Preparing for concerts and programs is: months-long blurs of research, rehearsal, collecting images and creating the slideshow, and basically .... pressure, pressure, pressure.
You wake up with the passages you are practicing humming in your head; this goes on all day, as you walk, you sing a snatch of this or that; as you sweep or dust or make coffee, you suddenly stop and do a few vocal exercises (gotta practice that lift); you can't read anything that isn't related to your research with anything approaching concentration.
Then you give the concert or program. Just before you go on stage, you think, "I am so exhausted, why do I do this, can I sing that passage I struggled with correctly, what's the house like...WHY do I do this it's so intense..." Then you go out, and you see your audience, and it all lights up and falls into place and you're not tired and everyone's smiling, and you look happily over at Jim and you open your mouth to speak, to sing, you pick up your guitar....
There's no better life.
And today I'm utterly exhausted, like a balloon that has been let go and soars while the escaping air propels it upward, and then it drifts back to earth.
And there's still no better life. And you want to do it all again.
Which means you are kind of crazy!
Friday, April 21, 2017
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
Saturday, January 28, 2017
Please come and share this musical and historical program with us
A SPECIAL NOTE, THE DAY BEFORE:
We have been doing various configurations of this program for 30 years. It's a centerpiece of our work. I've never said this before, please don't take this as "advertising"...but I really feel strongly that if you come to this free program, you may be inspired and encouraged by all the hard-won progress this country has made since the 1760s...and the inspiration to continue. Please come and share this musical and historical story with us.
Please join Jim Dalton and Maggi Smith-Dalton at upcoming FREE music and history programs at The Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Boston, Mass.
This special version of the Daltons’ longest-running program “American History Thru Music™ — 1760s to 1960s-A Musical Portrait of the USA” —
▪ starts January 29, 2017, with “Causes, Crusades, Campaigns!—Get your energy up!”
▪ followed on February 26, 2017, with “Good Times and Hard Times—We’ve All Been there!”
▪ and wrapping up on April 2, 2017, with “Immigration and Migration—Packing Our Bags, Hittin’ the Road!”
WHEN AND WHERE:
Sessions will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Boston Conservatory’s T-401 classroom (31 Hemenway Street Boston, MA 02115)
Directions to campus: https://bostonconservatory.berklee.edu/directions
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Registration: Contact Rhoda Bernard, rbernard@berklee.edu
SO … WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
▪ Live, historically informed performance of songs & instrumental pieces plus some recorded excerpts where appropriate
▪ Discuss general history (political, social, cultural) & music history for each era … Discover how music both reflected and shaped the course of people’s lives … Opportunities for musical participation provided in each session
▪ Each session will be illustrated, and materials for further exploration will be shared
WHO SHOULD COME? ANYONE! THAT MEANS YOU!
Download a descriptive flyer here: http://singingstring.org/PDF/AHTM%20Special%20Seminars%20version.pdf
And look for us at WorldFest in February and our annual concert “Celebration of American Music 7” in April….more info to come….
_____________________________________
very short blurb:
Join Jim Dalton & Maggi Smith-Dalton
for a 3 session version of the Daltons’ longest-running program “American History Thru Music™ — 1760s to 1960s-A Musical Portrait of the USA” Jan 29, Feb 26, April 2, 2017
2 to 4 p.m. Boston Conservatory’s T-401 classroom (31 Hemenway Street Boston, MA 02115) https://bostonconservatory.berklee.edu/directions
FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Registration: Contact Rhoda Bernard, rbernard@berklee.edu
WHO SHOULD COME? YOU!
Descriptive flyer: http://singingstring.org/PDF/AHTM%20Special%20Seminars%20version.pdf
We have been doing various configurations of this program for 30 years. It's a centerpiece of our work. I've never said this before, please don't take this as "advertising"...but I really feel strongly that if you come to this free program, you may be inspired and encouraged by all the hard-won progress this country has made since the 1760s...and the inspiration to continue. Please come and share this musical and historical story with us.
Please join Jim Dalton and Maggi Smith-Dalton at upcoming FREE music and history programs at The Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Boston, Mass.
This special version of the Daltons’ longest-running program “American History Thru Music™ — 1760s to 1960s-A Musical Portrait of the USA” —
▪ starts January 29, 2017, with “Causes, Crusades, Campaigns!—Get your energy up!”
▪ followed on February 26, 2017, with “Good Times and Hard Times—We’ve All Been there!”
▪ and wrapping up on April 2, 2017, with “Immigration and Migration—Packing Our Bags, Hittin’ the Road!”
WHEN AND WHERE:
Sessions will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Boston Conservatory’s T-401 classroom (31 Hemenway Street Boston, MA 02115)
Directions to campus: https://bostonconservatory.berklee.edu/directions
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Registration: Contact Rhoda Bernard, rbernard@berklee.edu
SO … WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
▪ Live, historically informed performance of songs & instrumental pieces plus some recorded excerpts where appropriate
▪ Discuss general history (political, social, cultural) & music history for each era … Discover how music both reflected and shaped the course of people’s lives … Opportunities for musical participation provided in each session
▪ Each session will be illustrated, and materials for further exploration will be shared
WHO SHOULD COME? ANYONE! THAT MEANS YOU!
Download a descriptive flyer here: http://singingstring.org/PDF/AHTM%20Special%20Seminars%20version.pdf
And look for us at WorldFest in February and our annual concert “Celebration of American Music 7” in April….more info to come….
_____________________________________
very short blurb:
Join Jim Dalton & Maggi Smith-Dalton
for a 3 session version of the Daltons’ longest-running program “American History Thru Music™ — 1760s to 1960s-A Musical Portrait of the USA” Jan 29, Feb 26, April 2, 2017
2 to 4 p.m. Boston Conservatory’s T-401 classroom (31 Hemenway Street Boston, MA 02115) https://bostonconservatory.berklee.edu/directions
FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Registration: Contact Rhoda Bernard, rbernard@berklee.edu
WHO SHOULD COME? YOU!
Descriptive flyer: http://singingstring.org/PDF/AHTM%20Special%20Seminars%20version.pdf
Friday, January 20, 2017
The Dream Will Never Die
This will be my only post today.
"'....That which we are, we are--
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
...strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.'
....For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
Senator Edward M. Kennedy - August 12, 1980
"'....That which we are, we are--
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
...strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.'
....For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
Senator Edward M. Kennedy - August 12, 1980
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Please join Jim Dalton and Maggi Smith-Dalton at upcoming FREE music and history programs at The Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Boston, Mass.
This special version of the Daltons' longest-running program “American History Thru Music™ — 1760s to 1960s-A Musical Portrait of the USA” —
▪ starts January 29, 2017, with “Causes, Crusades, Campaigns!—Get your energy up!”
▪ followed on February 26, 2017, with “Good Times and Hard Times—We’ve All Been there!”
▪ and wrapping up on April 2, 2017, with “Immigration and Migration—Packing Our Bags, Hittin’ the Road!”
WHEN AND WHERE:
Sessions will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Boston Conservatory’s T-401 classroom (31 Hemenway Street Boston, MA 02115)
Directions to campus: https://bostonconservatory.berklee.edu/directions
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Registration: Contact Rhoda Bernard, rbernard@berklee.edu
SO … WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
▪ Live, historically informed performance of songs & instrumental pieces plus some recorded excerpts where appropriate
▪ Discuss general history (political, social, cultural) & music history for each era … Discover how music both reflected and shaped the course of people’s lives … Opportunities for musical participation provided in each session
▪ Each session will be illustrated, and materials for further exploration will be shared
WHO SHOULD COME? ANYONE! THAT MEANS YOU!
Download a descriptive flyer here: http://singingstring.org/PDF/AHTM%20Special%20Seminars%20version.pdf
And look for us at WorldFest in February and our annual concert “Celebration of American Music 7” in April….more info to come….
Monday, December 5, 2016
Programs for 2017 coming up soon!
Putting together some pr materials for a series of music/history
programs for 2017, and getting psyched! Info will be published
shortly....
Saturday, April 2, 2016
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
Shaman
Our profession provides all these positives...music which dances in
your heart, singing to greet each hour, stories to weave for delight and
awe, and silence, yes much of that for dreaming and meditation, for
listening...the silence 'twixt the tone giving shape to the tune.
It's a wonderful life, and a life-affirming profession.
It's a wonderful life, and a life-affirming profession.
A metaphor for our times
Springlike warmth after the subzero cold! A benediction. Yesterday the goldfinch returned to our feeders after long, long absence. I haven’t seen (although I have heard) a chickadee in months. This past summer, new neighbors cut down a magnificent soaring old pine tree, habitat for so many birds and other creatures which kept our garden alive and colorful. I mourned the tree, and I have mourned the subsequent disappearance of many old friends who formerly visited our backyard feeders. They fled the violent death of a tree which has grown on the edge of our two properties for generations. A metaphor for our times, when wars of all kinds rage.
The gardener longs to till the soil, but must wait a while longer. Meanwhile, the warmth caresses my face and hands as I fill the feeders I have kept stocked as best I could while the weather itself seemed to wage war.
But blessings have returned, and I am grateful for them.
Thursday, December 24, 2015
huzzah! and thank you!
We had a lovely gift today...asked to restock our CDs with CD Baby 2nd time in a month after sales depleted their inventory!
http://singingstring.org/JM/singing-string-music-store/index.html
Monday, December 21, 2015
Happy Solstice to All from Jim and Maggi!
http://earthsky.org/earth/everything-you-need-to-know-december-solstice
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Happy Yule-tide, 2015!
Thursday, December 3, 2015
CDBaby makes our day!
It's always nice to get emails like this to start your day:"Congratulations! Your music has been selling and we need more copies of The Sigh Of The Weary: The Civil War At Home to satisfy anticipated demand." Sigh of happiness here!
http://singingstring.org/JM/singing-string-music-store/index.html
http://singingstring.org/JM/singing-string-music-store/index.html
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Jim's music in NYC! June 21, 2015
Jim's music in NYC!
Upcoming Composer's Voice/Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame/Make Music New York collaboration at the International Preschools in NYC!
Featuring the World Premiere of Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame: Alex Lubet, steel-string guitar performing the works of Jay Afrisando, Nathaniel Akers, James T. Conolly, Jim Dalton, Douglas DaSilva, Gordon Fitzell, Diarmid Flatley, James E. Holdman, Liam Moore, Yan Pang Clark, Zack Pentacost, Etienne Rolin, Justin Rosin, Bob Siebert.
This HUGE event is Sunday June 21, 2015 1:00pm - 3:00pm at The International Preschools, 345 East 86th Street, NYC. This event is FREE!!!
Upcoming Composer's Voice/Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame/Make Music New York collaboration at the International Preschools in NYC!
Featuring the World Premiere of Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame: Alex Lubet, steel-string guitar performing the works of Jay Afrisando, Nathaniel Akers, James T. Conolly, Jim Dalton, Douglas DaSilva, Gordon Fitzell, Diarmid Flatley, James E. Holdman, Liam Moore, Yan Pang Clark, Zack Pentacost, Etienne Rolin, Justin Rosin, Bob Siebert.
This HUGE event is Sunday June 21, 2015 1:00pm - 3:00pm at The International Preschools, 345 East 86th Street, NYC. This event is FREE!!!
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