Last night was the rehearsal for the new music concert. I am involved in three works, two of which are by someone I knew back when I was in college. I took a couple of classes from Allen Strange (doing rather poorly, if I recall). Dan took a lot more and spent a great deal of time with him. We also did a couple of mini-vacations together (their second daughter is the same as our daughter). I got to UCSC for the rehearsal last night to find out that he had passed away that very day. Shocking. (Although I know he not been in great health.)

I had pretty much lost touch with the family after they moved to Bainbridge Island, but I did get to see and hear Pat play violin once more when she came back to SJSU to play a concert. I’m glad Dan was able to visit them last summer when he took a trip up north.

We are now paying tribute to Allen Strange at our concert. I’m sorry he won’t get to hear the delightful and charming pieces (The Duel and Wynken, Blynken and Nod) that he wrote. And I really do mean charming and delightful. They are scored for narrator and violin, cello, oboe, clarinet, sax (all three winds are playing a bit of percussion) and synth.

If you want to hear these pieces, I’ll post information on the concert later. I’ll also post any information on a celebration for Allen which is supposed to happen here sometime.

One of my strongest memories of Allen were the Indian feast parties he and Pat put on. The gang would be there, including Lorrie Hunt. Two losses I won’t forget. How sad to know they are both gone.