Beethoven's Pastoral and More, PSO
Friday morning I lectored at Mass (Friday in the Seventh Week of of Ordinary Time). Fr. Breier celebrated, John was the server, and Ken provided the music ministry ("The Kingdom of God," and "Lord of all Hopefulness"). 48 people in the congregation received Communion.
Friday night Regina & John, Maureen, and I went to the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra for Beethoven night. Manfred Honeck conducted the evening. The evening started with the "Pastoral", and after intermission Mr. Lars Vogt took to the piano. The dramatic pauses of the pianist WITH the orchestra near the end of the second-to-the-last movement were nothing short of brilliant!
The program consisted of
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 6, "Pastoral"
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1
Ludwig van Beethoven: Overture to Lenore, No. 3
Post Concert Performance On stage, immediately following the concert
Beethoven - String Quartet in F major Op. 59, No. 1, "Rasumovsky" (excerpts)
Christopher Wu, violin
Sylvia Kim, violin
Paul Silver, viola
Anne Martindale Williams, cello
Sylvia Kim's fingering technique was light and lively.
Dad's Surprise Birthday Party
Dad's Surprise Birthday party had been MONTHS in the making. Between the invitations (designed and executed by Tina P.), the mailings (address stickers applied by Beata), the hall, the planning, and the food, there was much to do. The last week Mom and I went to Tina's for last-minute preparations such as to make cupcakes, (we also made a celebrity sighting at the grocery store!) and the last day was hectic, cooking the salmon, getting into the hall with Mom, picking up the fried chicken, picking up the catered food and eleventh-hour napkins in the Strip, and broiling the salmon before heading to the hall.
BeaBea and Solomon were already there, and Joyce's children and Joyce entertained Lolo at home while waiting for Dad & Mom to be ready to head to the hall (under the pretense that it is Dee Dee's birthday).
After a rousing "Happy Birthday" and "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow," Dad made a short statement ("My wife's been lying to me") as well as a blessing of the food (as Fr. Breier was under the weather).
Mom, William, Me, Joyce, and Kelly all toasted Dad on this auspicious occasion. Kelly and I spoke extemporaneously.
Dancing (cha cha, etc.) ensued, as well as an ~eighty-slide slide show, narrated by Dad.
Lots of food was left over for those who wanted to take some home.
Music for the Spirit, February 2011, Saint Paul Cathedral
Thursday evening I went to the Music for the Spirit concert by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Mendelssohn Choir at St. Paul Cathedral.
I was one of the first 50 people in the door, and spoke with Fr. Breier before entering the church for the concert. Also spoke with Bob and his daughter.
The performance, which consisted of musical orchestral movements alternated with readings from spiritual/religious texts, was nothing short of Spectacular. I was spiritually uplifted by the evening.
The horn player who performed from the loft, the chimes played from the tall ladder, the rolling tympani players all enchanted me during the concert.
Ken, who played the organ prelude as well as the last few minutes of the Mahler piece fortissimo! on the von Beckerath, said that it was a wonderful performance of these oft-unheard pieces of sacred music.
Preparing for Dad's Surprise Birthday Party
Joyce and children arrive, Pittsburgh Zoo
Wednesday night I was working at Lolo and Lola's house in the evening when Benny and Miranda burst in, declaring that they could sing/play "Glory to God" as the last time I saw them. This is the "Gloria" from the Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration Mass.
I went to sleep soon after that, as I had to teach early on Thursday.
Thursday after work I joined Joyce, Marissa, and the children for a jaunt (sans tram) at the zoo. I was in charge of transporting Joyce and family there, and they sang "We're going to the Zoo," while in the car, which was great fun. Joyce took a picture and sent it to Greg and William at work to enjoy the "wild critters" at the zoo.
Thursday evening I went to the Music for the Spirit concert by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Mendelssohn Choir at St. Paul Cathedral.
Taken
Mom and I are watching a movie, Taken, on cable television. How interesting is this thriller...
This Past Week, February 2011
Friday the fifth Maureen, Mary Gene, Nancy and Tom, and I went to the Snow Ball. We greatly enjoyed the company (saw Myrna and Jay there), hors d'oeuvres (both hot and cold), drinks (alcoholic and not), and the desserts (as usual). The music was fun to dance to, and we had a great time. There was even some Steelers Pride music in the last two hours of the DJ.
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Sunday, I had lunch with the Cruz family at the Chinese-American buffet in Pleasant Hills. How tasty was that!
The Superbowl was spent chez Maureen with Mary Gene and Crackers enjoying the game, too.
Too bad the gap was too broad to breach.
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I'm planning for my summer now.
Tuesday--Practice Microscopes...
Tuesday I had two students stop by to practice using the compound light microscope before their practical quiz this week.
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Wednesday morning I went to a discussion of Sunday's readings for Mass. The Gospel (week 5 in Ordinary Time, Cycle A) is one of my favorites.
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Thursday I attended Mass at noon after my class ended. I entered the Cathedral building with someone practicing on the von Beckerath.
It was St. Blaise's Day, and Fr. Utz and several ministers blessed us, the congregation.
I took a well-deserved nap Thursday afternoon, and Thursday evening we recorded (as a choir) Lenten songs, canticles, and hymns. We first recorded with Debby Z:
Parce Domine
Psalm 32 (R. Proulx)
Psalm 63 (Camaldolese Monks)
Then, with Linda O:
Psalm 95 O That Today (Andre Gouzez)
Psalm 19 (Guimont, Fellows)
Fill Us with Your Love (Batastini, Fellows)
Canticle of Zachary
and then, as a choir alone:
Now Bless the God of Israel (Domhnach Trionoide)
Blest Be the God of Israel (King's Lynn)
and these hymns:
Lord, Who Throughout these Forty Days
O Sacred Head Surrounded
Were You There
The Glory of These Forty Days
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Attende Domine / Hear Us, Almighty Lord
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Friday (this morning) I caught up with correspondence and took a bubble bath!
