This post will be updated with each of the three not covered in the first post on concerts.

July 11: The Gesualdo Six. A cappella

July 12: Karen Slack, African Queens

July 20: Lelia Josefowicz plays Beethoven and Debussy

The Gesualdo Six

Karen Slack

Lelia Josefowicz

Blithewold Mansion

56th year. Started with a pitch for funds to the non-profit

starts with two pieces based on shape note music. explained in some detail at the end of the blog.

brass concert on lovely grounds

Shape music (also called shape-note singing) is a musical notation system designed to make it easier for singers—especially those without formal training—to read music. It originated in the early 19th century in the United States and became a major part of American sacred music, especially in rural and church settings.

🎶 What is Shape-Note Music?

Traditional music uses a five-line staff and round noteheads. Shape-note systems assign distinct shapes to each note of the musical scale (do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti) to help singers recognize pitch relationships at a glance. The most common systems: 4-shape system (used in The Sacred Harp): fa, sol, la, mi 7-shape system (used in Christian Harmony): full major scale (do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti)

🛑 4-Shape System (Sacred Harp)

Syllable

Shape

Description

Fa

▲ Triangle

Points up

Sol

○ Circle

Round like the sun

La

⬛ Square

Four-sided

Mi

◆ Diamond

Pointed

These four shapes repeat across octaves, so singers learn the pattern of shapes and sounds.

🌈 7-Shape System (Southern Gospel and Christian Harmony)

Syllable

Shape

Do

Triangle

Re

Half circle

Mi

Diamond

Fa

Rectangle

Sol

Oval

La

Square

Ti

Star

📸 Visual Example

Here’s a simplified version of the 4-shape scale:Fa Sol La Fa Sol La Mi Fa ▲ ○ ⬛ ▲ ○ ⬛ ◆ ▲

This system allows singers to sight-read more easily, especially in group settings with no accompaniment. It’s still used today in Sacred Harp conventions, gospel singing schools, and folk music revivals.

Would you like a printable PDF of a shape-note scale or an example song using shape notation?

First course, a pickled salmon dish a family recipe.

The entire menu gluten-free.

Wonderful evening with wonderful friends

Read about the hurricane barrier in New Bedford and the walk along the water so…

Said to be the largest hurricane barrier on the east coast. We had no awareness of it. It ends at a US government barrier looking like a swinging version of the Thames barrier

https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/news/2011/06/09/new-bedford-s-hurricane-barrier/50005294007/

And then we run into something that at first glance looks like a propane factory, but clearly is not

Had to ask the locals about this

Apparently, the parts are floated here by barge and then will be assembled into windmills perhaps in the bay. There is a potential large wind farm that is controversial in Rhode Island due to the power all going to Massachusetts, but the cables would run through Seekonset Bay in Rhode Island. We saw several demonstrations at Island Park a few years back.

A local told us about Fairhaven’s “cute” downtown. We did find a lovely find downtown as one of the locals told us about but some interesting architecture, but there seems to be no shops, services or people.

Did not find much else in Fair-haven, however , locals to this area may disagree.

Legion of honor exhibit. A lot of fun and interesting intersection of art and art history.

Test

Lovely, paella, dinner, champagne, Albarino, wine, Rioja wine, Simon and Narit and a fine orange cake

Day starts with brunch with Kathy and Rick

They brought some starters

Special Stradivarius violin and guitar exhibit at the MIM. Many explanatory videos which included musicians playing some of the extraordinary instruments.



Formal afternoon tea

Short walk with wildlife

Some lights

Another lovely dinner and lovely evening. All the dishes were perfectly prepared; variety: kimchee pork ribs, salmon, turkey, perfect veggies. A cheerful meal with friends. Does not get much better.