Monday, October 31, 2011

REVIEWER'S NOTEBOOK, CORNELIA COTTON ON THE LATE STEPHEN MORRIS

Welcome to EverythingCroton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON. 

Reviewer’s Notebook, CORNELIA COTTON  

The recent recital by The Chamber Players of Croton at the library was the most accomplished, but also the most touching, of the group’s concerts so far – it was dedicated to Its founder, Stephen Morris, who was gravely ill.

After a free-spirited, sunny Mozart trio, soprano Terri Huntington sang, with stirring emotion, the melancholy Schubert lied, “Auf Dem Strom,” beautifully accompanied by horn player Liz Dejean and pianist Erika Schenker. The consort’s wind quintet shone in an arrangement of Puccini arias, in a suite by Debussy, and in a witty set of bagatelles by Ligeti. This vastly influential contemporary composer is not everyone’s favorite, but the presence of this piece infused into an otherwise traditional program a bit of zing along with the tone clusters. The Bach Siciliano arranged for bassoon and piano featured the wonderful playing of Edwin Cabrero, one of the mainstays of the group. Due to him, I have come to appreciate better the bassoon and its possibilities, both as part of an ensemble and as a solo instrument. Flute and piccolo parts throughout the program were taken by Ann Butler, an excellent musician, but sadly, as she took Stephen’s place, a bittersweet note was lent to her sensitive artistry. The program began and ended with Mozart. The Piano Quartet #1, K. 478, one of the glories of the chamber music repertoire, was given a radiant performance –the crowning end to a moving event.

The end came to Stephen Morris a few days later, the tragic finale to a brilliant man, mind, and musician, and an immense loss to our community. As a newcomer to Croton, he jumped with both feet into the activities of the Croton Council on the Arts, invigorating the group with his irrepressible enthusiasm and vision. A tireless worker, he did not limit himself to creating the Chamber Players, with whom he participated as the flautist and all-around impresario, but he envisioned a newly flourishing arts council that would make its presence felt in all branches of the arts.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

THE VINTAGE KNITTER #1: A MID 1950'S "DATE SWEATER" PATTERN

Welcome to EverythingCroton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

CALLING ALL CROTON KNITTERS: Introducing a new series here at EverythingCroton: THE VINTAGE KNITTER! - We got the idea when Hallie Flanagan Wolfe of hallieflanaganwolfegardens.com, recently donated a small cache of dogeared but very interesting vintage knitting and crochet magazines from the 1940's through the 1960's. Some of these patterns are simply gorgeous!

We're starting the series off with a vintage mid-1950's pattern for a "Date Sweater"! Click on the photo for all the instructions.

POST 2011 STORM, POLE SNAPS ON BROOK STREET

Welcome to EverythingCroton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON. 

POST STORM SUNDAY NIGHT UPDATED:

Residents on Brook St. were evacuated last night when a telephone pole snapped and brought down several along with it. 


They were taken to the municipal building. 

Click on the photo. We'll keep you posted when the repair is made.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

AN INDEX OF THE 2011 "CROTON MEMORIES" SERIES

As we prepare to launch three new series here at EverythingCroton, we bid a fond farewell to the 2011 CROTON MEMORIES series, to resume once again in 2012. We really enjoyed doing it, and it would not have been possible without THE CROTON ON HUDSON HISTORICAL SOCIETY or the generosity of Croton's long-standing residents who freely gave of their time--especially Robert Scott, Danny L., Rosemary Trendell et al. Here's an index to all the previous installments. MORE CROTON MEMORIES COMING BACK NEXT YEAR.

REMEMBERING CROTON HISTORIAN MARY LAMBURSCHI, ROBERT SCOTT http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2011/10/robert-scott-remembering-mary.html
CROTON CHRISTMAS MEMORIES – 1958 to 1978 http://www.flickr.com/photos/22283683@N07/sets/72157627770614519/
MORE CROTON MEMORIES—THE CROTON STEAK HOUSE, PART TWO—COURTESY OF ROBERT SCOTT http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2011/10/more-croton-memories-part-two-croton.html
THE CROTON STEAK HOUSE A.K.A. COUNTRY KITCHEN A.K.A. PEWTER HORN A.K.A. VICTORIAN MANOR A.K.A. COBBLESTONE INN http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2011/09/more-croton-memories-croton-steak-house.html
THE STARLIGHT DRIVE-IN, parts 1 & 2 http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2011/08/croton-memories-starlight-drive-in_15.html AND http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2011/08/more-croton-memories-more-on-starlight.html