My husband’s image of detail from Vincent Van Gogh’s “The Novel Reader” (1888).
Over the winter break, my husband and daughters visited the wonderful Detroit Institute of Arts for the “Van Gogh in America” exhibition. Naturally, this morning’s news attracted our attention: “Van Gogh painting on display at Detroit Institute of Art is stolen, lawsuit claims” (The Guardian, January 13).
Weather and our schedules require that, this week and next, we take our long walk in the mid-morning. Sun on our faces — wan, incomplete, fast-fading but sun — was the one of the gifts of our last three outings.
It’s beautifully, wonderfully, perfectly sunny today, but this photo from our last walk of 2022, taken under the dome of heavy, gray sky that is winter in Illinois, captured my attention. I hadn’t realized when I took it that you can make out the ice crystals.
A long walk. Music. Latin. Reading.
For UChicago Graham School and Night School Bar courses.
This entry was adapted from previously published posts.
In her paean to birding, Rare Encounters with Ordinary Birds, Lyanda Lynn Haupt writes:
There is a game birders play on New Year’s Day called “Bird of the Year.” The very first bird you see on the first day of the new year is your theme bird for the next 365 days. It might seem a curious custom, but people who watch birds regularly are always contriving ways to keep themselves interested. This is one of those ways. You are given the possibility of creating something extraordinary — a Year of the Osprey, Year of the Pileated Woodpecker, Year of the Trumpeter Swan. This game is an inspiration to place yourself in natural circumstances that will yield a heavenly bird, blessing your year, your perspective, your imagination, your spirit. New year, new bird.
Our family has played this game long enough that we needed to rework the rules a bit or risk getting the same birds again and again. And again. This year, my husband and I decided to choose the first birds we espied on our first walk of the new year. He has embraced a Year of the Canada Goose. And I? Imagine my delight when a red-tailed hawk flew across my path.
My images of detail from
__ “The Bewitched Mill” by Franz Marc (1913)
__ “Alphabet” by Jasper Johns (1959)
__ “Woman” by Joan Miró (1934)
__ “Greyed Rainbow” by Jackson Pollock (1953)”
An oriole’s nest.
In late July, I played the Allegro Molto from Schubert’s Sonatine in D Major in my very first in-person recital — a solid performance. Soon after, I entrusted my wonderful flute to a new (to me) technician for its annual COA. (In July 2021, my previous technician closed his business and retired.) It was returned to me in beautiful condition, but in August, I visited Ollivanders, I mean, Flute World, where my new wand flute chose me. More experienced instrumentalists than I will attest to the fact that an upgrade can do remarkable things for one’s confidence playing. And they are so right.
My current solo piece is Gabriel Fauré’s “Pavane.” I’m also working on page 10 of Robert Cavally’s Melodious and Progressive Studies from Andersen, Gariboldi, Koehler, and Terschak for Flute, Book 2, and “Duetto No. I (based on Sonata in B flat, K. 378)” (Mozart) in Selected Duets for Flute, Volume II (Advanced). It’s been a long slog, but I’ve (finally) made it to 111 in P. Bona’s rhythmical articulation studies.
And after much discussion, my husband and I decided to change bands. Joining the local community band has saved us 2.5 hours a week of driving — and in one semester and three concerts, measurably improved our skills. Rehearsals start up again in a few weeks. Given my other pursuits, then, my practice schedule will remain largely unchanged:
— 15 minutes: long tones, scales, and/or exercises
— 20 minutes: Melodious and Progressive Studies
— 20 minutes: duet
— 15 minutes: rhythmical articulation
— 20 minutes: solo
— 20 minutes: band music or other
In May, I acquired a beautiful alto flute. What a sound! I took private lessons throughout the summer and fall with the idea that I might accept a few alto parts in flute ensemble. Because the flute ensemble remains fairly informal and still has no performance plans, I bowed out for a bit to focus on band music, but in the coming months, I will add the alto back into my practice at least twice a week.
At the the Art Institute.
Nerdishly 