1985-01 (January)

January 26th, 1985

Slept past 8. Gwyn went to baby-sit Wendy’s children, and I spent the morning recording ten-min. cassette of eight early Mozart quartets I timed yesterday from library records. This is something I’ve been meaning to do for years. And it just about completes my Mozart collection.

Baloney sandwich for lunch, with a glass of butter milk. Old times; it took me back. 2 ½ mile walk. Subfreezing temperature, but the breeze was light and the sun shining brightly; a pleasant interlude, beside being good for me. Played British Celo Suites.

January 27th, 1985

Sunday morning; sleety rain, followed by snow; temperature just on freezing, ice on trees. I played the two hours of early Mozart quartets recorded yesterday: lovely examples of a great artist learning his craft. Then, in late afternoon, recorded for hUgs Mozart violin concertos 3 and 4, the Symphonia Concertante for violin and viola, and the violin-viola duo #1; a splendid 90 min. cassette.

Sleety rain continued all day, into the night, interrupted occasionally by large flaked snow, though the temperature didn’t get below freezing until nightfall. Looks like we’ll be doing more slipping and sliding this week.

Called Morrise in Westbury, told her I’d meet her flight here on Tuesday; also agreed to make a roundtrip reservation for Greenville and did.

January 28th, 1985

Couple of inches of snow, slowly melting where where the sun reaches it; temperature just above freezing by 9 o’clock; no wind.

Made another Mozart cassette for Hus: three late piano concertos, 24, 25, 27 –k.491, 503, 595. I’ll send it later, a week or so after the violin concertos.

Mary came late, held up by icy roads; got here around 10 and stayed till 2, getting guest room ready for Morrise. Twisted or somehow went her leg- which probably means she wont be here tomorrow. Kate Chopin story on TV as play.

January 29th, 1985

No Mary, but snow is continuing to melt in sun, even though the thermometer is still in the 20’s at 9 o’clock. Began recording Chopin Nocturne’s, all but complete; went to library and got two record sets- one by Vasary, the other by Ivan Moravec. The former turned out to be too scratchy for use, but I managed to clean the latter (with soap and warm water) enough to make it bearable. Even so I had to record them twice to get them right.

Picked up Morrise at the airport at 3:15, after a half hour wait. Drinks before dinner, which Gwyn prepared mostly in advance: lentil soup, salad, French bread. Morrise brought us some delicious cheese and pate, which we had along with the rest, plus a bottle of Beaujolais. Stayed up till 11 o’clock; had some medication in the night- first time in months.

January 30th, 1985

Took Morrise to airport at 8:30; icy streets, but melting shortly in 40 degree weather. Back home completed the re-recording of Chopin’s Nocturnes, 17 of the 20. In afternoon, drove to bank for meeting with Hwley Ingram. Reversed my $25,000 certificate, but only for three months this time, in hopes that interest rates will go back up by may. I put the earned interest- just over $1000- into my checking account.

Wrote to hugs advising him to fracture one of those $100 bills I sent him for Christmas and take Rosette for an all out spread at Benoit or some such place. Told him of the cassettes I’ve sent and am sending; also congratulated him on entering La Prisonniere, with La Fugitive just ahead. Said I envied him this first reading of Proust; which I do indeed.