The Tenth Edition of Our Newsletter
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Edition 10 Monday 25th May 2020 Welcome to the Tenth Edition of our Newsletter It’s been a funny week, weather-wise, we seem to be going from one extreme to the other. I blame my husband Tony , for creating a beautiful seating area at the top of our garden, his ‘solarium’ and of course, it’s not been sunny since! I have received a suggestion from a member that perhaps we should have a ‘letters to the editor’ page. Where you can give feedback on articles, comment, say what you like or don’t like or just let us know how you feel. This could hopefully create a discussion forum. Please let me know if you think this is a good idea. Send in any articles, jokes, interesting news or anything you might be of interest to other members – especially any tips on keeping busy or any community news. I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has contributed to this issue. Please send any contributions to Karen: [email protected] 1 From our Chairperson, Franca Hello All So the Government is relaxing lockdown a bit on Thursday 28th May. Having listened to ‘The Plan’ I'm not seeing much change for me in Phase 1 at least. I still can't see my grandchildren as they are too young to understand social distancing. Other than that I'm not tempted to go and queue for hours at a garden centre and I have enough places to walk near my house. Meeting up with one other person outside but maintaining social distancing doesn't appeal to me. It would all feel so contrived. I hadn't thought about it before but part of socialising is being quite near to the person you are talking to. However it is a start and it is good to see that things are moving cautiously. Unfortunately I don't see the situation getting back to normal until a vaccine is found. Who knows when we will all be able to meet up again face to face but we need to stay positive and look forward to the day when we can. Stay safe Franca 2 Music in Our Time This is a regular item so if you have a relevant piece of music which reflects either the season , an event or our wonderful land, please email [email protected] Music to help you relax by Alan Malloy Members of our Music Group were asked to nominate a favourite piece of music which helps them to relax. I hope you are able to listen to these suggestions. I have attached links to each of the pieces, courtesy of YouTube; apologies for the adverts at the start of each piece! Dance of the Blessed Spirits (7minutes) This was composed by Christoph Willibald Gluck for one of his most well-known operas ‘Orfeo ed Euridice’. The piece of music which precedes this dance is the frenetic: ‘Dance of the Furies’, so the serene ‘Dance of the Blessed Spirits’ is a wonderful calming respite. This piece is played on the flute by James Galway. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVuzqPKESHw Cantique de Jean Racine (6 minutes) This piece was composed by Gabriel Fauré and translates as ‘Chant by Jean Racine’. Fauré was nineteen when he composed this and it won him unsurprisingly, the first prize in a composition competition in Paris. This is one of Fauré’s most popular pieces. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERYOe6KBvGo Barcarolle from Offenbach’s ‘Tales of Hoffmann’(4 minutes) Jacques Offenbach was a composer, conductor, cellist and impresario, who composed almost 100 operettas, but arguably his most famous, ‘Tales of Hoffman’ was never finished. This short piece, sung by the Russian soprano Anna Netrebko, is a fitting testament to his genius. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0u0M4CMq7uI Flower Duet from Lakmé (5 minutes) Lakmé was one of a number of scores which made Leo Delibes famous. Some of his other works, Coppélia and Sylvia have been used as ballet scores, however Lakmé is considered his greatest work. Lakmé and her maidservant Mallika sing this duet while gathering flowers by a river. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qx2lMaMsl8 Nocturne in C sharp minor (4 minutes) This solo piano piece was published after Chopin’s death. He wrote the piece in 1830, but it wasn’t published until 1870, 21 years after his death. It was dedicated to his sister, Ludwika. This music is credited with saving the life of Natalia Karp, who performed this to the Commandant of a concentration camp - on hearing her play this, he spared her life and that of her sister too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqpPRj6UZqc Che Farò Senza Euridice (4 minutes) This is another wonderful tune from ‘Orfeo and Euridice’. The opera is full of tragedy: Cupid gives Orfeo permission to journey into Hades to bring his dead wife Euridice back to the ‘land of the living’ on condition that he does not look at her until they are back on Earth. Of course, Orfeo does look at Euridice again - and she dies…In that moment, crushed by his grief and loss, he sings “Che Farò Senza Euridice?” (What shall I do without Euridice?). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1B85UQT4AY 3 Karen’s Crafty Corner Please remember to send in your craft ideas!! A homemade no-sew face mask This week’s craft idea is by Yvonne McDonald 'Homemade face masks can help to reduce the risk of transmission in some circumstance, but safety Please remember the following: precautions are still important. Homemadei.e. Wash face your masks hands can thoroughly help to beforereduce putting on and taking off. the risk of transmission in some circumstance Avoids, buttouching safety your precautions eyes, nose and are mouth still at all times and store use important. Store used face masks in a plastic bag until you’re able to wash them.’ Wash your hands thoroughly before putting on and taking off. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth at all times . Store used face masks in a plastic bag until you’re able to wash them. Materials you will need (picture 1) A square of cotton fabric approximately 50cm x 50cm – it doesn’t have to be new – a bandana, a man size handkerchief, or any oddment of closely woven cotton fabric. You could cut a square from an old sheet or an old cotton shirt. You can adapt the size of the face mask by using a smaller square of fabric. 2 Elastic bands Instructions : 1) Fold the top and bottom edges of the fabric square to meet at the centre (picture 2). 2) Fold this in half lengthwise. 3) Fold the sides in to overlap slightly at the centre (picture 3). 4) Thread each side through an elastic band – if it is too long then double it. Tuck the end of one folded side inside the other to hold it in place (picture 4). 5) Turn it over and you have an instant no–sew face mask 6) Open out and fold all the corners to the centre (picture 2). 4 7) Fold two of the edges inward so they meet in the middle. Unfold and repeat with the other side (picture 3). 8) Unfold two of the centre tabs (picture 4). 1 2 3 4 5 These no-sew face masks are ideal for non – sewers, but if you want to try to sew one there are plenty of ideas on the internet. My favourite is site is Hobby Lobby and there is an easy to follow video. Here are some I have made! Just copy the link below Karen https://www.google.com/search?q=hobby+lobby+mask& oq=hobbylobby+&aqs=chrome.4.69i57j0l7.8216j0j7&sou rceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 5 Each week we will be publishing a member’s Desert Island Disc choices This week it’s Morley Meinertz’s selection There are so many songs one would like to include which move me - too many for this exercise. I love songs and lyrics and am moved by those rather than music itself although I do like solo instrumentals which seem to actually speak words. 1) The first song I remember and still love is "When you wish upon a Star" which I heard at the first film I ever saw 'Snow White'. My brother took me to a local Community Hall where we sat on wooden benches and I have a feeling the entrance fee was put in a jam jar. 2) My second choice is the first song I ever learned to sing was literally on my father's knee "Molly Malone" - most of my antecedents are Irish and I have a great fondness for them and the country. 3) As a child, we visited other family members at Saltcoats each summer. Every night a very serious looking man sang on a band-stand 'If I can help somebody as I pass along, then my living shall not be in vain'. It was a big joke for us every night and although I haven't heard the song since, I remember it and the situation well. 4) My aunt from Harris used to sing a song at parties called 'Glendora' - she sang it in Gaelic but it translates about a Highland man visiting the big city, who falls in love with a shop window model. As a child, it appealed to me and I remember it well but I have never met another Highlander who knows this song. 5) For two years, school holidays were organised in an Aberdeen school (my initials are carved into the wood at Marschal College Tower).