A Pied Piper

There are always musicians and music at the St. Paul Farmers' Market.  Yesterday was the first time  I saw a musician involve the children in a square dance to the delight of onlookers.  He looked like he and the kiddies and the children were enjoying themselves!!

Northern Clay Center's Reception

During the Michael Simon's retrospective pottery show last Saturday (full explanation here), this man entertained the large crowd at the reception, playing non-stop for several hours.  Because he was busy, I did not interrupt him.  Steffe thinks, correctly I might add, that I need to add more biographical information to my portraits, the circumstances did not lend itself to interrupting this fine musician.  Next time!

Marimba

Brittany is currently finishing up her music education degree at the University of Minnesota.  She has also performed in numerous ensembles from steel band, to the symphony orchestra, to percussion ensemble.  Last summer Brittany was a participant in the annual Nancy Zeltsman Marimba Festival and just recently helped coordinate schedules for the Marimba 2010 International Festival and Conference. Brittany is very passionate about music, especially the love of marimba, and she plans to pursue it outside of school.

ABC WEDNESDAY " V"-VIOLIN, VIRTUOSO

Can a young person be considered a virtuoso?  If s/he plays like this 12-year-old sixth grader, I think the answer is a resounding "yes!"

“A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin; what else does one need to be happy.” Albert Einstein

Flowers, food, and music

During my weekly stop at the downtown Farmers' Market in St. Paul, I savor more than just the sight of plants and food. As I stop to smell the flowers along the way, I am able to enjoy music, too!

A Chance Encounter

On Friday night, May 25, DH and I went to listen to another performance of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. We ate a light supper and went early to Ordway, the concert hall, which is right across the street from the delightful Rice Park that has a fountain, statues of notable local heros, and lots of benches. Many concert goers were "loitering" in the pleasant summer evening, waiting for the concert. Camera at the ready, I snapped lots of photos which you will see later. When we started back, just ahead of us was one of the musicians, walking toward the stage door and carrying his instrument in a familiar-looking black case. Turning to DH I wondered aloud if it was "HIM." Suspecting what I was going to do, DH did a quick fade and walked away from me. Subject "HIM" was on a cell phone. Walking a short distance behind HIM, I respectfully waited 'til he had switched off. Follow the dailogue:

ME: Excuse me, but are you Joshua Bell?
JB: (Smiling and briefly turning): Yes, I am.
ME: (Stupidly): I read about you in the DC subway. May I take your picture?
JB: (Smiling weakly) Yes, but I'm in kind of a hurry. (Concert started in :20 min. where he was the featured violin soloist on his insured 1.5 M dollar Stradivarius).
I took the quick snap which is posted above and off he went. A woman behind us smiled and said, "Is he a relative, do you want me to take your picture with him?" I laughed and said, "No, that is Joshua Bell!!"

The concert which ended a three-year association of Bell's with the orchestra as an artistic partner was incredibly sweet and wildly received by the audience.

For a review of the performance in our local newspaper, click here.
To see the concert hall, St. Paul's finest click here, which incidentally is the 15th photo I posted on this blog!

Talking Volumes Guitarist

On Thursday two poets, Galway Kinnell and Josephine Dickinson read some of their poems on the stage of The Fitzgerald Theatre. Before the reading the audience was entertained by this guitarist.