A Story Told by an Old Moravian Flute Player

A very important king hired a whole orchestra to play for him one night during his supper, just because he felt lonesome.

This orchestra played great and the king was so delighted that before going to bed he said, “Boys, your playing gave me the whips and jingles, and just for that you can all go to my counting house and fill your instruments with gold pieces.”

I can still hear that happy clatter as sack after sack of golden tiddlies streamed into the tuba and slithered down the neck of the bassoon and spilled out over the bells of the French horns.


And there I stood with my piccolo.

Restaurant table camera games

Ever been stuck around a table at a restaurant with friends and the service is slow? Well, perhaps it's in the middle of Italy and you have a camera since you are on tour with a choir. I discovered two games you can kill time with.

1. Water glass art:
Just macro the camera and take pictures of things through a full water glass:









2. Camera timer roulette:
Everyone sit around the table. Just set the 10 second timer, hit the shutter and then spin camera while suspended from the strap, while holding it over the middle of the table. It helps if the strap is attached at the center of the side of the camera. Try to spin it flat. Keep it spinning until the shot. Then after the shot, determine who got in the picture, then they get take the next shot.

This game seemed to like Leslie:

Neck pillow horseshoes

Hey,
I forgot about the new airport waiting area game I invented back in June, while waiting for a plane to Italy with the Utah Baroque Ensemble. I call it "Neck Pillow Horseshoes". Simply sit equidistant from a barrier post, and throw your neck pillows like horseshoes. All rules transfer: ringers, leaners, closest. Scoring is the same. Great time-killer for those pesky flight delays.

UBE Renamed

I forgot to announce, as of January 20, 2009, the official name of the Utah Baroque Ensemble has been changed to the Utah Barack Obamasemble.

Thank you, thank you.

Obama fulfills prophecy

For the past few months I have been reading Matthew 24, and came across this in verse 15

When ye therefore shall see the Obama-nation of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place.

Those with ears to hear, hear.

Hi, Richard here just inserting a favorite quotation so I'll know where to find it again.

If we consider and ask ourselves what sort of music we should wish to hear on entering a church we should surely, in describing our ideal, say first of all that it must be something different from what is heard elsewhere; that it should be a sacred music, devoted to its purpose,

A music whose peace would still passion, whose dignity should strengthen our faith, whose unquestion’d beauty should find a home in our hearts, to cheer us in life and death;

A music worthy of the fair temples in which we meet and of the holy words of our liturgy;

A music whose expression of the mystery of things unseen never allow’d any trifling motive to ruffle the sanctity of its reserve. What power for good such a music would have!

Robert Bridges, 1844-1930
Poet Laureate of Great Britain

My Review of Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron

Originally submitted at Radio Shack

A quality soldering work station with a dual-powered iron designed to make soldering jobs effortless.

Soldering Work Station with Dual-Powered Iron

Tips easy to get

By mollerartiste from Orem, UT on 10/30/2008

 

4out of 5

Pros: Good heat control, Sort of stable, Cheap

Cons: Cheap

Best Uses: Minor Projects

Describe Yourself: Avid Do-It-Yourselfer

Get a good electronics replacement tip, a Weller PL100, at your local retail store. Much better iron with that tip.

(legalese)