Another rainy day

Dear family and friends,

The high point of the day was the Baroque concert at Teddy Roosevelt's church in Oyster Bay. We have enjoyed all the concerts very much this year, but this one was a capper, the last one of the season. The program was called "The Incomparable Gem: Johann Sebastian Back 1685 - 1750," and what a gem he is. The first half of the program featured familiar pieces: Concerto in F major, transcribed by Louise Schulman, the group's violist, for viola, strings, and continuo (harpsichord), from harpsichord alone. As the conductor, she stood as she played, bending her knees, flowing with the music as she bowed: she plays with such joy always. There were two violins, a violincello, two violas, and a violone (almost as large as a bass and perhaps as deep in tone: Florence, do you know the violone?). For the next piece, the flute entered the picture and took center stage, playing Suite No. 2 in b minor, with violone, one viola (Schulman), one violin, and harpsichord. After the intermission, came the huge pleasure of hearing the Hofstra University Chamber Singers performing the Cantata "Christ lag in Todesbandon," accompanied by members of the ensemble: harpsichord, violone, and strings.

The program included the words in German, in rough translation, and in smooth translation (in three columns), so the audience could follow. I love having a little bit of German in my life. I can read it and follow its meaning fairly well (especially with crib columns in parallel).

I was reminded of hearing Kathryn's wonderful singing at Hofstra before I knew her. I was reminded of the Sundays my sister Mildred and I went to hear fantastic cantatas and other Bach music at Emmanuel church in Boston, a brief respite from the sickroom of her daughter, my niece, Eve. The church in Oyster Bay has acoustics that can match those of the much larger church.

At the end. there was a community sing, with members of the Hofstra Ensemble joined by some members of the audience, who had come from various other choral groups, I think 3. The general audience was invited to participate also: the words in English were on the program but not the notes, so I didn't want to join in; I wanted to listen completely. The sound was magnificent, thrilling, filling the air with glorious music.

A treat was recognizing, sitting in our pew, a teacher from North Shore High School who had worked with Lincoln and remembered him. She looks amazingly the same to me. I recognized her but couldn't place her, but Merwin was able to identify her by name. We chatted briefly: she remembered Lincoln, whom she had been fond of, and she knew a lot about the rest of of us too. This goes back over 30 years!

It being a very rain-stormy day, the concert started late because of the difficulty traveling: trees were down, roads closed, and we had to find alternate roads both going to and coming from the concert. The rest of the evening was spent quietly working and watching a bit of wild Bill Maher on TV.

Earlier, Merwin had sighted a glint of gold in our little backyard pond. At least 5 goldfish had made it through the winter. When the water freezes, they burrow into the mud at the bottom and hibernate. This transition is a tricky time for them, with little herbage to hide under to escape predators. This group survived a year ago, and is getting bigger and tastier, I am afraid. They are one of the pleasures of the season, swimming in their little school.

Another rainy day today! But not too cold, and the rest of the week should be warm and dry. The plan is to work today and later see Dr. Janus about the prednisone taper.

Love to all,
Bernice