The following are articles that I wrote for ViewsHound-a writing site based in UK that closed on December 23, 2011. I started writing for the site last August publishing 57 articles and 4 photographs.It was an experienced I will never forget. Some photos in this site, I do not own. However, I have no intention on infringing your copyrights.
David B. Katague is an online memoirist and cultural essayist whose writing has appeared on HubPages
This
is Part 4 of a Series of 14 on Macrine J. Katague, Celebration of Life
through her favorite music pieces. Every time I hear Rubenstein
Romance, my heart melts and eyes teary seeing Macrine's face filled with
smile and hear her voice filled with happiness. Pleasant memories,
indeed!
Here's Anton Rubenstein and Beethoven Romance-Two of Macrine's Favorites-
If you were but a Dream and Beethoven's Romance
"If You Are But a Dream" is a popular song published in 1942 with words and music by Moe Jaffe, Jack Fulton and Nat Bonx. The melody is based on Anton Rubinstein's "Romance in E flat, Op. 44, No. 1," popularly known as "Rubinstein's Romance".
The song is most closely associated with Frank Sinatra, who recorded it first for Columbia Records on November 14, 1944, with an arrangement by Axel Stordahl. This recording was on the reverse side of a 78 rpm record with "White Christmas",
and consequently did very well with "White Christmas" reaching the No. 7
spot in the Billboard charts. "If You Are But a Dream" itself briefly
reached the Billboard charts in the No. 19 position. A year later, in 1945, "If You Are But a Dream" was included in the Academy Award-winning short film, The House I Live In, in which Sinatra was featured.
If you are but a dream I hope I never waken It's more than I could bear To find that I'm forsaken
If you're a fantasy Then I'm content to be In love with lovely you And pray my dream comes true
I long to kiss you But I would not dare I'm so afraid that You may vanish in the air
So darling If our romance would break up I hope I never wake up If you are but a dream
I long to kiss you But I would not dare I'm so afraid that You may vanish in the air
So darling If our romance would break up I hope I never wake up If you are but a dream
Meanwhile, while searching for the best arrangement of Romance in You Tube, I found this piece so enjoyable, (Chopin-Fantasie Impromptu) another favorite piano piece of Macrine. It is popularly known as I am always Chasing Rainbows. I like to share it with you.
Macrine
in her younger day used to sing during the wedding mass( get paid for
it) both here in US and in the Philippines. Her favorite piece was Schubert Ave Maria
Meanwhile, enjoy some romantic melodies for relaxation:
Rachmaninoff Rhapsody-Theme of Paganini, Variation 18 (Somewhere in Time)
Do You have a Air Fryer? How often do you use It? I have a small fryer( cheap) and I finally used it today.
My Small Air Fryer- Air fryers prices ranged from $59 to $599 depending on size and make and model(Manual or Digital )
The air fryer is essentially an amped-up countertop convection oven. Its
compact space facilitates even faster cooking. The top of the unit
holds a heating mechanism and a fan. Hot air rushes down and around food
placed in a fryer-style basket. This rapid circulation makes the food
crisp, much like deep frying. (Here’s the difference between air frying and baking.)
I
cooked my first lamb chops ( Australian) and French fries from the
frozen package for only 12 minutes today. Both turned out perfect!
The Basics and Tips of Air Frying
*Air Frying Steak-see link below
Fifteen Easy Recipes for Air Frying-see link below for air frying steaks
This is Part 3 of the series, Celebration of Life of Macrine J.
Katague, through her love of music. In her younger days, Macrine loves
to sing and play the piano as well as participate in Choral Concerts
(with me)-The University of the Philippines Student Catholic Action
Choir-Diliman. Q.C. 1952-1953. In this episode, I am featuring one of
her favorite piece, Schubert Serenade (violin).
"Ständchen" (known in English by its first line "Hark, hark, the lark" or "Serenade"), D 889, is a lied for solo voice and piano by Franz Schubert, composed in July 1826 in the then village of Währing. It is a setting of the "Song" in act 2, scene 3 of Shakespeare's Cymbeline. The song was first published by Anton Diabelli in 1830, two year's after the composer's death. The song in its original form is relatively short, and two further verses by Friedrich Reil were added to Diabelli's second edition of 1832. Here's the lyrics in English and German:
My songs plead softly
Leise flehen meine Lieder
Through the night to you;
Durch die Nacht zu dir;
Down into the silent grove
In den stillen Hain hernieder
Darling, come to me! Liebchen, komm zu mir!
Slender treetops rustle in a whisper
Flüsternd schlanke Wipfel rauschen
In the moon's light;
In des Mondes Licht;
Hostile eavesdropping on the traitor
Des Verräters feindlich Lauschen
Fear not, dear. Fürchte, Holde, nicht.
Can you hear the nightingales beating?
Hörst die Nachtigallen schlagen?
Oh! Ach!
they beg you
sie flehen dich,
With the sounds of sweet laments
Mit der Töne süßen Klagen
Plead for me Flehen sie für mich.
They understand the tendons of the bosom
Sie verstehn des Busens Sehnen
Know the pain of love
Kennen Liebesschmerz,
Stir with the sieve tones
Rühren mit den Siebeltönen
Every soft heart. Jedes weiche Herz.
Let your chest move too
Laß auch dir die Brust bewegen,
Dear hear me!
Liebchen höre mich!
I wait for you trembling
Bebend harr' ich dir entgegen
This
is Part 2 of a Series of 14 on Celebration of Life of Macrine J.
Katague via her favorite music. It seems that a few of my readers are
enjoying also Macrine's favorite music!
Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto #2, Movement #3, popularly known as Full Moon and Empty Arms. The Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18, is a concerto for piano and
orchestra composed by Sergei Rachmaninoff between the autumn of 1900
and April 1901 The second and third movements were first performed with
the composer as soloist on 2 December 1900. The complete work was
premiered, again with the composer as soloist, on 27 October 1901, with
his cousin Alexander Siloti conducting.
This piece is one of
Rachmaninoff's most popular pieces, and established his fame
as a concerto composer.
The second movement (adagio sostenuto theme) appears in Eric Carmen's
1975 ballad "All by Myself". The 3rd movement (allegro scherzando)
which is featured in this video provides the basis for Frank Sinatra's
1945 "Full Moon and Empty Arms".
The soundtrack of the 1945 classic movie "Brief Encounter", which
centers on the lives of two happily married man and woman who fall in
love with each other after a chance encounter at a train station,
features a musical score based on this Piano Concerto. Here's the lyrics:
Full moon and empty arms The moon is there for us to share But where are you?
A night like this Could weave a memory And every kiss Could start a dream for two
Full moon and empty arms Tonight I'll use the magic moon to wish upon And next full moon If my one wish comes true My empty arms will be filled with you
Full moon and empty arms Tonight I'll use the magic moon to wish upon And next full moon If my one wish comes true My empty arms will be filled with you
Meanwhile while I was searching for best arrangement of the above piece, I found DJ Lava Best Music Relax as follows:
Another Orchestral and Piano Music that Macrine like is Somewhere in Time
With its emotional themes, aching nostalgia, and sensual scoring, John Barry's
score for the 1979 time-travel love story Somewhere in Time embodies
the movie's longing and romanticism in music that is both memorable and
well matched to the screen. Although not nominated for Best Score when
it was released, the music for Somewhere in Time has the same kind of
unforgettable qualities as his better known scores for Born Free and The
Lion in Winter.
My
interest in Piano Concertos was first aroused when Van Cliburn won the
first International Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Moscow, Russia in
1958. Before I gave you my list allow me to quote the following write
up from Wikipedia.
Cliburn with his mother in the Netherlands in 1966
Harvey "Van" Cliburn Jr. (( July 12, 1934 – February 27, 2013) was an American pianist who, at the age of 23, achieved worldwide recognition when he won the inaugural International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 1958 (during the Cold War).
Cliburn's mother, a piano teacher and an accomplished pianist in her own
right, discovered him playing at age three, mimicking one of her
students and arranged for him to start taking lessons. Cliburn developed
a rich, round tone and a singing-voice-like phrasing, having been
taught from the start to sing each piece.
Cliburn toured domestically and overseas. He played for royalty, heads of state, and every US president from Harry S. Truman to Barack Obama. He was my idol!
After the ovation, Van Cliburn made a brief speech in Russian, and then resumed his seat at the piano and began to play—to the surprise and delight of the Russian musicians visible behind him in the film made of his part in the competition—his
own piano arrangement of the much-beloved song "Moscow Nights," which,
as the response shows, further endeared him to the Russians.
When it was
time to announce the winner, the judges were obliged to ask permission
of the Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev
to give the first prize to an American. "Is he the best?" Khrushchev
asked. "Then give him the prize!" Cliburn returned home to a ticker-tape parade in New York City, the only time the honor has been accorded a classical musician. Arriving at City Hall after the parade, Cliburn told the audience:
RUSSIANS CONQUERED MY HEART
I
appreciate more than you will ever know that you are honoring me, but
the thing that thrills me the most is that you are honoring classical
music. Because I'm only one of many. I'm only a witness and a messenger.
Because I believe so much in the beauty, the construction, the
architecture invisible, the importance for all generations, for young
people to come that it will help their minds, develop their attitudes,
and give them values. That is why I'm so grateful that you have honored
me in that spirit.
A cover story in Time magazine proclaimed him "The Texan Who Conquered Russia". His triumph in Moscow propelled Cliburn to international prominence.
1. Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto #1 ( Excerpts)( Van Cliburn-5.5 minutes)-Click the Watch on You-Tube!
This concerto was my first 33 LP record that I purchased. It sold more than a Million copies.
2. Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto #2 ( Excerpts) )
*Cecil Licad playing Rachmaninoff Concerto #2 Movement #1
Movement #3 -Full Moon and Empty Arms- Yuja Wang
My wife (Macrine, RIP) knows very well Cecile's Aunt
Gloria Licad Lanot in the mid 1950's. My wife at that time was employed
by Mr. Serafin Lanot( RIP) in his(Printing Press). Gloria Licad
Lanot was married to poet-essayist-journalist-astrologer, Serafin Lanot.
He was a former director of the Bureau of Printing and head of Tamaraw
Publishing House, Inc. I also have the honor meeting Mr. Lanot once in
his office when I visited Macrine.
Gloria Licad was the sister of Dr. Jesus Licad, M.D( father of Cecile).
Gloria(RIP) was also a pianist and a retired music teacher from
the University of the Philippines College of Music. She finished Music,
major in Piano at the St. Scholastica’s College, and was praised by her
professors at Chicago Musical College, where she obtained her M.A. in
Piano.
Pleasant Memories of Three Years Ago- Macrine Swimming in our backyard pool!
Macrine
passed away on August 10, 2020. I am still trying to cope with my grief
by blogging, but sometimes small events trigger memories and I can not
stop crying. The other day, I was eating a mango. Suddenly. I remember
spoon feeding her with a ripe mango that she enjoyed very much.
While writing this I also remember an article on how we balanced frugality and extravagance during our more than 63 years of married life.
As promised and scheduled today I am posting Part 1 of the series,
Celebration of Life, Macrine J. Katague through her favorite music
pieces. Previously, I posted a 4-part series on Macrine's Celebration of
Life through Photographs and Videos.
In this series, I am
celebrating Macrine's well-lived life via her favorite music pieces(
piano, violin, orchestral, instrumental, vocal or choral arrangements
and six other categories).
In this Part 1- it is Chopin Etude Op #10, No 3, popularly known as No Other Love. There are several You-Tube presentations, but here are 2 interpretations Andre Rieu:
Piano and Violin Interpretations and below orchestral arrangement
No other love can warm my heart Now that I've known the comfort of your arms No other love. Oh the sweet contentment that I find with you every time Every time. No other lips could want you more For I was born to glory in your kiss. Forever yours I was blessed with love to love you Til the stars burn out above you Til the moon is but a silver shell No other love, let no other love Know the wonder of your spell
And Here's James Last Interpretation-Enjoy
Here's Rachmaninoff Rhapsody-also One of Macrine's Favorite
Meanwhile,
while searching in You Tube for the above lyrics, I found this piece so
beautiful and inspiring. I hope I am not infringing on DJ Lava- Best
Music Relax copyrights! Enjoy!!
Piano music reminds me of the healing power of music to our mental health
Ben
(Benjie) and Victoria(Vicky) Abellera with me and Macrine, Colesville,
MD 1995( not sure of the year)-Dinner at our residence in Hammonton
Road
As part of my series, Celebration of Life on
Macrine's memory, I requested that if someone have pictures of Macrine
in their possession to share it with me.
Two friends responded.
The latest response I received was from Vicky Abellera, from Maryland.
Vicky and husband Benjie and I were members of the University of the
Philippines Alumni Association of the Capital Area ( Maryland, Virginia
and Washington DC). I believe this was around the early to mid 1990's.
" The
University of the Philippines (UP) Alumni Association of the District
of Columbia, State of Maryland and Commonwealth of Virginia Chapter is a
nonprofit organization of former students, and friends of UP. The
alumni membership is infused with a spirit of loyalty to the alma mater,
service to the Nation’s capital area, and commitment to the Motherland.
The Association promotes the character, traditions and goals of the
University through scholarships, professorial chair, and other
educational programs, issues, cultural activities and public service. A
common thread of volunteerism and generosity runs through the
membership. The Association has offered its excellence and leadership to
Community and Country – all traits of which are embodied in the
University’s symbol, the Oblation."( http://upaadcmdva.org/our-mission.html)
The
Abelleras are currently in contact with me via Face Book. Here are the
photos taken during a Dinner that Macrine and I hosted at our residence
in Hammonton Rd, Colesville, Maryland.
Steak Dinner
with another UP alumnus Nena Soberano. The Painting of the Nipa Hut and
the water buffalo by Jesse Santos is still hanging in our formal dining
room today here in Fair Oaks, California.
The
first response was from Agnes Lardizabal Apeles- former President of
MI, Inc. She sent me this photo of Macrine with her older sister Clemen
Lardizabal Perez. The photo was taken at our Conference Hall, Chateau Du
Mer, Amoingon, Boac, Marinduque,2010. Clemen and Macrine were high school
classmates.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 29) -
Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco will be the next Speaker of the House
of Representatives starting on Oct. 14, following a meeting with
incumbent House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and President Rodrigo
Duterte on Tuesday.
This was according to one of the lawmakers present at the meeting in Malacañang tonight.
Velasco and Cayetano were joined by eight lawmakers each in the meeting.
In July 2019, Duterte brokered a term-sharing deal between the two,
where it was agreed upon that Cayetano will serve for the first 15
months and Velasco taking over as Speaker in the next 21 months.
Partido Demokratiko Pilipino- Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) Executive
Director Ron Munsayac earlier said in a statement that Velasco’s
assumption as House Speaker will mean that the ruling party will finally
get a lead in the chamber.
Duterte’s PDP-Laban endorsed Velasco last year for the speakership.
With the latest announcement, Velasco is expected to lead the chamber until the end of 18th Congress in June 2022.
I
am proud of you and Congratulations Again. Here are two photos of you
with me and Macrine taken during the Marinduque International Mission in
2011. The photos were taken at a Dinner that you hosted for the
missioners in your Residence in Torrijos, Marinduque.
Velasco was defeated in his bid for re-election in 2013 by Regina Ongsiako Reyes, daughter of former Governor Carmencita Reyes(RIP),
but Velasco disputed Reyes' victory by noting that Reyes was a United
States citizen during the election and was thus ineligible to hold the
office.
Both the Supreme Court and the COMELEC upheld Velasco's protest. Despite this, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte
maintained that a decision to remove Reyes from her seat is up to the
House Electoral Tribunal, where Velasco's case to remove her was still
pending. Velasco was later proclaimed as the legitimate representative
of Marinduque's lone district and assumed office on February 1, 2016.
He is the incumbent representative of the Lone District of
Marinduque and chairman of the House Committee on Energy. He is also the
chairman of the Oversight Committee on Solid Waste Management Act and
co-chairman of the Joint Congressional Power Commission.
