YOUR MOMENT OF MUSIC AND ART WEEK 10 from Pam and Wendell, March 4, 2019

Welcome to March!

This month we depart from Chopin for a bit, and focus on some of Pam’s arrangements of favorite tunes. Today for Week 10, we are combining her “Amazing Grace Celtic Medley” with Wendell’s “Six Trees with Yellow Sky” (acrylic on canvas, 12 x 30 from 2011, www.wendellmyers.com). https://youtu.be/SZ7Hskbz1TU

She says, “I arranged this medley for my Dad who was very proud of his Scots heritage, using several favorite Celtic tunes -Shenandoah, Loch Lomond, Auld Lang Syne, and anchoring them with Amazing Grace. I love playing this piece because sometimes I have the feeling of not being sure which one I am playing (because they all have pentatonic melodies), and they all take me back to my childhood.”

Have fun listening for bagpipes, fiddles, and even a music box as you journey across Wendell’s landscape.

Best wishes,

Pam and Wendell

For Week 10 we are combining Pam's "Amazing Grace Celtic Medley" with Wendell's "Six Trees with Yellow Sky" (acrylic on canvas, 12 x 30 from 2011, www.wendellmyers.com). Pam arranged this medley for her Dad who was very proud of his Scots heritage, using several favorite Celtic tunes -Shenandoah, Loch Lomond, Auld Lang Syne, anchoring them with Amazing Grace.

YOUR MOMENT OF MUSIC AND ART WEEK 9 from Pam and Wendell, February 24, 2019

Dear Friends,

We begin Week 9 of the new year with Chopin's famous Nocturne No. 2 in E-flat Major, accompanied by Wendell's painting of the same name (acrylic on canvas, 30 x 40 ). As we head into the last week of February, we hope that you will enjoy this nostalgic music. https://youtu.be/0cF3FP6SVVo

All the best,

Pam and Wendell

pamelahowland.com

wendell myers.com

YOUR MOMENT OF MUSIC AND ART WEEK 8 from Pam and Wendell, February 17, 2019

Greetings!

For this week Pam is performing one of her favorite Chopin Nocturnes, #19 in E Minor. Chopin wrote this nocturne while a teenager still living in Poland. However, it was not published until after his death at age 39.

Wendell says “During our NIGHT MUSIC collaboration in 2013 I did two paintings to accompany the 19th Nocturne. I was not completely satisfied with the first one, so I did a 2nd painting. Pam preferred the first painting, so I decided to keep it, whereas I preferred the 2nd painting, which I titled ‘Nocturne 19 in #E Minor, Alternate Take.’ I have decided to use both for this week’s video.”

Wendell ‘s comments illustrate one of the challenges inherent in our collaborative process. We hope you enjoy our Week 8 offering.

Pam and Wendell

https://youtu.be/ex7hI9F0iyw

YOUR MOMENT OF MUSIC AND ART WEEK 7 from Pam and Wendell, February 10, 2019

Dear Friends,

WEEK 7 - YOUR MOMENT OF MUSIC AND ART features 1 of the 19 paintings Wendell created for our 2014 performance/exhibition NIGHT MUSIC, held at the FROM WARSAW TO WINSTON-SALEM CHOPIN BIRTHDAY FESTIVAL.  This was our first collaboration, with Pam recording all of the 19 Chopin Nocturnes and Wendell creating  a painting for each nocturne. This week features  Pam’s performance of Chopin Nocturne in B-flat Minor, Op. 9 No. 1 with Wendell’s painting of the same title (acrylic on canvas, 30” x 40”).

 Wendell says:  “For that project, I did a fair amount of reading about what colors are associated with what keys, according to a number of prominent synesthetes.  I found that there really is no consensus, but I did use this as a guide to my choice of colors.  In the case of Nocturne #1, I chose deep green for B-flat minor, the main key of the piece, and a rose/purple for the D-flat Major of the B section.  I found that, for me, the music calls to mind certain shapes and types of movement.  The haunting, almost improvisatory melody of the A section is represented by the looping, ribbon-like brushwork of the central section of the painting. 

 Pam says:  “Our first collaboration showed us that I do not see like Wendell does, and he does not hear how I do – resulting in many lively conversations!  But, this video certainly gives the sense of journey that I feel when I play this first nocturne of Chopin’s, so full of mystery, sadness and joy (no matter how fleeting).  

 We hope you will enjoy this. Please share with friends.

Until next week,

Pam and Wendell

Pamelahowland.com

Wendellmyers.com

WEEK 7 - YOUR MOMENT OF MUSIC AND ART features 1 of the 19 paintings Wendell created for our 2014 performance/exhibition NIGHT MUSIC, held at the FROM WARSAW TO WINSTON-SALEM CHOPIN BIRTHDAY FESTIVAL. This was our first collaboration, with Pam recording all of the 19 Chopin Nocturnes and Wendell creating a painting for each nocturne.

YOUR MOMENT OF MUSIC AND ART WEEK 6 from Pam and Wendell, February 3, 2019

Dear Friends,

February has us continuing on with Chopin's music. Pam has always associated this month with Chopin's birthday, although there has always been a disagreement about his actual birth date - February 22 or March 1. Our friends in Poland at the Chopin Salon in the Chopin Boutique B and B-the BEST place to stay in Warsaw- (http://bbwarsaw.com/en/chopin-salon/ ) have a solution for this… instead of picking just one date to celebrate, they take it to the next level with 8- days in a row of all-day concerts and programs for young people!

Week 6 combines Chopin's "Farewell Waltz" (the first Chopin piece that Pam fell in love with at 8-years old) with Wendell's newly completed "October Tree Line #1" (24 x 24 acrylic on canvas). We hope you enjoy our continuing explorations combining music and art. We are certainly learning a lot!

You can see more at wendellmyers.com and pamelahowland.com, and please feel free to share with your friends.

Happy February!

Pam and Wendell

YOUR MOMENT OF MUSIC AND ART-WEEK 5, from Pam and Wendell, January 27, 2019

Dear Friends,

WEEK 5 gave us new challenges and we hope that you will enjoy the pairing of Wendell's "Winter Marsh" (acrylic on panel, 4” x 8”, wendell myers.com) with Pam's version of Chopin's A Minor Mazurka, Op. 17 No. 4.  The combination has the feel of a journey, both in the varied subtlety of Wendell's landscape and in the form of the music itself.  It is written in an A-B-A form, beginning in the somber minor mode, switching to A Major in the more hopeful "B" section, only to return to the melancholy minor key.  This musical darkness, full of Polish żal, with a ray of light in the middle, only to return to darkness is something that Chopin does a lot in his pieces.

Please share with your friends and subscribe to our Youtube Channels.

Wishing you a great last week in January, 2019!

Pam and Wendell

Week 5 gave us new challenges and we hope that you will enjoy the pairing of Wendell's "Winter Marsh" with Pam's version of Chopin's A Minor Mazurka, Op. 17 No. 4. The combination has the feel of a journey, both in the varied subtlety of Wendell's landscape and in the form of the music itself.

YOUR MOMENT OF MUSIC and Art from Pam and Wendell, January 14, 2019

This week features Pam's version of Chopin's Mazurka in G Minor, Op. 67 No. 2 and Wendell's "Evening Approaches." About this collaboration: Pam says: "This mazurka is an example of the kujawiak type of mazurka - slow and melancholic- from the Kujawy region of Poland. One of my favorite things about it is that Chopin interrupts the main melody with a mournful little solo line for right- hand only, before returning to the main theme." Wendell says: "I chose 'Evening Approaches' to accompany this mazurka because I think this bleak landscape visually echoes the slow, melancholic nature of the piece. I pared the short, blues-like right hand solo melody with a focus on a relatively empty section of the horizon in the left-side of the painting, visually reflecting the spare, mournful character." Please enjoy and share with your friends!

This week features Pam's version of Chopin's Mazurka in G Minor, Op. 67 No. 2 and Wendell's "Evening Approaches." About this collaboration: Pam says: "This mazurka is an example of the kujawiak type of mazurka - slow and melancholic- from the Kujawy region of Poland.

Your Moment of Music and Art from Pam and Wendell, January 7, 2019

Welcome to Week 2 of our challenge - to combine our talents to deliver a regular moment of beauty to you in 2019. This week’s "Moment" features Mazurka in B Minor, No. 19, Op. 30 No. 2 by Chopin in a one-take musical performance by Pamela Howland The painting by Wendell Myers is “Ridgeline with Red Trees.” (acrylic on canvas, 30 x 30, www.wendellmyers.com). Please enjoy, share, and have a great week!

YOUR MOMENT OF MUSIC AND ART from Pam and Wendell - January 1, 2019

Happy New Year and welcome to 2019! We are taking on the challenge of combining our talents to deliver a regular moment of beauty to you in 2019. Each "Moment" will feature a one-take musical performance by Pamela Howland and a painting by Wendell Myers. This week features Chopin's E Minor Mazurka, Op. 17 #2 paired with "Mountain Mists." (acrylic on canvas, 20 x 40, www.wendellmyers.com). Please enjoy and share!

Welcome to 2019! We are taking on the challenge of combining our talents to deliver a regular moment of beauty to you in 2019. Each "Moment" will feature a one-take musical performance by Pamela Howland and a painting by Wendell Myers. This week features Chopin's E Minor Mazurka, Op.

"Silent Night" for the Winter Solstice, December 21, 2018

“Silent Night” for the Winter Solstice, December 21, 2018

As my way of thanking you for following my blog this past year, I wanted to share with you a simple little one-take version from my living room of “Silent Night.” May you find peace, calm, love, and joy as we turn back to the light.

In Memory of Michael Gilmor, 1995-2018

It is with great sadness that I write about the passing of my fellow Fulbrighter, Michael Gilmor - just short of his 23rd birthday.  Michael was with us in Poland this past year, and easily was one of the brightest, kindest, most caring and giving people we ever met, in a group full of exceptional people.  He also met the love of his life, fellow Fulbighter Briana Krewson, during this past Fulbright year, and they had a glorious time together.

In their honor I have composed a piano piece that invokes that Polish żal I am always talking about - the beauty and sadness of things that have been lost to us.  But, Michael's spirit lives on in the countless people whose lives he touched in his short life, as well as in this music- "Golden Summer (Michael & Briana's Song)".  

It is now available on Spotify for free listening, as well as on CD Baby and Amazon, for download purchase (links below).  Proceeds will go to the Michael Gilmor Scholarship Fund. 

Please listen to this piece to honor the beautiful life of Michael Gilmor.  My hope is that this music brings comfort to his family and Briana, all who knew and loved Michael, as well as anyone who has lost someone they love.

Free on spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/505upmTZKRiucIwT3Vxslh

Please feel free to download the song; proceeds will go towards Mike's scholarship:
1. https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/pamelahowland19
2. https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss…