The Daughters of the Year Shall Dance!

To Autumn

William Blake (from Poetical Sketches, 1783)

O Autumn, laden with fruit, and stain’d With the blood of the grape, pass not, but sit Beneath my shady roof; there thou may’st rest, And tune thy jolly voice to my fresh pipe, And all the daughters of the year shall dance! Sing now the lusty song of fruits and flowers.

     Natasha  my granddaughter is nearly 11 years old already. She is beginning her eighth year of violin at the Suzuki school across the river from her house. She loves to perform and has participated in duets, chamber ensembles, orchestras and frequently plays on her own. This year she is learning Johannes Brahms Hungarian Dances, a modified version suitable for her age group and level of competence. The music was originally written in 1869.

     Autumn with it's rich colors encourages us to embrace the vibrancy of the outdoors and what could be more complimentary than dances from Hungary? The textures and fabric of the music strike chords that equal the vivid crimsons, golds and russets of an autumn woodland landscape. But this rendition by David Garrett evokes a playful, fun interpretation where the tempo dances from instrument to instrument. The ensemble includes band instruments for this lively performance. Enjoy!!

Yesterday at Willow Manor, the Manor Ball was announced and on the right side of my blog, the announcement is posted. It is a yearly event not to be missed in blogland, so dust off your dancing shoes and bring the daughters of the year to dance at the Willow Manor Ball.