Johannes Brahms

The Variations on a Theme of Haydn by Johannes Brahms was good, the Suite from The Nutcracker by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was excellent , but the Johannes Brahms Symphony No. 2 was fantastic. His second symphony was composed by Brahms, the German compser,  during a visit to Austria during the summer of 1877. The composition was short compared to the reported fifteen years it took Brahms to complete his First Symphony. The second symphony was scored for 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, and a strings section. The Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra is 70+ in size and performed the symphony with great aplomb. It was the best orchestral sound I can recall hearing from the RSO in the three decades I have been listening to them. Maestro Steichen was masterful and articulated every detail of the Brahams composition. We are fortunate to have such a great orchestra in our community.

Brahms was born in Hamburg, Germany in 1833, 42 years after Mozart had passed away. He lived to be 64, much longer than normal at the time, and he was interred next to Beethoven and Schubert, two composers he greatly admired. I find it interesting that Brahms met with Wagner in Vienna and they listened to each others music. Among his works were the Hungarian Dances, four symponies, a half-dozen great piano sonatas, including the Ave Maria. I love music of all kinds, but on Sundays I listen only to classical music. I am grateful for Pandora which lets me select from so many excellent streaming channels. Today I listed to Boston Baroque.

Tags: brahms, classical music, germany, Ridgefield, symphony

Ridgefield Men’s Club

The Ridgefield Men’s Club, founded in 1984, is a group of retired or near-retired men from varied careers in business and the professions. Some day, when I grow up, I hope to be a member. At this stage I am neither retired nor near-retired. The waiting list is 3-4 years long, so perhaps when I get to be 70 (and still e-tired), I can become a member. The club states its purpose is to provide and promote fellowship. They offer activities in a dozen or more groups such as bridge, computers, personal finance, fishing, wood carving, and hiking. The Club provides a way for members to maintain old friendships and make new ones, enjoy a cup of coffee on meeting days, hear a good speaker, and plan activities together. Last month, I had the privilege to give a talk about the Internet at a Club meeting, and below is a review that followed in the Club newsletter.

Oracle of the Internet – John Patrick

Our club has been favored over the years by hardworking, talented and well-informed Program Managers who consistently have brought us outstanding speakers. We have had a key representative of the Irish Republic describe, from an inside perspective, the momentous “Good Friday” accords, the forensic archaeologist who just completed a detailed study of Hitler’s demise, the Principle Investigator of NASA’s team of scientists charged with analysis of a comet collision with Jupiter and now the man who’s name is synonymous with ‘Visionary of the Future of the Internet’. He is John Patrick a Ridgefielder and friend of the club. After 38 years at IBM in a range of assignments including VP of Internet Technology, John is currently President of Attitude LLC and a world renowned figure in the field.

John first took us on a tour of his grasp of where the net is now in its potential for further fundamental development. He followed this by a survey of some of its basic characteristics and their likely directions for additional blossoming. In the same inimitable fashion as we have seen him exhibit  before , he then captured the key features of this complex maze in a set of 8 simple words and phrases viz. Fast, Always on, Everywhere, Natural, iPad Heaven, Intelligence, Easy and Trusted. As an awed listener I cannot hope to relate all the fascinating aspects of each as he so glibly rolled on in his relaxed but nevertheless clearly focused talk. I would like to touch on some of the highlights that struck me.

In thinking about all these other aspects of the net it’s important to keep in mind John’s overview of where we are right now. Against the background of the phenomenal growth and penetration into so many aspects of our lives in such a short time, John categorizes the age of internet applications and its scope as entering adolescence! (What will this all come to when it matures?)

Before getting any further into details though, there was an overarching theme that John wove through the whole presentation and that was the main driver he sees on the future highway of Internet development will be … Healthcare. Many of the examples that he used for instance are related to that application. And he did not hesitate to repeat it quite frequently. The importance he associates with the subject is supported by his mention in passing that he himself is studying on-line of course, medical technology.

The role of the classic PC as the prime entryway to the Internet is rapidly coming to its end. The net is now at your fingertips if you so choose. To us old guys, it’s reminiscent of the way Dick Tracy had his concept of the world of information on his wrist in the cartoonist label of “Wrist Radio”

At the conclusion of his fascinating presentation, John graciously encouraged questions from the very attentive audience. Questions ranged over a broad spectrum of aspects including privacy issues, marketing strategies, investment opportunities, etc. Only the exigencies of allocated time brought this session to a conclusion marked by a very warm and prolonged round of applause.

Tags: Internet Technology, john patrick, Ridgefield, Ridgefield Men's Club