Yes, Jody died unexpectedly on Monday evening, September 26, 2022.
A Memorial Service/Celebration of Life for Jody will be held in 2 weeks, on Saturday January 21, 2023, 1 PM at the Resource Center for Nonviolence, 612 Ocean St. in Santa Cruz. A reception will follow, also at the RCNV. An RSVP is not required but would be appreciated — and also know that I’m sending this to a whole lot of you who are very far away and not expected to attend, though of course you are most welcome.
June 2018: At the time of this concert, May, 2017, I was asked not to post it, since it was still before the big “World Premiere” at Carnegie Hall, NYC. Now it’s a year later, so I think I’m OK posting this…
To celebrate their mutual 25th anniversaries, Ensemble Monterey Chamber Orchestra, and Cantiamo! Cabrillo Chorus, commissioned a new piece by renowned Latvian composer Ēriks Ešenvalds. “Sunset in My Hand” is a song cycle of 6 pieces, each inspired by the landscapes and beauty of California, and drawing on the poetry of various writers.
With apologies for some poor video quality, here are the six pieces, performed Sunday April 30, 2017, at Peace United Church of Christ, Santa Cruz, CA. This was the second of three scheduled premiere concerts; the first was the night before in Carmel, California, and the third was June 26, 2017, at Carnegie Hall, NYC. Wow, my son Kevin is going to sing at Carnegie Hall! (How did he get there: practice, practice, practice!)
1. The Storm
The Storm is based on…
2. Ode to the Smell of Firewood
Ode to the Smell of Firewood is based on…
3. Prayer at Winter Solstice
Prayer at Winter Solstice is based on…
4. The Redwoods
The Redwoods is based on…
5. Evening Ebb
Evening Ebb is based on…
6. I Hold the Sunset in My Hand
I Hold the Sunset in My Hand is based on…
And here are (L-R) Kevin, Cabrillo Choral Director Cheryl Anderson, Latvian composer Ēriks Ešenvalds, and Ensemble Monterey Director-Conductor (and Cheryl’s husband) John Anderson.
Il Dolce Suono, IDS, held their annual winter concert tonight, and Kevin did a fine job with his solo performance of Schumann’s Zigunerliedchen. Here’s his solo, and several other pieces from tonight’s concert.
And tonight, just 1 week after the Spring Chorale concert, Kevin’s Lyric Diction class recital was tonight, and Kevin sand two solo pieces — in Italian!
“Togliete mi la vita ancor,” from Il Pompeo by Alessandro Scarlatti
“Chi’o mai vi possa,” from Siroe by Georg Friedrich Handel
“Father William”
Music by Irving Fine, lyrics by Lewis Carroll
Three Madrigals
Music by Emma Lou Diemer, lyrics by William Shakespeare
The Coolin
Music by Samuel Barber,lyrics by James Stephens
Homeward Bound
Men’s Chorus of Cabrillo Chorale
By Carl Strommen
Brothers, Sing On!
Music by Edvard Grieg, lyrics by Herbert Dalmas
Alto Rhapsody
By Johaness Brahms
Men’s Chorus with soloist Dana Simms
Joshua Fit the Battle
Women’s Chorus
By Jill Gallina
Wayfaring Stranger
Arranged by Larry Schackley
Shine on Me
Arranged by Rollo A. Dilworth
Fields of Gold
By G. M. Sumner, arranged by Roger Emerson
When You Believe
By Stephen Swartz, arranged by Audrey Snyder
Der Hirt auf dem Felsen
By Franz Schubert
Soloist: Jennette Moretti, Clarinet: Saki Hidaka, Piano: Maryna Thomas
Kyrie
By George Fenton
Il Dolce Suono (IDS, the student-led choral group)
Sparrows Jig
By Bruce Sled
Il Dolce Suono (IDS, the student-led choral group)
Human
By Christina Perri and Martin Johnson
Il Dolce Suono (IDS, the student-led choral group)
Der Herr denket an uns
Music by Johann Sebastian Bach, libretto from Psalm 115
Violins: Eri Ishgaki, Shannon Delaney, Rachel Mangus-Hartman
Viola: John Wineglass
Cello: Kristin Garbef
Piano: Elizabeth Bunch
Timpani Drums: NAME
Cabrillo College Chorale, Spring 2016:
Soprano:
Sharon Bailey
Kerri Hughes
Dakota Hult
Michelle Miracle
Jeannette Moretti
Dana Simms
Terry Waters
Jasmine Montgomery
Alto:
Caitlin Buse
Thyra Butler
Julia Dennis
Diane Marvin
Naomi McNeill
Caitlyn Turley
Alyssa Watson
Ellen Reay
Tenor:
Milton Abbott
Landon Norton
Ulises Patino
Graham Swann
Bass:
Kevin Altenberg
Jeremiah Bokulich
Paul Bokulich
Jason Erece
Christopher Monroe
Joshua Porter
Bob Bailey
Cristian Rincon
Another lovely choral concert last night, this time the student-led Il Dolce Suono (the sweet sound), tonight at Cabrillo’s Samper Recital Hall. Here are 4 songs from the 14 they sang:
(Silly me, I totally forgot about videoing before hand, and forgot to charge my phone; thus only four songs. I’ll post more if I hear from another fellow who was there recording.)
Once again, Kevin was among the chorus members of a great show, this time “Music for the Feast of Christmas,” one of the most popular annual shows, presented by the Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus, under the direction of Cheryl Anderson.
And once again, my videos are of mediocre quality, but they’re something… The chorus surrounded the audience for the first couple of pieces, and we happened to be sitting right where Kevin was standing, so the first video is focused right on him. For the whole chorus shots, Kevin is near the top row on the left (stage right).
Hanachpachap Cussicuinin, Paco Marmol & Manolo Casaus; and My Song in the Night, Paul Christiansen (1914–1997)
Nun danket alle Gott, Johann Pachelbel (1653–1706), text by Martin Rinkart (1586–1649)
Virga Jesse Floruit, Anton Bruckner (1824–1896)
Watchman, Tell Us of the Night, Alan Hovhaness (1911–2000), text by John Bowring (1792–1872)
Psalm 150, Heinrich Schütz (1585–1672)
Blow Ye the Trumpet, Kirke Mechem (b. 1925)
Ave Maria, Jacob Arcadelt (1507–1568)
Bound for Jubilee, Joyce Elaine Eilers (1941–2009)
A Pescar Camaron, Paul Caldwell & Sean Ivory
Guantanamera, José Fernandez, arr. Gene Glickman, text by José Martí (1853–1895)
Son Mercedes, Leo Brouer (b. 1939)
Juramento, Miguel Matamoros (1894–1971), arr Electo Silva (b. 1928)
El Guayaboso, Guido López-Gavilán (b. 1944), text by Guaguancó
Our son Kevin performed tonight with the rest of the Cabrillo Chorale, in their winter concert.
In the pieces with the entire Chorale (1-5, 10-13), he’s second from right, top row. In the pieces with only the men (7-9), he’s front right.
The last tune, “Cantique de Jean Racine” by French composer Gabriel Fauré, was performed as a tribute to the people of France and the victims of terrorism everywhere, in remembrance of the terrorist attacks in Paris just 1 week ago.
In response to a request from cousin Nancy Kolodny, here are some old Altenberg family photos that cousin Lee Altenberg sent me a while ago, which he scanned from old prints.
Grandpa Leo Altenberg, 1940 or ’41?
Grandpa Leo, 1918 or 1919?
Uncle Norman at Twin Lakes Camp (Maine), 1929
Uncle Norman, 1941
Uncle Norman, 1946?
Uncles Norma & Roger
Dad (Henry) on right, Uncle Roger on left, ages 12 and 14, 1937.
Uncle Roger, age 17, 1939
Uncle Norman and his wife Delia, 1952
Uncle Norman and Delia, and their son my cousin Leo
