My Ramblings: February 2011

Anti Slavery Sing a Long

Dear Friends,
I hope you're all doing well and staying warm amidst the snow. I'm writing to invite you to a special event.

On Sunday, February 27, the Mid-Hudson Antislavery Singers are leading an Abolitionist Sing-Along. For the past couple of years, I've been working on a songbook that will (eventually!) include 33 antislavery pieces, set for performance. On Feb. 27 we are going to gather a big group to sing about a dozen of these pieces, with a bit of historical commentary from me, and direction and accompaniment by First Congregational Church's immensely talented music director, Michael Golzmane.

Much of the music is a cappella but some has accompaniment and anyone who wishes to bring a banjo, fiddle, or other instrument and join in, is most welcome! (Note that I have so far scored only for piano.) The tunes range from Sacred Harp hymns to folk songs and patriotic pieces. Included will be "Sojourner Truth's Hymn," and also several lively minstrel tunes that were borrowed by the abolitionists for the cause of racial justice.

An invitation is attached. Please feel free to pass it along to one and all, who may be interested. You'll see that we will have two sitters on hand (experienced Vassar students) who will provide popcorn and a movie ("Ratatouille") for young kids, so parents can participate. We'll sing from 3 to 5 pm and then share a potluck supper afterward, for those who are able to linger awhile.

We're hopeful that a few of the participants may feel inspired, in the longer term, to join the Antislavery Singers and help us share this music occasionally in local schools and public venues. (If so, we have a frock coat or hoop skirt for you!) But that is definitely NOT expected. We're getting a big group together just for one afternoon, to enjoy and celebrate the music.

The location, as you'll see on the flyer, is First Congregational Church/UCC in Poughkeepsie--westbound 44/55 arterial, the brick church with the tall cedar-shingle steeple, on the right, just past Mill House Panda restaurant.

Hope you can join us!
All best wishes,
Rebecc

"Guitar Heroes" Exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

From my friend Jan Christensen

The instrument as visual art -- not merely aural -- has always been a part of the human experience. When I was a kid, while other guys were collecting pictures of cars, I was collecting pictures of guitars and dreaming just as hard as they were. When my leg heals, I hope to be able to go and see this.

Jan

An exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum: http://blog.metmuseum.org/guitarheroes/

New York City and nearby New Jersey, Long Island, and Westchester County have been home to a vibrant Italian American population since the late nineteenth century. Within this community, a remarkable tradition of lutherie (stringed-instrument making) has flourished. Italian American craftsmen have produced an enormous variety of musical instruments, from traditional European-style violins, mandolins, and guitars to newer American instruments such as archtop guitars and mandolins and even electric guitars. Since the 1930s, makers from this tradition in the New York region have become especially well known for their extraordinary archtop guitars. This exhibition examines the work of three remarkable craftsmen from this heritage—John D'Angelico, James D'Aquisto, and John Monteleone—their place in the extended context of Italian and Italian American instrument making, and the inspiration of the sights and sounds of New York City.

Some performances: http://blog.metmuseum.org/guitarheroes/performances/

Fwd: Monthly Sea Shanty Sing

From Gus Pederson and the Kingston Sea Chantey Singers:

Well it's that time again, the second Wednesday of the month, that means that we will all be gathering at New World Home cooking at 7 PM tomorrow. The purpose is to sing a few sea chanties and drink a few beers. So join us and it looks like it will not SNOW this time, shocking - Gus

Fwd: Statement from Veterans For Peace Regarding current events in Northern Africa

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THERE IS ONE THING STRONGER

THAN ALL THE ARMIES IN THE WORLD:

AND THAT IS AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME."

Statement from Veterans For Peace

Regarding current events in Northern Africa

January 30, 2011

Events unfolding in Tunisia and Egypt hold much hope for the people of that region and indeed the entire world. What do those events show us?

· The demonstrations are succeeding because in the main people are relying on the power of nonviolence. People are demonstrating nonviolently and young troops are refusing to violently stop them.

· Two weeks ago, few people thought the events in Tunisia and Egypt could ever happen, but they are happening.

In northern Africa, the words of Victor Hugo have come to life. "There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world: and that is an idea whose time has come."

There is absolutely no reason Victor Hugo's words can't come to life in our own country.

· A clear majority of U.S. troops and U.S. residents oppose the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq but few believe we can bring the killing to a swift conclusion.

· If a small percentage of U.S. troops refused to fight and an even smaller percentage of U.S. residents halted business as usual by simply staying home from work and school, the killing would end.

Anyone who thinks Hugo's words are only a dream today in Egypt or America, should be aware of what has already come to pass in Egypt, as in so many other places since then.

In Egypt, grassroots organizing during World War I led to a demand, only two days after the November 11 armistice in 1918, for a meeting to discuss independence with the head of the British forces that had occupied Egypt for 36 years.

The British refused, but the growing movement refused to back down. When four of its leaders were arrested in March, 1919 trying to represent Egypt at the Versailles Treaty talks, people began a general uprising.

All social classes participated. Organizers adopted as their symbol the "Crescent and the Cross," uniting majority Muslims and minority Coptic Christians. Within a week Egypt was economically paralyzed by strikes of every sort. The protests were mainly nonviolent in the cities but when the British tried to suppress the demonstrations violently, 800 Egyptians and nearly 30 British soldiers were killed by that summer.

Years later, Egyptian women chose March 16 as Women's Day because on that day in 1919, 300 women demonstrators led by Hoda Sha'arawi denounced British occupation and Hameida Khalil became the first woman to give her life for independence.

This mostly nonviolent revolution forced the British to recognize limited Egyptian independence in 1922. The following year, Egyptians adopted a new constitution.

Since the 1978 Camp David "Peace Accords," the U.S. has given Egypt over $50 billion in military aid, plus forgiving $7 billion in military debt for Egypt's support in the 1990 Persian Gulf War. The U.S. has a huge responsibility to see that Egypt does not use the weapons we gave it to crush a democratic movement.

"There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world: and that is an idea whose time has come."

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