Top-C in Oldies Architecture and Music

The story is that Mozart heard this at age 14, about 140 years after it was written.

This is a good week to refresh our standard of "timelessness." The church, composer, composition, and performance all have intrigues. But we needn't know any of that to be moved. The first Top-C arrives at about 1:45.

Miserere, also called "Miserere mei, Deus" by Gregorio Allegri performed by the Tallis Scholars in the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore.



If words would do, we wouldn't need music, art, or architecture to reveal our highest notes.

You'll probably enjoy a few other versions of the work:

• Allegri: Miserere / Harry Christophers sung by a bigger ensemble with English subtitles.
• Miserere Mei Deus - Kings College Chapel Choir with a boy doing the Top-C
• You can follow the score if you read music. It's a little out of focus.
  

Thanks,
Terry

Teardown Paint Tests

I'm participating in Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch. Thanks to Susan!

Remember? Do you have an opinion on the paint colors?


They are testing exterior paint colors. I have my own opinions but I'd want many tests and as many professional opinions as possible. My pictures don't show the true colors. You have to present to win.


They've almost finished the stonework. The paint must compliment the stone and make it pop. There are plenty of colors to work with in the stone.


The stone massing is quite shapely don't you think? I call it "Auburn School." (See this from McAlpine Tankersly or this from Dungan Nequette or this from Ruard Veltman or this from Summerour.)

It's asymmetrical but balanced: Height to the left. Low bulk to the right. The curved buttresses at the top of the stairs and right foundation visually support the mass, compensate for the missing bulk of the alcove where the garage doors will be recessed.


They've been test colors for more than a week. Testing siding and trim, in the sun and the shade. In this picture there are 3 siding colors and at least 2 trim colors. The muntins are in their final color.


The tests have a trend: The walls get darker as the trim gets lighter, less contrast between wall and trim, more contrast between wall and stone.





Of course, it needs to make it neighbors look great too.


I don't like calling this a tear-down any more.

Thanks so much.

Terry

Here is the whole project from the beginning.


Thanks to Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch.

No Duck Pond Garden Tour this year

But I'm sure you'll enjoy these pictures from last year.


It was a bit rainy but Katherine and I had the best time.


Here is Katherine with Designer John Delong.


I hope the Peachtree Heights East neibhgorhood can host the Duck Pond Garden Tour in 2011. We'll let you know.


If you need a garden fix today, here is my slide-show from last year.


Thanks,
Terry

Teardown Bones

It's a shock to find a once familiar house looking like this. It's as if a sci-fi ray gun dissolved the flesh but left the bones.


Morningside has some great old homes but it's not an historic district. Many are just old and tired. They don't suit the upscale demographic. Morningside is hot.


From what I understand, the more of the original house you keep, the easier the permitting process and perhaps the cheaper the build out. I guess every developer/builder/architect considers all the options and makes a choice.

But this is spooky.


There is a building permit sign but that's no guarantee that work will proceed.


We Morningsiders might wake up one day to find something like this next door.


I hope well financed experienced professionals are on top of it. This small house on a tiny lot will be a $million plus. It will probably sell in a hurry even in this market.

That's probably a good thing for us. Not so good if you live next door and the financing falls through.

Thanks,
Terry

Renaissance music in a 21st Century Gothic Chapel at Agnes Scott

Agnes Scott College dedicated the Julia Thompson Smith Chapel in 2008. It was time to see and hear it in action.


I'm a lucky guy I tell you. Saturday at the last minute I headed to Agnes Scott to hear early music for free: "Sole, Luna, e Stelle; Music from the Time of Galileo." Advice to self: "Just go!"

Here are the performers: "Muses' Delight" from Ashville (Gesa Kordes, violin; Barbara Weiss, harpsichord Gail Ann Schroeder, viola da gamba) with guest artists from Atlanta Francisca Vanherle, soprano and Paula Fagerberg, Baroque triple harp.

Galileo himself may have heard these works 400 years ago. Did he get as emotional as I did?

My eyes and ears had all they could handle. Smith Chapel soars but remains cozy and comfortable. The scissors patterned window seems in motion. My eyes danced in every direction. The curves, apexes, and thrusts repeated everywhere. I couldn't take it all in.


Perfect acoustics? I don't know. Could any music have sounded better to me that night? The musicians certainly seemed happy with the sound.

Gail Ann Schroeder, viola da gamba and Francisca Vanherle, Soprano.

After the show we toured the harpsichord and triple harp.


Had a look at the rare Brombaugh Opus 31d organ in the balcony. I'd like to hear it some day.


The narthex is stunning and comfortable for men wearing kilts.


Barbara Weiss let us noodle on her beautiful 25 year old, 70 pound harpsichord.


Thanks to Gail Ann Schroeder, viola-da-gamba and Gesa Kordes-violin.


Thanks again to Gail Ann Schroeder and Francisca Vanherle soprano (right).







Thanks,
Terry
terry @ surf303.com

Fay Gold shows in Atlanta's most extraordinary loft

Fay Gold's "Onward" showcase at Besharat Gallery. There was big crowd.

Detail from "Museum Of Quigley" by Dan Quigley.

Fay Gold is Atlanta's best known gallery owner and art maven. Besharat Gallery is the most extraordinary loft in Atlanta. It's a home in a gallery, a gallery in a home.





Fay Gold stayed very busy talking with guests. Ms. Gold: We're not worthy.




This is a living room!!!


Folks rest a bit in the living room.


Some of the sculptures danced all night.


Some sculptures looked good in a hat.


Folks were everywhere.


This is the glass walled bathroom.


We met sculptor Debra Fritts. She is second from the left posing with her loyal students and her sculptures.


Artist Corrine Colarusso on the left shares a laugh with Katherine.


Katherine insisted on photographing me with the BIG SHARK but I'm looking pretty dorky.


Pink allocation:


There are more photos. Enjoy them full screen. You might find someone or some art you know.


Thanks,
Terry

Big Art in Castleberry Hill: Hense and "Blue Husky"

Caslteberry Point Lofts commissioned graffiti artist Hense and SCAD students David Fields, Chris Wright, and Will Young to do BIG art pieces. This is a detail from Hense.


If you've seen much Graffiti in Atlanta, you've seen the "Hense" tag. I'm fine with legal graffiti not so fine with illegal. In any case Hense is a major Atlanta artist able to manage large projects, difficult working conditions, and crews of assistants. He has worked internationally. Hense may well be the most "seen" Atlanta artist.

It's not the best time for downtown rentals so developer Jerry Miller commissioned 2 large scale works for the Castleberry Point retail space at the corner of Nelson and Walker Streets just south of Downtown Atlanta. This is from Hense. The girls at my house think it's a flower garden:

See the exit sign over the door? This thing is big.

This is the view from outside. See the blue to the right? That's "Blue Husky."


Blue Husky is more than 250 feet of plastic, lit from underneath, animated by huge fans.


Words and pictures fail me. A walk or drive by Blue Husky will reveal a huge but safe Tsunami-in-a-loft.

Here are the artists who created Blue Husky. Those men had been working hard on a mammoth scale.

Left to right: David Fields (has a blog), Chris Wright, Will Young

A bit of video


The best way to see this is at the 2nd Friday Castleberry Hill Art Stroll. The next one on on April 9, 2010. The weather should be pretty good.

Thanks,
Terry