Articles from: 2015

Back on the island, to my beloved finca… It seemed that I brought winter with me… they’ve had an endless summer, and it was glorious the day I arrived (nov 20th) – I even threw myself in the sea for a quick baptism (really cold water!), the surest way to feel that I’ve truly arrived – but the following day the temperature plummeted, the wind and rain started – oh yeah… but with both fires going we are very cozy, and after 5 days or so it broke, since when it’s been glorious – crispy cold nights, days of hot sun at midday, but cool air, perfect for gardening, and hiking… I did the front garden the first week (how lovely to see the earth again!), and got through most of the fig garden this week before my joints demanded that I stop – I can’t get out of bed in the morning, and my shoulders scream at me 24/7… not to mention my back and hips… crap, I say, and double crap… I’m not ready for this… so much to do…!

the week in cotherstone before coming out here was fairly productive in terms of getting ready for the build (converting the potting shed), but the weather was filthy (again, it broke as I arrived, they’d been having a beautiful autumn) and I got no walks in except down to the river and back most days – tho’ that was pretty spectacular a couple of times – we had lashings of rain and things were flooding all over. I didn’t see it in full spate but high enough, and the high tide marks of flotsam and leaves were astonishing… Mary Matthews hosted a great dinner (at my request, kind and generous spirit that she is), with them and the Robertsons and a couple of artist friends of hers – she seemed genuinely happy that I’d asked her to do it, thankfully! so much fun… also a good evening with Mark and Mary – dinner and the village panto! No sign of Sam – he’s truly gone, I fear…. I can only hope it’s to a good place… que vaya bien, querido…. I miss you, and keep you in my heart… you got to be a wild animal, a real cat, and I cannot regret that…

October was full of good things – a splendid Wau-Wa gig at Barbes – the 2nd in less than year, mirabile dictu, which meant we actually had time to learn a couple of new pieces, not just try to remember the old ones… both of them from Mahagonny, of course, my beautiful obsession: the Alabama song, finally, (an arrangement of the songspiel version, much the more interesting); and a version of Essen for Rinde, including the introductory “first comes eating” – all very satisfying… then on to BAM, for weeks of ER and William Kentridge – good company to keep… ER was very well received, and glowingly reviewed in the NYT – except that once again there was no mention of the music… hey ho, plus ça change… I wish them well… I heard Kentridge lecture at the Studio School (riveting), saw his piece at BAM (a glorious mess) and finally saw his production of Lulu at the Met (gilding the lily – I had to go back a second time to actually hear the music, I was so busy LOOKING the first time – not good, altho his stuff is wonderful, always). Good dinners with friends, and walks, and lunches… chi gong in the park most mornings…. We had the Westbeth Flea Market before I left, and I have signed up for meal deliveries in the building… life in westbeth… have also booked a kamikaze concert here for january…

and then there was paris… jesus, man’s inhumanity to man is incomprehensible… I took part in the Climate March here in menorca on Sunday, with Bett and Manel – there were about 250 folk, pretty good for this little place, and manel was good company, very knowledgeable… felt good to put one’s feet where one’s mouth is…

postscript… later, about to leave… two great hikes with Angela, bits of the cami de cavalls – the first from Favaritx to Es Grau, and a week later from Cala’n Porter to Son Bou – wonderful… and two great purchases – a new wood stove for my room, and a new mattress for my bed – a warm, dry room and good sleeping at both things devoutly to be wished for at this stage… and 3 really great weeks with sis – such a good time we had together – thank you…

October – how is that possible? time time time… it has been raining, and autumn is in the air…

the piece [texts & beheadings] is up and running at the Folger in D.C. – I think it’s good. perhaps the music is a little too “on the money” – it reminds me of Ellen telling me of all those Woolf scholars who didn’t realise it wasn’t Woolf they were listening to in “Septimus and Clarissa” but McLaughlin… the 4 girls finally owned the songs the night before I left D.C. – they are troopers, one and all, and have given their all to make it work… hopefully it will not all fall apart while I’m away from it – but we have a little rehearsal time before it comes into BAM, to put things right if need be… toca madera…

Nephew Chris came to D.C. for a couple of days – I had flown him out to New York and given him my apartment for a week as a graduation present – a great joy wandering the Library of Congress and Botanic Gardens with him, plus a family reunion dinner with charlie and emily green… The pope seemed to follow me around, first in D.C.then in New York… plus the chinese premier in D.C.and Putin in NY.. corridors of power… I have started listening to the radio again (wnyc) – perhaps that’s why I get depressed here – the state of the world is so god-awful if you listen to the news, it’s a wonder anyone gets up in the morning… perhaps best not to listen to the news, just to music… unless one is actually going to DO something about it… the only doing I know how to do is music… altho’ I’m thinking of volunteering as a gardener’s helper in the Hudson River Park – so much weeding to do…

We had a perfectly splendid Kamikaze reunion the other night – what a total joy, warts and all… I billed it as an open rehearsal, since we hadn’t had one, and hadn’t played in 4 years… in the event, we didn’t actually rehearse but played our asses off – but we did sit in a circle, the way we do in rehearsal, and that’s what I want to do from now on (should we ever play again) – the joy of, as doug put it, “making – and being in the middle of, that sound”… it was also the night of the Super, Blood, Harvest Moon with Full Lunar Eclipse – wow – we closed the first set with Homage, exiting the building in full throttle, taking the audience with us, to view the eclipse in all its peach-coloured glory from the Brooklyn sidewalk – when the clouds would permit… a great night… we played 9 to midnight – my poor chops! tho’ doug did a great job figuring out set lists that gave me breathers on piano, accordion or uke… I had a really good time blowing again, particularly the bari – but I do wish reading on the bass clarinet weren’t such a mind-fuck, or I’d play it a lot more… but then I’d have to get Clarence refurbished, not just play doug’s Kohlert, which is so much more in tune…

I also faced the music with the tax man finally – not as bad as I feared, luckily, tho’ not pretty – but I don’t think I’ll lose my home (or my shirt)… toca madera otra vez…

I have bought a ticket to go check in with the other side of the pond in November… needs must, but I really must be mad… tie me up, tie me down…

Arrived back in the city yesterday, after a marathon 24 hour journey via Barcelona and Moscow (don’t ask…), to find inches of dust and no phone or internet… hey ho…

what a wrench, to leave the garden, the huerto, sis and gat the cat, not to mention the sea, the island in general… it has been the hottest summer on record which, added to the absence of the trees, has made for a slow pace of life – all the better… aside from my morning and evening swims in the big blue (idyllic, not a medusa in sight since late may), I spent hours every day in the garden and huerto – we had vegetables coming out of our ears – we need to buy a deep freeze if we’re going to continue doing this… my 7 weeks alone were every bit as beneficial as I hoped they would be, and the 3 weeks together with sis after her return were just fine as a result – she had had an absolutely wonderful time reconnecting with her kids, and came back in great shape – of course she has fallen apart since, as a reaction to the repeated separation, but hopefully the island will work its magic on her and she will find her peace again. The place is a lot to take care of by oneself, good with the two of us when we’re both in our right minds – verremos… but these past months have done wonders in repairing the damage of last winter… I have been completely out of touch with the rest of the world, with regards to current events and such, and very happy to be so – I know it’s the old ostrich attitude and maybe I can’t hide forever, but it seems to me that if I can, I will… it is good for me, it doesn’t hurt anyone else… nice work if you can get it…

speaking of which, on to things here… texts & beheadings… taxes.. wish me luck…