My lovely life

Preparing for concerts and programs is: months-long blurs of research, rehearsal, collecting images and creating the slideshow, and basically .... pressure, pressure, pressure.

You wake up with the passages you are practicing humming in your head; this goes on all day, as you walk, you sing a snatch of this or that; as you sweep or dust or make coffee, you suddenly stop and do a few vocal exercises (gotta practice that lift); you can't read anything that isn't related to your research with anything approaching concentration.

Then you give the concert or program. Just before you go on stage, you think, "I am so exhausted, why do I do this, can I sing that passage I struggled with correctly, what's the house like...WHY do I do this it's so intense..." Then you go out, and you see your audience, and it all lights up and falls into place and you're not tired and everyone's smiling, and you look happily over at Jim and you open your mouth to speak, to sing, you pick up your guitar....

There's no better life.

And today I'm utterly exhausted, like a balloon that has been let go and soars while the escaping air propels it upward, and then it drifts back to earth.

And there's still no better life. And you want to do it all again.
Which means you are kind of crazy!

Concert April 20

I am passionate about defending the First Amendment. So I'm going to publish this list each week.

You can get the texts of the bills here: https://www.govtrack.us/…/subje…/first_amendment_rights/5904
Another source: https://www.congress.gov/

I am posting them without comment to simply make sure folks know what's going on. I emphatically do NOT support some of them. My own personal political views I'm trying to keep out of it, this is FYI only. Perhaps I should specify that. I hope people will read texts and decide for themselves.

First Amendment legislation proposed/pending in Congress as of today:

H.R. 172: To restore the Free Speech and First Amendment rights of churches and exempt organizations by repealing the 1954 Johnson Amendment.
Sponsor: Rep. Walter Jones [R-NC3]
Introduced: Jan 3, 2017
Referred to Committee: Jan 3, 2017

S.J.Res. 20: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to clarify the authority of Congress and the States to regulate corporations, limited liability companies, and other corporate entities established by the law
Sponsor: Sen. Jon Tester [D-MT]
Introduced: Feb 3, 2017
Referred to Committee: Feb 3, 2017

H.Res. 12: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the enhancement of unity in America.
Sponsor: Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee [D-TX18]
Introduced: Jan 3, 2017
Referred to Committee: Jan 3, 2017

H.J.Res. 61: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States giving Congress power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.
Sponsor: Rep. Steve Womack [R-AR3]
Introduced: Feb 2, 2017
Referred to Committee: Feb 2, 2017

H.J.Res. 48: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States providing that the rights extended by the Constitution are the rights of *natural persons only.
Sponsor: Rep. Richard Nolan [D-MN8]
Introduced: Jan 30, 2017
Referred to Committee: Jan 30, 2017

*This is what "natural persons" means in this bill:
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hjres48/text

PLEASE COME AND SHARE THE MUSICAL AND HISTORICAL STORY WITH US~

A SPECIAL NOTE, THE DAY BEFORE:
We have been doing various configurations of this program for 30 years. It's a centerpiece of our work. I've never said this before, please don't take this as "advertising"...but I really feel strongly that if you come to this free program, you may be inspired and encouraged by all the hard-won progress this country has made since the 1760s...and the inspiration to continue. Please come and share this musical and historical story with us.

Please join Jim Dalton and Maggi Smith-Dalton at upcoming FREE music and history programs at The Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Boston, Mass.

This special version of the Daltons’ longest-running program “American History Thru Music™ — 1760s to 1960s-A Musical Portrait of the USA” —
▪ starts January 29, 2017, with “Causes, Crusades, Campaigns!—Get your energy up!”

▪ followed on February 26, 2017, with “Good Times and Hard Times—We’ve All Been there!”

▪ and wrapping up on April 2, 2017, with “Immigration and Migration—Packing Our Bags, Hittin’ the Road!”

WHEN AND WHERE:
Sessions will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Boston Conservatory’s T-401 classroom (31 Hemenway Street Boston, MA 02115)

Directions to campus: https://bostonconservatory.berklee.edu/directions

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Registration: Contact Rhoda Bernard, rbernard@berklee.edu


SO … WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
▪ Live, historically informed performance of songs & instrumental pieces plus some recorded excerpts where appropriate

▪ Discuss general history (political, social, cultural) & music history for each era … Discover how music both reflected and shaped the course of people’s lives … Opportunities for musical participation provided in each session

▪ Each session will be illustrated, and materials for further exploration will be shared

WHO SHOULD COME? ANYONE! THAT MEANS YOU!
Download a descriptive flyer here: http://singingstring.org/PDF/AHTM%20Special%20Seminars%20version.pdf

And look for us at WorldFest in February and our annual concert “Celebration of American Music 7” in April….more info to come….



_____________________________________


very short blurb:

Join Jim Dalton & Maggi Smith-Dalton
for a 3 session version of the Daltons’ longest-running program “American History Thru Music™ — 1760s to 1960s-A Musical Portrait of the USA” Jan 29, Feb 26, April 2, 2017

2 to 4 p.m. Boston Conservatory’s T-401 classroom (31 Hemenway Street Boston, MA 02115) https://bostonconservatory.berklee.edu/directions

FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Registration: Contact Rhoda Bernard, rbernard@berklee.edu

WHO SHOULD COME? YOU!
Descriptive flyer: http://singingstring.org/PDF/AHTM%20Special%20Seminars%20version.pdf

I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS

THINK, PLAN, WORK FOR 2018

Jim and I were, of COURSE, at the Boston March yesterday. We didn't have a catchy "women's rights" or anti-Putin'sRumpPuppet slogan...but it's the First Amendment, the most important one of all, that is being attacked right now, and it is that which worries me for the immediate future. Without that, so many other things will be made nearly impossible. THE DARKNESS IS REAL, BUT I WILL NOT CURSE THE DARKNESS, I WILL LIGHT A CANDLE AND THEN A FIRE!

THINK, PLAN, AND WORK AGAINST THE AUTHORITARIAN AND FASCIST PLAYBOOK NOW IN MOTION, AND WORK MOST OF ALL FOR THE FORCES OF LIGHT TO RETURN TO CONGRESS AND THE GOVERNMENT BY 2018.

The Dream Will Never Die

This will be my only post today.

"'....That which we are, we are--
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
...strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.'

....For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."

Senator Edward M. Kennedy - August 12, 1980

Please join Jim Dalton and Maggi Smith-Dalton at upcoming FREE music and history programs at The Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Boston, Mass.

This special version of the Daltons' longest-running program “American History Thru Music™ — 1760s to 1960s-A Musical Portrait of the USA” —
▪ starts January 29, 2017, with “Causes, Crusades, Campaigns!—Get your energy up!”

▪ followed on February 26, 2017, with “Good Times and Hard Times—We’ve All Been there!”

▪ and wrapping up on April 2, 2017, with “Immigration and Migration—Packing Our Bags, Hittin’ the Road!”

WHEN AND WHERE:
Sessions will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Boston Conservatory’s T-401 classroom (31 Hemenway Street Boston, MA 02115)

Directions to campus: https://bostonconservatory.berklee.edu/directions

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Registration: Contact Rhoda Bernard, rbernard@berklee.edu


SO … WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
▪ Live, historically informed performance of songs & instrumental pieces plus some recorded excerpts where appropriate

▪ Discuss general history (political, social, cultural) & music history for each era … Discover how music both reflected and shaped the course of people’s lives … Opportunities for musical participation provided in each session

▪ Each session will be illustrated, and materials for further exploration will be shared

WHO SHOULD COME? ANYONE! THAT MEANS YOU!
Download a descriptive flyer here: http://singingstring.org/PDF/AHTM%20Special%20Seminars%20version.pdf

And look for us at WorldFest in February and our annual concert “Celebration of American Music 7” in April….more info to come….

A MUSICAL YEAR

The first 12 songs that played on the channel I chose randomly on Pandora the morning of January 1st 2017 (+the song for NY day 2018) have duly been noted, supplying a thematic arc, musically, for the New Year. I'll post one each month, in order.
PS: September's is a puzzle....I will be curious to see how that fits in what otherwise is a very interesting lineup.
HERE is this month's song...

Revolution
The Beatles

You say you want a revolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out

Don't you know it's gonna be
All right, all right, all right

You say you got a real solution
Well, you know
We'd all love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
Well, you know
We're doing what we can
But if you want money for people with minds that hate
All I can tell is brother you have to wait

Don't you know it's gonna be
All right, all right, all right

You say you'll change the constitution
Well, you know
We all want to change your head
You tell me it's the institution
Well, you know
You better free your mind instead
But if you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao
You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow

Don't you know it's gonna be
All right, all right, all right
All right, all right, all right
All right, all right, all right
All right, all right
Songwriters: John Lennon / Paul Mccartney
Revolution lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC