Frank Glazer ... played

frank.mp3

Note: The top podcast is an interview of Frank Glazer, my 97-year-old uncle, on The Story on American Public Media aired March 2. Have a listen.

The second podcast and text below is something I (gg) wrote and recorded two years ago.

UPDATE: On Wednesday, August 22, Frank played to 120 or so souls at Elley-Long and I must say that it was a wonderous program and a fascinating talk afterwards. While I have experienced many of his post-performance highs, the result of an hour or two hour performances which seem to unlock his brain in a kind of massive unleashing, this was the first time I had heard him answer technical questions, the first time that I realized that there was so much more to his playing than what I had experienced. To me it has been, over my life, simple enjoyment, exhiliration, an emotional ride, as it were. But to learn how so much of what he does ahead of time is so thought out, well, that was an eye opener. So if you were not there, I'm sorry; if you were there, you understand. --gg

Here is the text for what I wrote two years ago as part of the second podcast:

This is my uncle Frank, Frank Glazer. He is 95 years old. He still performs as a concert pianist. He still teaches at Bates College. This year's project was to perform each of Beethoven's 32 Piano Sonatas in the order they were composed. He started in September and finished April 9. In the background is Frank's 1968 recording of Erik Satie's work; the New York Times called it the Classical Album of the Year. Frank has played with symphony orchestras all over the world. He premiered two of Aaron Copland's pieces. He began his career at aged 13 in a vaudeville show. "Music," Frank says, "keeps me alive."

-- Geoffrey Gevalt, YWP Director

This is is a very simple idea and form of storytelling: Get a picture of a relative or an elder you know well. Scan it into digital form, if it's not already a digital photo. Get something that is compelling. Then get a story about them you've never heard.

Write a short -- very short -- narrative that will tell us something about the person or some story about the person. Record your narration with Audacity or some other recording program and export as an mp3. Upload the mp3 audio narration to a "Photo Story" form; upload the photo as well and type or paste in the text.

Voila. You've made a Photo Story.

You will note that the power of your digital piece comes from three directions -- the words, the photo and any background sound or music you might add as an additional track (if you use Audacity or Garage Band). The background sound is by no means required; but if you have a little sound that evokes the person, like I did, all the better. Hope you try this idea out.

Feel free to create your own by clicking the Photo Story content type, add a picture, sound and text and save.

gg

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