Late color

Try as I might I could not capture the bright colors, the red and blue, that made me pull over on Main Street, Port Jefferson, and hop out with my camera.

Feathertop

"Dickon," cried Mother Rigby, "a coal for my pipe!"
The pipe was in the old dame's mouth when she said these words. She had thrust it there after filling it with tobacco, but without stooping to light it at the hearth, where indeed there was no appearance of a fire having been kindled that morning. Forthwith, however, as soon as the order was given, there was an intense red glow out of the bowl of the pipe, and a whiff of smoke came from Mother Rigby's lips. Whence the coal came, and how brought thither by an invisible hand, I have never been able to discover....

So begins a tale by Nathaniel Hawthorne that is so appropriate to the season.
Here is the rest of Feathertop.

Northport Choral Festival

This past weekend (10/16 -18) the 11th annual Choral Festival was held at First Presbyterian Church of Northport. Our leader this year was Dr. John Dickson from Macon, GA. It was a wonderful weekend for which we have Debbie Jenks to thank! Here is the program listing the pieces we prepared in 3 days and performed on Sunday afternoon, and here is a link so you can hear a fine Taiwanese choir doing my favorite, the wonderful "Sure on this Shining Night" by Morten Lauridsen, a setting of a poem by James Agee. The last piece ("Let Everything that Hath Breath") was a gospel rendition that really raised the roof. For more information see the church's website and click on Choral Festival Brochure 2009

Got him

Who is this guy? Every time I drive out East I pass this guy at the beginning of Sound Avenue. What is he doing out here in farm country? Let's stop and see.

Let's sneak up ... Careful.

He's armed!

Yipes, isn't that ...?

Humphrey What's-his-name?

Well, let it be known that I got the shot.

What's he guarding?

A liquor store, of course.

Let's open our eyes and ears to ...

A video about the Pakistani people.

It speaks to the Pakistani people

in the voice of Pakistani people.

YouTube lets us all listen in.

Morten Lauridsen

In case anyone is wondering if we have any great choral composers alive and composing today ... we do!
Listen to this clip of "O Magnum Mysterium" by Morten Lauridsen (b. 1943) beautifully sung by a Filipino group.
Close your eyes or look out the window at the autumn foliage and think of someone you've lost.
Here is another recording by the Nordic Chamber Choir. Slower tempo, crystal clear, with even more emotion, if that is possible.
Some biographical info.
Here's another great piece by Lauridsen "O Nata Lux" sung by the Pasadena Master Chorale.

Ye gods!

Some people have nothing to say while others ...

Aw, c'mon, there's room for more.

I have a sign to add: The era of excess is over!