Music and Scenery

We have had two wonderful experiences up here.  One is cultural and the other scenic.  New Hampshire has taken advantage of it's proximity to some of the greatest musicians in the world.  The organization called the North Country Chambers Players created the White Mountain Music Festival about twenty years ago.  The nucleus of the musicians who perform during the festival include musicians from the New York Philharmonic, faculty members of Columbia University, and Wesleyan University as well as several other major universities.  They record music on their own and with others.  They have film and television credits, and they compose.  Let's just say, these folks know their stuff, and when you hear them play, it's obvious.  They come to New Hampshire each summer, and have organized this festival.  This event is supported by corporate sponsors as well as regular people.  You can get your name in the program for as little as a $25 contribution.  Everyone we talked to is very proud of this festival.

Even if you aren't a giant classical music fan, you get to appreciate the amount of effort it takes to play an instrument at the highest level.  These concerts are held in community buildings, on slightly raised stages.  The chairs are folding chairs (padded, thank heaven!), and they are set up about 20 feet from the musicians.  In addition to the regular group of musicians, special guests are invited.  Last Saturday night we heard an up and coming young celloist, Michael Nicolas.   He was about 25, and when he played, it was electrifying.

These types of festivals allow people who don't have $200 to buy a ticket to a major concert venue, or the resources to travel to one access to amazing music.  You can't even use the excuse "I don't have anything to wear".  You can wear anything from your Bermuda shorts and flip flops to your cool summer dress and sandals.  I didn't see a single tie or pair of hose anywhere.  Good thing - we were in the last day of the 'heat wave', and there's no air conditioning in these venues.  It takes about 10 minutes to get to the Sugar Hill Community Meeting Room from anywhere in the area.  The tickets are $20 unless you are college age or younger - then you get in for free.  They toss in the cookies and punch on the lawn after the concert as a lagniappe.  (For you non-New Orleanians, that's a little something for free.)  It's obvious that these musicians have become friends and neighbors to many in this community. 

Each Saturday night, there is a musical theme.  The concert we attended was called "Dinner in Paris" and the music was from all French composers: Debussy, Milhaud, Francaix and Ravel.  Next week the theme is "Summer Romance" and includes Schubert.  We have reservations at the Sugar Hill Inn (supposed to be an amazing restaurant) prior to the next concert.  I've discovered there is entertainment up here, but you have to look for it.  Bethlehem is giving free concerts at their gazebo each Sunday night.  There's a small theater that shows interesting independent films.  Wednesday is 2 for 1 day!  We have just started to scratch the surface as to what is available here.

One of the reasons we have been so slow off the mark here is my fault.  I'm finding it very difficult to walk for any time at all without pain zooming up to a level I can't handle.  I just trashed my foot in New York City.  I spent 30 days walking almost non-stop on concrete for several hours a day.  When I finallly got to the chalet in New Hampshire, it just all caught up with me.  I've been resting my foot until yesterday when we decided to go look at some famous scenery.

We went to the Franconia Notch State Park to their premiere attraction:  The Flume Gorge.  This is a granite canyon formed during the age of the glaciers.  It was filled millions of years ago with basalt which gradually over the eons wore away leaving the granite gorge.  The walls are 80 feet high of solid granite.  The Pemigawasset River (stream, really) runs through it, and in places the gorge is only about 10 feet wide.  Small sparkling waterfalls spill over granite in 20 foot to 2 inch drops over the length of the gorge.  It was impressive and beautiful.  It's about a 2 mile scenic walk from the visitor's center to the Flume Gorge. 

It was certainly worth the effort, but this simple walk took a toll on my idiot foot.  Today, I made an appointment with an orthopedist because I want an x-ray to make sure that the necrosis that melted a joint isn't back.  Prayers would be appreciated.

As always, here are the pictures: https://picasaweb.google.com/jalyss1/2011NewHampshireTour3FranconiaNotch?authkey=Gv1sRgCKCovp3Yq6S3MA#