An ideal exercise track lining the backyards of urban condominium apartment dwellers convenient for a 3 mile lap. This Canal Walk Park is a glimpse of the original historic Central Canal conceived during the 1830’s “canal fever” era. In fact, the pursuit bankrupted the state and the scheme was never finished. [ GPX ]
The White River Trail in Indianapolis is flanked by the IUPUI campus and other POI such as a rather classic looking old city water works building and old school abandoned Bush Stadium lacking in penthouses and luxury sky boxes now common The greenway is paved with concrete or asphalt but one can descend the levee to a crushed rock utility road path on waters edge for a more natural feel. Last run 3 years ago.
Sweet smelling Confederate Jasmine greet the senses this time of year. Weekend wedding parties of the night have petered out and it’s an hour or more before tourists reappear. At sunrise, enjoy the whole place to yourself. This early morning jog began from the Mills House Hotel on Queen St. toward harbor views from Concord St., E Battery, and Murray Blvd. The loop back was an immersion in historic Georgian Architecture. These homes average $5MM (sans water view) so this grand neighborhood is well groomed. One can only marvel at the concentration of grandeur as most other cities offer a mere single street or at most a few square blocks before the wonderment fades. Historic Savannah comes close but Charleston is a 10. Running surface varies from cobblestone to massive slate slab pavers on the sea wall. [ GPX ]
This land was Arapaho Indian territory until Denver gold seekers prevailed. The Church Ranch grazed cattle here until real estate ventures became lucrative. It is fortunate that the 12 mile Westminster off road trail system, and its slice of open space, was spared from development. Stepping out of the Westin Hotel is City Park. The Big Dry Creek bisects this park so head for the foot bridge and cross to the other side to join the route. It is generally flat and follows the creek with hard packed crushed rock sand. [ GPX ]
Responding to well wishes of friends and family I conveyed a feeling of relief that our community had been spared the wrath of local tornado spawns. However, strewn about the neighborhood on lawns and in gutters are deposit fragments – shredded pink or yellow attic fiber insulation carried aloft in fury from homes unlucky. Sobering evidence.
As a road warrior I can, as often as not, find myself in a plain vanilla generic Marriott Garden Express. While there is some benefit to consistency and comfort in routine expectation it is a delight to sometimes stay in an older property with historic flavor. The Netherland Plaza is that. Adjacent is the storied Carew Tower The whole shebang came to fruition due to the lucky financial timing of Cincinnati tycon, John Emery. Find a copy of the Walking Tour & Pocket History booklet from the Bellman and immerse in the splendor of a bygone era. Much of the Brazilian rosewood panel, marble, and French Art Deco has been restored and preserved. The Pavillion Caprice, a three-tiered setting, is said to have been patterned after the ballroom of the USS Leviathan. This room was originally the hotel’s nightclub and boasts Doris Day’s first professional appearance at age 16. There are, of course, other grand spaces to view and tales of famous visiting personalities outlined. But, this review was meant as a sample taste and not the spoiler.
It’s kind of neat to jog two states all in one event. The Cincinnati Riverfront encourages this. I used the Roebling Suspension Bridge to visit Kentucky and then the, closed to traffic, Purple People Bridge to return. The Ohio side features a recent park redevelopment paved with concrete. Skyscrapers and sport stadiums serve as backdrop. The route is easily lengthened by including picturesque historic Newport. All that was missing are some authentic old time river packets.
[ gpx route ]
Valentines Day brought warm sunshine to St. Augustine which inspired a jog on white, wide, flat, firm packed sand. There have been coquina quarries featured here for 300 years but these were obscured by massive ancient dunes populated with Sea Oats and hardy grasses on this beach run. At one point, however, the St. Augustine Light was visible between the mounds. Our spot was delightfully quiet due to an admittance fee required. 6 miles
An oldtime 78 rpm record was recently uncovered and saved to digital format (Thanks MLS). It is an heirloom preserved. The voice in the recording belongs to Grandmother Strombotne as she sings — Elegy. It was produced in 1948. The vocals are in French so if one wishes to follow along; there is an English translation.
The Elegy by Jules Massenet was a popular melodie in Europe in the last decade of the nineteenth century. At some point it was adapted to lyrics by Louis Gallet
Ô, doux printemps d’autre fois, vertes saisons,
Vous avez fui pour toujours!
Je ne vois plus le ciel bleu;
Je n’entends plus les chants joyeux des oiseaux!
En emportant mon bonheur, mon bonheur…
Ô bien-amé, tu t’en es allé!
Et c’est en vain que [le printemps revient!]1
Oui, sans retour,
avec toi, le gai soleil,
Les jours riants sont partis!
Comme en mon coeur tout est sombre et glacé!
Tout est flétri
pour toujours!
0:01:46 MP3 128kbps 1.62MB
Such a beautiful voice. Â Grandmother Strom was active in her community and taught voice to her music pupils.
Mme. Strombotne, who received her early training in Denmark, has one of those round-toned, bell-like voices that seem to be the prerogative of Scandinavian sopranos. It is the kind of voice Wagner wrote for, and her ‘Elsa’s Dream’ from ‘Lohengrin’ had the right quality. Her low range is unusually strong. No voice can retain its full glow, especially in high notes and pianissimos, but there was a warmth of mature interpretation to make up. A greater drawback was deviation in pitch in the more brilliant numbers. The simple and direct songs came over best, lovely songs that everybody used to sing and that have been neglected lately: Schumann’s ‘Du Bist Wie Eine Blume’, Grieg’s ‘En Svane’, Quilter’s ‘Go Lovely Rose’. It is not often that a singer’s strongest impression is made in the opening selection, but Handel’s ‘O Mio Cor’ had a rich vocal line…
pianissimos : a passage played, sung, or spoken very softly
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Harold Kay (left) president of the Peninsula Artists and Opera Association,
congratulates pianist Mortimer Markoff and soprano Elsa Strombotne and
her accompanist, LeRoy Miller following their concert
in Palo Alto in March which was sponsored by the Association.
May 1959 Issue
“The final concert in the Peninsula Artists series on March 20 introduced to local audiences mezzo-soprano Elsa Strombotne in a joint program with Mortimer Markoff, well-known Palo Alto pianist. The policy of presenting new artists with those already established is beneficial for all concerned.
Mme. Â Strombotne is a vocalist with the range, Wagnerian power and freshness we have come to expect from Scandinavian singers. The size of her voice, free from vibrato, suggests a career in opera and oratorio but as a recitalist she proved to be a sensitive interpreter, at home in many styles. The soprano’s pitch is not always flawless and she needs to curb an urge to take all top tones fortissimo. Her English diction can be improved upon. LeRoy Miller contributed sound accompaniments.”
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mezzo-soprano is the middle vocal range for women, comparable to the baritone range among men. The word mezzo means medium or middle in Italian, and usually refers to female singers with characteristics of both alto and soprano singers. The classic mezzo soprano has the ability to reach high notes, usually up to the C two octaves above middle C, while retaining a richer timbre of voice similar to that of a deeper-ranged alto.
vibrato is a musical effect consisting of a regular pulsating change of pitch. It is used to add expression to vocal and instrumental music.
fortissimo : very loud
Hear one of Elsa Strombotne’s recordings…
