Emily Cat 176

I had seen this flyer a few days before.  I was in Frankston on Thursday and thought why not. As it was l was late because l couldn't remember the start time. So l crept in 15 minutes late. It was a good crowd and they enjoyed the show. This choir was a U3A choir which means that the singers are older, but, they still all sang in tune. The human voice does change as we age, but, the program suited the singer's voices. There's something wonderful about hearing voices sing in unison. There was even a small interlude from a jazz band. All in all a good performance. All this cost me a gold coin donation. That's all they asked.  Can l suggest to you that you get out and look in your suburbs. The arts thrive in Melbourne suburbs, but, l'm sure you will be able to find something where you live. Music, and the arts, are all around us.

Considered her masterpiece this book is 100 years old this year.  Agatha Christie may not have been the best writer, but, she came up with some great plots. This book starts with Hercule Poirot retiring to the country to grow vegetable marrows. He is neighbours with Dr Shepperd and his sister Caroline. Roger Ackroyd is the man who will be murdered. Ackroyd is a wealthy man whose partner has taken her own life. Dr Shepperd has been visiting Ackroyd, stayed for dinner and then left after the last post has been delivered. He goes to back to his house. He's not long home before he gets a phone call from Parker (Ackroyd's butler) telling him to come back quickly as Ackroyd has been killed. Shepperd goes back to the house to find that Parker made no such call and the library door is locked. When they finally break down the door Roger Ackroyd is lying in his chair dead. That's the start of the novel. It was the first time this style of writing had been done. When this book first c...

The wait is nearly over.  Melbourne's much loved State Theatre will be opening 6 months earlier than originally planned. Major renovations have been carried out. They were needed as the last renovations were done in 1984. It's going to be busy once opened and, am l going to a show there?  Yes l am.

I listened to some wonderful music on Sunday.  I went to McClelland Gallery and listened to the MSO Academy, with some guests, play an interesting program. There were 2 Australian composers pieces in the program and l had not heard of either of them. Composers from my own country and l didn't know them. It shows that when it comes to classical music l have a lot to learn.

I've found a new series to read.  This book is what l would call cosy crime. An enjoyable read with a good narrator. Julia Chapman is the pen name for Julia Stagg. She is an English author who lived in France for many years. The series l have started with is The Dales Detective Series and this book is the first one. I think these books are very popular in England and are set in the Yorkshire Dales. A local boy comes back to his hometown running away from something that happened in London. He rents premises from an old school friend whose many businesses are failing. One of them, a dating agency runs speed dating nights and the men who attend these are being found dead. It's a light read, but, an enjoyable read. Let me know if you have read this series.

I was so wrong about classical music. So much choice, so much wonderful music. Love, love, love classical music now.  

I've done it again.  Twice this year l have forgotten to buy tickets. Am l loosing the plot?

I rarely read actual books.  Audiobooks is what l read these days, and enjoy reading this way. So it's unusual for me to buy a book and read it, but, that's what l did. Which do you prefer, books or audiobooks?

Talking about German composer Richard Wagner  He's not my favourite.  What do you think of his music?

I'm listening to a lot of music lately.  One thing l've noticed is that all the orchestras have right handed violinists.  Watching all this music has had me musing about learning a musical instrument. I love the violin but l would play it left handed. Have any of you seen an orchestra with left handed violinists? The typical orchestra formation is like a horse shoe. Violins are on the left and then we move to the flutes and woodwind instruments with the cellos and double bass on the right. Have you ever seen  this formation reversed? Cellos on the left and violins on the right? Are all children who want to learn the violin right handed? I tried to learn the ukulele. Even though the ukulele was strung for left handed play all the books, sheet music was for a right handed player. I couldn't play it right handed. So, if you play the violin can you let me know if you are right handed.

This book is a classic.  A grieving man. A nameless young woman, a malevolent character and a dead first wife. All set in the magnificent country house called Mandeley. It's called a gothic novel. That's what l'm reading now.

Think of the night,  Nocturnes are part of music. They are compositions inspired by the night. I've been listening to Chopin and he did something like 21-24 nocturnes. They are world famous and well known to anyone who plays the piano. They typically have lyrical melodies and a reflective mood. Once l had looked into what nocturnes are l went back and listened to Chopin again. I could hear it, a reflective night time mood.  We all know that there is a different feel to the night compared to daytime and l think you can hear that in his music. Chopin was only 39 when he died. He had years of ill health and l think you can hear almost melancholy in his music too. Chopin's nocturnes were for virtuoso piano and are beautiful to listen to. If you have time today listen to some of his music and see if you can hear the music of the night.

I'm at Frankston Arts Centre and waiting for the show to start.  I have recently made the mistake of thinking l had bought tickets for shows when, in fact, l hadn't bought anything at all. Put the date in my diary and that was it. So l was very glad to find that l had actually bought a ticket to this show. I saw a Celtic Festival. At the moment there is a Celtic Festival touring Australia ( I didn't know about it ). On Friday some of the performers in that show came to Frankston Arts Centre and performed 2 shows. I saw Ghosts of Erin and Apolline. Both acts were so good. There's something about Celtic music; it makes you want to get up and do a jig. It's happy music and the audience on Friday was happy. Good music by musicians who connected well with their audience. What a treat on Friday.