Walking. Albuquerque. The Shire to Narnia. Spring equinox. Spring – Tracy Chapman – Beech Spring – Lewis & Clark – Original Soundtrack Recording Copland: Appalachian Spring – Very Slowly – Leonard Bernstein: New York Philharmonic Orchestra Copland: Appalachian Spring – Allegro – Leonard Bernstein: New York Philharmonic Orchestra Copland: Appalachian Spring – Moderato – Leonard Bernstein: New York Philharmonic Orchestra Copland: Appalachian Spring – Fast – Leonard Bernstein: New York Philharmonic Orchestra Copland: Appalachian Spring – Subito Allegro – Leonard Bernstein: New York Philharmonic Orchestra Copland: Appalachian Spring – As At First (Slowly) – Leonard Bernstein: New York Philharmonic Orchestra Copland: Appalachian Spring – Doppio Movimento – Leonard Bernstein: New York Philharmonic Copland: Appalachian Spring – Moderato, Coda – Leonard Bernstein: New York Philharmonic Orchestra Le Sacre du Printemps – Pt. I: I. Introduction – Berlin Philharmonic & Herbert von Karajan Le Sacre du Printemps: II. The Augurs of Spring: Dances of the Young Girls – Berlin Philharmonic & Herbert von Karajan Le Sacre du Printemps: III. Ritual of Abduction – Berlin Philharmonic & Herbert von Karajan Le Sacre du Printemps: IV. Spring Rounds – Berlin Philharmonic & Herbert von Karajan Le Sacre du Printemps: V. Ritual of the Rival Tribes – Berlin Philharmonic & Herbert von Karajan Le Sacre du Printemps: VI. Procession of the Sage – Berlin Philharmonic & Herbert von Karajan Le Sacre du Printemps: VII. The Sage – Berlin Philharmonic & Herbert von Karajan Le Sacre du Printemps: VIII. Dance of the Earth – Berlin Philharmonic & Herbert von Karajan Le Sacre du Printemps – Pt. 2: IX. Introduction p Berlin Philharmonic & Herbert von Karajan Le Sacre du Printemps: X. Mystic Circles of the Young Girls – Berlin Philharmonic & Herbert von Karajan Le Sacre du Printemps: XI. Glorification of the Chosen One – Berlin Philharmonic & Herbert von Karajan Le Sacre du Printemps: XII. Evocation of the Ancestors – Berlin Philharmonic & Herbert von Karajan Le Sacre du Printemps: XIII. Ritual Action of the Ancestors – Berlin Philharmonic & Herbert von Karajan Le Sacre du Printemps: XIV. Sacrificial Dance (The Chosen One) – Berlin Philharmonic & Herbert von Karajan Sparrows in the Spring Grass – Jessita Reyes The Sun Shines – Ojibway People Travelling Through Wonders – Marie & Julia Thomsen My Fellow Creatures -5 Carlos Cipa Spring – Hania Rani Ostara – Lisa Thiel Serenade To Spring – Secret Garden The Lullaby of Spring – Donovan Spring In Manhattan – Meredith d’Ambrosio The Harvest Home Suite: Spring – Jay Ungar Herald of Spring – Peter Ostroushko Sakamoto’s Spring – TOKiMONSTA Silent Spring – emma’s revolution So Early, Early In the Spring – Judy Collins Some Other Spring – Billie Holiday Spring Is Here – Ahmad Jamal Spring Always Takes You By Surprise – Lydia Adams Davis Spring Sunshine – Roh Young Sim The Springtime It Brings On the Shearing – Seona McDowell Springtime Laughter – Spyro Gyra summerfallwinter spring – JANNABI Vivaldi – Spring (After The Four Seasons, RV 269) – Black Violin When Springtime Comes Again – Verm Williams Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 8 No. 1, RV 269 “La Primavera” (Spring): I. Allegro – Joshua Bell & Academy of St Martin in the Fields Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 8 No. 1, RV 269 “La Primavera” (Spring): II. Largo – Joshua Bell & Academy of St Martin in the Fields Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 8 No. 1, RV 269 “La Primavera” (Spring): III. Allegro – Joshua Bell & Academy of St Martin in the Fields Four Seasons – Melanie Durrant Here Comes The Sun – Richie Havens Here Comes the Sun – Yo-Yo Ma, James Taylor, Arnold McCuller, David Lasley, Kate Markowitz, Andrea Zonn & Caroline Taylor Here Comes The Sun – The Beatles
I sat on a chair atop an elevated slab of concrete at the Albuquerque BioPark Zoo. Lucy and her grandmother (Tricia) sat on a bench facing me.
I did not think quickly enough to say that magic is Gandalf’s gig, not Gimli’s. I did recall my one magic trick guaranteed to impress everyone.
“Watch me pull a bald head from a hat,” I said.
Slowly and dramatically I removed my hat to reveal … a bald head.
When Lucy asked for another trick, wishful thinking took over.
“Watch me pull a head with hair from a hat.” Major failure as the revealed pate was once again bald.
“My head has hair,” laughed Lucy kindly as she came to stand beside me.
“Let’s see if this works,” I mused. I placed the hat on her head. “Abracadabra,” I intoned. I removed the hat and revealed a mass of hair.
“My turn,” declared Lucy. I went to sit with Tricia.
“Pocus-pocus,” Lucy chanted. I’m not sure what was supposed to happen. And in the end it does not matter.
The magic and wonder of the day lay not in any tricks we did or did not perform.
The magic and wonder lay in the imagination and love of a child.
The imagination … … that transformed any elevated space into a stage where one could dance with abandon or direct a magic show … … that realized the ramp to the observation deck at the monkey exhibit provided an entry point to a ship of some sort and we needed to help each other on board … … that envisioned a chair as throne … … and that made music with abandon on a suspended wooden xylophone.
The love … … demonstrated by utter comfort and absolute confidence in her grandmother’s arms … … shown in kindness to other visitors … ,,, and expressed in appreciation for the creatures with whom we share God’s creation.
As I give thanks for Lucy’s imagination and love, I hope I can recover some of that myself. For it is a joyful, joy-inspiring, joyous way to live.
Most days no introduction to the playlist is provided. Today, as does every January 28, marks an exception.
About today’s playlist. Fifty-one years ago today, my father, William H. Koenig, died in a plane crash. A private pilot, he was flying with a colleague to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to advocate for funds for the Grove City school district where they were working. My father served as the assistant superintendent.
They did not make it to the state capital. The plane went down. Both men died.
Prior to becoming a school administrator he had been a high school band director. He kept his hands in music as he career moved in a different direction. He played string bass in the pit orchestra for high school musicals and he was the first director of the hand bell choir at our church.
He also directed a community band for several years. For two years, I played baritone horn in that band.
One or another of the bands my father directed, played almost all of the songs on this playlist at some point. Many of them I played under my father’s direction.
Dad – since it fell unto your lot That you should rise and I should not I’ll gently rise and I’ll softly call Good night and joy be with you
Walking. North Domingo Baca Multigenerational Center. Unless otherwise noted, the artist performing the songs is the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Leonard Bernstein. Light Calvary Overture – London Festival Orchestra Semper Fidelis The Thunderer Washington Post Hands Across the Sea Radetsky March, Op. 228 Under the Double Eagle Battle Hymn of the Republic Stars and Stripes Forever The British Grenadiers Rule Bittania The National Emblem Rakoczy March/Hungarian March March of the Toreadors from Carmen, Suite No. 1 Coronation March from Le Prophete March from the Love for Three Oranges, Op. 33a War March of the Priests from Athalie, Op, 74 Grand March from Aida Procession of the Sardar from Two Caucasian Sketches, Op. 10 March from Symphonic Metamorphoses Pomp and Circumstance Scotland the Brave – The Pipes & Drums of the Royal Tank Regiment Anchors Aweigh Le Marseillaise Fest March from Tanhauser Colonel Bogey
Ten consecutive days of stretching paid off. When the dance instructor told everyone, students and accompanying adults alike, to get on the floor, I made it. Without hurting myself. Without hurting anyone else. Without embarrassing myself. I made. I even managed to let Lucy sit on my leg without a problem.
“Let’s go around the circle and say our names,” the instructor directed. In turn, students and adult stated their name. Our turn came.
“I’m Lucy,” she said with confidence.”
“I’m Mark,” I said.
Lucy whipped around, put her hand on my mouth, and declared, “No. You’re Gimli.”
“And I’m Lucy,” she affirmed as she turned back to the class.
“It’s a Lord of the Rings thing,” I observed. Everyone laughed. The naming ritual continued.
Day 1. Walking 62 Miles for the American Cancer Society Walked in Midway Airport during a layover. Miles walked: 2.28 Total miles: 2.28 Miles left: 59.72 Soroco – Agua Clara IMPORTED – Jessie Reyez & 6LACK La Fonda – Victor Jara Milagro – Santana Prenda Del Alma – Los Lobos Somos La Fuerza Latina – Varios artistas Carnival In Harlem – Tito Puente Puedes Decir De Mi – Adrian Quesada & Gaby Moreno Anquayo – Luis Cachiguango !Salta! ¡Salta! – Zona Neón & Gaby Moreno Huayno del Guallatiri Inti-Illimani 1,2,3 (Remix) – Gloria Estefan El Baile Madrigal – Encanto Hielo Seco Adrian Quesada, Money Mark & Marc Ribot
Dust accumulated through years of storage brings coughing and sneezing, itching and wheezing. Faded images stir vibrant memories of people and places, life and love shared. Sorrow and joy, joy and sorrow mingle with the dust. And the question lingers: why are there tears?
17 September 2024 Germantown, Louisville, Kentucky
In memory of friends we have lost, in honor of friends who have overcome, in anticipation of friends who will receive the diagnosis, I am taking part in the American Cancer Society’s Walk 62 Miles in October. Watch for posts – starting October 1. But you can get a jump on supporting this effort. Donate at: https://www.facebook.com/donate/488632167350335/