Haikus: November 2007

HAIKUS: November 2007

By Peter Y. Chou
WisdomPortal.com

These haikus were written as exercises in mindfulness—
an attempt to catch the fleeting moment in my daily walks,
while reading, listening to music, and pondering about life.
(Underlined words are not for emphasis but to web links.)
This web page best viewed with Times font size 14.

Thursday, November 1, 2007, 12:20 am
Stanford Midnight Express Shuttle
I'm the only one on bus when some 40
Stanford students in Halloween costumes
packed on the bus near the Medical School.

Brigitte asks for my name—
I tell her "Father Earth" and
they're shocked in disbelief. Thursday, November 1, 2007, 12:30 am
Stanford Midnight Express Shuttle
stops at Palo Alto Cal-Train Station.
I ask students to clear the aisle for me
to get off the shuttle to catch Bus #22

The students give a shout—
"Clear the path for Father Earth
to get off the bus!"

Thursday, November 1, 2007, 10:30 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Claudi Abbado conducts
Ludwig van Beethoven (Listen) (CD)
Symphony #3 in E-Flat, Op. 55 "Eroica" (1804)

Wonderful waking
to Beethoven's Eroica—
May this day be bright! Thursday, November 1, 2007, 11:22 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Itzhak Perlman plays Vivaldi,
Four Seasons: "Winter" Op. 8, #4 (1725) (listen) (CD) (YouTube)

Music for snowfall—
Perlman's pacing is perfect
for this "Winter" piece.

Thursday, November 1, 2007, 4:15-5:30 pm
Building 380, Room 380C, Math Corner, Stanford
Symbolic Systems Forum: Prof. Baba Shiv
"Are Emotions Beneficial or Detrimental
for Human Decision Making?" (Investments)

Be calm when making
decisions? Neuroscience found
emotions are good! Thursday, November 1, 2007, 5:45 pm
Building 380, Room 380C, Stanford University
Symbolic System Forum: "Are Emotions Beneficial
or Detrimental for Human Decision Making?"
After lecture chat with Prof. Baba Shiv

I ask Baba Shiv
"Do you know Shivapuri
Baba?"— He says "Yes!"

Friday, November 2, 2007, 11:36 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Joseph Haydn (Listen) (CD)
Symphony #96 in D "Miracle" (1791)

Audience rushed to stage
for better look at Haydn
when chandelier fell! Friday, November 2, 2007, 12:15 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Frederic Chopin (YouTube)
Andante Spianato, Op. 22 (1831) (listen) (CD)

Piano music
by Chopin always a treat—
so serene and sweet.

Friday, November 2, 2007, 5:00-7:08 pm
Cubberley Auditorium, Stanford University
Jürgen Habermas, Memorial Lecture (transcripts)
for Richard Rorty (obituary) (religion) (poetry)

Spiritual growth through
literature more than scriptures—
that's Richard Rorty. Friday, November 2, 2007, 7:30-8:30 pm
Palo Alto Cal-Train Station waiting for
7:37 pm Bus #35 that never showed up.
Late to Waverley Writers Poetry Reading

An hour wait for bus
to show up— felt like a chunk
ripped out of my heart.

Saturday, November 3, 2007, 9:16 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Ludovico Einaudi (CD)
Echoes: "The Days" (2004) (Listen)

Music of nature—
Echoes: The Days, Two Sunsets,
Calm, Passage, White Night. Saturday, November 3, 2007, 11:20 am
Green Library, Stanford University
Stopping by fountain at Bing Wing

Blue, blue, blue— the sky
sparkling blue. No clouds, no wind,
the flag drooped and furled.

Sunday, November 4, 2007, 9:25 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: J. S. Bach (Listen) (CD) (1731)
Double Violin Concerto in D minor, BWV 1043
2nd movement, Largo ma non tanto

Bach's Double Violin
Concerto doubles the joy
listening to this tune.
Sunday, November 4, 2007, 10:29 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Sarah Chang plays
Felix Mendelssohn (listen) (CD) (YouTube)
Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 (1844)

Melancholic mood
in andante movement played
on the violin.

Sunday, November 4, 2007, 11:45 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Frederic Delius,
The Walk to the Paradise Garden
(Listen) (CD) from
A Village Romeo and Juliet (1901)

Walk rather than fly
when you're in paradise so
you can go slowly. Sunday, November 4, 2007, 1:45 pm
Waiting 45 minutes for next Stanford Shuttle
when 1 pm Bus failed to show. Read Ann's gift:
October 2007 issue of "Poetry" (pp. 35-43)
George Szirtes "Missing Dates/Sleeve Notes"

Poetry is music
of what happens this moment—
right here and right now!

Sunday, November 5, 2007, 12:45 am
Palo Alto Cal-Train Depot, Waiting for Bus #22
Read October 2007 issue of "Poetry" (pp. 44-55)
Adam Zagajewski "Dangerous Considerations"

He reads Gershom Scholem
and is seized by religious
yearnings— so have I. Monday, November 5, 2007, 11:45 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Ennio Morricone,
Cinema Paradiso: Love Theme (1988)
(Listen) (CD) (YouTube)

Love scenes from film clips
cut to appease the censors—
now he sees them all.

Tuesday, November 6, 2007, 11:32 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Valentin Silvestrov
(Listen) (CD) (Review)
Silent Music (2002)

Waltz of the moment
in an evening serenade
with the one you love. Tuesday, November 6, 2007, 1:33 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Ludwig van Beethoven
(Listen) (CD) (YouTube: Karl Bohm, Karjan)
Symphony #5 in C minor, Op. 67 (1808)

May these four notes make
me more noble, bold, upright,
and adventurous!

Wednesday, November 7, 2007, 12:00 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: J. S. Bach (Listen) (CD) (1731)
Double Violin Concerto in D minor, BWV 1043

Soothing music for
the soul as each note sinks
deeper into your heart.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007, 1:10 pm
Ortega Avenue, Mountain View
Picking up a giant sycamore leaf

Red, orange, yellow,
and green spectrum of colors—
this sycamore leaf.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007, 1:15 pm
Ortega & El Camino Real, Mountain View
Walking to Showers Drive to catch Bus #522

Leaves are falling— oak,
maple, ginkgo, sycamore—
sacred symbols all. Wednesday, November 7, 2007, 7:00-9:00 pm
Stanford University, Annenberg Auditorium
Franco Brusati, "Bread and Chocolate" (1974)

Italian workers
in Swiss chicken coop acting
like they were chickens.

Thursday, November 8, 2007, 12:07 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Mendelssohn (listen) CD (1842)
Midsummer Night's Dream: Wedding March, Op.61

Someone emailed me:
"Your Wedding March link's broken—
Hurry! Getting married!"
Thursday, November 8, 2007, 1:02 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Lawrence Ashmore (CD)
Four Seasons: Autumn (1989) (Listen)

Season of sadness—
Days grow darker, leaves falling,
and the trees are bare.

Friday, November 9, 2007, 7:30 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Frederic Chopin
(Listen) (YouTube) (CD)
Waltz #5 in A-flat Major, Op. 42 (1842)

Chopin's Grande Waltz played
in the palatial ballroom
with white gowns aswirl.
Friday, November 9, 2007, 7:30 pm
Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto
David Packard tells audience why
"30 day Princess" (1934) was cancelled.

"The nitrate print would
catch fire and burn down the house.
We could rebuilt the theatre but
we'd lose our last copy of the film."

Friday, November 9, 2007, 9:00 pm
Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto
Mae West & Cary Grant
in "I'm No Angel" (1933)

The lion tamer—
Queen of Beauty puts her head
in the King of Beast. Friday, November 9, 2007, 10:00 pm
Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto
Ginger Rogers & Norman Foster
in "Rafter Romance" (1933)

Sharing apartment—
He by day, she by night,
not knowing each other.

Saturday, November 10, 2007, 9:22 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Alexander Borodin
(Listen) (CD) (Lyrics) (1881)
String Quartet #2 in D major, 2nd Movement

Music for Kismet—
Baubles, Bangles, & Beads—
Ring-a-Jing-a-Ling!
Saturday, November 10, 2007, 10:22 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
(Listen) (CD) (YouTube)
Divertimento #1 in D, K. 136 (1772)

Galloping winds stir
the air of autumn as leaves
all fall one by one.

Saturday, November 10, 2007, 5:30 pm
Stanford Green Library, Reading Tim Ferriss,
"Too Much Information? Ignore It" (Book)

Free yourself from all
the information rubble
and enjoy life more!
Saturday, November 10, 2007, 9:30 pm
Cubberley Pavilion, Palo Alto
Ballroom Dancing at Tuxedo Junction

Now a change of pace—
Dancing the Virginia Reel
like Gone with the Wind.

Sunday, November 11, 2007, 12:50 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Johann Sebastian Bach
(Listen) (CD) (YouTube) (1725)
Anna Magdalena Bach Notebook: Little Suite

Little Suite from Bach
nice music to dance around
even in the rain.
Sunday, November 11, 2007, 10:30 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Frederic Chopin
(Listen) (CD) (YouTube)
Berceuse for Piano in D-Flat, Op. 57 (1844)

Ice-blue gossamer
wings hover over the babe—
lullaby for sleep.

Monday, November 12, 2007, 10:12 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Tomaso Albinoni,
(Listen) (CD) (YouTube)
Adagio in G minor (1945)

String music that tugs
the heart— joy or sorrow
rise and fall like the waves.
Monday, November 12, 2007, 11:24 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Antonio Vivaldi,
(Listen) (CD) (YouTube: Sarah Chang)
Four Seasons: 'Winter', Op. 8 #4 (1725)

Snowfall in winter—
white flakes float down to earth
like angels from heaven.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007, 1:35 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Felix Mendelssohn
(Listen) (CD) (YouTube)
Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 (1844)

Sailing the high seas—
Columbus and his three ships
finding the New World.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007, 2:30 pm
Galvez & Serra Street, Stanford University
Surprised by woman in sunglasses on her bicycle
calling out "Hi Peter— it's Elaine."

Nice to meet colleague
from Foothill here at Stanford.
We have a good chat.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007, 9:00 pm
Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto
Clark Gable (Peter) tells Claudette Colbert(Ellie)
in Frank Capra's "It Happened One Night" (1934)

What I'd like is to
sleep under the stars, so close
that you could stir them up. Tuesday, November 13, 2007, 10:40 pm
Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto, Robert Williams,
Jean Harlow & Loretta Young (YouTube)
in Frank Capra's "Platinum Blonde" (1931)

He marries a rich
socialite and feels like an
eagle in a cage.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007, 10:50 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Giulio Caccini
(Listen) (CD) (YouTube)
(Vocal sheet) Ave Maria (1590)

Soaring notes lifting
our spirits upward higher
to another realm.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007, 11:30 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Ludwig van Beethoven
(Listen) (CD) (YouTube)
Symphony #9 in D minor, Op. 125 "Choral" (1824)

Beethoven's Choral
Symphony marches on to
Schiller's Ode to Joy.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007, 4 pm-5:30 pm
Stanford Humanities Center, Film Critic
David Thomson, "What Do Film Critics Do?"
Relates his 7-year old experience in London theater

He saw Red River
twice because he wants to be
closer to the screen. Wednesday, November 14, 2007, 6:00 pm
Green Library, Stanford University
Peter Robinson visits for a chat,
recommends reading T. E. Hulme.

Such delight chatting
with good friend from Dick's class
on poetry and life.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007, 7:10-7:25 pm
Building 420, Room 041, Stanford University
Film screening: Luis Buñuel & Salvador Dali
Images from "Un Chien Andalou" (1929)

Razor slits the eye,
ants crawling on the hand,
and walking on the beach. Wednesday, November 14, 2007, 7:37-9:35 pm
Building 420, Room 041, Stanford University
Film: Jack Nicholson & Maria Schneide in
Michelangelo Antonioni's "The Passenger" (1975)

Passing the desert,
he changes his life and finds
himself in danger.

Thursday, November 15, 2007, 3:30 am
KSFO 560 AM: Coast to Coast AM
Brother Guy Consolmagno, Jesuit astronomer,
Vatican Observatory, (Interview) (Book)

Can't say before the
Big Bang as there was no time,
neither was there space.
Thursday, November 15, 2007, 10:50 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Franz Joseph Haydn
(Listen) (CD)
Piano Trio #6 in F major (1784)

Haydn's last words
on his deathbed— "Cheer up,
children. I am all right."

Thursday, November 15, 2007, 12:30-1:35 pm
Stanford Humanities Center, David Thomson,
Film Critics Discussion (On Antonioni)

Most spectacular
film shot is close-up of
a face changing its mind. Thursday, November 15, 2007, 3:00-4:10 pm
Green Library, Stanford University
Writing "The Mystery Girl" poem

Is she the Daisy
of his pocket diary or
a blessing angel?

Thursday, November 15, 2007, 4:00-5:40 pm
Stanford Humanities Center, Film Critic
David Thomson, Student Film Workshop
Ending of Antonioni's "The Passenger" (1975)

Outside— beautiful
pink sunset at dusk. Inside
Gloria— golden glow.
Thursday, November 15, 2007, 4:00-5:40 pm
Stanford Humanities Center, Film Critic
David Thomson, Student Film Workshop
Advice to Stanford film-making students

To be a writer—
WRITE! Make your work a habit
so it's first nature!

Friday, November 16, 2007, 9:00 pm
Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto
Jack Holt & Ralph Graves
in Frank Capra's "Submarine" (1928)

Two navy friends mad
at each other when in love
with the same woman. Friday, November 16, 2007, 10:00 pm
Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto
Frank Capra's TV science show
"The Unchained Goddess" (1958) (YouTube)

The weather goddess
Meteora has much to
learn from two scientists.

Saturday, November 17, 2007, 7:12 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Franz Schubert (Listen)
Impromptu #2 in Eb, D946 (1827) (CD)

A brook cascades down
the mountainside as lovers
read under the oak.
Saturday, November 17, 2007, 7:30 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Jules Massenet (Listen)
Thaïs: Meditation, (1894) (CD)

Violin strings vibrate
in tune with the 11-
dimension universe.

Sunday, November 18, 2007, 10:50 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Frederic Chopin
Piano Concerto #1 In E minor, Op. 11 (1830)
(Listen) (CD) (YouTube)

Tiny bells tinkle—
raindrops fall in crystal pool
where a swan circles.
Sunday, November 18, 2007, 11:32 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Domenico Zipoli
Elevazione for Oboe, Cello and Strings (1715)
(Listen) (CD) (YouTube)

My spirit ascends
with this music to distant
galaxies and back.

Monday, November 19, 2007, 10:55 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Johann Strauss, Jr.
Viennese Bon-Bons, Op. 307 (1866)
(Listen) (CD) (YouTube)

Uplifting music
of Strauss makes us happy
and brightens our day.
Monday, November 19, 2007, 11:00 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Ludwig van Beethoven, Bagatelle for Piano in A minor, WoO 59
"Für Elise" (1808) (Listen) (CD) (YouTube)

My niece Elisa
played this piece for me with
so much verve and passion.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007, 10:10 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: George Frederick Handel
Water Music: Suite #2 in D major (1717)
(Listen) (CD) (YouTube)

Nothing like water
to wake me up even if
it's Handel's music.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007, 2:00 pm
Bus #522 & Bus B-Line CW to Stanford
Reading Randy Pausch's Last Lecture:
"Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams"

Experience is
what you get when you didn't
get what you wanted.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007, 9:15 pm
Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto
Gary Cooper & Jean Arthur in
Frank Capra's "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" (1936)

Poet inherits
$20 million and all wants
his new found fortune. Tuesday, November 20, 2007, 11:00 pm
Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto
Barbara Stanwyck & David Manners
in Frank Capra's "The Miracle Woman" (1931)

Miracle woman
from Temple of Happiness
in love with blind man.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007, 4:00 am
KSFO 560 AM: Coast to Coast AM interview
David Icke, Guide to the Global Conspiracy
Articles, Research Archive

You're not the body—
You're Infinite Consciousness!
But most don't know it.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007, 4:20 am
Home in Mountain View: Finished reading
Randy Pausch's Last Lecture (Sept. 18, 2007):
"Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams"

Live life the right way—
Karma takes care of itself.
Dreams will come to you.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007, 12:30 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: George Gershwin
Goldwyn Follies: Love is here to stay (1937)
(Listen) (CD) (Lyrics) (YouTube)

Rockies may crumble,
Gibraltar may tumble, but
our love's here to stay.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007, 2:45 pm
Mountain View: Stuck in my apartment for
three hours because AA Deck Coating had
painted the deck with fiber polymer paint.

Can't leave apartment
because of wet paint outside—
Breathe in— Just relax.

Thursday, November 22, 2007, 4:00 am
Home in Mountain View cooking for Sally's
Potluck: Pan-fried noodles with broccoli

Bok choy, green onions,
red peppers, water chestnuts,
bean curd, eggs, and shrimps.
Thursday, November 22, 2007, 2:24 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Frederic Chopin (YouTube)
Andante Spianato, Op. 22 (1831) (listen) (CD)

Piano music
of Chopin always filled
with waterfall wonders.

Thursday, November 22, 2007, 2:30 pm
Home in Mountain View listening to Chopin
and pondering on Thanksgiving blessings

Thanks to my parents,
teachers and friends for so much
joy that comes my way. Thursday, November 22, 2007, 3:00 pm
Home in Mountain View: 28th anniversary
of my poem "Thanksgiving Prayer"

Thanks for good health and
wealth of wisdom that guides me
in everyday life.

Thursday, November 22, 2007, 4:15 pm
Friend takes me to Sally's Thanksgiving
Potluck Party in Los Altos Hills

Fifty people here
in a festive mood working
on the Turkey Quiz. Thursday, November 22, 2007, 4:30 pm
Los Altos Hills, Sally's Backyard,
Take photo of Bird of Paradise plant

Bird of Paradise
plant— orange & blue petals
headdress for the bird.

Thursday, November 22, 2007, 5:00 pm
Los Altos Hills, Sally's Thanksgiving Potluck
Reading Herbert S. Zim's "Tree of North America"

The five star-shaped leaves
are not from maple trees but
from the sweetgum tree. Thursday, November 22, 2007, 6:30 pm
Los Altos Hills, Sally's Thanksgiving Potluck
Four tables of food & four tables of guests

Skip the roasted turkey,
I have veggies, salads,
and apple cider.

Friday, November 23, 2007, 11:46 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Swan Lake: Dances (1876)
(Listen) (CD) (YouTube)

I feel like a swan—
spread my wings soaring to this
beautiful music.
Friday, November 23, 2007, 1:15 pm-5:15 pm
Midpenisular Open Space Preserve Hike
Shoreline, Mountain View, Bird Watching
Docents: Kay Partelow & Debbi Brusco

First bird watching hike—
Scopes to view the birds close-up.
Taped sounds for birds to call.

Friday, November 23, 2007, 1:58 pm
Shoreline, Mountain View, Bird Watching
Viewing Burrowing Owl through telescope

Burrowing Owl flies
out to a fence post and stares
with its beady eyes.
Friday, November 23, 2007, 2:05 pm
Shoreline, Mountain View, Bird Watching
Viewing Red-tailed Hawks through telescope

Three Red-tailed Hawks on
ground— one eating its prey
while the others stand by.

Friday, November 23, 2007, 2:48 pm
Shoreline, Mountain View, Bird Watching
Viewing American Kestrel through telescope

Sitting on the post,
an American Kestrel—
a red-back falcon.
Friday, November 23, 2007, 2:53 pm
Shoreline, Mountain View, Bird Watching
Viewing Black-necked Stilts through telescope

Two Black-necked Stilts with
long bubble-gum legs forage
in low-tide for food.

Friday, November 23, 2007, 3:25 pm
Shoreline, Mountain View, Bird Watching
Viewing Pelicans through telescope

Four Pelicans in
a row dip yellow beaks deep
for fish and seaweed.
Friday, November 23, 2007, 4:00 pm
Shoreline, Mountain View, Bird Watching
Viewing Song Sparrows through telescope

Song Sparrows— tails up,
streaks on face and body, in
salt marsh, sing Gee-Gee!

Saturday, November 24, 2007, 9:50 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Ludovico Einaudi
The Waves (2003) (CD) (listen)

The waves rise and fall—
Die before you die so you don't
die when you die.
Saturday, November 24, 2007, 10:08 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: G. F. Handel (Listen) (CD)
The Faithful Shepherd: Overture (1712)

The Shepherd looks for
the lost sheep that has wandered
away from the path.

Saturday, November 24, 2007, 6:15 pm
Walking home on Latham Street, Mountain View,
Seeing a Full Moon (GMT: 14:30, PST: 6:30 AM)

Haze of clouds surround
the Beaver Moon like painting
from Caspar Friedrich.
Saturday, November 24, 2007, 6:58 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Franz Liszt (Listen) (CD)
Liebesträum for Piano, #3 (1850) (YouTube)

Love song to the Moon—
A water sprite's longing to
kiss the moonlight's glow.

Sunday, November 25, 2007, 12:50 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Nutcracker, Op. 71, "Waltz of the Flowers"
(Listen) (CD) (YouTube) (1892)

Flowers are awake
dancing the waltz with Zephyr,
turning with the earth.
Sunday, November 25, 2007, 3:00 pm
Palo Alto & Mountain View
Friend takes me grocery shopping
at Walgreens, Milk Pail, & Safeway

Alfafa sprouts, milk,
eight cans of deluxe mixed nuts,
and banana chips.

Monday, November 26, 2007, 12:12 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Ottorino Respighi
The Birds: Dove (1927)
(Listen) (CD) (YouTube)

Respighi's The Birds—
Dove flies over the rainbow,
peace on earth at last. Monday, November 26, 2007, 12:28 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Pablo de Sarasate
Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20 "Gypsy Airs"
(Listen) (CD) (YouTube) (1878)

Sarasate plays
melancholy melody
stirring Gypsy Airs.

Monday, November 26, 2007, 4:00 pm
Foothill Middlefield Computer Lab, Palo Alto
The box of 100 persimmons left at my door
at midnight Saturday was from Rudy

Rudy's persimmons
from his aunt's backyard reminds
me of Mu Chi's art. Monday, November 26, 2007, 10:21-11:06 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony #7 in A, Op. 92 (Listen)
(CD) (YouTube: Karajan) (1812)

Wait to hear entire
7th Symphony before
I do my laundry.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007, 10:40 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Johann Sebastian Bach
(Listen) (CD) (YouTube) (1713)
Cantata #208: Sheep May Safely Graze

Shepherd in the field
with his flock of sheep grazing
in the morning sun. Tuesday, November 27, 2007, 11:45 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Richard Wagner
Die Walküre: Magic Fire Music (1870)
(Listen) (CD) (Synopsis of "The Valkyrie")

Fire that illumines,
giving warmth and cleansing us—
the blessings of fire!

Wednesday, November 28, 2007, 12:26 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Claude Debussy
Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun (1894)
(Listen) (CD) (YouTube) (Program Notes)

A tone poem inspired
by Mallarmé blossomed to
new colors of sounds. Wednesday, November 28, 2007, 12:55 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Gioachino Rossini
(Listen) (CD) (YouTube) (1829)
William Tell: Overture

Clouds of dust settle—
with a clear mind he takes aim—
Shoots through the apple!

Wednesday, November 28, 2007, 2:20 pm
Longs Drugs, Mountain View: Picked up
photos of October 16th Monterey trip

Seagull posed for me
on the fence post with whole
ocean view behind him. Wednesday, November 28, 2007, 7:00-9:00 pm
Stanford University, Annenberg Auditorium
Ettore Scola, "C'eravamo tanto amati" (1974)

Twist and turns of three
friends in postwar Italy
searching the good life.

Thursday, November 29, 2007, 1:38 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Edvard Grieg
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 (1868)
(Listen) (CD) (YouTube) (Grieg Museum)

Inspired by Schumann—
opening flourish based on
Norwegian folk dance. Thursday, November 29, 2007, 2:05 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Camille Saint-Saens
(Listen) (CD) (YouTube)
Carnival of the Animals: The Swan (1886)

Swans glide by slowly
in the village pond while
clouds move to their rhythm.

Friday, November 30, 2007, 12:15 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Alfred Brendel plays Mozart
Piano Concerto #20 in D minor, K. 466 (1785)
(Listen (finale)) (CD) (YouTube)

Brendel will retire
from concert tours but not
from reciting his poems. Friday, November 30, 2007, 12:50 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Joshua Bell plays
Fritz Kreisler, (Listen) (CD) (YouTube)
Viennese Caprice, Op. 2 (1886)

Four million dollars
Stradivarius violin
played with much passion.

Friday, November 30, 2007, 9:00 pm
Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto
Harry Langdon & Priscilla Bonner
in Frank Capra's "The Stong Man" (1926)
with Dennis James on the Wurlitzer

His forlorn face and
feeble smile hides the courage
of a real strong man. Friday, November 30, 2007, 10:00 pm
Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto
Frank Capra's TV science show
"Strange Case of the Cosmic Rays" (1957)
(YouTube) (NASA: Cosmic Rays)

Cosmic rays from space
bombard our Earth with tiny
proton particles.