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DIARY ON THE ROAD APRIL 2003 NEW YORK CITY, RENNSSELAER POLYTECH - PAULINE OLIVEROS- IONE Still roaming, just turned 84 years old Here at Rennsselaer Polytech, another very old trade school like Newark College of Engineering, many new things happening, and Pauline is in the forefront. Her Deep Listening class here is a popular class. Distinguished Professor of Music Research, I am amazed how she knows each and every student, receives frequent messages by e-mail. One graduate of her class has won a full Fellowship at McGill for a PhD to continue his work. Her Foundation at Kingston is thriving, with a gallery and frequent concerts. Dinner at the riverside was a highlight of Kingston, NY Leaving B and returning to the YMCA on 63 Street, there is Brahms Requiem at Carnegie Hall, Handel's St. Cecelia at the New York Philharmonic, and two performances of the Metropolitan Opera, on Sunday: matinee and evening. Also a lecture given by the Jesuits. A visit with Chris Felver, Library 42, for an Exhibit of Chris Felver's video on Cecil Taylor. Chris specialized in photographs of the Beat Generation, and has published a number of "coffee table" books. One of my favorite people, we have have shared some mad capers on the road with Cecil Taylor. A surprise visit to Trinity Church, for a Jazz Mass, honoring Sun Ra, to hear Steve Rush from Michigan, at Ann Arbor, on Sunday is a delightful event. Also able to come in on Vision Band with Scott Curry and DJ Parran. New York has always had wonderful concerts, theatre, and foreign films. One day of this trip will be devoted to an old day visit to a movie house near YMCA on 63 Street, for films by Asian and directors from Iraq. My favorite movie house, I can walk back to the YMCA and flop into a sauna and swimming pool, after such an extraordinary festival of art films in one day! The YMCA is my favorite place to stay with its swimming pool, sauna and cell like rooms. Recently rehabbed, I now have a luxury room, bright and sunny, on the Pent House floor, still with no bath! The lobby and other ground floor rooms have been restored to their glorious architecture and artifacts back to the days when women coming to New York City could find safe accommodations. Although regentrified with annual dues over $1,000 for both males and females, who use their modern equipment to work out, there is still a home for me when I come into New York, as a member of the YMCA for some SIXTY years when I travelled by bus to New York City from Long Branch, N. J. I have raised six children, enjoy 20 grandchildren and 3 greats, have travelled the world with Cecil Taylor and others. But, here I am, full cycle, roaming the streets of New York, still thrilled with Broadway productions, and still grateful for a safe convenient location, near Central Park, and the Lincoln Center. And Suso, as Webmaster, who has graciously invited me to share his Temple Web Site. How blessed I am, having just turned 84! |