Ten months of keyboard work is coming to a focus, and this time next week I can be seriously thinking about starting all over again with different pieces. Of the seven works of my current program, I have only studied one of them before. The six new ones have undoubtedly created some new and interesting neuron pathways in my brain, which currently feels overworked. I had an opportunity to run through the pieces on Saturday for Jenn, a good friend from out of town. She is unable to make the actual recital next Saturday, as she will flying to Denver as I am performing. But she dropped by for a visit. Only one piece completely crashed and burned, and steps are being taken to remedy the situation. Some of the pieces actually went rather well, or at least as planned. Next up is a Thursday afternoon play through for two more friends unable to attend on Saturday (Saturday will be a very small audience).
After the play through for Jenn, the three of us went to Detroit for the day, our first visit in quite some time. We tried to get some spinach pies from Dearborn Bakery, bu they were sold out. We went to La Shish instead, for some falafel sandwiches. Then we tried to visit a favourite Yemeni cafe. It was so busy that we could not even get in the door. Next up was the incredible Turkish candy store. That visit was a success! Treats for the concert attendees next week. We headed into Detroit for coffee, little realizing that we would not be successful. Astro had no parking nearby (it was drizzling and snowing, so we were not interested in walking much). Trinosphere and Anthology closed at 4 pm (it was now 4:20 pm). Cairo coffee was closed for a week's winter break. And Germack, the biggest roaster in Detroit, was closing as we arrived, and they were out of coffee!! So we headed to Brewery Faison with no caffeine in our blood. It was Jenn's first visit, and my third. The place was very busy. but seemed filled with young parents and toddlers. At a brewery (no food available). Weird.
Next, we hopped over to Windsor to a near-downtown brewery new to all of us, cleverly called Brew. Next, we headed to our favourite vegan restaurant in Windsor. The Garden has all manner of Asian vegan food. It was closed permanently! I am still in shock, and my sadness is deep. We ended up at Pho Mango, a Thai restaurant. After dinner, Jenn headed back east, towards Cambridge, and we headed home. I found the performance as demanding and tiring as if I were playing for a much larger audience, and was glad to be home and resting comfortably, as they say.
In movie news, we watched The League of Gentlemen, a Basil Deardon directed film from 1960. It's all about a group of ex-military men planning and carrying out a bank heist. of course they are caught in the end, which really spoils the film. And they are caught because a small boy (who should have been in school anyway) stands outside and writes down license plates in his little notebook. Really? That movie left a bad taste in my mouth. In fact, I don't even see the point of making the film at all. What good is all the planning and tension, if a screenwriter can just make up some silly excuse to get everyone caught. The law must be upheld, and crime doesn't pay, and blah blah blah.
A good movie with a great cast, but a really crappy ending.
At least it was a well made film. It just had a very poor ending. Deb's next choice (she gets four in a row this week) was much worse. The Omega Man, starring Charlton Heston, is yet another version of the last man on Earth, after a virus has killed everyone (sort of). Loosely based on Richard Matheson's story, this one goes off the rails in every direction. The score is one of the worst I have ever heard, sounding like a track to a fluffy TV movie from the 70s. The set director's idea of mayhem in the streets is to have lots of (very white) paper littered everywhere. Chucky hogs the screen with his frequently bared chest, and his frequently bared teeth. Of the several SF movies from the 1970s we have seen lately, this one is at the bottom of the barrel. Give it a miss, or have popcorn ready to throw at the screen.
It's the end of the world. It's the 1970s. It's Charlton Heston yet again.
What more could you not want?
And time for another work of art from the DIA, once more from the photography collection. Like our last photo of Egypt, this one comes from an unknown photographer, this one was published around 1868 by Adolphe Braun. B & W landscape photography has always interested me, at least since having seen a major show of works by Ansel Adams many years ago at the DIA. The quality of these prints is truly amazing!
Lac Doeshi, Switzerland, 1868. 8" x 16". Sold by Adolphe Braun, by an unknow photographer. Collection Detroit Institue of Arts.
Detail of left side, above.
Detail of right side, above.
Detail of background, above.
No cold temps or winter storms are predicted in the 10-day forecast. January will go out like a lamb, and February will enter in a similar fashion. So far, so good.
Mapman Mike
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