LIFETIME OF MUSIC FOUND IN ROSLYN’S ROOM
Anna Jacyszyn’s Artafact
These truly are the last few drops of a year that most of us will never forget and wish to never repeat. T.S. Eliot writes: “For last year’s words belong to last year’s language. And next year’s words await another voice.”
On Friday we wake- up to a new year, with a new voice to reinvigorate our enthusiasm for new hopes and dreams and the beauty of our creative spirit to continue to ignite us. Well, that’s my New Year’s Eve resolution anyway!
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A great and talented pianist, and proud to say dear friend of mine, has been inside her home without leaving it since last March, but during this time she has curated a talented team to document her musicality on a YouTube page simply called Roslyn’s Room.
At the age of 90, Roslyn Frantz is using modern technology to catalogue her message for music lovers to enjoy through this page.
At first it was a simple performance of one seasonal piano piece that she asked a friend to film and upload, but now this page will flourish with music and collaboration. One such piece is with fellow musician Heidi Hewitt. The two have brought to life a musical suite in three movements, written for two pianos, by French composer Claude Debussy. “En Blanc et Noir,” created in 1915 when the composer was at the last stages of life and sent to convalesce on the coast of Normandy. Inspired by the 17th-century Spanish painter, Diego Velázquez, who achieved nuances of grey by shading black and white, Debussy used a similar technique with orchestral “colours”, in this case represented on two pianos. Roslyn and Heidi play this music like they were truly exposing the literary and musical allusions that Debussy secretly wrote inside each suite, as a gift for us to find.
The visual aspect of the video was created by husband-and-wife team, Kirk and Karen Holland. Both creative in countless genres of art and technology, and using her own oil and mixed media paintings as graphic visuals to artistically overlay on to the underlying images of sheet music and the playing hands of the two performers.
This video proves what collaboration truly stands for. Please visit the YouTube page at bit.ly/3nTCswx or search for Roslyn’s Room to subscribe and be part of this musical pocket of local talents joined to highlight the fascinating musical story of Roslyn Frantz.
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The annual New Year’s Family event, sponsored by Valley First, the City of Kelowna and local community businesses, and organized through Festivals Kelowna is officially to be postponed until next year. Historically, the event that banners under the name New York New Year, was the highlight for many who wanted a clean, family friendly and fun gathering of like-minded people. With no way of managing a COVIDsafe gathering, the tough decision to cancel was made. Please let’s all try to stay in our bubble of friends, stay safe and wear a mask until we are all safely vaccinated.
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Many restaurants and pubs will still be open to dine, and for those who need a date night, check out the various restaurants that you frequent for reservations and information. Or stay in and have dinner delivered. One such example is: theokanagantable.com/newyears-eve-seafood-dinner-at-home $75 each.
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While dining in, have a laugh and tune into Ron James New Year’s Eve Show - ‘Live From My Living Room: Hindsight is 2020.’ This popular comedian rides the Corona Coaster into hellbound oblivion as is explained in the press release. Organized through
Rotary Centre for the Arts, this virtual tour comes straight from his living room to yours with an intimate and interactive experience that features all new material mined from “our year of the plague.” Tickets are $30 at: rotarycentreforthearts.com/events/eve nt/83602 and showtime is 5 p.m. (PST).
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Do you consider yourself a Type-A personality? Do you wonder why you worry about what others think? Are you good enough? Do you need attention and hate being alone? Do you feel the need to win at all costs? Then there is a book written by Health & Wellness Coach, Krista Thornton, especially for you! By reading this book, you will: Learn if you are a Type A, better understand perfectionism, discover ways to calm your racing mind, see how your personality impacts your health, and receive tips on how to love being a Type A. Krista will also be on a Facebook Live on Friday January 1, at 10 a.m., to officially launch her book and read a few excerpts it. You can purchase it through: amzn.to/34O3cXQ.
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Done with your tree? Its free to chip your tree at the Glenmore Landfill until Jan. 31. Loads must only contain your tree – those who want to save a trip and fill your carriage with other stuff will be charged for the entire load, including the tree! Please remove all decorations and tinsel before drop off. The Glenmore Landfill is open seven days a week from 7:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., with holiday closures only on Jan. 1. For more information about the landfill and a complete list of waste rates and acceptable materials, visit kelowna.ca/waste.
The Kelowna and District Genealogical Society’s regular monthly meetings are now held via Zoom. The first one for 2021 will be on Jan. 4, at 6:45 p.m. For those who would like to join please contact info@kdgs.ca, and an invitation will be sent to you.
At this time I wish you all a Very Happy New Year, and to use a common phrase literally… “May 2020 truly be in Hindsight!”