VICTORIAN RADICALS

June 24, 2019June 24, 20193 Comments

Musica (Melody) by Kate Elizabeth Bunce

A “June Gloom” day in Seattle made for the perfect opportunity to visit the VICTORIAN RADICALS exhibit at Seattle Art Museum (SAM).

The attention to detail in the array of colorful paintings, tapestries, clothing, jewelry, and pottery transported me into a romantic world of gardens, gods, goddesses, secret liaisons, betrayals, and courtly love! My hands down favorite painting was Musica, by Kate Elizabeth Bunce. The lovely young musician with her ornate lute, sumptuous dress, and intricate jewelry, posed in front of a blooming floral arrangement, swept me away.

At one point I was asked to kindly step back from a display case (got to close). The case held a book which was open to a poem entitled, Edward Gray. I was mesmerized by the beautiful poem written by an English poet, Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892). I thought to myself, someone must have set this poem to music. When I got home, I did a little digging online and found a piece of sheet music written by Arthur Sullivan (1842-1900), of Gilbert and Sullivan fame. As it turns out, Edward Sullivan set Edward Gray to music. Sullivan’s setting is operatic, covers multiple octaves, and is far too complicated for the purposes of laying down a quick track for my blog…….. so I modified the melody and accompanied myself on my Taylor guitar as I don’t have a lute lying around the studio, I do however, have plenty of floral dresses.

Here’s my version of Edward Gray:

Here are some more beautiful paintings from the exhibit!

Sigismonda (or Gismonda), 1897 by Joseph Edward Southall

I didn’t get the name of the artist for this one… the narrative of the painting is about a young man who died in battle, the women are handing over some of his personal belongings to his broken-hearted lover!

Couldn’t we all use more flowers, more color, more art, more music, more beauty, more love?

Cafe Flora, Seattle

Another Bride, Another June

June 14, 2018June 15, 2018Leave a comment

It’s June, the garden looks fabulous, and exciting music projects are in the works. Just a quick note to let you know I’ve revamped my wedding and special event offerings page. I’m available, that is, musically speaking! Check out my new page here!

Laura playing Sunday Kind of Love by Louis Prima:

I want a Sunday kind of love
A love to last past Saturday night
I’d like to know it’s more than love at first sight
I want a Sunday kind of love

Strait To Vegas

December 14, 2017December 14, 20172 Comments

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Rodeo queens, show girls, casinos, hustlers, Texas hold ’em, slots, swanky shops, and mile after mile of neon lights, oh my! Last weekend, Joe and I took a trip to Las Vegas, my first time. Why Vegas? Two words: George Strait.

I’ve been listening to and singing George Strait songs for over thirty years. I love his soothing voice, the beautiful songs, his personality, and his old- school country sound. What’s better than George singing more than thirty of his greatest hits, accompanied by the Ace in the Hole Band? Amarillo By Mornin’, Check Yes or No, The Chair, Easy Come Easy Go, are some of my favorites. I also enjoyed the two songs tribute to Merle Haggard, including, Are the Good Times Really Over, now that’s some old-time country!

I can’t stop thinking about the show, what a delight to experience a stage full of seasoned musicians who effortlessly and elegantly tossed off hit after hit. I think musicians of all genres would find inspiration in watching these professionals at work. Some of those guys were in their late 70’s if not 80’s. Definitely not their first rodeo.

While in the big AT&T Stadium, the concert had excellent sound with amazing views of George and the band no matter where he was standing on the square-shaped stage, thanks to the Jumbotron. For the encore, the George and the band played a perennial favorite… All My Ex’s Live in Texas, the Milk Cow Blues, and an old-time swing number, Take Me Back to Tulsa. Here’s George Strait singing Old Troubadour.

We also took in Cirque du Soleil’s One, featuring the music of Michael Jackson. A stunning show with death-defying acrobatics, creative staging, brilliant costumes, amazing performers, and dazzling lighting. Standouts of the show include, Billy Jean danced in the dark, the dancers (and flying acrobats), outlined by a tiny lights, the sexy, Dirty Diana, danced by an athletic, and incredibly flexible woman, the fierce female bass player playing all those memorable riffs such as Beat it and Smooth Criminal, and a hologram of the King of Pop himself, dancing the grand finale of the show. Absolutely mesmerizing. Here’s the trailer for the show.

Below are some shots of the strip and check out George Strait singing Old Troubadour.

My version of Amarillo By Mornin’:

On the Strip

WIndow Shopping

Vegas Street Musician

Retro Vegas

Sparkly Vegas

High Roller

Yves Saint Laurent The Perfection of Style

October 17, 2016Leave a comment

Yves Saint Laurent The Perfection of Style is on exhibit at Seattle Art Museum,now through January 8!

Spent the morning in awe and giddy delight as I took in this amazing exhibit at SAM. Left inspired by the colors, the designs, the textures, the history, the process, the sparkles, the variety, the creative output, the elegance, the life, the style, and the genius of Yves Saint Laurent (1936-2008).