tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184182353248861542024-03-18T20:02:47.015-07:00Market Square Singers in ItalyFollow Harrisburg's Market Square Singers as they thrilled audiences in Italy.JOHN K. ROBINSONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05762882873235650999noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518418235324886154.post-87834222724176592632012-08-18T05:07:00.002-07:002013-02-20T13:20:14.856-08:00WELCOME Thanks for visiting our blog. In order to follow in sequence the story of the Singers' formation and travel to Italy, scroll down to the BLOG ARCHIVE in the right hand column. Entries are grouped by month. After choosing the month, you will find several entries. The first entry is the last one entered for the month, so scroll down to the first entry and then scroll up to the second, and so forth. (If only Blogger would allow reversing the order!)<br />
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These videos were posted online on October 4, 2012, apparently by the host church in Assisi. We hope you will enjoy them.<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhE2ypVSjLk" target="_blank">Part 1.</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYJm6aU5SYs" target="_blank">Part 2.</a><br />
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We're happy you've come to visit.JOHN K. ROBINSONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05762882873235650999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518418235324886154.post-49590178027210910412012-07-16T19:18:00.001-07:002012-07-17T17:46:37.224-07:00"Market Square Singers in Italy" wraps up with end-of-stay photos by Lee GaymanWelcome to the last post in Market Square Singers in Italy. Lee Gayman sent many photos upon his return to our area, and they are offered here as an overview and summary of the last days of the group in Italy, along with Lee's very fine narrative. You will feel that you are there with him!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv0EAQZCdXTlfrZGUSLc_bo1en74hU1uDJu6m6v-KOj4x6-veOx0Jd_6lkWLIM4zWZMH_BvTZID417DDhnJymtWNqed711b22_KX3NrrPmmb3xikjPKb5eRYWMpd90y7jJC0ffCp_Qy1M/s1600/6B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv0EAQZCdXTlfrZGUSLc_bo1en74hU1uDJu6m6v-KOj4x6-veOx0Jd_6lkWLIM4zWZMH_BvTZID417DDhnJymtWNqed711b22_KX3NrrPmmb3xikjPKb5eRYWMpd90y7jJC0ffCp_Qy1M/s1600/6B.jpg" /></a><i>Lee writes:</i> Between my iPhone and my Canon camera, I somehow managed to snap over 1700 images during the course of our trip! Sifting thru that many photos is a bit daunting, but since I didn't have to go back to work the remainder of the week, I was able to spend the hours doing so. John, we really appreciate your having created the blog for our trip. I am amazed by the number of people who have commented about how they followed the blog and appreciated learning of some of what we were up to. <br />
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Here are a few of the photos I took. <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Captions are below each photo. Click on any one to enlarge.)</span></i><br />
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As you will learn from my photos, EATING was a large item (and you thought we just went to sing!). I thought these pastries looked rather tempting, but I did resist....</div>
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Here, parked by our hotel in Perugia, is the bus that provided our transportation for the week. We had the same driver plus Luigi, our group's Italian guide with us the entire week.</div>
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Dave and Gwen Lehman posed for me in the piazza of the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, avoiding the sun in the warmth of the evening.</div>
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Here Maestro Riley posed for me as well. Behind him you see the entrance to the Lower Basilica of St. Francis. We sang in the upper Basilica, which is located above the lower basilica, up the long stairway to the right of the lower entrance. </div>
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This is a closeup of the detail over the lower basilica entrance. This was only the beginning of what we would see as endless examples of the fine craftmanship and artistry of the ancient builders and artisans<br />
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As they wait to sing, Bob, Ken and Molly ponder the workings of a camera.</div>
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Here's a typical scene at the hotel as the group departs for a day trip in Italy.</div>
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Several of us happened unexpectedly upon cute kittens sitting in an open window.</div>
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Here is an example of the beauty one finds in these old cities. Every few steps yield yet another photo opportunity.</div>
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Pots of colorful, blooming flowers are abundant!<br />
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The streets are often very narrow and the architectural detail always fascinating. For what reason was this particular arch created between the two buildings? Is there a passageway inside it or is it strictly for structural purposes?<br />
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After the long walk to visit the aqueduct, refreshment was in order. This was one of our first chances to "deal with the natives." Little English was spoken, but the gelatos were wonderful!</div>
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We visited so many gorgeous cathedrals, that after awhile, one felt overwhelmed by it all. Here is a rank of organ pipes that I found attractive - don't ask me to tell you in which cathedral it is located!</div>
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Another view of some of the detail in that same sanctuary.</div>
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More cathedral architecture. <br />
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Another gelato stop! See how gelato makes you smile?!</div>
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I've taken quite a few photos of people's laundry, hanging outside like this. All they need are the pulleys and they'd be Amish! I'm not really into seeing people's laundry, I just found it a unique practice that seemed to be visible in all the towns we visited.</div>
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Did I happen to mention the food?!</div>
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Another lovely edifice!</div>
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Beth and I decided to spend a day in Montecatini rather than taking the bus to Florence. It gave us a chance to do some shopping. This food store/deli was particularly interesting. </div>
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Our purchases ranged from wine, olive oil and jams and even included a bit of 7 year old goat cheese!</div>
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After a morning of shopping, we decided to visit the hilltop town of Montecatini Alte, accessible by the "funicolare" - a cable car. With two cars each attached to opposing cables, they actually pass at the halfway point! We're in the car going up, this is the car coming down. The cars run every half hour, except from 1 to 2:30 p.m. which is siesta time!</div>
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As we left the funicolare at the top, we were greeted by the gentle sounds of Italian accordion music. For an euro coin, Beth was serenaded with a special song. At the station, a box of freshly picked apricots was sitting there, free for the helping. Delicious! (What did I say about food?....) </div>
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Tiles are almost the exclusive roofing material in these towns. I found them to be most interesting.</div>
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Marla attracted a visitor as she enjoyed a cookie in an outdoor café. (More about food....)</div>
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Yours truly in concert garb.</div>
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Proof that Italy is for lovers..... (Alice Ann - Bob behind the shades).</div>
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I was a little surprised to find so many ruins in Rome. I knew they were there, but not in such quantity. We saw centuries of craftsmanship now lying in ruins.</div>
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Just another typical American tourist in Rome!</div>
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Spend a moment studying the detail in just this one photo. How did our ancestors come up with all these ideas, and who executed their making? It's hard to get one's mind around that.</div>
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In Rome, I decided to "walk the neighborhood" a bit in the vicinity of the hotel. I happened upon a wood shop! It was a furniture refinishing and repair shop right in the heart of downtown Rome. They spoke no English, but permitted me to take a few photos of their operation.<br />
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Totally silent, a lady delivered mail to an adjacent building in this unique little electric vehicle. This could be fun to have in Mechanicsburg!<br />
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Here at the Vatican Museum, our guide Luigi is attempting to account for
everyone's presence in the midst of a huge throng of very loud people. I think I
was most surprised by the noise of the crowd, as I think I expected a bit more of
an atmosphere of quiet reverence. That being said, the Vatican's display of the
arts of the centuries is totally awesome! We saw so much, but our guide told us
there are some 25,000 more sculptures and artifacts stored away in the basements
that are not on display.<br />
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My personal knowledge of classical art is limited, hence I cannot give you a lot
of detail about these sculptures. Suffice it to say that they are exquisitely
rendered!<br />
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Here is an example of the many, many huge tapestries that are displayed in a
long hallway-like building. This area is climate controlled and offered a cool
respite from some of the other areas of the museum.<br />
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Here Karen, Tim, and Tony stand before a rather interesting painting.</div>
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I was impressed by the fine wood carving by the open window.</div>
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The frescos were abundant! Our Vatican guide spoke to us through earphones. She
spent quite a long time explaining details of this particular painting. What I
took away from it is that Rafael, Michelangelo and other prominent artists of
the period all appear in this picture. I guess I'll have to go back to revisit
it to get those details sorted out. As I understand it, Rafael is the person
in the black hat on the lower right side; Michelangelo is the man in the center
with the white box.</div>
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Just as did Wil, I also decided to follow the practices of my fellow visitors
and to snap some photos in the Sistine Chapel against the RULES (I did NOT use
flash). </div>
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That space is so complex and so beautifully adorned, it would take quite a long
time in quiet study to fully appreciate it. As a casual visitor, I felt the 25
minutes allotted to us to spend there was a bit longer than we needed. We had
seen so much beauty in the museum before getting to the chapel that, by then, I
felt a bit saturated. I was happy to be able to bring a few photos home to enjoy
on my own terms and on my own time. </div>
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I was pleased to see Michangelo's "Pieta" in its home location in St. Peter's
Basilica. Fifty years ago I was able to see it when it was brought to the New York
World's Fair. It appears to have survived the trip well. <i>(Ed. note: Lee, was there glass in front of it? I recall that glass was installed after a madman attacked the statue with a chisel.)</i></div>
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I particularly liked the view of the light beams in this photo. The iPhone
in the foreground is representative of the way crowds are seen vacationing these
days. Nearly everyone has either a phone or iPad camera device with them to
record their vacation. </div>
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Another view in St. Peter's. We were told that the letters above the columns are
each 6 feet tall! What a beautiful space!</div>
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As we left St. Peters, we saw the famous Swiss Guards stationed outside the
basilica. We were told that Swiss Guards have long been used to guard the
Vatican because they are more reliable and loyal than local
guards. </div>
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This couple represents an unexpected encounter. Wil and I went on a gelato
search and happened to check out a little dry goods shop within a block or two
of the Vatican. The shop owner and his wife were very congenial, Wil helped the
man sort out some issues with his iPad, and we spent a good half-hour just
visiting with them in their shop. </div>
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The owner was very interested in local history, and explained to us in
broken English detail how the obelisk above, located in the center of St.
Peter's Square, was brought to Rome from Egypt. According to him, the stone of
the obelisk is very brittle, so a special boat had to be built for shipment and
the obelisk was carried on a bed of lentils to protect it from breakage. Pretty
neat!</div>
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The group was graciously treated to a farewell dinner on Monday evening in Rome.
Here we enjoyed a full-course Italian meal in a lovely restaurant. Perhaps to
the chagrin of other paying customers, the group did a raucous "roast" of Eric
by singing a somewhat boistrous and abridged version of "Where Riches Is
Everlasting." Eric responded by offering valuable gifts to Molly, his flautist
and to Tony, his accompanist. This was the final organized event of the week and
was a bittersweet ending to a totally wonderful experience! From here, it was
back to the hotel and up early for our final bus ride to the Leonardo da
Vinci-Fiumicino Airport for our flight home. </div>
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The eating continued with a wonderful Japanese noodle dish at Wagamama's, just
behind Harrod's at the Heathrow airport.</div>
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Here Molly attempts to secure her carry-on for the flight home.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEhTE4NeUAPtLQGq-Cy5DEMKm_hknfdOKphm2EHS6bhBUQGvSS2h0fM19A3hOe-gkLyQqalCY9UgumkHvKme7F_V7GDQxAeO-DP6CCZx0q0hyBdv6FmXaPgH7NxWCDEIv1QyGLrdvhyphenhyphen4/s1600/12D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEhTE4NeUAPtLQGq-Cy5DEMKm_hknfdOKphm2EHS6bhBUQGvSS2h0fM19A3hOe-gkLyQqalCY9UgumkHvKme7F_V7GDQxAeO-DP6CCZx0q0hyBdv6FmXaPgH7NxWCDEIv1QyGLrdvhyphenhyphen4/s320/12D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Safely back at the Philadelphia Airport, the group waits until fellow
travelers clear customs. Next stop Harrisburg, after the bus ride home!<br />
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<i>Lee concludes:</i> Let me say, I would not have missed this trip for the world! The trip was
organized by "Classical Movements" out of Alexandria, Virginia, and I feel they
did a great job! It was a joy to sing wonderful music in amazingly wonderful
spaces in Italy! The experience tells me why people often tell me that, when in
Italy, they don't want to come home. It's a lovely country! Thanks to everyone
who made this trip possible and a special thanks to John Robinson for "following
us" with the blog. Great job, John!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCPjgnzAj2dcJbLoEKyK2WwerRsjDudYvHP6KXjRiG86P6NMzvyZWYEoR7fd4aycemW3Xm5mbe0aJwMHF_0u04QqxQ5zIcMG7OEXdcPD2uf6oS9B0-yQha14QV02bwtiQRmikteGTDwk/s1600/Me+again2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCPjgnzAj2dcJbLoEKyK2WwerRsjDudYvHP6KXjRiG86P6NMzvyZWYEoR7fd4aycemW3Xm5mbe0aJwMHF_0u04QqxQ5zIcMG7OEXdcPD2uf6oS9B0-yQha14QV02bwtiQRmikteGTDwk/s1600/Me+again2.jpg" /></a></div>
Thank <i>you</i>, Lee! It was my pleasure to create the blog and have it "populated" by you, Wil, Molly, and Bob. My blog statistics show that there were more than 3,000 page views, so obviously family, friends, and church members were very interested in your trip. Thanks to you who contributed to and read "Market Square Singers in Italy."<br />
<br />
We'll leave it "parked" here for as long as Blogger will allow, so you can refer to it from time to time.<br />
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And so, farewell.<br />
<br />
John K. Robinson</div>
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</div>JOHN K. ROBINSONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05762882873235650999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518418235324886154.post-11254085345663614252012-06-30T17:03:00.000-07:002012-06-30T20:30:56.066-07:00Rome, Milan, a garden and a squirt were on Wil's post-concert itineraryWilmer Henninger, like Molly, has sent us photos from the end of his Italian trip, and while he has returned home, we're happy to share his latest pics. We begin in Rome, or rather, Vatican City.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9rHsb25-BJA3Ix5pmgJb0vcQJaQ1diVgQfRGHqlnOWRdt-guHpkE9QUrxwcYCOot5p-JnWt3Q0C7M1lZj1PI_YoP-qhQdB-ks0qkoWLXBidgo8AaDxyGTxCBJkz5SXTsnU0uNGgXoGyE/s1600/SIstine+WH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9rHsb25-BJA3Ix5pmgJb0vcQJaQ1diVgQfRGHqlnOWRdt-guHpkE9QUrxwcYCOot5p-JnWt3Q0C7M1lZj1PI_YoP-qhQdB-ks0qkoWLXBidgo8AaDxyGTxCBJkz5SXTsnU0uNGgXoGyE/s320/SIstine+WH.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Our guide told us that taking photos in the Sistine Chapel was not permitted, and several signs prior to entry confirmed that. But amid the milling throng inside, the hubbub, the heat, and general lack of reverence, hundreds of flash photos were being taken, so I took one of my own. The famous panel of God giving Adam a soul is in the center."</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zQEQJrQpsqJOVPMWGU3WOXgERzPwTlbTNazkQogqEVa9TGjPECdtzXFkAniuHLn5MALeW4Ise0dAaxINo6svproF1DQymR9ynVqL_nslAOSUUD6HPZAHar2amOvgezK1I7aZguhjG0M/s1600/SIstine+WH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zQEQJrQpsqJOVPMWGU3WOXgERzPwTlbTNazkQogqEVa9TGjPECdtzXFkAniuHLn5MALeW4Ise0dAaxINo6svproF1DQymR9ynVqL_nslAOSUUD6HPZAHar2amOvgezK1I7aZguhjG0M/s320/SIstine+WH.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8i9Z9uZynsd1Wp91x-KWILpNU0nr-9A9_kqPDVp5EvTEG8ymMIcyJvUNNgDQvViRdXilHRXHG07EvOV0oVHuh3R0rxjjUGh4xM7mMFm-XNDN1x7Rbt8XOnH8QnBB-o8KE-saCoIriLZc/s1600/St.+John+Laeteren+WH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8i9Z9uZynsd1Wp91x-KWILpNU0nr-9A9_kqPDVp5EvTEG8ymMIcyJvUNNgDQvViRdXilHRXHG07EvOV0oVHuh3R0rxjjUGh4xM7mMFm-XNDN1x7Rbt8XOnH8QnBB-o8KE-saCoIriLZc/s320/St.+John+Laeteren+WH.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I went to see this basilica, called St. John Lateran,<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span>one of four in Roma and the original home of the papacy before moving to Vatican City. My sister said it is her favorite church of all she has seen, and she has seen thousands (true!).<br />
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"I put this at the top of my list, as well. No photo can show the colors and the reverential grandeur of the place. Perhaps the feeling comes from the lack of tourists, as it is located somewhat off the beaten track. Whatever the reason, this is worth a stop for anyone interested in church architecture."</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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I'm not sure of the sequence, but at some point, Wilmer took off for northern Italy to see the city of Milan.<br />
<i> </i><br />
<i>La Scala</i> is a world-renowned opera house in Milan. The theater was inaugurated on August 3, 1778.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVeiqPMwZLHO9zEcD62qrfZuIcpNKpz932R8R7Pd4XL58-0osqffdAi75kv9G1PeMuQkaqaB69BnWUkxC83JJBZWmv8_BYnM05GMUj-qZYoumQN7Xr358-7W7WZbVZ5TP5Q0STJblyqXo/s1600/La+Scala+WH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVeiqPMwZLHO9zEcD62qrfZuIcpNKpz932R8R7Pd4XL58-0osqffdAi75kv9G1PeMuQkaqaB69BnWUkxC83JJBZWmv8_BYnM05GMUj-qZYoumQN7Xr358-7W7WZbVZ5TP5Q0STJblyqXo/s320/La+Scala+WH.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Who would have thought this was one of the world's most important auditoriums? You would drive right by it, even if <i>trying</i> to find it. All the funds were spent inside, for sure. Our guide said that when it was built, there were buildings across the street, and spending on a more impressive facade would have been a waste."</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnl4Uk2MOXF4ju2Enwmzywa86aEGzoyY306now4mpFQqyTtEyzzclaVLS8_TWb_Uxwtr7MGBQ0l3lJfnVTuTQqEzNGmN0S6-4Y3mFlnAppyPlYIRRZH-XgxzqkWUmUvVwqIXwB_fZLjA/s1600/Leonardo+statue+WH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnl4Uk2MOXF4ju2Enwmzywa86aEGzoyY306now4mpFQqyTtEyzzclaVLS8_TWb_Uxwtr7MGBQ0l3lJfnVTuTQqEzNGmN0S6-4Y3mFlnAppyPlYIRRZH-XgxzqkWUmUvVwqIXwB_fZLjA/s320/Leonardo+statue+WH.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Across the way, Leonardo da Vinci ponders the new additions on the rear of La Scala."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmUkXUglOy3PjPqrKCKySoUbeQQ4ekQOVPMkkglOfJ1O4aAeEXkre0svZXZvvg_PB1g6GZ58mpi5caCI_8RDuCwvpyqvex0RIsZBfpvPIn6Bm23IZtXa7_-dU0KWtG546G7CSUZXa-vQ/s1600/Milan+DUomo+WH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmUkXUglOy3PjPqrKCKySoUbeQQ4ekQOVPMkkglOfJ1O4aAeEXkre0svZXZvvg_PB1g6GZ58mpi5caCI_8RDuCwvpyqvex0RIsZBfpvPIn6Bm23IZtXa7_-dU0KWtG546G7CSUZXa-vQ/s320/Milan+DUomo+WH.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Here is the Milan Duomo, which, we are told, is the world's third-largest. Very impressive on the outside, but not so much inside in comparison to others we have seen."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWPOmn4xeWkRmG1Ip1gGo2f3BtfuE-rP8mJ5gO8tdZiPPPBMGQ_x7WI7jtDjeZBXUyOoH6GKKGC1zIF7WanMG7MBB-RoauvGt-MKNc-LFfqkKY8P8loc-nPj2jUOESlgOrhq2_DOOaW-w/s1600/WH+Milano+DUomo+interior.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWPOmn4xeWkRmG1Ip1gGo2f3BtfuE-rP8mJ5gO8tdZiPPPBMGQ_x7WI7jtDjeZBXUyOoH6GKKGC1zIF7WanMG7MBB-RoauvGt-MKNc-LFfqkKY8P8loc-nPj2jUOESlgOrhq2_DOOaW-w/s320/WH+Milano+DUomo+interior.JPG" vca="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The inside is dingy from candle soot, incense, and other pollutants. It should be bright like the exterior--it's the same marble!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBWhZQHXpEBtjMovCVUJXgKAwYj6s5kREOsRKKRRQK4H8692opbV9kBKOqipp-O39Dkq57_bpKTdOSzX_v1wAhvNBSaFWiI1wSLOUP3nzh7w0TibFM1okAOLve_A52QNyCXub4xoN7Ps/s1600/WH+Final+Galleria.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBWhZQHXpEBtjMovCVUJXgKAwYj6s5kREOsRKKRRQK4H8692opbV9kBKOqipp-O39Dkq57_bpKTdOSzX_v1wAhvNBSaFWiI1wSLOUP3nzh7w0TibFM1okAOLve_A52QNyCXub4xoN7Ps/s400/WH+Final+Galleria.JPG" vca="true" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Beside the Duomo is the Galleria, roofed over 1865-1877, if I recall our guide correctly. So it is the first 'mall,' they say."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOpFSsls6uezvcR2VPuoFkm0a0eEEV7uH8VVelw7_g-ZHzV-Uhz-segg5JptVKPsjHDxILIuqPuvUwXCRgX9lONWupKjUQM-mngDmKxLfUr39uLFXf4xFmUWEi30ZsoSdAJhDqDMSwkLg/s1600/Restoration+in+Milan+WH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOpFSsls6uezvcR2VPuoFkm0a0eEEV7uH8VVelw7_g-ZHzV-Uhz-segg5JptVKPsjHDxILIuqPuvUwXCRgX9lONWupKjUQM-mngDmKxLfUr39uLFXf4xFmUWEi30ZsoSdAJhDqDMSwkLg/s320/Restoration+in+Milan+WH.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"This would have been impressive, but here is the ubiquitous Italian restoration-in-progress. Supposedly, every cultural feature is being restored, trees planted, roads repaved, etc., because Milan will be holding a world's fair in 2015, and gazillions of visitors are expected.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8EeyBHzJfgoKfj_i-8b_n_6HBuFEHJDxBO1s_YEdCrtjviMg5ZnDS3yYHWDwzAq1n_WEzflKgwxwwMftDnnJrStfzzy6jxc8JA3qrE3P-3_BQ9wYiow2RpSHlBdIOHy4GZOqfCHlN0E/s1600/WH+Villa+Lante.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8EeyBHzJfgoKfj_i-8b_n_6HBuFEHJDxBO1s_YEdCrtjviMg5ZnDS3yYHWDwzAq1n_WEzflKgwxwwMftDnnJrStfzzy6jxc8JA3qrE3P-3_BQ9wYiow2RpSHlBdIOHy4GZOqfCHlN0E/s320/WH+Villa+Lante.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"While the choir went off to visit Assisi and Spoleto, I rented a car and went to see a villa I had learned about in my Landscape Architecture History class. Villa Lante is being restored to its former grandeur by the Italian government. Thus one must imagine the fountain in this photo to be operating."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgoA2GJ6FzszDGdwR1r8KlsrEI9lks3UM33R2F5Mes-NH4aDLYw7gN3XkvwaUhl3Plm0LKXlr-2lhZnYh5jeLiWY7tROe3x8zIbSWn1rML2XFm29d58v1QJ4yF95_zLzm4JbehVYVMmYI/s1600/WH+VL+fountain+again.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgoA2GJ6FzszDGdwR1r8KlsrEI9lks3UM33R2F5Mes-NH4aDLYw7gN3XkvwaUhl3Plm0LKXlr-2lhZnYh5jeLiWY7tROe3x8zIbSWn1rML2XFm29d58v1QJ4yF95_zLzm4JbehVYVMmYI/s320/WH+VL+fountain+again.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The most impressive fountain at Villa Lante."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4vkBiugTHXGk_CtmEWYl9HZvlBBQaATxWlj3361zYxas9jR3xyzjBNo1-F2uIUQkWVBLphRAbH_Is9Wzl6-uAwVPWD82FY0A_dlXQAExQ4TI-a2H2siIWw7XHZRDftwtlKhpxVK8TNI/s1600/WH+Train.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4vkBiugTHXGk_CtmEWYl9HZvlBBQaATxWlj3361zYxas9jR3xyzjBNo1-F2uIUQkWVBLphRAbH_Is9Wzl6-uAwVPWD82FY0A_dlXQAExQ4TI-a2H2siIWw7XHZRDftwtlKhpxVK8TNI/s320/WH+Train.JPG" vca="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"On my last day before returning home, I took a train to Geneva--very modern and fast."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQAFoTuPlrZ7UoRVT-CEdntJQ135ACaL-m6VXbjOT4ur6h4odYxZwI6ogCeQQeXd10QqAEMwZtRNBVVv41u7s-Jx5Ou2q-hCCzPtR-eKp776BS59jYhKmf_T-BN3DP2VDibeK221qVqik/s1600/WH+Alps.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQAFoTuPlrZ7UoRVT-CEdntJQ135ACaL-m6VXbjOT4ur6h4odYxZwI6ogCeQQeXd10QqAEMwZtRNBVVv41u7s-Jx5Ou2q-hCCzPtR-eKp776BS59jYhKmf_T-BN3DP2VDibeK221qVqik/s320/WH+Alps.JPG" vca="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"The Alps near the Italy-Switzerland border."</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil2kDtzlIoJdSNM2ubvXUPFmK-oUfS4khOQhUzkDHDQVIj6y-iMrdty1TxA6lckQwSDmXkZaQhZdjp3jEj96tFXqWrYLUXAC52f8BzXCaygRbN8chK1Eztp6_GbxiiTjuDlvjLCp31bDU/s1600/WH+CERN+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil2kDtzlIoJdSNM2ubvXUPFmK-oUfS4khOQhUzkDHDQVIj6y-iMrdty1TxA6lckQwSDmXkZaQhZdjp3jEj96tFXqWrYLUXAC52f8BzXCaygRbN8chK1Eztp6_GbxiiTjuDlvjLCp31bDU/s320/WH+CERN+1.JPG" vca="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"My visit to Geneva included seeing CERN, Europe's institute for nuclear research. Primarily they are looking for the 'Higgs bosun,' a particle predicted by scientists as the particle that gives everything mass. The visitor center shown gives an introduction to the institute's work.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiI3AvF_ThtAquU_zpuQDZG2lWBrrSlGmqCXSR_s0w0hhouGn8pbj3DONVWniAnvsnbpPsI25zSV-0bM4XPVqpEUhXLrk_7hp6xTAFF9cFd7sfDODRnpIIakYFcpboFO2wDWYsdDBeJpM/s1600/WH+CERN+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiI3AvF_ThtAquU_zpuQDZG2lWBrrSlGmqCXSR_s0w0hhouGn8pbj3DONVWniAnvsnbpPsI25zSV-0bM4XPVqpEUhXLrk_7hp6xTAFF9cFd7sfDODRnpIIakYFcpboFO2wDWYsdDBeJpM/s320/WH+CERN+2.JPG" vca="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"In another building, displays and a movie provide more information."<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-O19ZEOiYXvZgAMb3t_7LfjQ10AQMZcCVeSahQpjgCfugZHLcXCvLHCOtQLtcZMHNY8HT0I9ZVTEO00NcaA86Z9oYMoWaWFBl5WleeKdSajCJM-CFMNcBh_8-dilc_rhq7aXEVl2g-g/s1600/WH+CERN+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-O19ZEOiYXvZgAMb3t_7LfjQ10AQMZcCVeSahQpjgCfugZHLcXCvLHCOtQLtcZMHNY8HT0I9ZVTEO00NcaA86Z9oYMoWaWFBl5WleeKdSajCJM-CFMNcBh_8-dilc_rhq7aXEVl2g-g/s320/WH+CERN+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Out front of the main building, I walked northward and found had I walked from
Switzerland across the border into France. Don't tell Customs!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsnQyHOuddki_WJ8cdPG_VANruF_-VzpaHiLDZylmKeZd_wgp-ic-2GIKZgcS6a5QHYbqlXgHDduzbm1y2txedFbfxa8JWJxBAtCSRliIB3S7gNjRHeuLe5wlw6Fe3iX5WR1HY9Wutalw/s1600/WH+Geneva+squirt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsnQyHOuddki_WJ8cdPG_VANruF_-VzpaHiLDZylmKeZd_wgp-ic-2GIKZgcS6a5QHYbqlXgHDduzbm1y2txedFbfxa8JWJxBAtCSRliIB3S7gNjRHeuLe5wlw6Fe3iX5WR1HY9Wutalw/s320/WH+Geneva+squirt.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I ended my day--and my trip--with a walk around the Geneva waterfront and saw the
famous fountain that is a single squirt over 300' high."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Thank you, Wil, for sharing this "extra" part of the trip with us. We have enjoyed it immensely. Thank you to all the Market Square Singers who contributed to our blog and to all those who read and left such kind comments.<br />
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</div>JOHN K. ROBINSONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05762882873235650999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518418235324886154.post-10278329867167651782012-06-29T18:29:00.004-07:002012-06-30T17:17:18.825-07:00Singers return to American soil; pictures from "over there" are still arrivingAs far as I know, all of the Market Square Singers have returned to our shores. (I hope someone will let me know otherwise.) At least one of those singers has sent some pictures for you to enjoy after the fact. She is Molly Shortridge, who played the flute with the singers at their concerts. Pardon me, Molly, for not knowing if you sang, too, or what the extent of your performance was.<br />
<br />
At any rate, Molly was quite observant of her surroundings and apparently enjoyed pictures of her psalm-singing cohorts. Here are the pictures in no particular order, with Molly's captions.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXOHMdiEO_PJ_m1dwe90aUBhE0E6vWEV-n5_O0WdyYlq5ci0mlT19lZFmla56sTR2LwDa_KnHy9oxlNwSyVzgyIG4Y4zx1SwlfHk0MsAhCBzzkIf2FKn_AW1iPlT3DKb1lZTE2VHqkuCE/s1600/MS+Man+on+sign.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXOHMdiEO_PJ_m1dwe90aUBhE0E6vWEV-n5_O0WdyYlq5ci0mlT19lZFmla56sTR2LwDa_KnHy9oxlNwSyVzgyIG4Y4zx1SwlfHk0MsAhCBzzkIf2FKn_AW1iPlT3DKb1lZTE2VHqkuCE/s320/MS+Man+on+sign.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Somebody had a sense of humor and added this man to the Italian road
sign."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-RfTrUynIAu-E7AD01S8ICUYoHM7EwVMsKJ4ytlv8e1oUPlr2capRE5a-guVfVFm96lIjP3mrPaxh4GNcwCZbW5IErVC_OXHEtQV3hV7TADOzNkUi7SAGGK0qYzsSBWnk4Ej6ZDuAR4/s1600/MS+Break+from+heat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-RfTrUynIAu-E7AD01S8ICUYoHM7EwVMsKJ4ytlv8e1oUPlr2capRE5a-guVfVFm96lIjP3mrPaxh4GNcwCZbW5IErVC_OXHEtQV3hV7TADOzNkUi7SAGGK0qYzsSBWnk4Ej6ZDuAR4/s320/MS+Break+from+heat.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 12pt;">
<div>
"Molly, Lana, and Meg taking a break from the heat in Florence."</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_R43zzDYt5RuyqDGBjSJ-FOBJ4u9Gl51pfL1We08MIeftOu1gJ5SHFkpVgwbt7mU5ajjdtNjx2IMZKCoglPHQYxUrhsLKRfr-2FQ3Fq7EziEFl3TmDbFGRTXFqxvkpMQ6p69B2DVbW7U/s1600/MS+Castle+in+Assisi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_R43zzDYt5RuyqDGBjSJ-FOBJ4u9Gl51pfL1We08MIeftOu1gJ5SHFkpVgwbt7mU5ajjdtNjx2IMZKCoglPHQYxUrhsLKRfr-2FQ3Fq7EziEFl3TmDbFGRTXFqxvkpMQ6p69B2DVbW7U/s320/MS+Castle+in+Assisi.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
"Ken, Molly, Maggie and Lee at the castle in Assisi, enjoying the view." </div>
<div>
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4tMtKMABLXcD8r2h5eXVguNDZj6ZweOOa7WemsmdW_qLF_HhUZzG2mzZGzzoPfzXyRP4iTMW_W3M9nFeW1H-5LtosebLE29uPV4penTCjmXyaCaoNIWKdC1jKx6598Nblpgy68svM78/s1600/MS+Concert+signs+in+window.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4tMtKMABLXcD8r2h5eXVguNDZj6ZweOOa7WemsmdW_qLF_HhUZzG2mzZGzzoPfzXyRP4iTMW_W3M9nFeW1H-5LtosebLE29uPV4penTCjmXyaCaoNIWKdC1jKx6598Nblpgy68svM78/s320/MS+Concert+signs+in+window.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 12pt;">
<div>
"Signs were all over town for our concerts.</div>
<div>
Here we are on par with the sandwiches."</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkzO2y9uzS0qf2LqI0i9DcljQfLJMey_tM4mXv4ndKmVSQqlVI1xfHPwUbfVT3PPLIEuG66WJxOpjkqy6SgpZVY74KoHE_MmtEbgYtT0Za7IWCRfGxdRv4cYai0C-BJjKNSXsFTxhmYT4/s1600/MS+Cat+respite.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkzO2y9uzS0qf2LqI0i9DcljQfLJMey_tM4mXv4ndKmVSQqlVI1xfHPwUbfVT3PPLIEuG66WJxOpjkqy6SgpZVY74KoHE_MmtEbgYtT0Za7IWCRfGxdRv4cYai0C-BJjKNSXsFTxhmYT4/s320/MS+Cat+respite.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"It was so hot, this cat had to seek respite in a flowerpot."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfT7ssDpAAyMOKvB50Q06VDMuSKQZ92vHMcMIK9pTgQSW24_K4smi3e8ZSGADvoGi7zM0km_bde4DaDqhiuGrSpw22vjpjTu02fF4W2iRikRhGc0PLFaxI8Rju4kr8VZO2_aS9mtZHoc/s1600/MS+Molly+and+Mimes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfT7ssDpAAyMOKvB50Q06VDMuSKQZ92vHMcMIK9pTgQSW24_K4smi3e8ZSGADvoGi7zM0km_bde4DaDqhiuGrSpw22vjpjTu02fF4W2iRikRhGc0PLFaxI8Rju4kr8VZO2_aS9mtZHoc/s320/MS+Molly+and+Mimes.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
"Molly and mimes in Pisa."</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPfQWUQ6R_1sTfGiFSkUJzL4Oxde4OMFd2Q5yAbefzl-WhltznbjEEmfeduB-zGZNILg2cvRKf-OwOZItvndpi6lGz7JMkcoYuNYI7bR9yIyk6Dj57cN2FjwSNy9jvrskp68J57xtYUQ/s1600/MS+Judy+and+Chris+in+Perugia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPfQWUQ6R_1sTfGiFSkUJzL4Oxde4OMFd2Q5yAbefzl-WhltznbjEEmfeduB-zGZNILg2cvRKf-OwOZItvndpi6lGz7JMkcoYuNYI7bR9yIyk6Dj57cN2FjwSNy9jvrskp68J57xtYUQ/s320/MS+Judy+and+Chris+in+Perugia.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
"Judy and Chris in Perugia."</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlVmkLIvtCY3Qey3qlVTwlzThOe8-vfMBaG-ra1kH1dHQjNk-En-AJCYib1o4RIRA0jZLBklqRgBdCGU0c-IKkGdN8mslHLYCqO4kwv3ImC9aR1GGelQkfSCGzHhT31fDtHDitZtlso_0/s1600/MS+Farewell+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlVmkLIvtCY3Qey3qlVTwlzThOe8-vfMBaG-ra1kH1dHQjNk-En-AJCYib1o4RIRA0jZLBklqRgBdCGU0c-IKkGdN8mslHLYCqO4kwv3ImC9aR1GGelQkfSCGzHhT31fDtHDitZtlso_0/s320/MS+Farewell+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Farewell dinner party with the Maestro (second from right)."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLJx-ARgziIVlkfUjpOpWIhzyv8EAAoRkqDDhQGk986Cd-DJecIIasCKC3Ri16sC4uvWNdirUrLtKvpQXlDSsbZdWn87CzXY6e9NdQvnysSt2zAGatEpiEPt087PxpmL1S7aC-f5cbx8/s1600/MS+Resting+after+stomping.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLJx-ARgziIVlkfUjpOpWIhzyv8EAAoRkqDDhQGk986Cd-DJecIIasCKC3Ri16sC4uvWNdirUrLtKvpQXlDSsbZdWn87CzXY6e9NdQvnysSt2zAGatEpiEPt087PxpmL1S7aC-f5cbx8/s320/MS+Resting+after+stomping.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
"Here are Ken, Tim, Alice Ann, Cindy and Bob, all taking a respite</div>
<div>
from a nine-hour stomp in Roma."</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQb7_v4zmXs-D4Mrm-JxhQW41J0Sd0ip8UoYvKTkNlyXPSLXsa47dvaiM0vkvYzM-ijAOlcNcVyHZOqy470rHlt_9kXVsOtYL15JfXaZgs7saYzqf8gb3qH_X3ryiXduJOJzi9DsZ-rnE/s1600/MS+Torture+Museum.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQb7_v4zmXs-D4Mrm-JxhQW41J0Sd0ip8UoYvKTkNlyXPSLXsa47dvaiM0vkvYzM-ijAOlcNcVyHZOqy470rHlt_9kXVsOtYL15JfXaZgs7saYzqf8gb3qH_X3ryiXduJOJzi9DsZ-rnE/s320/MS+Torture+Museum.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
"Yes, Italy has a torture museum."</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
[ Ed. note: I am sure there is a joke in there about choir rehearsals with Maestro Riley, but I will use restraint.]</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVT-7Vr66XCdaqW1vvnDNQKM6vGM0ObSUbUrgs1d9glFi_SLxpMmgHyA_LuJz_sPWfHzlqb0frTCxm42gEH358FmucIFUAF-cDULDXppwb6T4T6Rg6nSslZs8kv3FIxNlabCvptrjOPv4/s1600/MS+On+Spoletto+bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVT-7Vr66XCdaqW1vvnDNQKM6vGM0ObSUbUrgs1d9glFi_SLxpMmgHyA_LuJz_sPWfHzlqb0frTCxm42gEH358FmucIFUAF-cDULDXppwb6T4T6Rg6nSslZs8kv3FIxNlabCvptrjOPv4/s320/MS+On+Spoletto+bridge.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 12pt;">
<div>
"Dave, Ken, Molly, Maggie at the bridge in Spoleto."</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAoEVBPP3w26s52a3s2ufHLFIleH879xG6iipbg9jwjrEPfp1wg0zBx00TbpuTFeyEjcTbtEjWV9xqCQ-_jRkjJNS71dYvN8y7V-AMJAJM3VAM3L00E7ToZWsfw5hT4fWnnzSBtCOfz7g/s1600/MS+Molly+and+gelato.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAoEVBPP3w26s52a3s2ufHLFIleH879xG6iipbg9jwjrEPfp1wg0zBx00TbpuTFeyEjcTbtEjWV9xqCQ-_jRkjJNS71dYvN8y7V-AMJAJM3VAM3L00E7ToZWsfw5hT4fWnnzSBtCOfz7g/s320/MS+Molly+and+gelato.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
"Molly and gelato!" </div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Phyllis, Marla, Karen, and Molly</div>
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in front of the fountain in Perugia.</div>
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"Ken, Bob, Alice Ann, Cindy and Molly at the American Bar in
Montecatini."</div>
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"This gang is ready to eat at Perugia."</div>
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"Walking thru the streets to our concert."<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Many thanks, Molly, for your contributions throughout your visit. Welcome home! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Tomorrow, more pictures from Wilmer Henninger, who stayed over a day or two to see some more treasures!</span></div>
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</tbody></table>JOHN K. ROBINSONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05762882873235650999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518418235324886154.post-80679136686438019822012-06-25T06:34:00.000-07:002012-06-27T20:59:12.220-07:00Photos from Lucca, Florence, and Rome arrive<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One thing we have learned on this side of the big pond is that Italian Internet and cell phone service may be, as they say, spotty. You'll read a comment by Wilmer Henninger on that matter a little later. At any rate, I am happy to say that last night and this morning a number of photos, taken over the last three days, made their way through the air and into my inbox last night and this morning. And so, we share them with you, hoping to get them all correctly captioned and in the right order. <br />
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You will recall that on Saturday night, the Market Square Singers sang in Lucca after their visit to Florence. Let us start, then, with photos of their morning visit to Florence, sent by Wilmer and Lee Gayman.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving the church in Florence where the concert was held, and passing yet another beautiful church. (LG)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfuqeUk-v8qcFGI1sOYZYP29xmuZxRPvV_bOQvDDRai8rEecdxVTgf2bfp6KCCUdj1Vny-tx7kAvNYsEbk80OkEh0F5slu708c_FsSBN_WW-y96jB_YMtcgakPL8kX20fgPXPZU84f8Tk/s1600/Chris+and+Judy+in+Florence.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfuqeUk-v8qcFGI1sOYZYP29xmuZxRPvV_bOQvDDRai8rEecdxVTgf2bfp6KCCUdj1Vny-tx7kAvNYsEbk80OkEh0F5slu708c_FsSBN_WW-y96jB_YMtcgakPL8kX20fgPXPZU84f8Tk/s320/Chris+and+Judy+in+Florence.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Singers Chris and Judy enjoy the stroll back to the hotel. (Photo by Molly Shortridge)</td></tr>
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Michaelangelo's "David" is one of the great attractions of Florence. Here, a replica stands outside the City Hall. </div>
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"This is actually close to the original intended location for the real David. An exterior, not interior, location was chosen, so, expecting that it would be viewed from a distance, Michaelangelo made David's hands and feet abnormally large." (WH) </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Our ticket to the Florence Accademia to see 'David.' Unfortunately, no photography is permitted inside. I didn't attempt a forbidden photo, fearing discovery and expulsion." (WH)</td></tr>
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Soon the Singers were on their way to Lucca, about 50 miles distant from Florence. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"On our way to our final concert in Lucca, we pass one of Lucca's most popular restaurants. It made me sad." (WH)</td></tr>
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Wil, I suppose a citizen of Lucca would be unhappy to run across an <i>Olive Garden</i> in the United States!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"We must park outside the city wall and walk into the city through a portal." (WH)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"A lovely walk takes us to our concert church." (WH)</td></tr>
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Lee must have enjoyed the walk, too, and he sent this photo as proof. I'll bet Maggie, left, was eyeing that motorcycle, thinking how fast she could get to the church and give her feet a rest!<br />
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Finally, the group arrives at the Church of Santa Maria Corteorlandini, entering, I believe, by the medieval side door. The front of the church now has a Baroque façade.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Unassuming from the outside, this Lucca church was where we gave our final concert to what was likely our most enthusiastic audience." (LG)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDBv7uBPM0U3vu0UWpYK17EVlqghrx9TbEFGB64sdE9bg40JEnIoqNlfJ3XKlWSR14rrGYFttBocU5aoFd458Tw2x8pQrk-tfxouzRoifNpZzs3c6fE1UzFYBiexhJvCI0OzAZP1nVTp0/s1600/LUCCA+Entering+the+church.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDBv7uBPM0U3vu0UWpYK17EVlqghrx9TbEFGB64sdE9bg40JEnIoqNlfJ3XKlWSR14rrGYFttBocU5aoFd458Tw2x8pQrk-tfxouzRoifNpZzs3c6fE1UzFYBiexhJvCI0OzAZP1nVTp0/s320/LUCCA+Entering+the+church.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Here Jim, Wil, and Karen enter the church." (LG)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTPtbFqBW7NvJhBAw9P2b7e-hXoNj2uWlR4lcUnQnCPFB1k4DVxpi1D_rDv2Z_fiyEktRtpfINZI8s9giauZVsDjPu9Oov4Wt5oVdkdC-o3CDOT7XbfHzpth4RKlCEtTHrygwcIKv_jo/s1600/LUCCA+Dan+poses+by+our+concert+poster.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTPtbFqBW7NvJhBAw9P2b7e-hXoNj2uWlR4lcUnQnCPFB1k4DVxpi1D_rDv2Z_fiyEktRtpfINZI8s9giauZVsDjPu9Oov4Wt5oVdkdC-o3CDOT7XbfHzpth4RKlCEtTHrygwcIKv_jo/s320/LUCCA+Dan+poses+by+our+concert+poster.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dan stops to see if they've put his name on the poster yet. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXVdWFiPoAVXjYNvuzwOC5rq91LMXfNeoyInWUSBjlsRRtojBfIgF6MZdO2F_3ZWFKzEZCeNeiiiYjWLYrz1WkrKjF_C3yWyz-G5gs1hhKTV78erj-NaF7gwwf67jWnbRmr5rpaVfSyg/s1600/LUCCA+Interior+of+church.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXVdWFiPoAVXjYNvuzwOC5rq91LMXfNeoyInWUSBjlsRRtojBfIgF6MZdO2F_3ZWFKzEZCeNeiiiYjWLYrz1WkrKjF_C3yWyz-G5gs1hhKTV78erj-NaF7gwwf67jWnbRmr5rpaVfSyg/s320/LUCCA+Interior+of+church.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Not a great photo, but a good example of how the exterior of some of these ancient churches give no indication of the beauty and majesty of the space within. One is awed by the creativity of design and the size and quality of the handiwork of these ancient artisans." (LG)</td></tr>
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Both Lee and Wil took pictures of the rear of this church. Both were impressed with the chandelier in the organ gallery, backlighted by the sun. Can you tell which man took which photo?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMoJPFqsXZEo2PbVZiemf6MSXIiofn4NmwP79vCFk0i8I8vvdFsYxIG5Me2n5hw6ueU1rra0HvkxDZ1rHLg7yakmkkxoIjekp1PkS1lTiPyW-4Ui_AN6V4V_0KIcc9HjAf1XO1twsH7vg/s1600/LUCCA+Gallery.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMoJPFqsXZEo2PbVZiemf6MSXIiofn4NmwP79vCFk0i8I8vvdFsYxIG5Me2n5hw6ueU1rra0HvkxDZ1rHLg7yakmkkxoIjekp1PkS1lTiPyW-4Ui_AN6V4V_0KIcc9HjAf1XO1twsH7vg/s320/LUCCA+Gallery.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixN6eRynCTrLBl6WQb-WJw_Af-bND6UP2AttJKbdmwwhGSQbMhNumIbqbsB2DQOpuL3UR5d8QmOEkD3WMsAu2apSycZ3pJUTVx_QFbrzdziv77-MVHL05Rm_m5AEMpkgDzmZYHo1wkTkU/s1600/The+rear+of+the+church+of+Santa+Maria+Corteorlandini+has+a+lovely+chandelier+for+the+church+musicians+to+enjoy+up+closeLUCCA++At+least+the+underpaid+organist+and+choir+are+surrounded+by+beauty.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixN6eRynCTrLBl6WQb-WJw_Af-bND6UP2AttJKbdmwwhGSQbMhNumIbqbsB2DQOpuL3UR5d8QmOEkD3WMsAu2apSycZ3pJUTVx_QFbrzdziv77-MVHL05Rm_m5AEMpkgDzmZYHo1wkTkU/s320/The+rear+of+the+church+of+Santa+Maria+Corteorlandini+has+a+lovely+chandelier+for+the+church+musicians+to+enjoy+up+closeLUCCA++At+least+the+underpaid+organist+and+choir+are+surrounded+by+beauty.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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On Sunday, the Market Square Singers left for Rome for a few days of concert-free touring.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCucUbY21DSyjJbmxVK9k9lxy5dSDhafYFr1DJKqBDoINqm3_oWkgKQ7E6Eg04mlTsa1vZTiACDFM6DxS5KWYq8-rqYEirGliUs7K5567PPhIIKWy8oxNlaoy_iHFG-ewF8Nfl8j5CXE/s1600/Some+of+The+Pines+of+Rome+on+the+way+to+one+of+The+Fountains+of+Rome.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="240" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCucUbY21DSyjJbmxVK9k9lxy5dSDhafYFr1DJKqBDoINqm3_oWkgKQ7E6Eg04mlTsa1vZTiACDFM6DxS5KWYq8-rqYEirGliUs7K5567PPhIIKWy8oxNlaoy_iHFG-ewF8Nfl8j5CXE/s320/Some+of+The+Pines+of+Rome+on+the+way+to+one+of+The+Fountains+of+Rome.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Some of The Pines of Rome on the way to one of The Fountains of Rome." (WH)</span></td></tr>
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The Roman Colosseum is perhaps the most famous of all the sights in Rome. It is the largest ever built in the Roman Empire. It is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering. This amphitheater could seat 50,000 spectators in its heyday. Now it remains partially ruined because of damage caused by devastating earthquakes and stone-robbers. Still, it's a breath-taking symbol of Imperial Rome. Wil Hemminger took this picture.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAX5oGpkUrU7gvFh0IQpImKEUCRzXvbfardL8xt7P4q4Wo0iDJ2X4QaCn671cs1wU5tTXzaRmh0qpTcbJQxr32turYDgM-uSettdbkadvHe50zKO99s1EIanAqNCeODUq45vWrL3mWP0c/s1600/Colisseum+scene.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAX5oGpkUrU7gvFh0IQpImKEUCRzXvbfardL8xt7P4q4Wo0iDJ2X4QaCn671cs1wU5tTXzaRmh0qpTcbJQxr32turYDgM-uSettdbkadvHe50zKO99s1EIanAqNCeODUq45vWrL3mWP0c/s400/Colisseum+scene.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvLtYR4Lm6zAoquK4Xy9fFzg5m4EIuTOkdL-ykmqbLUu9fPKnxeuhaAiiawPvnuFzGIzS4KF0IVQo-AyDcP8PMGksKyHoop16poeIKXzo-5FpgDa8UNirKTmvhSuQIa_TUHe3qIwV6uc/s1600/Tour+guide+Luigi+gives+advice+to+Karen+on+what+sites+and+sights+to+see.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvLtYR4Lm6zAoquK4Xy9fFzg5m4EIuTOkdL-ykmqbLUu9fPKnxeuhaAiiawPvnuFzGIzS4KF0IVQo-AyDcP8PMGksKyHoop16poeIKXzo-5FpgDa8UNirKTmvhSuQIa_TUHe3qIwV6uc/s320/Tour+guide+Luigi+gives+advice+to+Karen+on+what+sites+and+sights+to+see.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Tour guide Luigi gives advice to Karen on what sites and sights to see." (WH)</td></tr>
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Rome's first aqueduct supplied a water-fountain sited at the city's cattle-market. By the 3rd century AD, the city had eleven aqueducts, to sustain a population of over 1,000,000 in a water-extravagant economy; most of the water supplied the city's many public baths. <br />
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Cities and municipalities throughout the Roman Empire emulated this model and funded aqueducts as objects of public interest and civic pride, "an expensive yet necessary luxury to which all could, and did, aspire."<br />
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Most Roman aqueducts proved reliable, and durable; some were maintained into the early modern era, and a few are still partly in use. Here's one Wil spotted in Rome.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL52IBDvO5jqAZsYN8YrJ_jC39zyCDeONT-0vdRwTsp-brVFYUpA9Z168fgR75NdjE3cD_yrSp-FE-aErDGnq8pj2LZYDsBXHZzoEUiMLm4SN_yhxwTz8M6Myi8NhvmpWDCrSUlk4kxaE/s1600/Aqueduct+ruins+on+the+Palatine+Hill.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL52IBDvO5jqAZsYN8YrJ_jC39zyCDeONT-0vdRwTsp-brVFYUpA9Z168fgR75NdjE3cD_yrSp-FE-aErDGnq8pj2LZYDsBXHZzoEUiMLm4SN_yhxwTz8M6Myi8NhvmpWDCrSUlk4kxaE/s320/Aqueduct+ruins+on+the+Palatine+Hill.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Ruins of an aqueduct on the Palatine Hill." (WH)</span></td></tr>
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Here's a prettier example left by the Romans in southern France, nearly intact today after 20 centuries.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZud1CZ_9k3MASQbXBG_ka6zsqOyg-CzZCf79ihrgEowtjqytGxRiwBYdWOVJl9Wdtx0rUExOBEEw9goK8xcvLMGVe_2WVgIWh75NUixfPWF3AM4diE4BoV6efVyEdsAlpsN6w3A6GKjE/s1600/300px-Pont_du_Gard_Oct_2007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZud1CZ_9k3MASQbXBG_ka6zsqOyg-CzZCf79ihrgEowtjqytGxRiwBYdWOVJl9Wdtx0rUExOBEEw9goK8xcvLMGVe_2WVgIWh75NUixfPWF3AM4diE4BoV6efVyEdsAlpsN6w3A6GKjE/s1600/300px-Pont_du_Gard_Oct_2007.jpg" /></a></div>
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This brings to an end our entry for today. Perhaps some photos will arrive tomorrow, when the Market Square Singers will head home. No matter when we receive the photos, we hope to conclude this blog and bring the story full circle.</div>JOHN K. ROBINSONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05762882873235650999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518418235324886154.post-24933775440757022022012-06-24T18:44:00.000-07:002012-06-24T20:50:32.612-07:00No reports from Rome today! Are the Market Square Singers having too much fun?After a nearly-three hour, 176-mile bus ride back to Rome from Florence, the Market Square Singers were scheduled free time in the Eternal City this afternoon and evening. I suspect we will have some wonderful photos and reports of their visit tomorrow, when they will again have free time in the morning (no more rehearsals and concerts), a tour of Vatican City in the afternoon, and a farewell dinner in the evening.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvg1McjM8az1nhyphenhyphenSPxqCfLzrevnKOSTKo2KWx7dS7s3HdLqQZq1aPhm8v_IwxpYhsNNsD_pBfaQ4DO6-CYIMhBeF2-qLGfzeqUppfwvUQMHjXbneiNm_DgxoakKQYMcEIWZ2m78P4o7kQ/s1600/800px-Vatikan_Kolonaden_Petersdom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvg1McjM8az1nhyphenhyphenSPxqCfLzrevnKOSTKo2KWx7dS7s3HdLqQZq1aPhm8v_IwxpYhsNNsD_pBfaQ4DO6-CYIMhBeF2-qLGfzeqUppfwvUQMHjXbneiNm_DgxoakKQYMcEIWZ2m78P4o7kQ/s400/800px-Vatikan_Kolonaden_Petersdom.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I am imagining the Singers visiting the Colosseum, Pantheon, Forum, and Trevi Fountain (Wilmer, please try to get back the coin I threw in there in 1967. That wish did not come true.) They may see the Arch of Constantine, the famous Spanish steps, <span class="ff2 fc0 fs10 ">Castel Sant'Angelo, and so much more. On Tuesday, they will be making their way home. We'll be glad to have them back, safe and sound.</span><br />
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<span class="ff2 fc0 fs10 ">Well, wouldn't you know it! As soon as I published this, I found an email from Wil Henninger containing a photo <i>and</i> a video of the famous "Three Coins in a Fountain" fountain, the Trevi, built from 1732 to 1762.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMwQ8sflXi4wFAHh_h-GXPCeQ9TQiWTZDpjUPo5mvn1VOHrKWBMybK7LjPrDJUr68-20jg9M3RuTPgyoG97OTNuM2NMn4feQ0IyFeRbYGZTEfTJ40tZCjkqACES8c_JC6Upjbz6zPcOw4/s1600/Trevi+Fountain+WH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMwQ8sflXi4wFAHh_h-GXPCeQ9TQiWTZDpjUPo5mvn1VOHrKWBMybK7LjPrDJUr68-20jg9M3RuTPgyoG97OTNuM2NMn4feQ0IyFeRbYGZTEfTJ40tZCjkqACES8c_JC6Upjbz6zPcOw4/s400/Trevi+Fountain+WH.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Thousands come to see and be seen--and prevent good camera shots!" says Wil. (WH) </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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A traditional legend holds that if visitors throw a coin into the fountain, they are ensured a return to Rome.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9"></sup> This was the theme of the 1954 film <i>Three Coins in the Fountain</i> and the Academy Award-winning song by that name, which introduced the picture.<br />
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An estimated 3,000 euros are thrown into the fountain each day.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TreviBBC2006_10-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trevi_Fountain#cite_note-TreviBBC2006-10"></a></sup> The money has been used to subsidize a supermarket for Rome's needy;<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TreviBBC2006_10-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trevi_Fountain#cite_note-TreviBBC2006-10"></a></sup> however, there are regular attempts to steal coins from the fountain. I hope Wilmer did not get in trouble trying to get my coin back!</div>
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To see and hear the fountain in motion, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih5jFz0r2PQ&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">watch this video</a> that Wil sent. </div>
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It's almost midnight here in Harrisburg. I'll be back in the morning to post some photos of Lucca, where the Singers performed on Saturday, and more pictures from Rome.</div>
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<br />JOHN K. ROBINSONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05762882873235650999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518418235324886154.post-5379538405498919812012-06-23T12:15:00.000-07:002012-06-24T18:24:18.563-07:00Another slice of PisaThis morning's mail found additional photos of the Singers' visit to the Italian city of Pisa, where street vendors and tourists mix it up on the way into the cathedral grounds. <b>Wilmer Henninger</b> and <b>Molly Shortridge</b> sent the pictures.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Eno_dbvledLMiNXrNYXYNb1xKLDvyD2C7f1TS5kk7MiNfUoumCiLQkcklshIv46eyifnpPZJbVTS_Og2lwVWWGExRYp8GarwTDjXBxdJvlXpgqpmn8-9kpz2N3jK11aPzQcXCZxrxpE/s1600/Pisa+2+Handbag+Man+WH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Eno_dbvledLMiNXrNYXYNb1xKLDvyD2C7f1TS5kk7MiNfUoumCiLQkcklshIv46eyifnpPZJbVTS_Og2lwVWWGExRYp8GarwTDjXBxdJvlXpgqpmn8-9kpz2N3jK11aPzQcXCZxrxpE/s320/Pisa+2+Handbag+Man+WH.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Molly is ignoring the aggressive handbag vendor, but the guy on the left looks interested. (WH)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi365fJE_Dhf8o3yDnfOnaG06BjdYwE2n6Z0ClYv5znjy46oYcCLSFnmLb-tNC25h1YBb3avDvRW6aBqqgJOE5bBukCNI13G80sM7EaQcyT6bq6FJ4HQcoAZoxUQ5CwM5h16P5lwwcL-LM/s1600/Pisa+2+Outside+of+Wall+WH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi365fJE_Dhf8o3yDnfOnaG06BjdYwE2n6Z0ClYv5znjy46oYcCLSFnmLb-tNC25h1YBb3avDvRW6aBqqgJOE5bBukCNI13G80sM7EaQcyT6bq6FJ4HQcoAZoxUQ5CwM5h16P5lwwcL-LM/s320/Pisa+2+Outside+of+Wall+WH.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cafés on the right and tee-shirts on the left! Bringing up the rear we
see David with the baseball cap making sure wife Gwen does not get
swept away. Phyllis is sporting a pony tail, while Marla makes a
statement in red. (WH)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdhcKnY2ay1f6wEPpn-IzOLsBNo-7m_GypkCyayakCq4mUAmNUyLMiOr6ZggxshNrLwx00T4W9eFzDZwA_z13ibaq1wmW6rZKQjSfV_sGobXBgo4dCE6D0Mevq623bnKGR0ScwoJBXCQ/s1600/Pisa+2+Through+opening+in+wall+WH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdhcKnY2ay1f6wEPpn-IzOLsBNo-7m_GypkCyayakCq4mUAmNUyLMiOr6ZggxshNrLwx00T4W9eFzDZwA_z13ibaq1wmW6rZKQjSfV_sGobXBgo4dCE6D0Mevq623bnKGR0ScwoJBXCQ/s320/Pisa+2+Through+opening+in+wall+WH.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first view of the cathedral grounds is framed by the old wall. (WH)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1T2nRMyIxqhGqh-Kvhyphenhyphenp7_AmQthpoBGR7qu_ZhobDrMHF_ObioCkt2PImgfU9a1FzcYVIr4QiE_8ZP_VSeHF7DmZ2BWm7SjpMLknxO9hkP1bu1xGhm73c0EtUrOKuF8IZ-2vEfKMcp64/s1600/Pisa+2+Ladies+leaning+MS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1T2nRMyIxqhGqh-Kvhyphenhyphenp7_AmQthpoBGR7qu_ZhobDrMHF_ObioCkt2PImgfU9a1FzcYVIr4QiE_8ZP_VSeHF7DmZ2BWm7SjpMLknxO9hkP1bu1xGhm73c0EtUrOKuF8IZ-2vEfKMcp64/s320/Pisa+2+Ladies+leaning+MS.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Molly, right, and friend get in the spirit of things at Pisa. (MS)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
After Friday morning's visit to Pisa, the Market Square Singers visited the town of Lucca on their way to Florence. Lucca it is famous for its Renaissance-era city walls. The walls around the old town remained intact as the city expanded
and modernized, unusual for cities in the region.<br />
<br />
As the walls lost
their military importance, they became a pedestrian promenade that
encircled the old town, although they were used for a number of years in
the 20th century for racing cars. They are still fully intact today;
each of the four principal sides is lined with a different tree species.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFlcnV0nUyLtG5B2AUl5w4p16kmGGWULOQSwOJWOhz03zX8yMnapWI9zkKqFAJk94GEbiPmTXfRu4gjUm1VkkkPi9hHybENt42QUzRsDdU__ENKr7ovOOoCj1ARP0r5969vz_ajyAtA4/s1600/699px-Piazza_Anfiteatro_Lucca_360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="43" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFlcnV0nUyLtG5B2AUl5w4p16kmGGWULOQSwOJWOhz03zX8yMnapWI9zkKqFAJk94GEbiPmTXfRu4gjUm1VkkkPi9hHybENt42QUzRsDdU__ENKr7ovOOoCj1ARP0r5969vz_ajyAtA4/s320/699px-Piazza_Anfiteatro_Lucca_360.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lucca's town square. (Internet)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Academy of Sciences (1584) is the most famous of several academies and libraries in Lucca.<br />
<br />
Lucca is where composer Giacomo Puccini (<i>La Bohème</i> and <i>Madama Butterfly)</i> was born, and his birthplace was a highlight for several of the Singers.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPVdSVRWZ4g7uQASdYKYOwDhZni7Fcw7G19hxdbA9zD_eRB81bob4QYj9ozjRfeJLDozrU0MDaULgm27uWThapGq2GtBTrlaLPyiY_oSiVV16CouRjfK2f-ZAFFtQtk2GittAiPeScrI/s1600/Pisa+2+Dan+and+Puccini+WH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPVdSVRWZ4g7uQASdYKYOwDhZni7Fcw7G19hxdbA9zD_eRB81bob4QYj9ozjRfeJLDozrU0MDaULgm27uWThapGq2GtBTrlaLPyiY_oSiVV16CouRjfK2f-ZAFFtQtk2GittAiPeScrI/s320/Pisa+2+Dan+and+Puccini+WH.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dan greets the world-famous composer in front of his birthplace. (WH)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-LYoLyv6Cjuc5y8dWP4TyDA6HP8RDkUWmkByAhCnrhL_6ikhedyHxt6ObWV4uJWmrVmvD8sImn8pCsIxi6YlN7E9KZKM6QAhyBvY6tZ-CuOyMe9bKRxSvR8YFumrPjUi3uOnbH0t8LtY/s1600/Pisa+2+Three+singers+with+Puccini.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-LYoLyv6Cjuc5y8dWP4TyDA6HP8RDkUWmkByAhCnrhL_6ikhedyHxt6ObWV4uJWmrVmvD8sImn8pCsIxi6YlN7E9KZKM6QAhyBvY6tZ-CuOyMe9bKRxSvR8YFumrPjUi3uOnbH0t8LtY/s320/Pisa+2+Three+singers+with+Puccini.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Next up are Karen, Ken, and Molly enjoying a musical moment with the Maestro. (MS)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Soon it was time to leave for Florence for the evening concert, the third in the series.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCBnGtR9Sqc162y6o-JqErOQ2yEysheFKg_B5YnI1q3i42OnwWWkWKMmoFcEe-2QGXAnc-VakrRXuT6EttScBJ3vntYnPOYcQrhTyIHd7WvWcK2Jj_2fY9q4KPPi4jyXCNINMPevZGL0/s1600/Pisa+2+Women+discuss+shoes+WH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCBnGtR9Sqc162y6o-JqErOQ2yEysheFKg_B5YnI1q3i42OnwWWkWKMmoFcEe-2QGXAnc-VakrRXuT6EttScBJ3vntYnPOYcQrhTyIHd7WvWcK2Jj_2fY9q4KPPi4jyXCNINMPevZGL0/s320/Pisa+2+Women+discuss+shoes+WH.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"On the way to our concert in Florence," Wil writes, "Elizabeth and Karen discuss the merits of
comfortable versus fashionable shoes." (WH)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFaaa7EFH7Gy-ynps6OGCsKFAOlYXAeyWPYsR7sr05GMibFnrVR06gJAF2g0hvKlAkm3IWrkJV0s__1hdQRpnZHDEvTk3DxsQdeuEvnIUrN4AED7QA3X2IsmQnJUWEs7IlywVhbJ_yU2Y/s1600/Pisa+2+Singers+Poster+on+door+WH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFaaa7EFH7Gy-ynps6OGCsKFAOlYXAeyWPYsR7sr05GMibFnrVR06gJAF2g0hvKlAkm3IWrkJV0s__1hdQRpnZHDEvTk3DxsQdeuEvnIUrN4AED7QA3X2IsmQnJUWEs7IlywVhbJ_yU2Y/s320/Pisa+2+Singers+Poster+on+door+WH.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Wil Henninger.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
How cool is this? Seeing the group's poster advertising their concert in
Florence! I wonder if there were tee-shirts, mugs, baseball caps, and
backpacks -- all sporting the group's logo, of course -- on sale in the church
narthex.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZIRhgd3-VNE-2vn2rWxdAC9NL4Pzcr2-RCJA9ZpHHxmLitBNVArpqQYfgzK8LXOi_dxzlhyphenhyphenSSP2khx4QzcS_6bpjwo-Be58RgwKvouMKlLjJvah6GP5HoOkMoSgZLMDnkdy23e-p5NM/s1600/firenze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZIRhgd3-VNE-2vn2rWxdAC9NL4Pzcr2-RCJA9ZpHHxmLitBNVArpqQYfgzK8LXOi_dxzlhyphenhyphenSSP2khx4QzcS_6bpjwo-Be58RgwKvouMKlLjJvah6GP5HoOkMoSgZLMDnkdy23e-p5NM/s1600/firenze.jpg" /></a></div>
Florence is famous for its history. A center of medieval European trade and finance and one of the wealthiest cities of the time, Florence is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance. The historic center of Florence attracts millions of tourists each year and has been ranked the city as the world's 72nd most visited in 2009, with 1,685,000 visitors.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence#cite_note-4"> </a></sup>It was declared a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Heritage_Site" title="World Heritage Site">World Heritage Site</a> by UNESCO in 1982. Due to Florence's artistic and architectural heritage, it has been ranked by <i>Forbes</i> as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, noted for its history, culture, Renaissance art and architecture, and monuments.<br />
<br />
The site of Friday's concert was the Orsanmichele Church, located on the Via Calzaiuoli in Florence. It was originally built as a grain market in 1337. Between 1380 and 1404,
it was converted into a church used as the chapel of Florence's
powerful craft and trade guilds.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkcEaWs_2CDtQ6v80YEheRE2ZEC8XLlGExwpDzR453zeDyuvlj4BwnuGz_oBCeZAqqin8lenFF6YtA6PHY40M9_WWhezd6Wc-DHvvtv5xPbYjwcXSJD0YpwgrxGkS4o3I3ijVCrIZRf7I/s1600/Orsanmichele+interior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkcEaWs_2CDtQ6v80YEheRE2ZEC8XLlGExwpDzR453zeDyuvlj4BwnuGz_oBCeZAqqin8lenFF6YtA6PHY40M9_WWhezd6Wc-DHvvtv5xPbYjwcXSJD0YpwgrxGkS4o3I3ijVCrIZRf7I/s320/Orsanmichele+interior.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interior of the church. (Internet)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR75xDLvuJhpxWUFxPdn2iycGZs-yMu18kWM94KE8CvX6x-wDOr1wI2YhUf0NCz_ifvVlfPFGDxF_zwbX8MDeMBty_XQqtHPx8Z08DKVuWu8WDD3vJ7YxSysgM7E71T95PI496QGVaeVs/s1600/Pisa+2+Rehearsing+in+Florence+WH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR75xDLvuJhpxWUFxPdn2iycGZs-yMu18kWM94KE8CvX6x-wDOr1wI2YhUf0NCz_ifvVlfPFGDxF_zwbX8MDeMBty_XQqtHPx8Z08DKVuWu8WDD3vJ7YxSysgM7E71T95PI496QGVaeVs/s320/Pisa+2+Rehearsing+in+Florence+WH.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Eric gives us some encouragement during practice before the Florence concert," according to Wil. (WH)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ibwPg1J2AXVGVaaEEON80fNBylwQMTyIGhZ9-042Y7gmJjlJZRAZ5TIZMW04g5E5u-Ec5lWp_ZI8Of5H2KVuE4qJrm_X8sONuki5Rowz5iDwzaP6VBYEhoQgFynbRTzHKQhLOpCIWm4/s1600/Chris+and+Judy+in+Florence.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ibwPg1J2AXVGVaaEEON80fNBylwQMTyIGhZ9-042Y7gmJjlJZRAZ5TIZMW04g5E5u-Ec5lWp_ZI8Of5H2KVuE4qJrm_X8sONuki5Rowz5iDwzaP6VBYEhoQgFynbRTzHKQhLOpCIWm4/s320/Chris+and+Judy+in+Florence.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Singers Chris and Judy stroll in Florence following the performance. (MS)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I was beginning to think that the Singers were existing only on gelato until the next picture arrived today. I am not sure which day this was taken, but it looks like a very nice little meal.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqHUWR8kH0eWEjY8osVNpRWvGsIPq7mIDECoyBx7ANp9QquucSNQpmV4EzHXMFGtCxkBAy9YB8no072hk0oKSE7tpoDGPluu5PMch4FiLIq7JVWy9GY14kJEbd2OxnarruQn654hP_Fo/s1600/Pisa+2+Breakfast+food+WH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqHUWR8kH0eWEjY8osVNpRWvGsIPq7mIDECoyBx7ANp9QquucSNQpmV4EzHXMFGtCxkBAy9YB8no072hk0oKSE7tpoDGPluu5PMch4FiLIq7JVWy9GY14kJEbd2OxnarruQn654hP_Fo/s320/Pisa+2+Breakfast+food+WH.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wil writes, "So far, we all say the food is so good that we can't not eat all of it. One of us had a half a pannini and croissant breakfast." (WH)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-size: x-small;">[May I add a personal memory here? In 1967, I was a student at Montpellier, in southern France. At Easter, some of us students hitch-hiked to Rome. We also visited Florence and Milan. Since I was a student with very little money to spend, I had the cheapest thing on the menu -- spaghetti, of course! -- for lunch and dinner. That made 12 big plates of spaghetti over six days. Guess what the university restaurant served the night we returned to France.]</span>JOHN K. ROBINSONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05762882873235650999noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518418235324886154.post-6791182652166656722012-06-22T09:44:00.001-07:002012-06-22T19:01:46.565-07:00Today it's Pisa<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0YUmAtHUrTDYhpp2qfIDnDhzt4ZXC3sngls_nT1CWu2xuI5LxaEqi1KSR9nMssbdoG3p4mPbBKIxR3vrlt8LPP6rkc_vDw7BZiHIaJ2HmMT1pXwOdAnVG9-jjnc5d-dwaXAriLZj-lo/s1600/250px-Leaning_Tower_of_Pisa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0YUmAtHUrTDYhpp2qfIDnDhzt4ZXC3sngls_nT1CWu2xuI5LxaEqi1KSR9nMssbdoG3p4mPbBKIxR3vrlt8LPP6rkc_vDw7BZiHIaJ2HmMT1pXwOdAnVG9-jjnc5d-dwaXAriLZj-lo/s320/250px-Leaning_Tower_of_Pisa.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Duomo and Tower (Internet)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Today the world-famous Market Square Singers are visiting world-famous Pisa, with its Baptistry, Duomo (cathedral), and Tower.<br />
<br />
Pisa is located on the right bank of the mouth of the River Arno on the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa. Although Pisa is known worldwide for its leaning tower (the bell tower
of the city's cathedral), the city of over 88,332 residents (around
200,000 with the metropolitan area) contains more than 20 other historic
churches, several palaces and various bridges across the River Arno.<br />
<br />
The city is also home of the University of Pisa, which has a history going back to the 12th century and some of the best graduate schools in Italy.<br />
<br />
<b>Wilmer Henninger writes:</b><br />
<br />
"You will get many photos from our Pisa visit, but you may <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwaTzyRKdj4&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">enjoy this video of the whole grounds</a>.<br />
<br />
"The place is ringed with vendors, but the real vendor
gauntlet is during the walk from the bus stop to the tower -- very aggressive
vendors, all hawking "real" Rolex watches and "real" Prada handbags and very
cheap umbrellas as sunscreens.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8mRknNOeTfsIiOnDqm63KhxDLWg644mSbHZBrxyGeBE_Mxn5HGS3Ui0BUvJi_Cj4U3UG7ylKvVGXcEA4dO0W8bGbqIUHOWMANXURrTm6REf9tEz80EL2lX9ctP-_9vo1a8pQS76n7GK4/s1600/9281945-the-baptistry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8mRknNOeTfsIiOnDqm63KhxDLWg644mSbHZBrxyGeBE_Mxn5HGS3Ui0BUvJi_Cj4U3UG7ylKvVGXcEA4dO0W8bGbqIUHOWMANXURrTm6REf9tEz80EL2lX9ctP-_9vo1a8pQS76n7GK4/s200/9281945-the-baptistry.jpg" width="132" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baptistry (Internet)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
"The Baptistry, Duomo, and Tower all cost an
entry fee more than it is worth (my opinion), so we all took hundreds of photos
and then found shade. Unless one needs one more Duomo or a leaning tower climb,
one hour in Pisa is enough (my opinion again).<br />
<br />
"The video ends with the top of
the tower and a few hearty souls who paid the 15 Euro to climb it."<br />
<br />
While loading Wil's video on You Tube, I came across this demonstration of the acoustic inside the Baptistry and thought you might enjoy seeing and hearing a guide demonstrate the incredible reverberation found inside. You'll also enjoy the delightful response from the Italian visitors. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cheJjy0Nx4M" target="_blank">Click here to see the video.</a><br />
<br />
Thanks, Wil, for the video and remarks. I look forward to more pictures from Pisa later today. Readers, come back soon! <br />
__________________________________________<br />
<br />
Good things come to those who wait. And here are some additional photos from Pisa, received this evening from <b>Lee Gayman</b>.<br />
<br />
"I was curious to see what the world around the leaning tower of Pisa looked
like," says Lee. "As we entered the gate, I learned that the tower is actually very shy, and
peeks at incoming visitors by bending forward to peek around the cathedral."<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtm4LF5dKz-G16_1UvJiKiNpp18vq_1bFwEKqPhYcB9eSBsgoh7uHV5GLHM11Wbg46zlPhoWPLkEkElcJMABkb4oG6sNJ4axHm_s5RwOqLSwKv-qp7TrdMjsaKWW0sftWU93A4TcFIHDE/s1600/Pisa+Cathedral+and+Tower+LG.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtm4LF5dKz-G16_1UvJiKiNpp18vq_1bFwEKqPhYcB9eSBsgoh7uHV5GLHM11Wbg46zlPhoWPLkEkElcJMABkb4oG6sNJ4axHm_s5RwOqLSwKv-qp7TrdMjsaKWW0sftWU93A4TcFIHDE/s320/Pisa+Cathedral+and+Tower+LG.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Echoing Wilmer, Lee adds: "We decided 15€ ($18.84) is a bit pricey to get to the top of a tower - and they
don't even have an elevator! This is a pretty typical photo of the leaning tower. It was after taking this
photo that Wilmer and I retreated to a cooler side street for therapeutic
gelatos."<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7DejQryKHsdUPhAFw15fQNKOEAkvTHd1Vm-0TzdF136ti2TyDatIUIiZ8Rv_q93KxinObdfCQOcqhKwySzhW1E1bx828NyUdtKP1iI0tYh1roD0_ou0ZwNOqHkBSjC8dVLavkEy-yeE/s1600/Pisa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7DejQryKHsdUPhAFw15fQNKOEAkvTHd1Vm-0TzdF136ti2TyDatIUIiZ8Rv_q93KxinObdfCQOcqhKwySzhW1E1bx828NyUdtKP1iI0tYh1roD0_ou0ZwNOqHkBSjC8dVLavkEy-yeE/s320/Pisa.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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[Editor's Note: They'd have to pay ME to climb up there!]JOHN K. ROBINSONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05762882873235650999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518418235324886154.post-51084795195110083672012-06-21T17:25:00.000-07:002012-06-22T18:21:59.453-07:00A visit to Siena reveals wondrous sights<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV93hGzk1c0KG4F_i309MNqzk77YvkJ3P8IR1gI3w5Cf4DQ4FBqfUJALmnWFmwotvb8kBdAzg5WEg9i99yT_N7PoAWccSy1F9ud7IwSBzkCcxYZhw-CusQ7EBZtCJ5z7QA6QMcJHOmR-w/s1600/Siena+Duomo+WH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV93hGzk1c0KG4F_i309MNqzk77YvkJ3P8IR1gI3w5Cf4DQ4FBqfUJALmnWFmwotvb8kBdAzg5WEg9i99yT_N7PoAWccSy1F9ud7IwSBzkCcxYZhw-CusQ7EBZtCJ5z7QA6QMcJHOmR-w/s320/Siena+Duomo+WH.JPG" width="320" /></a>This morning the Singers took to the streets of Siena, and most were thrilled by a visit to the <i>Duomo</i>, the main church in town. Built between 1215 and 1263 on the site of an earlier structure, the
cathedral is in the form of a Latin cross with a slight projecting dome
and bell tower. The exterior and interiors are decorated in <b style="font-weight: normal;">white and greenish-black marble</b> in alternating <b style="font-weight: normal;">stripes</b>, black and white being the symbolic colors of Siena.<br />
<br />
Our chief correspondent today is <b>Wilmer Henninger</b>, who is in Europe for the first time. "There's so much to see in this church, you don't know where to look first," he reports.<br />
<br />
Fellow basses Greg and Lee seem to agree. Here they are looking around, trying to decide what to photograph next. The most impressive and beautiful of the treasures the cathedral holds
are on the floor, where the pavement is decorated with the art of
mosaics (using various techniques) to create storytelling masterpieces.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1EzFexdNB_Xh3tVwqQTZ8H7U0SipewrBte7G7oC6cC1xCAFca0Aj64tBbIQg49Sff4EzrxAllLZ0sIReErNuNZ3HnDY3YVZVBbnHZh_m07MAGh1vMyiTLD7wv0OWgpovL4XHxaojDmU/s1600/Greg+and+Lee+in+Siena+Duomo+WH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1EzFexdNB_Xh3tVwqQTZ8H7U0SipewrBte7G7oC6cC1xCAFca0Aj64tBbIQg49Sff4EzrxAllLZ0sIReErNuNZ3HnDY3YVZVBbnHZh_m07MAGh1vMyiTLD7wv0OWgpovL4XHxaojDmU/s320/Greg+and+Lee+in+Siena+Duomo+WH.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Here is an example of the floor that I found on the Internet.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLFhVmzlXFmNLlGI1emefaMEvH6XaSAqZdaZx1PC9G2hpaLif9L6LSgsw_UsAjz1YpeAin-GDuNSt7HdWbIGJbBG_-WILwaAtBp-N5cX7N8gxz-ZtBUmo9WmbNm-JpCEGftda9j-i0XY/s1600/siena-duomo-pavement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLFhVmzlXFmNLlGI1emefaMEvH6XaSAqZdaZx1PC9G2hpaLif9L6LSgsw_UsAjz1YpeAin-GDuNSt7HdWbIGJbBG_-WILwaAtBp-N5cX7N8gxz-ZtBUmo9WmbNm-JpCEGftda9j-i0XY/s320/siena-duomo-pavement.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Another treasure within the cathedral is the Piccolomini Library of manuscripts, a popular part of the tour.</div>
<br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;">Enea Silvio Piccolomini </b>was Bishop of Trieste in 1447 and later, the
Bishop of Siena in 1450. Very popular and having achieved much success
in Rome, he became cardinal in 1456 and, just two years later, was
elected as<b> </b><b style="font-weight: normal;">Pope Pius II</b>. The Library itself was built by his nephew -- also a
cardinal who later beca<b style="font-weight: normal;">me Pope Pius III</b> -- in memory of his uncle and to conserve the
rich collection of manuscripts Pius II had lovingly collected.<br />
<br />
The library is very popular as you see from the line to get in.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAu8Y1Ziuv2nefNj6xZW7sqbeLW9mJFrl5IOeGgwqaYlZ9cb9VLkYhlHokoWIiHuckWMrvFseYJ8S9CtaqoNnUPe-bf9MKqeBS5Hk_Jwn1tmn-p0Nq46xobTfnGRTRNyBkyN3fuV-SAo/s1600/Line+for+library.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAu8Y1Ziuv2nefNj6xZW7sqbeLW9mJFrl5IOeGgwqaYlZ9cb9VLkYhlHokoWIiHuckWMrvFseYJ8S9CtaqoNnUPe-bf9MKqeBS5Hk_Jwn1tmn-p0Nq46xobTfnGRTRNyBkyN3fuV-SAo/s320/Line+for+library.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Members of the group, the Benedicts, look carefully at Piccolomini's treasured manuscripts.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5snsM-Azpe1GOPraFkP1FF4J1CsVjAML02G-vIeAYCAPjOATr05Tr0B2uHLfPsaazAYG-6QuhJ1xCvYBIA9kM0UJDm8J04Os1U7N_Yf6EUCHFwl68yjbQeTvsx1n8nQEmmgiatom1Zk0/s1600/Benedicts+view+medieval+mss.+WH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5snsM-Azpe1GOPraFkP1FF4J1CsVjAML02G-vIeAYCAPjOATr05Tr0B2uHLfPsaazAYG-6QuhJ1xCvYBIA9kM0UJDm8J04Os1U7N_Yf6EUCHFwl68yjbQeTvsx1n8nQEmmgiatom1Zk0/s320/Benedicts+view+medieval+mss.+WH.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiau2hmP7tPH55JSoeB6Fhm3Gw97UVMBwYJSpu4-v84CRpCojiY0xKjRYMQfU9c3W8XZu92nOwEZTqaywQMe01fiZWn3ZLNopQrtoKU_0Q4J_0KN2IAqFIjOZsivhOP9d8k7kL16HK9OSg/s1600/Ancient+ms.+WH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiau2hmP7tPH55JSoeB6Fhm3Gw97UVMBwYJSpu4-v84CRpCojiY0xKjRYMQfU9c3W8XZu92nOwEZTqaywQMe01fiZWn3ZLNopQrtoKU_0Q4J_0KN2IAqFIjOZsivhOP9d8k7kL16HK9OSg/s320/Ancient+ms.+WH.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I believe Wilmer said he would like to paint the ceiling at Market Square Church like this (if they have a paint-by-number kit he could use).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgitUShJkWGNO4GpPi999Bo5gMT5osHVMX1vF6_lD7WaIQtEwGX9DXnFi4rECJVeyI_pEYyWl78gA0BOqRG23S2OgjO11HfZUvjKOiNMkXuF7rzZunTqY0LgnPb2XSEwrKolQMLlhDBijs/s1600/Library+ceiling+WH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgitUShJkWGNO4GpPi999Bo5gMT5osHVMX1vF6_lD7WaIQtEwGX9DXnFi4rECJVeyI_pEYyWl78gA0BOqRG23S2OgjO11HfZUvjKOiNMkXuF7rzZunTqY0LgnPb2XSEwrKolQMLlhDBijs/s320/Library+ceiling+WH.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Soon it was time to head over to Pistoia for the evening's concert. Here, <b>Lee Gayman</b> reports:<br />
<br />
"The cathedral in Pistoia where we sang [shown below] was a bit less ostentatious than the numerous other
cathedrals we've seen, but still a great place to sing. A very enthusiastic
Italian tenor with limited English was our local 'host,' and his energy and
enthusiasm for our music was contagious. We sang to a rather large audience that was also most appreciative." <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qupbtF4Fmg3SL2aDTBLeYpUtxY61GAkahAb7gntjjTxW1gm6y1tz34HzArUUWDUjPBbCdb4W9OMsCNaPvQx9iWVSRfJIeWGXYODCNh-rRaJih7BL7QLm1dD4ifrWMdzJi0Rp0mhEt_U/s1600/Church+at+Pistoia+LG.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qupbtF4Fmg3SL2aDTBLeYpUtxY61GAkahAb7gntjjTxW1gm6y1tz34HzArUUWDUjPBbCdb4W9OMsCNaPvQx9iWVSRfJIeWGXYODCNh-rRaJih7BL7QLm1dD4ifrWMdzJi0Rp0mhEt_U/s320/Church+at+Pistoia+LG.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Here flutist Molly and organist Tony, both members of the Market Square Singers, play prelude music.<br />
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<br />
"Because the organ console was behind the altar, Eric couldn't see Tony," <b>Wilmer</b> writes. "So our
concert order was rearranged, and we sang the first three songs out of sight of
the audience."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQpvTTTdE2B96MoYB4yrbygnJqHeXGwot6F5t4GvJzbJemqeBnkt2BpCi6xd7xgrW2Rc2u0PfwUaqfMPfvw9Z01Dx7s3dAfWyaVBbspOxl04MVCQ_clP-VPV_9EB8sxd2_ebszanTOudw/s1600/Pistoia+concert+WH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQpvTTTdE2B96MoYB4yrbygnJqHeXGwot6F5t4GvJzbJemqeBnkt2BpCi6xd7xgrW2Rc2u0PfwUaqfMPfvw9Z01Dx7s3dAfWyaVBbspOxl04MVCQ_clP-VPV_9EB8sxd2_ebszanTOudw/s320/Pistoia+concert+WH.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
It must have sounded like a choir of angels to the audience!<br />
<br />
Thank you, Wilmer and Lee, for today's entry. Your pictures make us feel like we are right there with you. <br />
<br />
Tomorrow morning, the Market Square Singers journey to Pisa to see if the Tower is still leaning. Then on to Lucca, and finally a concert in Florence. A very busy day!<br />
<div style="color: #20124d;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #20124d;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">PLEASE NOTE: </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">My apologies to those of you who left comments. I was overlooking the tiny message that told me there were comments to be reviewed. I have published them all now and will be more watchful in the future! </span></div>
<br />JOHN K. ROBINSONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05762882873235650999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518418235324886154.post-89827544247973985542012-06-21T06:53:00.000-07:002012-06-21T06:56:08.624-07:00A report from Assisi, then on to SienaThe morning after their concert at Assisi, the Market Square Singers returned there -- to bask in the smashing success of their Italian debut, no doubt -- and did some sightseeing, too. We saw some pictures in yesterday's entry. This morning (it's almost 8:00 a.m. in Harrisburg on Thursday morning as I write this), Lee Gayman has provided another delightful narrative about what he and the other singers are seeing and doing:<br />
<br />
<b>Lee Gayman writes:</b><br />
<br />
"This is my first European experience, so I'm learning much. Learning to use
Euros is a fairly easy transition, except that Euro users carry many more coins
than we do in the states. The difference in coins is subtle, both in size and
appearance, and both 1 euro and 2 euro coins are commonplace. As near as I can
tell, the other coins are 10, 20 and 50 cent coins. <br />
<br />
"The Italians have
been quite friendly, and I think many of the "being a foreigner" worries I came
with have proven to be unfounded. <br />
<br />
"Most of us have become quite fond of
the Italian gelato (ice cream). It comes in a large assortment of flavors, and
I've yet to try one I didn't enjoy! Dan Asmus has told me it is his intent to
have at least one gelato daily, and I think I shall join him in that endeavor.
We have an Italian guide, a very knowledgeable young man, Louigi, who says we
must try local goat cheese dipped in honey. I'll keep an eye out for that.
<br />
<br />
"Agriculture is a big industry in Italy. There are acres and acres of
olive groves and also fields of grains. Today I saw a grain combine harvesting
wheat (I think) just like back home. The straw is baled into large, round bales,
just like back home. We also passed a whole field of blooming sunflowers.
Apparently they make both olive oil and sunflower oil here. At tonight's dinner
at a very nice restaurant with nine others of our group, I was served probably the
best fresh cantaloupe I have ever eaten!<br />
<br />
"Temps here are apparently higher
than those you are experiencing back home. It was 97 yesterday and at least 100
today. We find ourselves buying lots of bottles of water to stay hydrated. The
joy of being here is so great that even hot weather fails to deter it! This is
such a wonderful experience!"<br />
<br />
Readers, I hope you are feeling the delight that I am in knowing that Lee and the others are having such a marvelous experience.<br />
<br />
Bob Miller, one of the non-singers traveling with the group, has provided two great photos from Assisi.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLTpDafsi3uvHanC0AZci2JCcljlR3p1Qw6D_gyVmHTWTNFgOXxcM-TpJ6wdzNk-2YwDdOOiaMQScTG6URlovrFgEzZLKfornddJL_gPJPGGDONARrvtGVciczR_xqD0ON6Js3IDOqxY/s1600/Assisi+at+night+BM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLTpDafsi3uvHanC0AZci2JCcljlR3p1Qw6D_gyVmHTWTNFgOXxcM-TpJ6wdzNk-2YwDdOOiaMQScTG6URlovrFgEzZLKfornddJL_gPJPGGDONARrvtGVciczR_xqD0ON6Js3IDOqxY/s320/Assisi+at+night+BM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Basilica of St. Francis by night. (RM)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0QfKV9TQTcbhfcyghBFWfxoBjjyz1wa87VZ9TMU0SqcoCmJxkhZ1NKLdbVI9SvXm8SOMzUFR9jvd-Rb5Akxyz6T6z3L_v9hpVXpDhW50dHJ5LyMsVKgPf2MduZsxRBt_z7EHcHWVmSA4/s1600/Assisi+performance+BM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0QfKV9TQTcbhfcyghBFWfxoBjjyz1wa87VZ9TMU0SqcoCmJxkhZ1NKLdbVI9SvXm8SOMzUFR9jvd-Rb5Akxyz6T6z3L_v9hpVXpDhW50dHJ5LyMsVKgPf2MduZsxRBt_z7EHcHWVmSA4/s320/Assisi+performance+BM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Market Square Singers in performance at Assisi. (RM)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Thank you, Bob and Lee, for sharing your experience with us.<br />
<br />
Today the Market Square Singers are in Siena, a classic medieval hill town in Tuscany famous for its large fan-shaped <i>piazza</i>. Piazza del Campo is the heart of the town and is the home to the famous summer horse-race, known as Il Palio.
Siena is one of Italy's prettiest medieval towns. Its peak was about
1260-1348, when it was one of Europe's wealthiest cities. Many of its
buildings and art works originate from that time.<br />
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Siena is about 124 miles north of Rome and 37 miles south of Florence, near the center of the Tuscany region. Between it and Florence lies the Chianti wine region.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAz0y75rEQ_lRndCutoXBJvylhA46n1zUyzRhPYxJEISRz-kvQybiJbLNLAm_t8mIMeH85oY1ZTxJY1i2ZE6eriks9ZP2PjBHTEMKMsaHUgZbr7AUQI_SxaUTJn5kTuEDyotyjkK6I6Cw/s1600/Siena+%28Internet%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAz0y75rEQ_lRndCutoXBJvylhA46n1zUyzRhPYxJEISRz-kvQybiJbLNLAm_t8mIMeH85oY1ZTxJY1i2ZE6eriks9ZP2PjBHTEMKMsaHUgZbr7AUQI_SxaUTJn5kTuEDyotyjkK6I6Cw/s1600/Siena+%28Internet%29.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Siena (Internet)</td></tr>
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After visiting the city today, the Singers head to Pistoia for a concert at 9:00 p.m. Here is a picture of the crowds waiting to buy tickets for the concert. (Well, darn it, they <i>should </i>be!)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirmI2khsypHGNssv_JQokUjpEOMZ9CvXhsUZF6e_fJ0yjRvN2S4dn7_2ufjPcKOimAj7_R1i1SKOUt2KMmmYo802af9hYIUBlCotY2wgd4cw-nYRdfcqJ9Yn_avBIYNlELGvRcCBtxNkU/s1600/Siena+piazza+%28Internet%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirmI2khsypHGNssv_JQokUjpEOMZ9CvXhsUZF6e_fJ0yjRvN2S4dn7_2ufjPcKOimAj7_R1i1SKOUt2KMmmYo802af9hYIUBlCotY2wgd4cw-nYRdfcqJ9Yn_avBIYNlELGvRcCBtxNkU/s320/Siena+piazza+%28Internet%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Stop pushing! I want to hear the Market Square Singers, too!" </i>(Internet)</td></tr>
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<br /></div>JOHN K. ROBINSONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05762882873235650999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518418235324886154.post-30962089482532042632012-06-20T15:12:00.001-07:002012-06-20T15:47:22.819-07:00Success at Assisi!In our last entry, we learned that the Market Square Singers had arrived in Rome and set off for Perugia for some sightseeing. In the evening, they went to Assisi to sing in the world-famous Basilica of St. Francis. Why so famous? St. Francis is one of the most venerated religious figures in history. The building was begun in honor of this local saint immediately after his canonization in 1228. Last night, it saw the European debut of the Market Square Singers.<br />
<br />
Let's see what our correspondent has to say in words and pictures about the experience of singing there.<br />
<br />
<b>Lee Gayman writes:</b><br />
<br />
"Overall, I think the first concert in Assisi went well. It followed a good two
hours of rehearsal in the basilica, where I think the greatest (and most
rewarding) surprise to the choir members was the reverberation. When a piece
ended, the sound continued for several seconds after the cutoff. Can be either
scary or pleasantly rewarding -- all the "rewards" of such a large space. I
actually love the way we sounded as a group!<br />
<br />
"Attendance was marginal --
probably about 100 in attendance -- but the audience was enthusiastic.
Interestingly, two ladies walked up to us in another cathedral today and
reiterated their appreciation of our music. <br />
<br />
"Today we returned to Assisi
just to tour the city proper. I am totally blown away by the number of photo ops
that we encountered! Every few steps present another view one wants to add to
one's photo library. I've taken hundreds of photos and we're only on day three!
In the afternoon we drove to Spoleto, home of the famous annual Spoleto
Festival. Though another lovely medieval town, I found it a bit less interesting
than Assisi. Not knowing the language, I ordered the lunch special and enjoyed a
generous pork shank complete with bone, served with fried potatoes. (Sorry,
Lois, but I <i>did</i> take a picture of it!). The gelato is to die for!<br />
<br />
"We're
doing lots and lots of walking, mostly on very 'sloped' narrow streets, and I
anticipate that our walking abilities (and our weights) will benefit from it
enormously. <br />
<br />
Time to go to dinner. Stay tuned."<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="color: #351c75;">CLICK ON ANY PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT. </span></b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMeX9Y6yI_k15NIEowfZCS1Zwd3SrcUbTN7gkLCOTA09vHxw6HWSo48pUJtevL3FXMHDfjT01URFDRklXWB-qfJR38L4ci9zph-coznJgOpMHPn9K7A_35LeRejc7V_avnvGbTwNF-0U/s1600/Facade+of+Basilica+LG.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMeX9Y6yI_k15NIEowfZCS1Zwd3SrcUbTN7gkLCOTA09vHxw6HWSo48pUJtevL3FXMHDfjT01URFDRklXWB-qfJR38L4ci9zph-coznJgOpMHPn9K7A_35LeRejc7V_avnvGbTwNF-0U/s320/Facade+of+Basilica+LG.JPG" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"We exited these doors [Basilica of St. Francis] in the dark last evening after singing our concert."</i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxUEwLsHbv1VzjZ3Jgodp8MqzjMz6cY9ILLuCNzkKjQNjig6EOqegcgbz1iFRNiPdjrunogfbFpPPxwXN-77-lV68sO5h6EVDpCGQB1TAr4yP4mNZYyzYGSFDw2Ms0g8z_CY7BtOxJfk/s1600/Arrival+at+Assisi+church+LG.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxUEwLsHbv1VzjZ3Jgodp8MqzjMz6cY9ILLuCNzkKjQNjig6EOqegcgbz1iFRNiPdjrunogfbFpPPxwXN-77-lV68sO5h6EVDpCGQB1TAr4yP4mNZYyzYGSFDw2Ms0g8z_CY7BtOxJfk/s320/Arrival+at+Assisi+church+LG.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"The choir milling about at the lower basilica of St. Francis."</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdeNtFEQB2QAutxs3yhg8atiFhX7o25woA_XPkY-Agm170qH1cY24YcawGg4Mpirree40YSNUdE4EXL1BrknwZjfYqWC48MpE-mg0yfM9pQKOn0aRmj6FS911Vtt4n3D6cZBARvV2nUo/s1600/Loretta+LG.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdeNtFEQB2QAutxs3yhg8atiFhX7o25woA_XPkY-Agm170qH1cY24YcawGg4Mpirree40YSNUdE4EXL1BrknwZjfYqWC48MpE-mg0yfM9pQKOn0aRmj6FS911Vtt4n3D6cZBARvV2nUo/s320/Loretta+LG.JPG" width="241" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Loretta is all ready to sing in the basilica."</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxN4hQQ9s3hvCKabx6_QoMU2Fu4LoLKnFqHacZdtCdwj_mPa7YRqQvYy5tkj1_U_5QLQCZtAwUTEo3pOyYGnJnFWIGhEWDkbk672xzBc0FayxkuMTqvv6Q5oWFx5ge8I98vhTz3KhgoUo/s1600/Waiting+at+Basilica+LG.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxN4hQQ9s3hvCKabx6_QoMU2Fu4LoLKnFqHacZdtCdwj_mPa7YRqQvYy5tkj1_U_5QLQCZtAwUTEo3pOyYGnJnFWIGhEWDkbk672xzBc0FayxkuMTqvv6Q5oWFx5ge8I98vhTz3KhgoUo/s320/Waiting+at+Basilica+LG.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Lana and Beth awaiting the start of the concert."</i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQE-8s4FqTQnfFDFV1ezGurTBmlxphwEtiwXZ-XdqbtYVbX1D_F7NP8NqpO0iibDM0DFFWTSxTYG6HTbi0r8bnsvh40crI9ZN2NWCX76YIc3cuTn-st5jlrpnOBJF3jOgZfsW2Z5HL8U/s1600/Touring+castle+LG.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQE-8s4FqTQnfFDFV1ezGurTBmlxphwEtiwXZ-XdqbtYVbX1D_F7NP8NqpO0iibDM0DFFWTSxTYG6HTbi0r8bnsvh40crI9ZN2NWCX76YIc3cuTn-st5jlrpnOBJF3jOgZfsW2Z5HL8U/s320/Touring+castle+LG.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"A motley crew at the Assisi Castle. What is not visible are a lot of tired walking feet!"</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnCr_jQezGj0mp5_6JaRVzXQPBfsZlrQEyN2B5H9K7dQAOjeIprTZ2d3HoTTez1AHTJWnHUcbM-88SzHGeuSef2wZ6FOxrOoN_1lnDmdnSk_y1Ueg_gXscVU4rcnt_PgV7w0j4QaK4GQ/s1600/Castle+window.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnCr_jQezGj0mp5_6JaRVzXQPBfsZlrQEyN2B5H9K7dQAOjeIprTZ2d3HoTTez1AHTJWnHUcbM-88SzHGeuSef2wZ6FOxrOoN_1lnDmdnSk_y1Ueg_gXscVU4rcnt_PgV7w0j4QaK4GQ/s320/Castle+window.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Taken from the castle window, a typical view. Note the thin, vertical cypress trees."</i></td></tr>
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Editor's note: To me, Lee, those trees say "Italy."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGWngnCG_bm06oFPFpmcVsx3Fq9sNxdg1NzNfMTyvlJfl-CeYMc5olJTM7IwPKzYVtXdvrdw2jrEwZXoB4mSHqPhlLqEPYllDiIUnu0r1NYcxfngmn8nMaYGk9Bota_GBk_7nzXT2rRg/s1600/Buying+tickets+LG.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGWngnCG_bm06oFPFpmcVsx3Fq9sNxdg1NzNfMTyvlJfl-CeYMc5olJTM7IwPKzYVtXdvrdw2jrEwZXoB4mSHqPhlLqEPYllDiIUnu0r1NYcxfngmn8nMaYGk9Bota_GBk_7nzXT2rRg/s320/Buying+tickets+LG.JPG" width="310" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"It looks like Ken, Bob, and Alice Anne were getting tickets to the Spoleto Festival."</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMG9zskXggnUuPp7IFj-yMjELb-EvRaqZ_dZ1QeQwoQ35luGVYcI6iiirBrKhm0ZaTMH_DbxbxmF5kddXBCS5GdaLcZSzuqV-41x4-3_Nwtp3s3BFZxDyfFDihLFbU9nIhiLnH7hN83CE/s1600/Sandy+at+fountain+LG.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMG9zskXggnUuPp7IFj-yMjELb-EvRaqZ_dZ1QeQwoQ35luGVYcI6iiirBrKhm0ZaTMH_DbxbxmF5kddXBCS5GdaLcZSzuqV-41x4-3_Nwtp3s3BFZxDyfFDihLFbU9nIhiLnH7hN83CE/s320/Sandy+at+fountain+LG.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"After a long walk, Sandy welcomes a cool splash in the public water fountain."</i></td></tr>
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I don't know about the rest of our readers, but I certainly wish I were in Italy with this spirited crew. Thanks, Lee, for the narrative and pictures. <i>Buon appetito.</i><br />
<br />
Tomorrow, the Market Square Singers go to Siena for a visit in the morning, then an evening concert in Pistoia.<i> </i>JOHN K. ROBINSONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05762882873235650999noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518418235324886154.post-48384582342633359562012-06-19T05:26:00.000-07:002012-06-21T15:59:34.980-07:00Singers leave Philadelphia, arrive in Rome, head to Perugia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All's quiet at Philly airport. (WH)</td></tr>
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According to the Market Square Singers' itinerary, our family and friends left Philadelphia late Sunday evening and arrived in Rome in the morning. Singer Wilmer Henninger reported that the airport was very quiet so late in the evening and sent a photo to prove it. Some Singers had gone a few days earlier to do a little sight-seeing and satisfy their cravings for pasta and pizza, no doubt.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lana and Beth fortify themselves for the flight. (WH)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bob is tall enough to stow his bag with ease. (WH)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_oQEDtp9OAiYVtDyBeCKRGkQeL_yeLe-tmDwblVzGFpFhyCLHkWEerQkCkJkYIqyKZey9_p0WtHV9eHvGGCI-2aJB3M_H4bX9a-etmbWXdcFZhyphenhyphenyc0JeoouQH1_w7jNqehAzjMfFIO0/s1600/England+from+the+air+WH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_oQEDtp9OAiYVtDyBeCKRGkQeL_yeLe-tmDwblVzGFpFhyCLHkWEerQkCkJkYIqyKZey9_p0WtHV9eHvGGCI-2aJB3M_H4bX9a-etmbWXdcFZhyphenhyphenyc0JeoouQH1_w7jNqehAzjMfFIO0/s320/England+from+the+air+WH.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Over land at last! England's green and fertile fields below.<br />
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After passing through the airport, the Singers are back in the air, flying over the White Cliffs of Dover.<br /><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's official -- the Italians are glad the group has arrived.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Upon arrival, the group boarded a bus for Perugia, located about 100 miles north of Rome.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ0TjKhoLNr_80aQ0ecby68GABtFqLvPYuC_TdHuLTdkrmIzODchegMVOfd4pafnvseWCYRhnWckpGAbpjvysSjVadwpfhyn2RGlrIahOF9nkpu6ae45kswceykyUy8y4Z0fM3vG6zcjg/s1600/On+the+bus+to+Perugia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ0TjKhoLNr_80aQ0ecby68GABtFqLvPYuC_TdHuLTdkrmIzODchegMVOfd4pafnvseWCYRhnWckpGAbpjvysSjVadwpfhyn2RGlrIahOF9nkpu6ae45kswceykyUy8y4Z0fM3vG6zcjg/s320/On+the+bus+to+Perugia.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How cool is this bus? Windows galore!</td></tr>
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Perugia is very nearly at the exact center of Italy. It is the capital
of the Umbria region, known as the "Green Heart of Italy." It has a number of universities and a vibrant arts scene. A number of Renaissance painters produced work in Perugia.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibISR3OUvq05yRADLWMuYU1f77SORnwwTZMftiJZkwfDhhZSsjSjErLw6aIF5qpH1XjMGNfzXYGqABup78NzVOVYThfpD_KpZtMtLRThGQDvzS4PDK44FvwvxztBMRrw9STm5gyVoeK4A/s1600/Perugia+Skyline.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibISR3OUvq05yRADLWMuYU1f77SORnwwTZMftiJZkwfDhhZSsjSjErLw6aIF5qpH1XjMGNfzXYGqABup78NzVOVYThfpD_KpZtMtLRThGQDvzS4PDK44FvwvxztBMRrw9STm5gyVoeK4A/s1600/Perugia+Skyline.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perugia is on a hilltop in the center of the photo. (Internet)</td></tr>
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Perugia has become famous for chocolate, mostly because of a single firm, Perugina, whose Baci ("kisses") are widely exported.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-20"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perugia#cite_note-20"></a></sup> Perugian chocolate is very popular in Italy,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perugia#cite_note-21"></a></sup> and the city hosts a chocolate festival every October.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-22"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perugia#cite_note-22"></a></sup> (Let's hope the Singers taste these "kisses" and report back on how well they stand up to our own local confection of the same name.) The suburbs host a large number of small business enterprises.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcYLEbLtuj0_o0p8-K2lyIRrswYt3jFs3ICTUTZGNuc3uzHVaoH863LbXxHTsIQsS1vRB9zAjyG-DZAHrlVibOoBWwSSeZqHH5aBAuOa-uvqhQre8TCpH1AZvFwbPW4mrooTpwh5ox_H8/s1600/Piazza+Perugia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcYLEbLtuj0_o0p8-K2lyIRrswYt3jFs3ICTUTZGNuc3uzHVaoH863LbXxHTsIQsS1vRB9zAjyG-DZAHrlVibOoBWwSSeZqHH5aBAuOa-uvqhQre8TCpH1AZvFwbPW4mrooTpwh5ox_H8/s320/Piazza+Perugia.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A famous town square with its fountain. No trees! (Internet)</td></tr>
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<b>Lee Gayman writes from Perugia: </b><br />
"The trip over was rather long, but uneventful. We arrived at the hotel a couple
of hours late, tired, but so pleased to be in Perugia. The hotel is definitely 4
stars plus and breakfast (en hotel) fantastic. We are three escalator rides below
the city proper and the history (and photo-ops) are phenomenal. I'm sending you
some photos to add to the blog should you see fit to do so. Tonight will
be our first concert in Assisi. The weather is hot, but hey, we're on
vacation!"<br />
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Here are Lee's pictures.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMgyfV3Ta_0Cpoy5BxrFpVvl3mMJ2fMjX1mR6QzGhKbH01z2H48ntO00Tn6zhCRHjOw_SN3knHqFKLCRwDf-f5lUCL0Pt2nOfS0__1crOY6jFlPlXyKoFYLe3KJzcQIXjpwtgslfurjM/s1600/Perugia+Hotel+Lee.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMgyfV3Ta_0Cpoy5BxrFpVvl3mMJ2fMjX1mR6QzGhKbH01z2H48ntO00Tn6zhCRHjOw_SN3knHqFKLCRwDf-f5lUCL0Pt2nOfS0__1crOY6jFlPlXyKoFYLe3KJzcQIXjpwtgslfurjM/s320/Perugia+Hotel+Lee.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"The Sangallo Palace Hotel in Perugia, Italy Not too great from the outside,
very nice (and cool) inside!" (LG)</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzAEGGuIdd0B_ZugB17Xv0p9IflEVh9g-CJJQyQ9vMpOCWS90ZL0nxzCuUX2XC28KYPHWgBpO2IyZCq_JkXZxUSlG3mmE06P0Gie0n_SxwhOUsatlDhEKrVu8gjc26D9DiMJrKyNhYnYU/s1600/Perugio+Tony+Ciucci.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzAEGGuIdd0B_ZugB17Xv0p9IflEVh9g-CJJQyQ9vMpOCWS90ZL0nxzCuUX2XC28KYPHWgBpO2IyZCq_JkXZxUSlG3mmE06P0Gie0n_SxwhOUsatlDhEKrVu8gjc26D9DiMJrKyNhYnYU/s320/Perugio+Tony+Ciucci.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"This is Tony Ciucci returning to the hotel after a morning of exploring Perugia." (LG)</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-VwtgzLh_2JioZsfbYWsuCxqz5R6uJLu_omfV8NC22UKHqW0AfO3QTUiHtIrIlY-TKtaSo8ZTxxyeHh0kxjT7XIxd5llLbpRt0V0EJfsaqlEb2fpTTZ_uyHks_AAwM1F12O1sBeACFw/s1600/Three+women+Perugia+Lee.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-VwtgzLh_2JioZsfbYWsuCxqz5R6uJLu_omfV8NC22UKHqW0AfO3QTUiHtIrIlY-TKtaSo8ZTxxyeHh0kxjT7XIxd5llLbpRt0V0EJfsaqlEb2fpTTZ_uyHks_AAwM1F12O1sBeACFw/s320/Three+women+Perugia+Lee.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Molly, Cindy and Karen just returning to the hotel lobby. What have they been
drinking?! We're a very serious bunch of choral singers!" (LG)</i></td></tr>
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After a day of sightseeing in Perugia, the group will journey to Assisi for their European debut concert. Can you imagine how excited they are? They will sing tonight at 9:00 p.m. in the world famous Basilica of St. Francis.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLWtWu7VN9ybQ-FXhNUVzWsYPGi6hEAwgbDx9BCY7G7gfgzfg4lsVwHAYJtvObdNq1qP0TuVm5oF1ggGAmxXi5eKtlEunGT6-whyphenhyphen6_Ni0sVqKQR57_6_WfsHPB40_V01B0jftQXJ_jc8/s1600/San+Francesco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLWtWu7VN9ybQ-FXhNUVzWsYPGi6hEAwgbDx9BCY7G7gfgzfg4lsVwHAYJtvObdNq1qP0TuVm5oF1ggGAmxXi5eKtlEunGT6-whyphenhyphen6_Ni0sVqKQR57_6_WfsHPB40_V01B0jftQXJ_jc8/s320/San+Francesco.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basilica Superiore di San Francesco, Assisi, site of concert. (Internet)</td></tr>
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The <i>Papal Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi</i>
is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Franciscan Order—in Assisi,
Italy, the city where St. Francis was born and died. The basilica is one
of the most important places of Christian pilgrimage
in Italy. With its accompanying friary, the basilica is a distinctive
landmark to those approaching Assisi. It has been a UNESCO <b><a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list" target="_blank">World Heritage Site</a></b> since 2000.</div>
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The
basilica, which was begun in 1228, is built into the side of a
hill and comprises two churches known as the Upper Church and the Lower
Church, and a crypt where the remains of the saint are interred. The
interior of the Upper Church is an important early example of the Gothic
style in Italy. The Upper and Lower Churches are decorated with
frescoes by numerous late medieval painters from the Roman and Tuscan
schools. The range and quality of the works gives the basilica a unique
importance in demonstrating the development of Italian art of this
period.<br />
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<b>Greg Gable writes:</b><br />
"This is where we will sing tonight. Sandy and I were there over the past
weekend. We will be sending other images from Assisi also, and then from
other locales."<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgx8UPKdMIriOQKIGmrhDat4T9z7YndZkHt7O9REB9f3caqfV4Rt_80uSVQ4r-YtzFMuP8hwvbSM199D1guUJIGUvT6INL_UikMYw-eXAQ6Rp8uXL8lr8CmYxTwjBgG7qtk_9fuwVufxg/s1600/St.+Francis+Sunday+am+Greg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgx8UPKdMIriOQKIGmrhDat4T9z7YndZkHt7O9REB9f3caqfV4Rt_80uSVQ4r-YtzFMuP8hwvbSM199D1guUJIGUvT6INL_UikMYw-eXAQ6Rp8uXL8lr8CmYxTwjBgG7qtk_9fuwVufxg/s320/St.+Francis+Sunday+am+Greg.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Francis Basilica on Sunday morning. (GG)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptEDHqVugD5sAwHEdQG9jCIhIpm1lLLho75DwlwdOkkm82h5ft0vT88KmTeFX2INRxRMbmWtrjsmMA-lehi0OKw91y2UTzBl2HeZeoVKfPnFkKroKodqZI0-VeZFFhdmGnHSJZIAwSjE/s1600/St.+Francis+Basilica+Greg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptEDHqVugD5sAwHEdQG9jCIhIpm1lLLho75DwlwdOkkm82h5ft0vT88KmTeFX2INRxRMbmWtrjsmMA-lehi0OKw91y2UTzBl2HeZeoVKfPnFkKroKodqZI0-VeZFFhdmGnHSJZIAwSjE/s320/St.+Francis+Basilica+Greg.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Francis Basilica at sundown. (GG)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLTk5WdffhmxhkB63WpJf0IVDUYBv1-GysUkGy5OZh_WUwReHMEG82fFiDz_vE3TVWTRBbHcpT1xRsDmuLsqXPTOKejTulaitsEueaDKB5dAiY946SLR7tu_KP1AnQdEQ3tLLzchsWxU/s1600/Assisi+Greg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLTk5WdffhmxhkB63WpJf0IVDUYBv1-GysUkGy5OZh_WUwReHMEG82fFiDz_vE3TVWTRBbHcpT1xRsDmuLsqXPTOKejTulaitsEueaDKB5dAiY946SLR7tu_KP1AnQdEQ3tLLzchsWxU/s320/Assisi+Greg.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Street scene in Assisi (GG)</td></tr>
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We look forward to more photos, posts, and comments -- and a full report on the concert! -- from the Singers in the days ahead. Thanks to Wilmer, Lee, and Greg for their contributions to today's blog entry.</div>
</div>JOHN K. ROBINSONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05762882873235650999noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518418235324886154.post-66935204926870346312012-06-05T11:53:00.001-07:002012-06-05T12:01:59.502-07:00Final itinerary for Singers is announced<br />
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<span id="goog_1723525283"></span><span id="goog_1723525284"></span>We are pleased to provide the final "official" itinerary for the first Italian concert tour of the Market Square Singers. Each day from June 17-26, we will post the Singers' location and activities<span style="font-size: small;"><b>. </b><span style="color: #3c1a56; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><b> </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><b style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: #990000;">SUNDAY</span> </b> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">June 17 Depart Philadelphia
International Airport</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><b style="color: #990000;">MONDAY</b> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">June 18 Arrive Rome</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> Transit
to Perugia</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">TUESDAY</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">June 19 Free day in
Perugia</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> Evening:
concert I, Assisi</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">WEDNESDAY</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">June 20 Morning: visit
Assisi</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> Evening:
visit Spoleto</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><b style="color: #990000;">THURSDAY</b><b> </b> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">June 21 Morning: visit
Siena</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">
Evening: concert II, Pistoia</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><b style="color: #990000;">FRIDAY</b><b style="color: #990000;"> </b> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">June 22 Morning: visit
Pisa</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">
Evening: visit Lucca</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">
Evening: concert III, Florence</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><b style="color: #990000;">SATURDAY</b><span style="color: #990000;"> </span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">June 23 Morning: visit Florence</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> Evening:
concert IV, Lucca</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><b style="color: #990000;">SUNDAY</b> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">June 24 Morning:
transit to Rome</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">
Evening: free time in Rome</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><b style="color: #990000;">MONDAY</b> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">June 25 Morning: free
time in Rome</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">
Afternoon: Vatican City tour</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">
Evening: farewell dinner</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><b style="color: #990000;">TUESDAY</b> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">June 26 Depart
Italy, arrive USA</span></span><br />
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</div>JOHN K. ROBINSONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05762882873235650999noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518418235324886154.post-67041445305537893262012-06-04T17:30:00.000-07:002012-06-05T04:30:31.023-07:00Concert program is finalized<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInsMO96Bp8MLFwCXTbHRI9tiHBIZ_rM9D5JnILCqYGKB_U5P6MqyNte8MkAkMZWlu-Y_0qXmGQb4K8tUgzTFTH13ETLSrACMwpRur61ny7RYTU2zaN5ETBqvI3Q_JrYJ3gWXtvMc_nhk/s1600/220px-Fiumicino_terminal_map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInsMO96Bp8MLFwCXTbHRI9tiHBIZ_rM9D5JnILCqYGKB_U5P6MqyNte8MkAkMZWlu-Y_0qXmGQb4K8tUgzTFTH13ETLSrACMwpRur61ny7RYTU2zaN5ETBqvI3Q_JrYJ3gWXtvMc_nhk/s320/220px-Fiumicino_terminal_map.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport, Rome</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here's your copy of <a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0wqa7gkSBJ6WGFQN1VPTmVyM2c/edit" target="_blank"><b>the program </b></a>Italian audiences will be hearing this summer. Our blog will be letting you know where the Singers are each day, tell you something about the town they're in, and show you a picture of the church in which they are singing.<br />
<br />
Singers will be sending us posts about their adventures, and everyone will be able to make comments about what is written. You'll see some great pictures and perhaps some videos, too!<br />
<br />
(To make a comment, just click on the word COMMENTS at the end of the post, and a window will open for your comment.) <br />
<br />
It all begins on June 18, when the Market Square Singers arrive at the Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport in Rome.JOHN K. ROBINSONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05762882873235650999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518418235324886154.post-73141767865173967622012-06-03T19:49:00.001-07:002012-06-03T21:46:27.342-07:00Singers are off to a great start with debut concert in St. Lawrence Chapel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Market Square Singers' American debut today at St. Lawrence Chapel was acclaimed with applause from the enthusiastic audience. After opening with Daniel Gawthrop's "Sing a Mighty Song," the choir sang a program (<b><a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0wqa7gkSBJ6NzZ1M2ZQVFdXRDQ/edit" target="_blank">read here</a></b>) similar to those planned for the Italian cities of Assisi, Florence, Lucca, and Pistoia. They leave for Italy on June 17. Among the high points of the concert was "O Magnum Mysterium" by Morten Lauridsen (<b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Olk-P-GN5bw&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">watch and listen here</a></b>).<br />
<br />
Lauridsen, born in 1943, is an American composer of Danish decent. He won the National Medal of Arts in 2007. He was composer-in-residence of the Los Angeles Master Chorale (1994-2001), and has been a professor of composition at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music for more than 30 years.<br />
<br />
Lauridsen's harmonic language varies with the text of each choral work,
but consists primarily of extended triadic harmonies in different
inversions and spacings, as well as occasional quartal harmonies and
tone clusters. A first-inversion major triad with an added 9th is a
particularly recognized sound in much of his more recent work. This
sonority characterizes "O Magnum Mysterium," a responsorial chant from the Matins of Christmas.<br />
<br />
The text and translation are given here:<br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 10pt;"></span></i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 10pt;"></span>
<br />
<dl>
<dt>Latin text</dt>
</dl>
<dl><dd>O magnum mysterium, et admirabile sacramentum,</dd><dd>ut animalia viderent Dominum natum,<br />
jacentem in praesepio!</dd><dd>Beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt portare Dominum Christum.</dd><dd>Alleluia.</dd></dl>
<dl>
<dt>English translation</dt>
</dl>
<dl><dd>O great mystery, and wonderful sacrament,</dd><dd>that animals should see the new-born Lord,<br />
lying in a manger!</dd><dd>Blessed is the Virgin whose womb was worthy to bear Christ the Lord.</dd><dd>Alleluia!</dd></dl>
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See and hear the audience reaction <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDM_QxaX6y8" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a>.<br />
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<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morten_Lauridsen#cite_note-2"></a></sup><br />
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 10pt;"> </span>JOHN K. ROBINSONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05762882873235650999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518418235324886154.post-56539605967662351452012-05-29T07:34:00.000-07:002012-06-02T15:51:49.865-07:00Debut performance is Sunday, June 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You're in for a treat if you're planning to attend the Market Square Singers' American debut on Sunday, June 3, at 4:00 p.m. in St. Lawrence Chapel, 110 State Street, Harrisburg. The chapel is located near the river on historic State Street, at the far end of the street from the Pennsylvania State Capitol.<br />
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The concert is open to the public with a suggested donation to benefit the programs and activities of the <b><a href="http://www.ssamusic.org/" target="_blank">State Street Academy of Music</a></b>, headquartered in the chapel. Please tell your friends and neighbors about this extraordinary event.<br />
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I had the pleasure of taking some photos during a rehearsal yesterday and was mightily impressed by the singing of Sweelinck's <i>Hodie </i>(<b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0nxhmY69xs" target="_blank">listen here</a></b>)<i>.</i> The ensemble sang with skill and gusto, something they promise to deliver during Sunday's concert, too, in a variety of styles from different eras. You can see <a href="http://marketsquaresingersinitaly.blogspot.com/2012/05/compositions-run-gamut-from-renaissance.html" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a> what compositions are on the program.<br />
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On June 17, the Singers and director Eric Riley will fly to Italy to begin their tour of churches and cathedrals, where they will present their concert for Italian audiences. <br />
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<br />JOHN K. ROBINSONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05762882873235650999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518418235324886154.post-6576383344862681812012-05-02T18:46:00.000-07:002012-05-05T17:59:35.593-07:00Compositions run gamut from Renaissance to contemporary<br />
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As we have read in an earlier blog post, Market Square Singers will perform a challenging but delightful program based on the contrast between similar texts by early and more recent composers. Here is what you can expect to hear at St. Lawrence Chapel on June 3, and in the fabled acoustics found in the Italian churches the Singers will visit.</div>
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<b style="color: #274e13;">SACRED MUSIC: ANCIENT AND MODERN</b></div>
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Introit:</div>
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<b>Daniel Gawthrop: Sing a Mighty Song</b></div>
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<i>Daniel E. Gawthrop (born 1949 in Fort Wayne, Indiana) is an American composer, primarily of choral music. His output also includes a substantial body of works for the organ,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AO_profile_0-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_E._Gawthrop#cite_note-AO_profile-0"></a></sup>
as well as orchestral and instrumental works. He has been the recipient
of more than 100 commissions to write original music. </i></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">________ </span></div>
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<b>Palestrina: Sicut Cervus </b></div>
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<i>Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525 or 1526-1594)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Grove_0-0"> </sup>was an Italian Renaissance composer of sacred music and the best-known 16th-century representative of the Roman School of musical composition.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Roche_1-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestrina,_Giovanni_Periluigi_da#cite_note-Roche-1"></a></sup>
He had a lasting influence on the development of church music, and his
work has often been seen as the culmination of Renaissance polyphony.</i><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Roche_1-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestrina,_Giovanni_Periluigi_da#cite_note-Roche-1"></a></sup> </div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">________</span></div>
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<span lang="FR"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span lang="FR">Josquin de
Prez: Ave Maria</span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="FR"></span></b><i style="color: #444444;">De Prez </i><span style="color: #444444;"> </span><i style="color: #444444;">(c.1450/1455-1521) -- there are many variations of the spelling of his name -- was the most famous European composer between Guillaume Dufay and Palestrina,
and is usually considered to be the central figure of the
Franco-Flemish School. Josquin is widely considered by music scholars to
be the first master of the high Renaissance style of polyphonic vocal music, which was emerging during his lifetime.</i></div>
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<b><span lang="ES-TRAD">Franz
Biebl: Ave Maria</span></b></div>
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<i style="color: #444444;">Franz Xaver Biebl (1906-2001) was a German composer of classical music. Most of his compositions were for choral ensembles. Biebl's best-known work is his </i><i style="color: #444444;">Ave Maria</i><i style="color: #444444;"> (1964), which sets portions of the </i><i style="color: #444444;">Angelus</i><i style="color: #444444;"> as well as the </i><i style="color: #444444;">Ave Maria</i><i style="color: #444444;">. The piece was brought to the United States by the Cornell University Glee Club
in 1970. The </i><i style="color: #444444;">Ave Maria</i><i style="color: #444444;"> quickly gained popularity<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chanticleer_%28ensemble%29" title="Chanticleer (ensemble)"></a>.
Although it was originally scored for male voices, after </i><i style="color: #444444;">Ave Maria</i><i style="color: #444444;">
became popular, the composer himself rearranged the piece for SATB and SSA choirs.</i><b><span lang="ES-TRAD"> </span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="ES-TRAD">Morten
Lauridsen: O Magnum Mysterium</span></b></div>
<i>Morten Johannes Lauridsen (born February 27, 1943) is an American composer of Danish descent. A National Medal of Arts recipient (2007)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morton_Lauridsen#cite_note-0"></a></sup>, he was composer-in-residence of the Los Angeles Master Chorale (1994–2001) <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morton_Lauridsen#cite_note-1"></a></sup>and has been a professor of composition at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music for more than 30 years. Lauridsen's choral compositions, including seven choral cycles and a
series of sacred a cappella motets, are featured regularly in concerts
worldwide. In particular, O Magnum Mysterium, Contre Qui, Rose and Dirait-on (from Les Chansons des Roses), and O Nata Lux (from Lux Aeterna) have become popular items in the choral repertoire.</i><br />
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<b><span lang="ES-TRAD">Padre Martini: Domine, ad Adjuvandum Me, Festina</span></b></div>
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<span lang="ES-TRAD"><i>Giovanni Battista Martini (1706-1784), also known as Padre Martini, was an Italian musician born at Bologna. His father, a violinist, taught him the elements of music and the violin. Later he learned singing, playing the harpsichord, and counterpoint. Martini received his education in classics from the fathers of the oratory of San Filippo Neri, then entered into a novitiate at the Franciscan monastery at Lago and became a Franciscan friar in 1722.</i></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-TRAD"><b>Jackson
Berkey: Arma Lucis</b> </span></div>
<i>Jackson Berkey was born May 24, 1942, in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.
He began playing the piano at age 5. After graduating from high school in 1960, Berkey briefly attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, then at Wilkes College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, where he earned a bachelor's degree in piano performance. He received a master's
degree in piano performance from Juilliard in 1968. Many of Berkey's compositions are songs, cantatas, and other works for vocal ensembles of men, women, and mixed choirs.
Currently, Berkey is composing a series of nocturnes that cover all 24 major and minor keys.</i><br />
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<b><span lang="ES-TRAD">A.
Scarlatti: Exultate Deo</span></b></div>
<i>Alessandro Scarlatti (1660-1725) was an Italian Baroque composer especially famous for his operas and chamber cantatas. He is considered the founder of the Neapolitan school of opera. Alessandro Scarlatti's music forms an important link between the early Baroque Italian vocal styles of the 17th
century, with their centers in Florence, Venice and Rome, and the
classical school of the 18th century, which culminated in Mozart.</i><br />
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<b>Fred Gramann: Still, Still With Thee</b></div>
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<i>Fred Gramann is a native of Washington state. He earned organ performance
degrees from Syracuse University and the University of Michigan, moving
to Paris in 1972 for organ study with Marie-Claire Alain and Maurice
Duruflé. Since 1976, he has been Director of Music at the American
Church in Paris where he is organist and conducts vocal and bell choirs.</i><br />
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<b>J. P. Sweelinck: Hodie</b></div>
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<i><span class="srTitle">Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck</span> (1562-1621), Dutch organist
and composer, was one of the principal figures in the development of organ
music before J.S. Bach. Although he composed much sacred and secular vocal music in the polyphonic traditions of France and the Netherlands (including the </i><i>Chansons</i><i><i>,</i> the </i><i>Cantiones sacrae</i><i>, and settings of the Psalms), Sweelinck was chiefly known as an organist and keyboard composer. </i><br />
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<b>Bob Chilcott: Where Riches Is Everlastingly</b></div>
<i><span class="musicComposertextHighlight">Bob Chilcott</span> is one of
the most active composers and choral conductors in Britain today. He has
been involved in choral music most of his life, as a chorister in the
choir of King's College, Cambridge, then a Choral Scholar at King’s, and
between 1985 and 1997 a member of the British vocal group The King's
Singers. He has been a full-time composer since 1997. Chilcott has conducted his own works at Market Square Church with the choirs of Market Square and Pine Street Presbyterian churches.</i><br />
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<b><span style="color: #351c75;">Moses Hogan: I’m Gonna Sing ‘Til the Spirit Moves in My
Heart</span></b><br />
<i>Moses George Hogan (1957-2003) was an African-American composer and arranger of choral music. He was best known for his very popular and accessible settings of spirituals.
Hogan was a pianist, conductor, and arranger of international renown.
His works are often performed by high school, college,
church, community, and professional choirs around the globe. </i></div>JOHN K. ROBINSONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05762882873235650999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518418235324886154.post-46005142355332019522012-05-01T11:25:00.001-07:002012-05-01T11:51:26.243-07:00Dates and locations of concerts announcedMark your calendars so you'll know when (and where) Market Square Singers are performing in Italy.<br />
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<b>Basilica Superiore di San Francesco, Assisi</b></div>
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Tuesday, June 19, 9:00 p.m.</div>
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The <i>Papal Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi</i> is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Franciscan Order—in Assisi, Italy, the city where St. Francis was born and died. The basilica is one of the most important places of Christian pilgrimage
in Italy. With its accompanying friary, the basilica is a distinctive
landmark to those approaching Assisi. It has been a UNESCO <b><a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list" target="_blank">World Heritage Site</a></b> since 2000.</div>
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The basilica, which was begun in 1228, is built into the side of a
hill and comprises two churches known as the Upper Church and the Lower
Church, and a crypt where the remains of the saint are interred. The
interior of the Upper Church is an important early example of the Gothic style in Italy. The Upper and Lower Churches are decorated with frescoes by numerous late medieval painters from the Roman and Tuscan schools. The range and quality of the works gives the basilica a unique importance in demonstrating the development of Italian art of this period.</div>
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<b>Cathedral of St. Zeno, Pistoia</b></div>
Thursday, June 21, 9:00 p.m. <br />
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<i>Pistoia Cathedral </i>is the main religious building of Pistoia, Tuscany, central Italy, located in the <i>Piazza del Duomo</i> in the center of the city. It is the seat of the Bishop of Pistoia and is dedicated to Saint Zeno of Verona.</div>
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Most probably built in the 10th century, the cathedral has a façade in Romanesque style, inspired by other churches in Pistoia.
The interior has a nave and two side-aisles, with a presbytery (area for clergy) and
crypt. A restoration in 1952-1999 returned the church to its original
lines.</div>
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<b>Orsanmichele Church, Florence</b></div>
Friday, June 22, 9:00 p.m. <br />
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<i>Orsanmichele</i> (or "Kitchen Garden of St. Michael") is a church in the Italian city of Florence. The building was constructed on the site of the kitchen garden of the monastery of San Michele, which is now gone.</div>
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Located on the Via Calzaiuoli in Florence, the church was originally built as a grain market<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-arch_0-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orsanmichele#cite_note-arch-0"></a></sup> in 1337. Between 1380 and 1404
it was converted into a church used as the chapel of Florence's
powerful craft and trade guilds. </div>
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On the ground floor of the square
building are the 13th century arches that originally formed the loggia
of the grain market. The second floor was devoted to offices, while the
third housed one of the city's municipal grain storehouses, maintained
to withstand famine or siege.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-arch_0-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orsanmichele#cite_note-arch-0"></a></sup>
Late in the 14th century, the guilds were charged by the city to
commission statues of their patron saints to embellish the facades of
the church.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-arch_0-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orsanmichele#cite_note-arch-0"></a></sup> The sculptures seen today are copies, the originals having been removed to museums.</div>
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<b>Chiesa di Santa Maria Corteorlandini, Lucca</b></div>
Saturday, June 23, 9:00 p.m. <br />
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This old church, rebuilt at the end of the 12th century, was again
remodeled from the late 16th century, when a newly-formed and extremely
active religious congregation, known today as the Regular Priests of
the Mother of God, took up residence there. In the interior there is evidence of the role
they played in the remodeling, as it is a rare
example of the Baroque style in Lucca.<br />
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<i><span style="color: #0b5394;"> Location of Tuscany on the </span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #0b5394;">western coast of central Italy.</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>JOHN K. ROBINSONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05762882873235650999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518418235324886154.post-80646361033112330412012-04-30T19:09:00.001-07:002012-05-15T07:22:15.986-07:00Riley will lead Market Square Singers to Italy<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBsqgMVF7KJ51UaKV-9mvfc4ADTzmV9TciqFpm3SxD0PF9VGcawyuahD8KKwvTojVRycjyH4mT060WZBVAKuyZp2k-zZUjJa4_3Mv8XSGx0toC9qIRpHnzeh4Xc8SQkbtRlhyphenhyphenABFfKBiI/s1600/Riley+with+continuo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBsqgMVF7KJ51UaKV-9mvfc4ADTzmV9TciqFpm3SxD0PF9VGcawyuahD8KKwvTojVRycjyH4mT060WZBVAKuyZp2k-zZUjJa4_3Mv8XSGx0toC9qIRpHnzeh4Xc8SQkbtRlhyphenhyphenABFfKBiI/s200/Riley+with+continuo.JPG" width="107" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eric R. Riley</td></tr>
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Eric R. Riley is Director of Music and Organist
at Market Square Presbyterian Church, a position he assumed
in November 2007. He is also conductor of the <b><a href="http://www.cposingers.com/" target="_blank">Central Pennsylvania Oratorio Singers</a></b> and newly-appointed artistic director of the <b><a href="http://www.thewheatlandchorale.org/" target="_blank">Wheatland Chorale</a></b>. Previously, he held the post of Director of
Music/Organist at First United Methodist Church, Cleveland, Ohio, for fourteen
years. Riley has held other church positions in Syracuse, New York, Nashville, Tenn.,
Richmond, Va., and Canton, Ohio.</div>
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Riley has
lead the Metropolitan Chorale of the Metropolitan School for the Arts in
Syracuse, New York; has been conductor of the Walsh University Chorale in North Canton,
Ohio; and was, for ten years, the Associate Artistic Director of Voices of Canton,
Inc. (VOCI), formerly Canton Civic Opera, of Canton, Ohio. He has also been
accompanist to the chorus and harpsichordist for the Canton Symphony Orchestra. </div>
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Riley holds the Master of Church
Music degree in choral conducting and organ from Scarritt Graduate School
(Vanderbilt University) in Nashville, Tenn., and the Bachelor of Music degree in
organ performance from Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York.</div>
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He has studied conducting with G. Burton Harbison at Syracuse University, Larry
Doebler at Ithaca College, and Sandra Willetts at Scarritt Graduate School. He
has also studied Renaissance choral style with Peter Phillips, conductor of <b><a href="http://www.thetallisscholars.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Tallis Scholars</a></b>, in Rimini, Italy. </div>
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It is Riley's love of Renaissance and other ancient musical forms that led to the formation of <i>Market Square Singers</i> for this once-in-a-lifetime musical tour of Italy. "The response from area singers and their devotion to learning and performing the contrasting pieces in the program have been intensely gratifying," Riley says."It will be my honor to present them to Italian audiences."</div>
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</div>JOHN K. ROBINSONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05762882873235650999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518418235324886154.post-50003452237904310602012-04-27T17:20:00.000-07:002012-04-30T18:00:59.627-07:00Concerts in Italy will feature "Sacred Music: Ancient and Modern"<div>
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<div>
Composers through the centuries have expressed similar concepts, emotions, and ideas in varied ways.</div>
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<br />
Even in the same historical period, composers have managed to express the same or similar words in<br />
very different ways.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basilica Superiore di San
Francesco in Assisi</td></tr>
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Bach and Handel were contemporaries in that era we call “Baroque,” sharing some stylistic elements, but the “Alleluja” from Bach’s motet “Lobet den Herrn alle Heiden” (BWV 230) and the “Hallelujah” from Handel’s <i>Messiah</i> are still very different expressions of the same ecstatic religious utterance.<i> </i><br />
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<i>This contrast in expression forms the basis of "Sacred Music: Ancient and Modern," a choral program the newly-formed Market Square Singers are performing in Italy this summer. </i></div>
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The program includes intentional pairings of sacred works from the Renaissance and Baroque eras with compositions by living composers based on the same or similar texts. </div>
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The exquisite 16th-century contrapuntal setting of “Ave Maria” by <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUAgAF4Khmg" target="_blank">Josquin des Pres</a></b> is paired with the lush “romantic” harmonies of the setting by <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBoxDCiNSE8&feature=related" target="_blank">Franz Biebl</a></b>. A charming Baroque cantata is paired with a stunning<br />
contemporary piece by American Jackson Berkey. Ancient music by Palestrina and Sweelinck is performed along side modern compositions by <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7ch7uottHU" target="_blank">Morten Lauridsen</a></b> and Bob Chilcott. Regardless of the era, this program is full of some of the most interesting, powerful and beautiful sacred music ever written.</div>
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Market Square Singers will depart on June 17 and return on June
26. Performances will be presented in the <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_San_Francesco_d%27Assisi" target="_blank">Basilica Superiore di San Francesco in Assisi</a></b>, the St. Zeno Cathedral in Pistoia, the Orsanmichele
Church in<br />
Florence, and at Santa Maria Corteorlandini Church in Lucca.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmvy8GEOAqkjNN7XZm9yUjHLHt4Jk1U5KZs2DvLpJQFM1BdlpqAODy9cBw-PiL3e96orSAqvLCHyY3yyM6wzYMfWDworvZhdsNuuKoMciPHnrEYWThrNR9r457iqNnzap9WzsjJ04I24A/s1600/Harrisburg.StLawrenceChapel.2010Brunner.Zentmeyer01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmvy8GEOAqkjNN7XZm9yUjHLHt4Jk1U5KZs2DvLpJQFM1BdlpqAODy9cBw-PiL3e96orSAqvLCHyY3yyM6wzYMfWDworvZhdsNuuKoMciPHnrEYWThrNR9r457iqNnzap9WzsjJ04I24A/s320/Harrisburg.StLawrenceChapel.2010Brunner.Zentmeyer01.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Lawrence Chapel in Harrisburg</td></tr>
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You may experience this fabulous program and wish your Market Square friends a fond “buon viaggio” when the singers perform on Sunday, June 3, at 4 p.m. at the St. Lawrence Chapel, 110 State Street, Harrisburg. The concert is open to the public with a suggested donation to benefit the programs and activities of the <b><a href="http://www.ssamusic.org/" target="_blank">State Street Academy of Music</a></b>, headquartered in the chapel. This is glorious choral music sung in the wonderful acoustic of St. Lawrence Chapel. Do not miss this opportunity to feed your soul with great choral music and to support your friends!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3E5oz65GNfxOzVUi836F9lE3eIaiJjS4ldRyFfJSEPCvOfVYRlqNwTn9uNxogOSsxQnzn-anpmtwMq8BqB5OMnO-1DKN_9TkJQk2eRZeRWJOeyP6jMPIb_CDvanYkwXTusw5rpdIvJA/s1600/italian-cafe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<br /></div>JOHN K. ROBINSONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05762882873235650999noreply@blogger.com