Hello Friends!

 I'll bet you thought I was long gone;  but I'm not and happy to be back!  

I have an orchestral work set to be premiered in October 2025 - I'll let you know when the date has been confirmed.

I also have written a number of songs (SATB mostly) and am looking for choirs who will perform them.  

Mostly, I'm happy to be able to access this blog and continue with it.  :-) 

more later...

Back from overseas trip-2023

 Well, it has been a long time since my last entry -- sorry about that.  We just returned from a vacation in Ireland where I was able to meet with a genealogist at Enniskillen Castle.  I found my Great-great-great-great-great Grandfather lived from about 1775 to 1854; Frankie, the genealogist, found records of Francis on a work house list from 1845/47.  He was listed as Presbyterian, clean, and blind. (sad...)  He was a tenant farmer which meant that he had to pay taxes on land even as small as a garden.  But it was great to talk to the genealogist about family history!  Plus Enniskillen is a great town to visit in Northern Ireland.

We did start out in Dublin, of course, flying in via Reykyavik on IcelandAir.  We spent about 4 days in Dublin, took the bus to Enniskillen for 3 days, another bus trip to Galway for 5 days, a train trip back to Dublin for a day and then we flew back home.  Our daughter's family, Lauren, Kevin + granddaughter Roslyn invited us to come with them to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary. (You see, they met in Ireland, just outside of Galway, on an archaeological dig.) His parents, Bill + Kit, also came along.

It was a fantastic trip, with excursions out to Newgrange (ancient tomb - older than the pyramids in Egypt!), the Hill of Tara (where Irish kings were crowned), the Burren in western Ireland (used to be the sea floor!) and the Cliffs of Moher!

So I hope to do this more frequently; more I could say about my creative endeavors since retirement and most likely will. 😊

Here's a spotlight about me, published by Inver Hills Community College in 2020-21, just before I retired from my library tech position.  https://news.inverhills.edu/blog/staff-spotlight-david-colwell/  It will give you a little insight into what I'm doing/ have done. 

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving and are preparing for Christmas.  Thanks,   

Hello, once again

I am so happy to greet you this evening.  I wanted to say a word about legacy tonight.  There was an opinion piece in yesterday's (Twin Cities) StarTribune {2020-01-29} that talked about what a legacy Kobe Bryant might have left.  The author said that almost all of us will be remembered for about 50 years, at best.  And that only a handful are remembered beyond that time.  It is a great piece, if you can find it.
     Legacy is some of what drives my creative endeavors; I think that if I can produce some work, perhaps it will live on after I pass away.  I don't know if that is true or not, but it does stay hidden in the back of my mind - in the deep recesses of my hidden shadows.  It won't stop my music composing, nor my poetry or photography.  There is much I think I need to share.  And if 50 years is all I really get, then perhaps my grandchildren (well, grandchild now: hopefully plural someday) will tell their children about what their great-grandfather or great-grandmother has done and what kind of an impact was made.  Again, I will never know for sure, but perhaps in the afterlife I may.
     Thanks for reading and now you can look forward to more posts.  I guess some browsers work better than others...  :-).

29 August, 2017...
Wanted to say that I'm still here - and have reset passwords etc so should be able to keep this up. 😀

I am a step closer to having "Naniboujou" sung and recorded...  I'll send the recording + sheet music to the owners of the Naniboujou restaurant and inn.  also am working on the piece for Vermillion, SD and my folks - hope to have that performed at USD in the spring of 2019. 

Am sad about the way people react to each other.  Charlottesville, VA was a travesty.  And our president's reaction hasn't helped. 

I keep coming back to the words from the prayer book, as it talks about "the common good."  What a great concept - always think about this in decision-making:  how will this help others?  how will this further the common good?  My life should be about making sure that others are doing okay; then others will make sure mine is okay, too. 

I heard that Garrison Keelor is performing his last Mn State Fair show this year.  I wish him a well-deserved rest and relaxation.  and urge him to:
"Be well; Do good work; and Keep in touch..."

Friday, 21 April 2017…
Today is "Prince Day" in MN, recognizing the musician who was found dead in his home a year ago today.  The more I read about what Prince did for MN, the causes he supported, the attitude he held toward the "regular" people with whom he came into contact, the more I am impressed by him.
Below is a poem I wrote last year upon hearing of his death and reading all the accolades; I send it out to his family and all his fans:

World’s Awash in Purple

The world’s awash in Purple
e’en though Purple’s passed away
and riding ‘long the rainbow
to another Purple day.

And at the end of rainbow
is a Purple pot of Gain
that we will play forever
as we dance in Purple rain.

                                                      …Webb

2016 slowly winding down

Dear Friends,

Lauren and Ben took us to an unknown location (turned out to be Cove Point Lodge on Lake Superior's north shore) over Thanksgiving this year.  We didn't know where we were going until we actually turned into the lodge's access road. We tried to get some clues but they were really tight-lipped.  :-)  Liz and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary with our children doing all the cooking - including the turkey for Thanksgiving!  It was an incredible Thanksgiving-and-Anniversary!  Thanks so much to Lauren and Ben!

Ben was home for Christmas; Lauren and Kevin went to his folks' place in Michigan.  We opened gifts the evening of 26 Dec because it was the overlap of Lauren/Kevin coming back home and Ben readying to return to Madison.  It was a delightful evening!

Christmas was bittersweet because of the situation with our good friends Jeff and Kristen.  Their Christmas Eve fire made their house uninhabitable and so they are staying with us for the time being.  So many people have asked how they can help - it is wonderful to hear of that generosity.  They have been through a lot this fall and could use all our prayers and support.   (Let me know if you'd like to help and I'll tell you how to do that.)

Other news includes my entry of a composition (flute, clarinet, bassoon) into "Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame."  It is an ongoing project of premiering pieces for different instrumental ensembles - all pieces under 60 seconds long!  I should find out in January if mine was selected to be performed in May or June.  …in California…

I hope you had a truly blessed Christmas and that your New Year will be safe and very happy!

I voted today!  …the first time I've ever voted early.  I was surprised by the lines - on a Thursday morning.  But that's okay.

I watched the Cubs beat the Indians in the world series last night…  well, actually, was concerned about the length of the rain delay (in-between inning 9 and 10) and so went to bed just as it (the rain delay) was starting.   About 45 minutes later, I heard Kevin downstairs give a great "Hooray" shout, so was pretty confident that the Cubs had won!  We also got a nice text from my sister Cathy.  Chicago hadn't won a World Series since 1908 - only took them 108 years to get one…  :-)

I am hopeful that Hillary Clinton and the Democrats will win most seats in the Mn Legislature and US House/Senate.  I would hate to see all the good things that have happened these last 8 years get undone.

Well, now that I've remembered emails and passwords, I hope to write more often…  :-)

Please vote on or before next Tuesday.

Hello,
Just wanted to share some news:  I have 3 original piano pieces that are being considered by Dr. Stan Rothrock for his sabbatical project.  [Stan is the music department chair here at Inver Hills Community College where I work.]
One I began in high school (Chappellean Encore), one I transcribed from a recorder consort (Song for James) and one is brand new (Cool Stream).  The last one is in memory of my parents; the middle in memory of my high school friend (Jim Jorgenson) and the first is in honor of another high school friend - who is a year older (Eric Chappelle).
I will keep you posted as to the progress…

thanks.  :-)

Hello again,
Just wanted to let you know that I havn't dropped off the face of the earth...  yet...
I also wanted to invite you to participate in an artistic endeavor.  I am writing an orchestral piece of music which will represent the values, spirit and essence of Vermillion, SD.  It will also honor my parents, Carroll G. and Dr. Dell M. Colwell.  If you have any stories about Vermillion or my family, please send them my way.  You can respond by emailing me through my page on the  American Composers Forum website; respond here with an email and I'll send you another email you can use or my snail mail address, if you don't have it.
Thanks for your participation. 

Ash Wednesday 2014 -- a time to remember that mortality comes to all.  And this Lent is a good time to reflect and consider changes that are brought to mind.  ...or to continue in things that are spiritually helpful.  I like to think about the line from a Noel Paul Stookey song:  "Remember what they say about coincidence -- life is always more than what it seems."

11 September and the Vision... 1

How would you define "Woodstock Nation?"  I would call it a view of the United States where people genuinely look after one another; where people don't compare themselves to others and where they realize that when one suffers, we all suffer (as 10 years ago) and when one rejoices, we all rejoice.  So is it possible?  It has been 40+ years since the experiment was started;  we've come a long way and we've still a long way to go.  But let us not give up the vision...

Tanagers in Flight

I am a week past the beginning of my high school 40th Reunion.  (I know, I know... that dates me.)  It was a fabulous time.  I saw friends (and "rivals") and folks who really didn't have much to do with me in high school -- but it was really fun to get caught up on what everybody was doing.  and everybody talked to everybody.  (fun that old high school "cliques" have long since melted into the past like butter on a hot, humid Minnesota afternoon and flowed far downstream carried on the Missouri (or Souris, or Mississippi) River flood waters.  The Alma Mater written for Inver Hills Community College I rewrote for my high school and will donate that in the name of my class (Class of 1971) to the school Vermillion High School {South Dakota} 

[The words are below:

(1)V. H. S., V. H. S., How we love you V. H. S.;
from your wisdom we all grow strong!
Tanagers, Tanagers, all are loyal Tanagers;
we, your children, will for-ever sing your song!  

It's a song of standing tall, knowing one can conquer all;
so to you let us offer praise.
V. H. S., Tanagers, we'll be always Tanagers;
and remember you so fondly all our days.

(2)On the top of the hill gentle winds are never still,
And the whole world wants to know
what is right, what is true, that our lives are ever new;
like the sound of waters rushing far be-low.   

At the inver are the streams of the wisdom of our dreams
for the inver is where rivers join as one.
In the sky, day or night, Tanagers are taking flight;
and we share a common ground and distant sun. 

So, my advise is...  go to your high school reunions -- all of them -- and see how your classmates have become so -- "grown up."  :-)   [It truly was wonderful!]

...until next time... :-)

 

Forever with us

I hope to post the Alma Mater of Inver Hills Community College here soon;  I wrote it and am working on a band/orchestra arrangement.
My son is home from college now and busily applying for graduate schools in physics.  He tells me a little about what he's doing but I know the explanation is "dumbed-down" for his dear old dad. :-)
My daughter comes home for the holidays in about 10 days; 'Twill be nice to have her home too!

My great Aunt Violet passed away not too long ago; she was mother to my second cousin, Kim, who is now a principal at a school in Fargo.  He and I would play together as kids mostly on the farm near Fargo (though he did visit me in Vermillion SD as well).  This is in my aunt's honor:

Forever With Us
"Dark,
the days turn dark
when loss looms large.
"When?"
"Where? How?  ...Why?"
Children challenge the charge.

Life
with lots of laughs, well lived,
compassionate and caring.
Look,
that knowing smile...
The memories we'll be sharing.

Laugh
at times gone by --
what we remember well;
Loves,
all deep and strong;
Forever with us dwell."
                              ...Webb

Hello,  I know it has been a very l--o--n--g time since last post; but I'm back now.
This will be a short "housekeeping news" post and then more later. 
     I am looking for a book that my mother and dad used to read to me as a kid;  I don't know the name of the book or the author.  All I recall is a repeated phrase:  "Stuck, said little Bill?" The book had something to do with rowing a boat on a Louisiana bayou.  That's all I know.
     I won the "Alma Mater Song Contest" at Inver Hills Community College; They sang it at the 40th anniversary of the school!  :-)

OK, I promise a more regular blog...

April is National Poetry Month

There is a lot on which I must comment; but not a lot of time right now. So I'll just leave you with this:

The lawn is soft;
the grass is green
and playing children
can be seen;
...aah, Spring!

...Webb

Blogs and Passings

I promised my son's blog url; here it is:
http://bdcinberlin.blogspot.com
I hope you enjoy it. For those interested in the highlands of Scotland, my daughter's boyfriend is also blogging while at graduate school in Sterling, Scotland.
Here is the link to his blog: http://scotlandsirishguest.blogspot.com
Here is the url of my son's girlfriend's blog: http://cmbudapest.blogspot.com/ (She is studying in Budapest, Hungary for this term.)
I love the names of these blogs. Ben's link is "BDC in Berlin" and Kevin's is "Scotland's Irish Guest". The actual name of Kevin's blog is "Living in the land of haggis and Wallace" and Ben's is "Bier, Berlin, Begeisterung." Claire's blog is titled "More than Math." enjoy...

I just heard that Mary Travis (of Peter, Paul & Mary) passed away day before yesterday. I was really saddened by the news; I am an old "folky" who loves to sing and play all kinds of folk music. I am enheartened that she remained an activist right up until her death.

May we all sing our own songs with dignity, compassion and authenticity.

More Transitions... oofda!

Hey all: Nice to have you visit!
Here in St. Paul my wife and I are getting our son off to Berlin, Germany for his off-campus study abroad term. He's a junior in college this year and I can't really believe it! Why do kids have to grow up so fast? Anyway, I know things will go well for him and we are really excited for him. He will blog while he's there and I'll reference that as soon as I get it.
My wife starts back with students tomorrow (9/8); and after Ben flies out tomorrow afternoon it will be "life back to 'normal' here" I guess. Keep reading...

Transitions

Hey all: Lauren has a blog about her adventures in Hawaii! Here is the url: http://mahalodaddy-o.blogspot.com/
Please enjoy her blog as well.

Liz is going to Haiti flying out on the day of the Vermillion All-School reunion. :-( ...soooo I'll be going by myself. Pray that Liz's trip to Lougou, Haiti goes well and that all stay healthy.

This August we have to paint the downstairs apartment and make sure it is ready for our new (September) renters.

July is ending; August and the rest of 2009 await. Can you feel the excitement? ...keep reading...

Update for all:

Greetings from St. Paul! Here's a quick update for anyone still reading: I am a part-time CAREGiver seeing 4 elderly men through the course of the week: 1 inventor (medical field), 1 lawyer, 1 man who knows where Vermillion SD is, and 1 flea market wholesaler. Great guys, all! I am also still on-call with Carver county Library. My biggest news is that the flute instructor at Carleton College in Northfield, MN just programmed the world premier of a flute trio I wrote! Lauren played 1st part, Britta S. played 2nd part, and Sarah B. played 3rd part. It was a real shot-in-the-arm for my composing/arranging psyche and re-excited the desire to write and publish. Thanks and Kudos to Martha J. at Carleton College and to the three performers for their beautiful rendition. It was even better sounding live than I had imagined!
Lauren graduates on June 13, flies to Dublin for 3 weeks, then flies to Hawaii until mid-December to study and work at the Hawaii Volcano Observatory. For the summer, Ben works in Northfield at the Carleton College Physics Dept. as an assistant researcher and then flies off to Berlin, Germany for his Off-Campus Study fall term. We'll visit him at the end of November and then fly back with him. Liz is teaching summer school with SPPS with the possibility of giving a teaching workshop in Lougou, Haiti in August. (Our renters, the Johnson's, are moving on July 31 to a new house they purchased and so we'll be painting, etc. in August) The Vermillion High School All-School Reunion is August 9 and we're planning on that, as well.
Now that we're all up-to-date, I need to mail the Graduation Announcements out. It is hard to believe that my little girl is graduating from college! ...off-da! Keep reading...

Groundhog Day, 2009

On Groundhog Day, if the groundhog sees its shadow there will be 6 more weeks of winter. But, guess what? We'll have 6 weeks (plus 5 days) of winter regardless.
I have to head off to work (which I'll talk about soon) but wanted to say "welcome back" to any who may have thought I had fallen off the face of the planet. The good news (I hope) is -- not yet! Family is really important; extended family included. Everyone should keep in touch. more later...