Albany Symphony in Washington, DC, 2018

I partially wrote this post last April.  Then my elderly parents' crises took my focus and I didn't finish it.  When I looked back, I decided this trip was too unique to let go.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

"Albany Symphony is going play in Washington, DC," Bill said.
 "Oh? Cool," I said.
A couple of weeks later, out of the blue, he said, "The SHIFT festival looks kind of interesting."
"The what?" I said.
"You know.  Albany Symphony." 
Disconnected snippets often start more promising conversation at our house and, when talk evolved into a concrete plan to join the ASO's trip to DC, I had the dates on the calendar in a second!

(Cherry blossoms at peak)

I looked up SHIFT, figuring it was an acronym.  I was wrong.  Instead the word, all upper case, was being used in its conventional sense as a verb.  We were to shift towards a new way of thinking about orchestras as community outreach, performing beyond the concert hall through innovation, new ideas, new music as well as old, and meeting the public in new ways.

(The University Club)

The Albany Symphony Orchestra, with David Alan Miller as director and conductor, had been chosen to be part of the week-long festival because of its innovative work with living American composers and because of projects such as its barge journey on the Erie Canal when the ASO performed free concerts in seven canal communities. 

(Four orchestras from across the country were part of SHIFT)

Symphony tour planners scheduled the opportunity for fans and supporters to attend three concerts, take advantage of guided sightseeing, and see the cherry blossoms, with two overnights at the University Club.  Thirty-five of us rode a coach bus, ready for the adventure.

After a few minutes to settle in after our arrival, Bill and I, and a few others, boarded the bus again to watch a short, and our first, musical presentation at the Kennedy Center's Millennial Stage. 

(The Kennedy Center's large concert hall)

While some from our group chose to skip the Millennial stage presentation in favor of eating a relaxing hotel or restaurant meal, Bill and I, determined not to miss anything, had dinner in the Kennedy Center cafeteria.  The food was excellent, with a bird's-eye view of the city as well.

The rest of our group joined us at the main hall in the evening with plenty of time to look around.  I was interested to learn that plans to build the Kennedy Center began in 1950, although the first performance did not take place until 1971.  The dramatic high-tech acoustical canopy was added in 1997.  Organ pipes gleamed at the back of the stage, and crystal chandeliers shone overhead.

( David Alan Miller conducts while Carol Jantsch solos in a sparkling mermaid-style gown)

The theme for the ASO concert was "The River Runs Through Us."  Weeks prior to the festival, Bill had been playing recordings of the tuba concerto, Reflections on the Mississippi by Michael Daugherty.  He was particularly attracted to this piece.  The program also included Joan Tower's Still/Rapids, Dorothy Chang's The Mighty Erie Canal, and Michael Torke's Three Manhattan Bridges.

(Lavender globe lights on the Library steps)

Carol Jantsch's performance as tubaist was riveting with tones and beauty we had not imagined.  Although the tuba had a harness, just wielding such an instrument seemed a feat.

I was completely smitten by The Mighty Erie Canal which featured a children's chorus with the orchestra. The music was wonderfully melodic with lyrics both educational and fun. Besides their perfect harmony, the children sang with a serious musicianship.

(The Great Hall in the Library of Congress)

The next day promised to be 70 degrees and sunny, a far cry from April at home.  Cultural outings lay before us, beginning with a drive and short walk to the Library of Congress.  With a private guide, we learned about the library's beautiful architecture and statuary, its collection, and how the library is used today.

( The Reading Room)

I can't resist sharing this list with you:
With an astounding 838 miles of bookshelves, the library contains more than 38 million books and other printed materials, 3.6 million recordings, 14 million photographs, 5.5 million maps, 8.1 million pieces of sheet music and 70 million manuscripts, 5,711 printed previous to the year 1501, and 122,810,430 items in special collections!!

(Brahms Violin Concerto manuscript)

With the help of Congressman Paul Tonko's office, tour planners provided us with a special showing in the library's Music Division.  The music librarians had studied the ASO's concert season and had created a collection of original composition manuscripts coordinating with works the ASO would perform this year, complete with docents behind each glass-covered case to answer our questions.

I was delighted to see the manuscript of Brahms' Violin Concerto in D, with his penciled edits and cross-outs.  Joseph Joachim, who had premiered the piece as violinist, had put his notations in the manuscript with red ink!  How fascinating to see work in progress on such a revered piece of music.  Also on display were Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue and the Joan Tower piece we had heard the night before. In addition, a few Stradivarius and Amati violins hung in a wall cabinet.

(the World in 1507)

Bill and I took advantage of free time to explore Thomas Jefferson's personal collection and to re-visit the famous 1507 Waldseemuller map. Both had been part of our initial guided walk through the library.  The map, which included the latest 16th-century information from Amerigo Vespucci's voyages, had been revolutionary in its time.

(a brilliant garden of tulips in front of the Capitol)

We stepped outside into the spring weather, where flowers bloomed everywhere.  I couldn't stop admiring them, but I was also hungry.  The tour included lunch at Old Ebbitt Grill, Washington's oldest saloon.  Many famous people, including at least five 19th and 20th-century presidents, considered this their favorite DC restaurant.  We had a hearty and delicious three-course meal that would carry us through the rest of the day.

(a canopy of cherry blossoms)

A visit to the National Portrait Gallery, to see the newly hung Barack and Michelle Obama portraits, was next on the schedule.  I joined with others in the hope of a visit to the Tidal Basin to see the cherry blossoms.  After a show of hands, Albany Symphony development director, Geoff Miller, took a group of us to see the cherry trees, while executive director, Anna Kuwabara, led others to the Portrait Gallery.  A few people chose to go back to the hotel.  We were impressed that every request was accommodated.

(The Washington Monument across the Basin)

Bill and I walked along the Basin and up to the Jefferson Memorial, admiring the cherry blossoms, watching the people, and taking pictures.  What a complement this stroll by the petal-strewn water was to the water-themed concert of the previous night!

After just a short time back at the University Club, we were on the bus again for a Dogs of Desire performance, our third and final musical event of the trip.  As Albany Symphony's resident new music ensemble, The Dogs of Desire would perform at the alternative arts space, Blind Whino in Southwest DC. 

(Long-dead church fathers must be rolling over in their graves)

The tour schedule read that the Dogs of Desire has "the power of a rock band, the sophistication of a classical chamber orchestra, exploring all that is wild and wonderful in American pop culture, with dazzling multimedia works and freewheeling, fabulous creations and collaborations."  Although the 18-musician Dogs had been a branch of the ASO for a long time, we had never heard them play.  We went to this concert with open ears and minds.

Dazzling multi-media and freewheeling fabulous creations for sure!  The music was loud and lights flashed in colors through the darkness...and we liked almost every piece on the program.  I especially enjoyed watching the keyboardist who sometimes leaned on the keys with the force of his entire arm and sometimes played gentle melodies.

(Dogs of Desire at Blind Whino)

When we stepped outside of Blind Whino after the show, the evening air felt comfortable.  True to food options always being a step ahead of our thoughts, tour manager Sophie Moss arrived with dozens of cupcakes from the gourmet Georgetown Cupcakes just as I wished for a snack!  We ate them under the trees as we waited for the final drive of the evening.

This time we were not picked up by our bus, but got on a trolley for a ride through the city at night.  While the air felt suddenly chilly, I wouldn't consider pulling the plastic blinds to keep out the wind if they might obscure the views! 

(The Lincoln Memorial)

At the Mall, we got off the trolley and walked along the reflecting pool, past the Lincoln Memorial to the Vietnam Memorial.  Each location had a new majesty in the darkness.  And finally, we ended our fabulous eventful day at the University Club.

(Washington Monument and reflecting pool)

But our adventure wasn't over yet!  We were up and out the next morning for a short tour of the U.S. Capitol.  With Congress in session, we had limited access.  We spent quite a bit of time in the rotunda area and then had the requisite photo on the Capitol steps with Representative Paul Tonko.

(Inside the Capitol Dome)

On the bus ride north to Albany, we watched the landscape change from flowering trees to the browns of a delayed spring in Upstate New York.  I faced a demanding week of rehearsals and concerts for my own musical ensembles.  What better way to be inspired than to have been part of a festival tour such as this?

Two Events on Gray Days

(The Capitol dome made from Legos)

Aren't Legos the best toys?  Lego interlocking blocks were first popularized in 1958 but took a while to cross over from Denmark.  They were a big deal when my kids were young. The children loved Legos and I did too.

(Meredith, age 2 1/2, making what she called a "blue city," 1987)

When I learned that Crossgates Mall planned to feature a Lego display, I penciled the event on my calendar.  I've seen large Lego constructions in New York City, but this was just four miles from my home.  I made a point of going to the mall when it arrived.

(Thomas's Lego city, 1991)

(Thomas with a Christmas project, constructing a new Lego set, age 10)

Planned to coincide with the school winter vacation, The Lego Americana Roadshow featured American icons.  I picked up a map of the mall with each Lego location numbered with a check box alongside.  Children could check the boxes indicating that they had seen the pictured models, then return a fully-checked map to the mall's Lego store for a small prize.

(The Statue of Liberty in full detail)

The first construction I saw was the Liberty Bell. Then I passed the White House,  the Supreme Court, and the Lincoln Memorial.  The detail of the statues and carvings on these buildings was impressive, all made with Lego blocks.  I heard parents telling their kids about the buildings and their history.

(The Capitol's wings and branches look sprawling in miniature)

The Capitol Building was by far the most remarkable with its large ornate dome.  In size alone, it outdid the others. According to the accompanying sign, the U.S. Capitol took a team of eight builders 1700 hours to complete!

(Lego people on a ski trip...and a battle?)

A few dioramas were displayed in large glass cases.  I liked the winter scene with skiers on a chairlift going up a mountain.  But what were those guys in the background with guns doing??  A group of children and a couple of parents stood by.  One of them said that this was from the Lego Movie.  I moved on.

(Hands-on fun for kids)

In one of the large open areas of the mall, children played and created their own Lego models.  This was a popular spot.  I checked out all the play options.  I particularly liked the racing ramp.  Kids built cars at a nearby table and then ran them down the track.  I saw no sharing problems; everyone appeared to be having a good time.

The federal buildings had been built with mostly light-colored Legos.  Smaller buildings, such as Independence Hall in Philadelphia with its Colonial red brick design and white trim, were a refreshing change.  I admired the detailed window detail, and could imagine piecing together blocks to fit the 18th-century design.

(Independence Hall)

I wondered how many Lego blocks these constructions required.  Next to one model, I came upon a small kiosk where kids could guess the number, write it on a paper, and drop the paper in a slot box.  I wouldn't have the faintest idea how many Lego blocks would be in the Capitol!  I heard one boy say 10,000.  I would guess more.

I loved seeing Boston's Old North Church.  It didn't draw as much attention as the bigger buildings that children would instantly recognize, but those who wanted to check all the boxes would find it.  The sign read that it took three master Lego builders only 200 hours to make this wonderful model with its fine steeple.  Five 40-hour weeks with three people working continuously still sounded like a lot to me.

(Boston's Old North Church)

On another February day, in an entirely different venue, I went to "Cathedral in Bloom," a flower show at the Episcopal Cathedral of All Saints in downtown Albany.  The flower show has been at the State Museum for years.  This year, due to renovations at the museum, the show took place at the Cathedral.

(the sale table is a bounty of color against the gray stone of the Cathedral)

My friend, Karen, an Albany native whose interests are boundless, joined me for this outing. Bright bouquets in pots greeted us as we entered the building. Many of the floral displays were clearly meant to appeal to wedding planners.  We could imagine a bridal couple under an archway made of red roses, or having dinner at tables festooned with white blossoms.  Although we loved seeing the flowers, we had also timed our visit to include a tour of the Cathedral itself.

(Florists perfectly decorated the lovely Baptistery doors)

Many wealthy donors, famous architects, and stone carvers were instrumental in the construction of the cathedral from its beginning in 1884.  The plan was to build this first American Episcopal cathedral in an English Gothic style, paying tribute to its Church of England roots. The original design was grandiose, but today less than half of the cathedral is actually finished.  Much of the remainder is still called "temporary," despite the many large rose windows, delicate stained glass, intricate wood and stone carvings, and an apparent permanence these past 130 years.

(Tiny pipes just a couple of inches high in lower left rise to large wooden pipes in two "attic" chambers on both sides of the choir area)

The eastern end of the cathedral, the choir, is the only fully completed part of the building, thanks to a 1902 influx of cash from J. Pierpont Morgan.  I was drawn to this area, since it is the home to the musical part of the cathedral.  In fact, I have a tradition of coming here at Christmas to hear the Cathedral's renowned Men and Boys Choir.  The choir performs the Nine Lessons and Carols at Christmastime.  With the Anglican pageantry and incense, I feel transported to the famous equivalent of this service at King's College in Cambridge, England.

(The massive organ)

It takes a talented organist to handle the four keyboards, innumerable stops, couplers, foot pedals, and the additional console at the other end of the cathedral!  Two hands and two feet must be active all the time to make music flow through the 4000 pipes.  And three mirrors above the organ let the organist know what is going on around him at all times.  Talk about multi-tasking! 

(Flemish Renaissance carving from 1622)

I was interested to learn that the misericords (seats for clergy who may need a rest during a long service) in the choir loft, were not only imported from Brugges, Belgium, and 400 years old, but were a gift from Spencer Trask, of Yaddo fame in Saratoga Springs.

(a rose swag draping from the pulpit)

Before we left, Karen and I perused the items for sale, sniffed the Harney & Sons specially-made "Cathedral in Bloom" tea, and considered the tins of flower seeds. In the end, I bought a bouquet of yellow tulips to brighten my kitchen on this gray February day. 

Bennett Hill: Winter

(Walking alongside this farm is a beautiful introduction to the trails at Bennett Hill.)

In Spring 2017, I promised you that I would follow the seasons at Bennett Hill, a beautiful hiking spot not far from my Albany home. I was inspired by Jackie Donnelly's ongoing in-depth study of her beloved nature spot, Moreau Lake State Park, which she features often in her blog:  https://saratogawoodswaters.blogspot.com.

However, after spring and summer, I had let the idea go, but now I'm back and it's winter!

(Now and then, my snowshoes barely made a dent in the packed wind-blown snow.)

We received 15" of beautiful snow last week.  With heavy rain in the forecast, I was itching to get out in the powder while it lasted.  A perfect sunny cold Tuesday passed me by.  Rain inched closer.  I checked and double-checked the forecast.

On Wednesday, the rain was not supposed to arrive until mid-afternoon.  I gathered up snowshoes and boots and headed out early.  I felt desperate for fresh air and some exertion with beauty on the side.  Bennett Hill was close enough that I hoped to drive there and do the 3-mile loop before sleet and freezing rain made an appearance.

(You mean I have to break my own trail from now on through deep powder?)

The sky was dark.  Freezing rain hit my windshield as I drove the short distance.  Ice creeped in from the edges and I turned on the defrost.  This was not fair!  It was far too early in the day for rain (according to my authority weather underground, wunderground.com). I was glad it stopped as I pulled into the small parking area at Bennett Hill.

(This tree was made for sitting, but I'll just admire it this time.)

Wind had howled around my house the previous night and it apparently had here also.  Amidst the softer snow, hard patches of trail showed where the wind had banked the snow into concrete.  I didn't mind; being able to walk on top of the snow for a short stretch offered an easy, if sporadic, change from the powder.

I passed a woman coming down the trail as I was going up.  We talked about the impending rain and discussed ski tracks visible alongside the snowshoe trail.  Skiing here would take some skill between the trees.

(Can't you imagine an otter sliding down the hill from the left and doing some aerials, as if on a ski jump, as he flies off to the right?)

I kept a steady pace as the trail climbed.  I needed some sturdy exercise.  I worry that, if I turn into a slug during the winter, I won't be able to hike well in the summer, and I want to continue my hiking career for a long time.  Besides, winter is one of two seasons, along with fall, when I feel at my best physically.

(Wind has been the story of our 2018-2019 winter so far, making swirls around the trees.)

Apparently, the hiking gods heard my plea for exercise, because I hadn't snowshoed too far when the tracked trail ended.  Others before me had turned around and gone back. Even the ski tracks vanished into the woods.  My work was cut out for me, for sure.  Breaking trail in deep snow is not easy!

Suddenly, I felt alone and was reminded of all those ranger reports I read where people get hurt and are often not prepared to wait for help in the cold.  This is not a mindset that I usually feed into.  Clearly, I had been reading too many DEC reports and quickly passed off these thoughts!

(All this view needs is Santa and his reindeer crossing the sky at night: "the children were nestled all snug in their beds," "Mamma in her 'kerchief and I in my cap" )

The summit of Bennett Hill is a reward in any season.  I like the way the trail curves around the low vegetation to the view over the hamlet of Clarksville.  In winter, Clarksville looks like a Christmas village below with streets making lines between the white, and rooftops covered in snow.

But...just as I came to the viewpoint, freezing rain pelted my face and pinged on my jacket in defiance of the forecast.  In minutes, it stopped.  I wasn't any the worse for wear, but, really, what's the deal, wunderground?

(This summit birch tree is a favorite of mine.)

I paid more attention to natural elements, taking winter pictures of the places I had photographed for my spring and summer blog posts back in 2017. I enjoyed being the first person, except for woodland animals, to make tracks in this snow.  The summit was a clean white landscape, without the needles blown by the wind littering the landscape as they had farther down the hill.

(So many small fungi decorate this tree trunk.)

I had seen deer tracks criss-crossing the snow all the way up, and then I came across this deer bed.   I was tempted to put my hand on the earth to see if it were still warm, since it looked like the deer had recently left, but I knew that in today's temperature, the ground would only have stayed warm for a few seconds. I walked on.

(A perfect deer bed -- recently vacated?)

When I first set out today, I had seen numerous dog tracks on the lower trail.  Those tracks came from hikers' best friends who had been here before me.  But now, higher up where no one had broken the pristine snow with human footprints, I knew that these dog-like tracks belonged to a coyote.  A clue is the way that coyotes put their back paws in the tracks of the front paws, one foot stepping where the other had been. This coyote had been traveling at a relaxed trot.

(Out for a stroll, or hoping for a hunt?)

And what about this mound?  The attractive-meditation-shrine-turned-messy-rock-cairn had to be underneath the smooth white covering.  Perhaps buried stones and sticks provided a cozy winter hibernation nest for someone small. 

(Burial mound for a rock cairn)

And what was that? Blue sky?  Feeble shadows came and went across the forest floor as the sun struggled to break through the dark clouds...until it won with a splash of blue.

(A fabulous surprise!)

Shadows acquired a sharp definition and deepened in contrast to the now bright white.  As I began the descent from Bennett Hill's plateau, my scene changed entirely.

(Sun offers a whole new dimension to the trail.)

I knew I was getting hungry when I saw this log in the woods and was reminded of a roll of cake with white buttercream frosting.  I began to think about what I would have as a snack on my way home.  A tiny grocery would be a nearby shopping option.  My longtime favorite lunch of an apple and cheese awaited me at home, but I longed for something sweeter.

(Twinkie?)

How different the farm scene looked in the sun compared to it's dark appearance when I had arrived.  But even as the sun glistened in the foreground, the sky and hills beyond grew dark.  I was glad I was almost to the car.  I had had enough brushes with freezing rain and preferred to carry the burst of blue sky and sunshine home with me.

(Two moods on the farm.)

It had taken me two hours to hike Bennett Hill, longer than usual.  Breaking trail in deep powder had slowed me down, but I felt good.  I had breathed deep and worked hard. 

The car seemed drawn to snack options on my way home.  I prefer ice cream sandwiches made with two chocolate chip cookies and vanilla ice cream, which I didn't find in the case today, but I bought the next best thing and it tasted pretty good.  That apple and cheese wouldn't be too bad when I got home, either.
---------------------------
Here are links to my Spring and Summer 2017 blog posts about Bennett Hill:
https://nooksandvales.blogspot.com/2017/04/bennett-hill-spring.html
https://nooksandvales.blogspot.com/2017/08/bennett-hill-summer.html