merely solving a logic problem. You must not have spent much. time playing or thinking about these games." And I can't account for why I thought that. I knew Betsey was a mathematician and I would be wise to listen to what she said. I suppose I wanted the pastime to be a wee bit more sophisticated than cracking a logic puzzle. At any rate, for some reason, finally, I realized that Betsey was right (of course). These games are nothing more than logic puzzles, a bunch of "if/then" conjectures to be balanced against one another. So here's the second thing I wanted to tell you: I think of Betsey often; in fact, I think of her whenever I play one of these games. But I'm not going to. reveal how often that is." I couldn't help wondering, when I read this, if Betsey were alive today, would she be a big fan of Wordle and Quordle, and play them every day like Ellen and I do? They too are essentially logic puzzles. We might be trading scores every day, like Ellen does now with Max. And speaking of Max, who is in Boulder, I think if Betsey had gotten to know Max, she would have really enjoyed him. One of those many, many possibilities that were wiped out by her death.

A sample note about Betsey****************************************** The other file folder that I started on, and only got a start, was related to my doctoral dissertation - going back to 1964 or so at Brown University. I was sort of amazed by what it contained. I had first of all carefully made a chart of every Old Testament quotation in the Gospel of Luke, and noted the origin of the quotation and any parallels in the other Gospels. And then, for each quotation, I had made a page with the quotation written out in Greek from the Gospel, the original form of the quotation from the Septuagint (Greek) and the Hebrew Bible, and any other parallels. This was obviously foundational work that I could refer to again and again. organized in a way that was convenient and useful. But what an immense amount of careful, painstaking work! Saving this file may be sort of crazy, but I do have on the back burner the idea of revisiting, revising, re-evaluating my doctoral dissertation. I actually started working on that in earnest a few years ago, then put it aside. I started to make a new copy of the complete dissertation on the computer so that I could self-publish it as a hard-cover book. It was never published, and my only copy is a typed MS. It would be sort of gratifying to hold it in my hands as a book. But of course, even that thought is sort of crazy. Then I really got into going to major biblical libraries like Wheaton College in Illinois or Princeton Theological Seminary, and looking up every citation of my dissertation (and the articles I published based on it) that I could find. That was really fun, and I got a very good sense of the various issues that my dissertation raised and how scholarly discussion of those issues had developed over time. I was amazed at how many different scholars had read my work - close to a hundred ! - and some of them had discussed it at some length. So there was another project - writing a summary of all that! But then the pandemic brought all that to a screeching halt! All those libraries closed to the public, and remain closed to this day. I used to go pretty regularly to the Amherst College Library (the Robert Frost Library) because it is a short drive from Katie and Savanna's house. But it is still closed to anyone who is not a student or faculty member at Amherst. I don't know when, if ever, those academic libraries will re-open to the public! It is a huge loss to me. And it makes the idea of revisiting my dissertation unlikely - although I have to say that the work I have already done might be enough, if I got it all organized. So anyway, as crazy as it is, I'll take the time to save this folder. It represents a lot of work, and it would be useful to have it to refer to if I went back and took another look at my dissertation.

Part of the chart of OT quotations in Luke

A sample page dealing with a specific quotation - in this case, Luke 2:23.