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Allen,

A million thanks for "the Grace of God!" I second your "Amen!"

Peace

06/21/16 05:55 PM

#2202

Al,

When we lived there we used to walk around Lake Eola a couple times a week. It was a peaceful and beautiful place in the middle of the city. The tribute is so appropriate for Orlando. Thanks for sharing.

06/27/16 10:51 PM

#2203

Lauren,

I find myself driving for an hour, or looking at Google Maps, to see if there really is an ocean just to the west of us here. Otherwise I'd think I was in your Arizona. 106 this afternoon on the (shaded) patio. I'm beginning to doubt that there is "global" warming, I tthink the warming is all concentrated here on Manteca.

07/01/16 06:48 PM

#2204

If George and Betsy were alive today -

07/18/16 11:26 PM

#2205

https://www.youtube.com/embed/tzgRw6V252s

For our orchestra, band, and other music lovers, we get this from our own Ms McCarthy McCarthy:

Which brings me to a question for other orchestra members. I enjoyed the orchestra music, and it's led me to listen to public radio long-hair music since then. We had exposure to, and played a lot of good stuff, by those famous composers. Does anyone else now, when you listen to that music, think, "that sounds familiar," and believe that we played every one of the songs we now hear on public radio?

07/20/16 11:12 AM

#2206

Gordon "Allen" Mitchell

Yes, I admit to "some" listening and 'hummmming!" Thanks for the YouTube link. Very beautiful!!!!

I actually have the "All City Orchestra Record" for 1959. Wondering if they still do such events - it was a great "teaching tool!"

07/20/16 05:41 PM

#2207

Hi, Allen!

I, myself, participated in two of the All-City Music Festivals, as a member of the chorus under the direction of Donald Mohr. And yes, to your query, the festival is still held. Here is a blurb from their site:

"This festival is one of Milwaukee Public Schools’ largest events and involves thousands of students across the district from a wide range of grade levels participating in a number of musical ensembles.

The Biennial Music Festival brings together students from all MPS schools in a musical concert performance for the public every two years. Each festival allows for approximately two thousand students to participate in the program. Participating groups include elementary, middle school, and high school choruses, bands, orchestras, jazz ensembles, swing choir, drumline, and drum circle."

I chuckled when I saw your photo of the LP recording. Ironically, I just recently rid my music library of my remaining LPs, among them the 2 from the concerts in which I participated. And this past weekend, I went through 2 very large scrapbooks one last time before putting them in the recycle bin. Among the pages were the programs and newspaper reviews of the 2 concerts, 1959 & 1961. Great memories.

07/21/16 07:54 AM

#2208

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

These recent posts remind me of how I envy all of you who played in band and orchestra. Not until my senior year did I ever listen to classical music. Just AM radio played at our house. Did learn to read music, as I took accordion lessons as a child ( oh - help - want to hear "Lady of Spain" ? ) Fell in love with Beethoven in summer of '61. Started piano lessons with our first daughter; she got better and better. I didn't.

Any of you still playing those instruments you learned so long ago?

07/21/16 02:01 PM

#2209

I love reading the posts about the Music Festivals! I was also in the 1959 and 1961 orchestras, and to me, it was an exciting and "growing" experience - and I thought we were good - even after listening to my two records in present-day time. I especially loved sitting in the orchestra and listening to the choruses. Hearing that many voices - it seemed like 1000 echoing off the roof the the Auditiorium sounded almost magical. Yes Jim, we DID play every song I hear on classical radio. Well, maybe it was the stuff I had to learn in music appreciation class, but I seem to be able to hum along with them. Nancy, even if you enjoy listening to good music and appreciate it, you are a musician. Isn't that right, Jeanne? (Our resident music teacher)

07/21/16 02:20 PM

#2210

Yes, Terri, you're absolutely correct! In response to your question, Nancy, I still do play the piano - when my arthritic hands are cooperative and when my arthritic back allows me to spend some quality time on the piano bench. Unfortunately, since Robert passed away in January, I haven't been able to summon enough mental peace to sit down at the Steinway. But that time will eventually come (I hope). I DO miss it. But what I also miss is singing. I've spent so much of my life using my singing voice that it seems odd not to be doing it any more. I realize that I could probably join a church or community choir, but I really don't think that's for me. So, I'll just sing around the house, with no one to tell me not to.

07/23/16 06:38 AM

#2211

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

Well, if being an avid listener qualifies me to be a musician (thanks Terri and Jeanne), then I made it. Pandora, Sonos, NPR, and a pile of CD's keep me company all day. Here's a fun question: stranded on a desert island, chose two composers/performers whose body of work you would like to bring along. People come up with interesting combinations! (Mine: J.S. Bach; Simon and Garfunkel)

07/23/16 12:12 PM

#2212

Thank you all for reassuring me that my memory is flawlessly intact. Of course, I did forget about all-city ordnestra. That's probably where I picked up all the rest of the classical music we didn't play at Custer.

And no, I haven't played since leaving school. My instrument was a school rental which stayed behind. Now however, finally with a grandchild, I might just go and find a bassoon and start playing again. It would be appropriate - grandfather = bassoon. (Is that why I like Peter and the Wolf so much?)

07/23/16 04:34 PM

#2213

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

Go for it, Grandfather Bassoon!

I'm curious - what would be your desert-island companions?

07/23/16 05:47 PM

#2214

Nancy,

I have such eclectic music tastes, that I find it difficult to restrict myself to two choices for that desert island. But for now, I'll limit myself to "classical" music (not in the strict definition, just generically speaking). I would choose 2 twentieth century composers: America's Aaron Copland and England's Ralph Vaughan Williams. I love your choice of Simon & Garfunkel. That would lead me in a whole other direction.🎶

07/24/16 10:29 PM

#2215

Oh boy, Nancy, now you got me to thinking - and that can be dangerous.

I'm afraid that after too many years, I have lost my embrasure for bassoon playing. I can however, cup my hands and blow a few tunes through them, which Lily seems to like.

As for the island, I'd change my mind depending on my mood, moon phase, sock color, latest news, etc. Most of the aforesaid would seem to want something calm and serene, except the news, which seems to want to evoke fire and brimstone. But, assuming a daily level of some sanity, my present thought would be many works of some Russian composers, and the We Five.

07/25/16 04:13 PM

#2216

On the desert island I would definitely bring Schubert's piano Impromptus, especially D946 No. 2, which I could listen to 100 times. And then I'd have to have the Beatles and Simon & Garfunkle, Heck, I'd just bring my iPod Nano and play all my favorites until the power ran out. (Is there a place to recharge on this desert Island?) A must would be Tschaikowsky's 1812 Overture!

08/04/16 08:25 PM

#2217

The other night I watched an old (1984) TV special, really, about polka people. Maybe because I’ve lived in many places around the country, polkas had sort of slipped to the back of my mind. So, watching the show brought back many memories, and produced a few conclusions that were unconcluded in my Wisconsin days.

1 - Polkas were not just a Milwaukee thing, like white soda. They were showing places like Maine, New York, Pennsylvania.

2 - Frankie Yankovic was known in all those places.

3 - I could still recognize the ballroom from the Pfister.

4 - I never considered myself as being good at doing the polka (and I’m sure several of the girls can verify that), but that doesn’t seem to matter. Hardly anyone on the show looked good, but they were having fun anyway.

5 - Apparently, polka-ing meant sweating. The amount of water those people were pouring would make California green again.

6 - The decline of polka weekends and dances has led directly to the surge of the fitness clubs, gyms, treadmills, etc. Who needs pilates if you can polka. Some entrepreneur should open a polka studio across from some L A Fitness place.

7- Be fun to go to a prom or school dance now and see them play a polka.

8 - And, my biggest epiphany - it is not possible to feel sad, depressed, or grumpy when you’re doing the polka.

Maybe I'll change one of my island songs, Nancy.

08/05/16 11:17 AM

#2218

I, too, have had some epiphanies about polkas since coming to California in June 1962. When I went to a college formal dance, with music by Les Brown and his Band of Renown, no less, he played a POLKA. And not only did my date know how to polka, but everyone else did too, much to my surprise. And another epiphany: on long drives through the Central Valley of CA, when there are no radio stations except Mexican ones, I heard as many polkas as I heard driving up north through central Wisconsin! Amazing. I thought the polka was exclusively ours!

08/08/16 09:40 PM

#2219

USA! USA! - Well, actually rah’s for anyone who's dedicated themselves and made it that far. It’s a special show with special people.

Olympic Observations:

1 - We are blessed with 2 weeks of something to watch that’s not inane, idiotic, or politics (which includes the previous).

2 - Gymnastics - the laws of physiology and physics definitely say that what the gymnasts do cannot be done.

3 - Fencing - sword fighting not anything like the Three Musketeers or Robin vs Sir Guy.

4 - Swimming - the guys get to wear trunks. Nice.

5 - Ping Pong - Ping pong players have better-than-bionic reflexes.

6 - General Olympics - some of those things are “sports?”

Why isn't polka an Olympic sport?

08/28/16 08:10 PM

#2220

Garry Sellers

Did we have anybody in our class who had a more infectious, bubbly personality than Angie Campagna Friday? I can't remember a time when she wasn't smiling. She had sort of a scattered-brained innocence which made it impossible not to love her to pieces! Even as physically active as Ang was throughout her life she couldn't overcome her heart issues. Maybe her heart was just too big and let everybody in! She will be missed.

08/29/16 11:05 PM

#2221

Angie

From Custer '62.

Thanks, for the memories.

09/01/16 11:17 AM

#2222