Monday, April 26, 2010

Historic Piano Concerts


Summer Concert Series

The purpose of the Frederick Piano Collection is to give musicians and music lovers a chance to hear works by major piano composers, played on pianos such as those the composers knew, and for which their music was conceived.

The Collection includes only grand pianos, by important makers whose instruments were highly regarded in their day, acquired in basically good condition, with most of their original materials intact (especially soundboards). It aims to match each instrument to a specific composer or generation of composers known to have used or preferred that make and vintage of piano. The period of pianos in the Collection extends from about 1790 to 1907, representing music from Haydn and Beethoven through the French Impressionists

All concerts are held at the Ashburnham Community Church on Sunday afternoons at 4:00 p.m. unless otherwise stated. Admission: $10.00 per adult. Children and students, free.

May 9 - Emma Tahmiziàn, piano. A program titled Dancing with Chopin, Schumann, Brahms, and Dvořák. Piano to be selected from The Frederick Collection.

May 16 - Stephen Porter, piano performing selections by Ravel, Debussy, and the Sonata in B Minor by Liszt. Piano by Erard, Paris, 1877.

May 23 - Manabu Takasawa, piano. An All French Program with music by Fauré, Ravel, Franck, and Debussy. Piano by Erard, Paris, 1877.

May 30 - Shuann Chai, piano. Nocturnes and Etudes by Chopin, Henselt, Moscheles, and Liszt, along with pieces by both Robert and Clara Schumann. Piano by Erard, Paris, 1840.

June 6 - Yi-heng Yang, piano, performing Beethoven, Sonata No. 31, and Robert Schumann selections. Piano by Tröndlin, Leipzig c. 1830.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

It's time to take a hike!

Wachusett Mountain State Reservation

View from Wachusett Mountain

345 Mountain Rd.

Princeton MA 01541
978 464-2987

The mountain access road is open to personal vehicle use seasonally from Memorial Day through the last Sunday in October. Operating hours for the roadway during this season are 9:00am till sunset daily.

Rising above the surrounding forest to a height of 2006 feet, Mount Wachusett stands as a unique landmark within the central New England landscape. From the summit, a clear day reveals views of Mt. Monadnock in New Hampshire, the Berkshires to the west, and the Boston skyline to the east. The 3,000-acre Wachusett Mountain State Reservation surrounds the summit and offers a wealth of natural and recreational resources. The Reservation's natural resources include forests, alpine meadows, ponds, streams, fields, and even a perched bog. Recreational opportunities abound at the reservation including hiking, nature study, hawk watching, picnicking, and skiing. The Reservation offers 17 miles of hiking and walking trails, including 3.9 miles of the Midstate Trail, which runs from Ashburnham to the Rhode Island border. Mountain Road stretches to the John Hitchcock Visitor's Center at the summit, a short distance from the Wachusett Mountain Ski Area, which is the largest in eastern Massachusetts.

Wachusett Mountain is part of an extensive greenway area, including Leominster State Forest, Massachusetts Audubon'sWachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary and Minns Wildlife Sanctuary. It is also the location of the largest known area of Old Growth Forest east of the Connecticut River in Massachusetts, with trees dating over 350 years old. Evidence of the glacial activity which shaped the mountain can be seen at Balance Rock; two large boulders were stacked one on top of the other by moving glaciers thousands of years ago.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Double Toffee




Double Toffee Cake

Preheat oven to 350°

Topping:

½ cup light brown sugar (packed)

1 cup walnuts, chopped

1 Tb. cinnamon

In a large bowl combine:

2 cups flour

1 cup sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1 small package dry instant vanilla pudding mix

1 small package dry instant butterscotch pudding mix

1 cup water

¾ cup canola or vegetable oil

1 tsp. vanilla

4 eggs

Beat for 2 minutes on medium speed.

Grease a 9 x 13 inch pan

Spread half the batter in pan. Top with half the cinnamon mixture. Repeat once.

Bake for 35-40 mins.

Spring has arrived at Tower Hill Botanical Gardens


Spring Satellite Garden Tour
Sunday, April 25
10am-4pm

Self-guided tour of private gardens
$15, Members; $20, Nonmembers
Order Tickets Online
Complimentary admission tickets from The Maguire House B&B for a stay of two night's or longer.

This intimate tour features four mature gardens in Stow, Boylston, and Princeton. Included are the gardens of John Trexler, Tower Hill's Executive Director; Joann Vieira, Tower Hill's Horticulture Director; members Rosemary Monahan and Stefan Cover; and members Katy Kleitz and Iris Marcus. All feature impressive plantings of early blooming trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials. The diverse species of early flowering plants in these gardens will inspire participants in designing their own gardens.