Category Archives: Piano performances

Zig Zag Art Gallery Exhibition music

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I had a wonderful time playing some of my favourite piano music at the Zig Zag Cultural Centre’s Art Gallery in Kalamunda a few weeks ago. It was the launch of the three-artist M.A.M.A. exhibition, which runs until 5th July 2015.

Over about two hours I played my Androgyne Prophecy (1977) and lots of pieces by Bach, Chopin, Schumann & MacDowell. This was all for ‘background’ or setting a mood, and many people told me how much they liked my playing and liked the effect.

The three artists in the exhibition are Anne-Marie Wharrie, Christiana Gagiano, and Sultana Shamshi. The guest speaker on opening night was Dominic Savio, monk and artist. Danielle and Sophie, daughters of textile artist Anne-Marie, took some great photos (below). There was a large and enthusiastic crowd most of the time.

It was nice to catch up with Andrew Partington (with the cap), a fellow UWA music student from way back.

This lovely exhibition is called M.A.M.A. (Mother.Artists.Mother.Artists.), with all the dots,  because these roles (being a mother and being an artist) keep getting interrupted. See http://www.wharrie.com/index_Page1344.htm and http://www.zzcc.com.au/

Anne-Marie is now making me a really nice fabric covering for my digital piano to replace the temporary one used on the night. Then I’ll be all set to play for more launches!

See my second blog post about Anne-Marie’s art. She used an original piano composition of mine as the sound track for a video:
http://mixmargaret.com/blog/2015/08/01/zig-zag-gallery-video-now-online

.20150605.07 MDJ at Zig Zag7220150605.10 MDJ at Zig Zag7220150605.12 MDJ at Zig Zag, pic by Danielle W 7220150605.13 MDJ at Zig Zag, pics by Danielle W 72

Remodelled Soul Tree Organic Café

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Today I played piano in the new-look café. It’s quite a different shape and now has a long wooden wall down one side. Everyone said it made the digital piano sound really nice & warm with a rich, full tone much more like an acoustic piano.

A Facebook friend from uni days, flautist & teacher Linda Rossen, turned up with her mother, Iris, and her composer/guitarist son, Max. During my break it was so good to catch up in person. Iris requested Chopin so I played five of my favourite mazurkas. It was very nice to have three pairs of very finely-tuned classical music ears to play for! (Sorry, didn’t get a photo.)

Later my brother Lawrence, and his ladyfriend Lori (direct from Oklahoma City), came in for an organic beef burger. Great to finally meet the lovely Lori in person.

I played a couple of Jones originals: Kuljack and the White Swan (a pas de deux), piano music for ballet which my father composed in 1962 when I was one, and my own Androgyne Prophecy, composed when I was 15/16. Now Lori wants my music for her school teaching so I will have to prioritise my recording project.20150614.04 Soul Tree, Lori & MDJ72 20150614.15 Soul Tree, LJJ & Lori72

See my main site for Classical Sundays at Soul Tree Organic Cafe

Caramel Splash (smoothie) at Soul Tree Organic Café

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Caramel Splash (smoothie) at Soul Tree Organic Café

On Saturday I had lunch at the cafe in Glen Forrest (and the next day I played piano there). Marilyn (one of the cafe owners) had shared a post on FB about a Choice magazine article on sugary drinks so I really wanted to check out her smoothies which she said were “super healthy, organic smoothies.” See her post at https://www.facebook.com/soultreecafe/posts/503076996498034

I’m particularly keen to avoid or reduce consumption of fructose so I asked her what was in her Caramel Splash. I really wanted to know if it had any kind of sweetener in it.  BTW, it tasted GREAT, and the caramel taste is not achieved with any sort of caramel flavouring thingy nor by heating sugar (nor anything else).

Turns out they have three smoothies made with almond milk, and three made with mostly water. If I remember correctly the Caramel Splash is about three-quarters almond milk, plus banana, Maca, mesquite and date. And that’s it.

So, the sweetener is fruit i.e. fructose. However, it begins as whole pieces of fruit and not fruit juice, which must mean there is not really a lot of fructose in the glass and it’s going to take longer to be absorbed. The almond milk has no sugar of any kind. (Soul Tree also sell fruit juice which I would never drink because of all the fructose in it but some people like that and that’s their business.)

So, my conclusion is: safe to drink, nutritious, and absolutely delicious.