Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 13, 1995 TAG: 9501130070
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: DONNA ALVIS-BANKS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
... Why is it no one ever sent me yet
One perfect limousine, do you suppose?
Ah no, it's always just my luck to get
One perfect rose."
- Dorothy Parker, "One Perfect Rose"\ Talk about a delightful combination - imagine Clarity James singing Dorothy Parker's poetry!
Actually, you don't have to imagine it. You can hear it Monday at 8 p.m. in Radford University's Preston Auditorium.
James, an associate professor of voice at the university, will perform a recital of works ranging from operatic to jazzy to just plain fun.
The Dorothy Parker poems are part of the arrangement, "Songs of Perfect Propriety," composed by Seymour Barab. The songs feature the clever, often cynical, humor of Parker's verse. "One Perfect Rose" is one of seven poems in the composition.
James, a mezzo-soprano, will be accompanied by pianist Caryl Conger and assisted by Jill Coggiola on clarinet.
The program begins with classic works by Gaetano Donizetti, Henri Duparc and Hugo Wolf, followed by a segment of jazz music by Simon Sargon. The lyrics deal with different aspects of loneliness and are drawn from the poems of James Agee, Kenneth Patchen and Carl Sandburg.
The program concludes on a lighter note with Barab's "Songs of Perfect Propriety."
Admission Monday is $3 for adults, $1 for children and free for Radford University students and staff. Tickets will be available at the door.
HIGH BROW:Who says all string quartets play highfalutin music?
The West Virginia Bluegrass Connection is a group of four musicians who manipulate stringed instruments in ways that will have you stompin' your feet!
The foursome will be playing guitars, mandolin and banjo at Saturday's jamboree sponsored by the New River Community College Fiddle, Banjo and Dance Club. The Grayson Highlands Band will perform at this first jamboree of the New Year, too.
The hoedown starts with jam sessions and recorded music from 5 to 7 p.m. The live entertainment runs from 7 to 10 p.m.
As always, the jamborees are open to folks who enjoy listening and dancing to Appalachian music. Likewise, the welcome mat is out for local pickers and grinners who want to join in the jam sessions.
The jamborees are held each month at the New River Valley Fairgrounds on Virginia 100 in Dublin. Admission is free but donations are taken to help pay traveling expenses for the bands.
PSALM 150:4 "Praise him with the timbrel and dance: Praise him with stringed instruments and organs."
Gospel groups from around the valley will gather Saturday at the OCAW Building in Fairlawn. The event is the first of the monthly gospel sings for '95.
The Highland Gospel Singers and The Gospel Strings will play with guests Heavenly Vision and The Otis Linkous Singers. The music starts at 7 p.m.
Saturday marks the 58th month in the continuing series of concerts by local gospel singers and musicians. All concerts are free and open to everyone. Video cameras are allowed, too.
The OCAW Building is across from Food Lion on Peppers Ferry Road. For more information, call Carl Ratcliffe at 382-7571 or 382-4654.
SHAPE UP! Remember that New Year's resolution you made? Having trouble getting started?
The YMCA at Virginia Tech is coming to the rescue with a series of hikes open to those who want to get out and get fit.
Most of the excursions are Sunday afternoon hikes, but a few are scheduled on Saturday mornings. All depart from the YMCA parking lot at 403 Washington St. in Blacksburg. The Sunday meetings are at 1:30 p.m.
Hikers should bring water, a jacket and sturdy shoes, as well as food for longer outings. Groups will form carpools to get to the sites, so plan on driving or bringing some gas money.
The first hike is Sunday at the Cascades in Giles County. Hikers will follow an improved trail along Little Stony Creek to the 60-foot waterfall.
Here's the schedule for upcoming hikes:
Jan. 22 - Sinking Creek Mountain
Jan. 29 - Brown Farm in the Roanoke Valley
Feb. 5 - Indian Run
Feb. 12 - Bald Knob
Feb. 19 - Bottom Creek
Feb. 25 - Dragons Tooth
March 5 - Barneys Wall
March 12 - Pine Swamp
March 19 - Angels Rest
March 26 f-b- Madison Marye Farm
April 2 - Alta Mons
April 8 - Rock Castle Gorge
April 16 - Prices Mountain
April 22 - Mount Rogers
April 30 - Falls Ridge
The hikes are a great way to meet new people and find new ways to experience the beauty of Southwest Virginia. For more information, call the YMCA at 231-6860.
by CNB