- By Ray Holt -
That music can have profound effect on its listeners is a well known fact evidenced by the popularity of the many music events enjoyed by Glen residents this past December. As an example, spirits rose visibly higher as people relaxed hearing the Glenaires chorus sing favorite holiday songs. Even unfamiliar pieces drew strong responses. Flute and piano duets seemed to add a further dimension to the afternoon program.
When the audience was invited to sing with the chorus, smiles rippled across faces and eyes brightened in response to the leadership of Glenaires magnetic director, Mimi Holtz. Many residents quickly volunteered to take part in fun songs such as Twelve Days of Christmas. Laughter spread as if meeting old friends or recalling memories of long ago. The singing of favorite carols by everyone marked the highlight in bringing forth wholehearted participation. Voices rose on all sides recalling caroling in bygone years.
With such participation, it was not surprising in the days that followed to hear (or at least imagine hearing) residents humming or quietly singing holiday music as we met or passed in hallways making "Merry Christmas" have more meaning.
What better mood-makers for 2010 could we ask for?
- By Betty Cortus -
This strange sounding wind instrument, the didgeridoo, was developed by the Australian Aborigines to accompany their ceremonial rites and dances eons ago. A large dead tree branch, conveniently hollowed out by bush termites forms its shell. Commonly decorated with tribal designs etched in naturally occurring earthen substances such as ocher, clay, and ash, its deep pulsating rhythms echo hauntingly throughout the bushland, as the native musician, seated on the ground, blows into one end of the tube while cradling its bottom end in his bare toes.
When Dutch-born La Costa Glen resident John Cortus emigrated to Australia in 1950, the aboriginal artifacts of his adopted homeland became a fascinating new source of interest. So in 1970 when the American company for whom he worked transferred him and his family permanently to the United States, his workmates sent him off with an authentic didgeridoo as a souvenir of the land where he had married, raised a family, and furthered his career in the corporate world.
John has never mastered the tricky art of circular breathing perfected by the aborigines (inhaling and exhaling simultaneously) allowing them thus to blow into the instrument for seemingly endless stretches of time without a pause for breath. But his didgeridoo will always be a treasured family heirloom, a talking point for curious house guests, and a unique reminder of the twenty happy years he spent in the land Down Under.