Wagner, Ride of the Valkyries You might think that performances of a work as popular as this would be easy to find. But I have my own criteria for what qualifies for this series, and it has taken a while to find something suitable. When … Read more
Josef Konecny, April Polka Ah, June. This polka may be named for April, but it doesn’t matter. June means we are headed back to Germany. And that means German music at the various Fests in my neighborhood. Germans will hold a festival for practically any reason … Read more
All Saints Day and All Souls Day are behind us. You may still have Halloween hangover in your house depending on how long the candy lasted. Soon, attention will turn fully to Thanksgiving. Before entering the world of pumpkin pie, I’d like to reflect upon … Read more
A swan passed by my window this morning at sunrise. No, it wasn’t a dream. I’m on a river boat serving as Study Leader for a two-week Rhine River cruise from Basel to Amsterdam. The focus for this trip is family. Of the 130 passengers … Read more
The bells are ringing at 6 p.m. in Weimar, Germany, as I look directly at the dome of a tiny Russian Orthodox church. This church is so small it would fit inside a lecture room at a university. It was built in 1860 to be … Read more
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WEIMAR, Nov. 9, 2013 – Bathed in the quiet of early evening, we were snug at our computers when the bell went “klingel.” Our dearest Weimar friends, Gudrun and Jochen, rushed in and said, “Get your coats on and come.” After 12 years of friendship, … Read more
Yesterday I promised a video, and here it is. May this short video bring you a moment of wonder. Perhaps it also will bring a bit of amusement too: after all, kids are kids. They may wear modern microphones, but they still aren’t sure of … Read more
These last days before Christmas can be frantic for families. Or they may bring much-needed peace, as the string of holiday concerts and parties winds down. The focus finally can shift to the family and to activities under one’s own roof. The first Christmas I … Read more
