Sculpt

Augusta Read Thomas (read about her here) came to UNM for the Robb Composer’s Symposium in late March. The women of my beloved Chamber Singers gave a “world premiere” of a version of her piece, “Plea for Peace,” which had its world premiere in its original version just in the fall of 2017. 

Our version (which I really adored, as did she) was for unison women and string quartet. There isn’t a text, which she explained when she met with us and discussed the history a bit. It was commissioned to commemorate the Chicago Pile-1, the first artificial nuclear reactor. 

In addition to her amazingly warm spirit and generosity in the rehearsal and working session, I also loved her use of the word “sculpt.” when she was advocating for a more slender opening, for example. She had the women come in one at a time, and one or two with a different vowel. Those were things that I wouldn’t have thought to do.

Photo: With Ms. Thomas, post-performance.

We are grateful for her collaboration and the chance to perform her music!  

Let it rain

I should learn better than to leave anywhere without an umbrella. 

Carrying one was common practice in Rochester (and is in Europe too, especially during the summer). However, in Albuquerque, we get little precipitation at all. 

This is Zheng's and my first July in New Mexico, as we were gone in July last year. Thus, we have yet to experience the "monsoon season." We are getting a good dose of it these days! Last night was a storm so bad that it kept our cats awake (which kept *us* awake).

I was about to head to my car with my office plants - and just beat the rain. The picture you can see is from the beautiful Fine Arts and Design Library, of the hail and rainstorm which descended so suddenly. 

And just like that - the rain stopped. The behemoth percussion noises the rain made, atop the tin roof of the library, were extraordinary (and exceptionally loud for a library). 

I will leave you with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, "The best thing one can do when it's raining is to let it rain." 

Wait it out. Take cover. The sun will come out eventually.