MARK ALBURGER, 2022: March 27

Somewhat update the Works site re

Symphony No. 1 in C Major ("It Wasn't Classical, It was Symphonic / It Wasn't a Symphony, Because It Did Not Have a Sonata-Allegro), Op. 61,

bring into being the F Horn part for

Three George Crumb Tropes, Op. 392 (2022), from The Decameron: Fifth Day, Op. 247 (2015)
   Novel VII. Pietro Teodoro, being enamoured of Violante, daughter of Messer Amerigo,
             his lord, gets her with child, and is sentenced to the gallows (Black Angels [1970]: I-V, VII, X),

and do the seemingly-daily text for

Book of Dreams, 2022, Op. 376 (2022)
     March 26-27
          3am Map of Semi-Obscure Northwest-Central Pennsylvania Border Region Near Ohio...
          7am Asylum / Recovery House Tour, Out to Cafeteria Dinner w/ Old Friends, Though Not Close,
               Looking for Excuse to Go Own Way, Last Two People Not Too Chattty in Line,
               Dumps of Mashed Potatoes... Tall Buildings, Hallways....

Aside from the latter,

some of this will have to wait,

as we burn off to

Davis Community Presbyterian Church,

for the Chancel Choir

warm-up

rehearsal re the

Early Service, which includes a reading of I John 4: 7-12 (hmm...) and an

Installation of Elders /

Laying On of Hands (turns out I could have participated in this latter as a [lapsed] Elder, but, who knew? And, besides, I couldn't have taken this picture).

Blessings to all,

and

homeward,

the 51st

day of

spring,

high cascading down 15 to 68

(locally and in Winters; 70 in Davis).

But we are not finished with the day,

far from it,

as a very modest 40th walk of the Vacaville Streets series takes place,

on Plumas,

southeast to the Circle,

then

northeast

nigh unto

Yosemite (so to speak).

An interval of rest and work,

then hopping to it again,

Davis-wise,

chez Elisa Stone,

for the

third and final

Curiosity Cafe

(DCC's locution for its

prospective new members

meetings).

Enlightening!

And homeward-bound again --

Wait! Haven't we deja-vu'd this before? --

now west on

Covell,

93A (well, southwest here),

Russell, and

Grant, followed by

505

South

and

Monte Vista.

Goodness! On the birthdays of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and

Ferde Grofe (1892-1972 --
here's his 1949

Death Valley Suite

and why have I perhaps never heard this, given the composer and title?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgAlUTJ5Fgk

the first movement, above... you're on your own for the rest!...

the complete work, w/ Wikipedia's rather "stange" commentary:

***

Death Valley Suite is a short symphonic suite written by Ferde Grofé in 1949, depicting the westward travels of pioneers through the 'harsh lands' of Death Valley in California. Grofe was commissioned by the Death Valley 49ers, a non profit organization devoted to preserving the pioneering and mining history of the Death Valley region (consisting of Death Valley National Park and surrounding area). The composition and music was part of a pageant celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 49ers who came by way of Death Valley in search of gold and other riches and celebration of the California state centennial (1850-1950).

The original performance was conducted by Grofe with the Hollywood Bowl Symphony on December 3, 1949 in the Desolation Canyon area of Death Valley National Monument (Now Death Valley National Park). The music was used in the background as a procession of covered wagons entered the area. Actor James Stewart narrated the pageant celebration. The 1949 pageant was attended by 65,000 people.

    I. Funeral Mountains – a strange atonal movement in 5/4 time
    II. '49er Emigrant Train – features colorful musical depictions of an Indian attack and a wagon train
    III. Desert Water Hole – a medley mixing Oh, Susannah and the main theme of the piece.
    IV. Sand Storm – another atonal movement featuring a wind machine with a final coda recapitulating the main dramatic theme.

***