February 28 - Research in Motion

Another beautiful day, the fourth of summer,

high of 72 (still one degree short of the record for the year thus far, the first above-70 on February 14, at a valentinesian 73) --

with the Theoreticians tackling Quiz 7... the examples drawn from J.S. and C.P.E. Bach, W.A. Mozart, Franz Xaver Gruber, and Frederic Chopin.

Update with John Browning on the way to

Marin,

paper

grading, post-boxing,

homeward via 101,

37

(Sears

Point,

the

Marshes,

Vallejo

Cliffs),

and

80.

Stop off at the local Toyota

for

standard maintenance, shuttle home, visit with Tisha and Tom, who have stopped by.

After their departure, Harriet and I head back carwise

then off to Joe's Creekside Cafe for appetizers and drinks, returning to the homefront congenially, with videos, more score-study re Bartok Orchestral Suite No. 1 and Stravinsky Scherzo Fantastique, and composition of The Decameron - Third Day: IX (page 2 for all).

At the 11th hour,

dash to the University of California at

Davis

Library to encounter the Dmitri Shostakovich Theme and Variations in Bb Major, Op. 3, and study first page of same.

February 27 - Happy

Birthday celebration for Harriet at

Tisha's with Tom, down from Walla Walla. 

We take a stroll along the Vallejo

Waterfront,

then return for

dinner and desert.

The day (high 66)

begins

with the

jaunt to

Diablo

and review of Quiz 7 material for the Theoreticians, plus continuing imaginative Student Compositions of Round 2,

returning

homeward

to begin score-study of Bela Bartok's Orchestral Suite No. 1 (Op. 3) and Igor Stravinsky's Scherzo Fantastique (Op. 3),

then

heading

Sulfur

Springs -

and Vallejo-wise with

H.M.P. for the festivities.  Upon return, we take in videos and various adventures -- late that evening, begin composing The Decameron - Third Day: IX. Gillette of Narbonne Craves Bertrand de Roussillon.

February 26 - Standing Tall

Another

brilliant

day,

backtracking

to J.S. Bach's Cantata No. 140 ("Wachet Auf")" for Dictation and Board Harmony, followed by stupendous student compositions.

Another brief stroll (third day this month of summer, with a high of 70), lunch,

and a wonderful meandering drive in

Franklin Canyon, and

floweringly in th

suspiciously perfumed

air,

beyond

Carquinez,

briefly

to

Napa,

and

flyingly

homeward

to grade papers and  greet Harriet,

before heading back for the evening class, where we proceed brazenly through the Baroque, looking ahead to matters Classical and Early Romantic, specifically...

C Melodic Minor Scale
Three Flats Bb - Eb - Ab
Ascending C D Eb F G A-natural B-natural C
Descending D Bb Ab G F Eb D C.

Four Typical Movements in a Symphony

I. Sonata-Allegro
Exposition Development Recapitulation
A B A'
ab   a'b'

II. Theme and Variations
A A' A" ...

III. Theme and Variations
A B A
ab cd ab
(N.B. the first a and b, plus c and d, tend to be immediately repeated)

IV. Rondo
ABACA (ABACABA)

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Early - Classical
Middle - Typical
Late - Romantic

Listening:
[8732] F.J. Haydn - Symphony No. 94 ("Surprise"): II
[8756] W.A. Mozart - Violin Concerto No. 5 ("Turkish"): III
[8770] Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony No. 5: I
[8803] Hector Berlioz - Symphonie Fantastique: V. Dream of a Witches' Sabbath
[8810] Frederic Chopin - Piano Prelude in E Minor
[8813] Giuseppe Verdi - Rigoletto: Quartet

***

Out with Doug and Owen thereafter, and home to finish The Decameron - Third Day: VIII (34 pages total).