danajohnhill.org | Hard Times Come Again No More

With so much on my plate lately, I haven’t much time to share my recent activities with you. A substantial kitchen remodel is underway; I am shopping for homeowner’s insurance; taking upwards of three tests per week for school; getting our car serviced; going to work as normal; etc.

But one thing I have been able to do was go to a concert the weekend before last in which I saw two very famous American opera singers: Frederica von Stade and Samuel Ramey. Von Stade is good, and nothing against her, of course, but I really went to hear Mr. Ramey, whom I have admired for many years. His range is enormous, reaching a high G with no trouble. He is extremely loud, too; I had no problem hearing him from my $10 seat in the rear orchestra. His accompanist, I was pleased to see, was Warren Jones, a total pro. And, even though they didn’t perform it in the recital, I would be remiss if I didn’t upload a very brief song I haven’t been able to get of my head for weeks. It’s called “The Circus Band”, and it’s by Charles Ives. Listen to it. This recording–a favorite in my collection–naturally features Mr. Ramey and Warren Jones. “All summer long we boys dreamed about big circus joys…”.

Filed under: Music on February 2nd, 2007