Concert pianist Roman Rudnytsky brought his extraordinary keyboard prowess to Kendal at Granville last evening to gift us with a memorable concert. The program consisted of eight works, from a variety of periods, each of which Mr. Rudnytsky introduced with a few words designed to set historical contexts. The result was that we were at once educated and delighted. At the end of the evening a packed Amelia Room showed its appreciation with a standing ovation.
To point up the differences between the Classic era and the Romantic era, Mr. Rudnytsky opened the recital by offering Brahms's lovely nineteenth-century "Intermezzo in A" before Haydn's fiery eighteenth-century "Sonata in D." Programs ordinarily present works from these two eras in chronological order, allowing the listener's mind to move from the orderliness of the Viennese music to the shifting shapes of the Romantic era. By turning this convention on its head, Mr. Rudnytsky succeeded in foregrounding both the lyricism of music from the later period and the clarity of music from the earlier period.
Debussy's beautiful "Clair de Lune" was Mr. Rudnytsky's example of the Romantic era's shift into one of its offshoots, Impressionism. This famous piece stood out from among all the others on the evening's program because its effect rested solely on its wispy and poignant simplicity.
Three examples of nationalism in music followed. The first was a composition that was unfamiliar to me, "Hutzul Dance," by Antin Rudnytsky, the performer's father. It was a delight, built upon folk tunes and rhythms from the composer's Ukrainian homeland. Percy Grainger's "Molly on the Shore" drew on an Irish folk tune, and Fryderyk Chopin's "Ballade No. 3 in A Flat" showcased the great composer's musical vision in his younger days, when his Polish homeland bore most heavily upon his musical imagination.
The final two pieces were virtuoso compositions by Franz Liszt – the "Grand Galop Chromatique" and the "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2," the latter being familiar to the many Kendal listeners who recall television ads from the 1950s. Only pianists with a full command of keyboard technique and the confidence to go public with it offer these challenging works. Mr. Rudnytsky's performances were dazzling. This is called closing a concert with a bang.
Our printed program informed us that Mr. Rudnytsky, a Juilliard graduate, had recently retired after a long career as piano instructor at the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University. It added that he has traveled the globe to present concerts and recitals. Reflecting on these biographical points, we at Kendal can only surmise that over that career Mr. Rudnytsky has brought great happiness to a great many people. For that's sure what he did for us.
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Saturday, May 21, 2016
John Diffey's Lesson
On Wednesday and Thursday of this week Kendal at Granville hosted John Diffey, the retiring President of Kendal Corporation. John played a signal role in the launching of Kendal at Granville, above all by spending half a year in the town over ten years ago to assist in ongoing conversations with political and civic leaders even while encouraging and assisting the group of local residents – the Gordons, the Hellers, the Richards, and others – who were enthusiastically spearheading the campaign to create a Kendal affiliate in central Ohio.
Kendal at Granville, in short, owes an enormous debt of gratitude to John Diffey, not only for his long-time leadership of the Kendal project, but also for his particular labors on behalf of our Granville home. And so, during this recent visit – first at a community reception, and then at a dinner and a board meeting – Kendal tried to let John know how grateful we all were.
In response John reminded his Granville friends of the values that made Kendal a special sort of enterprise. He encapsulated these values in the handy mnemonic of the "four G's."
First there is GOODNESS. Many institutions, he noted, aspire to greatness. Kendal, however, aspires to goodness. And throughout the fabric of its life – in the conduct of its employees, the expectations for the residents it serves, its dealings with partners and other businesses – the goal of "being good" remains a central element in Kendal decision-making.
Second there is GOVERNANCE. John's point here is not simply that goodness arises from the actions taken by those who have responsibility for guiding the Kendal project, but rather that Kendal's structure of governance maximizes the autonomy of the individual affiliates, encourages experimentation in accordance with local circumstances, and facilitates the sharing of information and the swapping of ideas. The Kendal project rests on the principle of subsidiarity, which in turn is grounded in convictions about trust and optimism.
Third there is GROWTH. And here a quick word is in order to avoid misunderstanding. For although the Kendal project has in fact seen the steady and planned addition of new affiliates over the past four decades, John's point is not that Kendal thrives by expansion. Rather, it is that Kendal fosters and values the growth of the people who are associated with it. For residents, there is personal growth – the broadening (or perhaps deepening) of interests, the cultivating of friendships, the realizing of the opportunity to use this new stage of life to become fuller persons. But equally important, there is the chance for employees to grow. Kendal aims to be a model employer. It therefore supports and encourages plans by its employees to extend their educations and widen their professional competences.
Fourth there is GENEROSITY. The Kendal ethos inspires those associated with it to be generous in spirit, generous in time, generous in substance. Philanthropy is seen as an opportunity and a duty.
When John completed this useful precis of Kendal's principles, he then related a story. On one recent occasion, when he had invoked the "four G's," a person in the audience suggested a fifth: GAIETY. And when we heard this tale, we could only agree. There is something about the spirit of Kendal that manages to confer happiness. Certainly not for everybody. Certainly not all the time. But nevertheless, palpably and broadly, participation in the Kendal project fosters gaiety.
I'm much inclined to think that in this encapsulization John has put the matter right. It seemed to me that he was saying that Kendal manages to elevate those whom it touches. That may sound a bit pompous or boastful, but it is also true and an achievement of immense importance. It was therefore appropriate that John Diffey, the outgoing leader of the Kendal project, be the person to remind us of the truth. It was his parting gift to us.
Kendal at Granville, in short, owes an enormous debt of gratitude to John Diffey, not only for his long-time leadership of the Kendal project, but also for his particular labors on behalf of our Granville home. And so, during this recent visit – first at a community reception, and then at a dinner and a board meeting – Kendal tried to let John know how grateful we all were.
In response John reminded his Granville friends of the values that made Kendal a special sort of enterprise. He encapsulated these values in the handy mnemonic of the "four G's."
First there is GOODNESS. Many institutions, he noted, aspire to greatness. Kendal, however, aspires to goodness. And throughout the fabric of its life – in the conduct of its employees, the expectations for the residents it serves, its dealings with partners and other businesses – the goal of "being good" remains a central element in Kendal decision-making.
Second there is GOVERNANCE. John's point here is not simply that goodness arises from the actions taken by those who have responsibility for guiding the Kendal project, but rather that Kendal's structure of governance maximizes the autonomy of the individual affiliates, encourages experimentation in accordance with local circumstances, and facilitates the sharing of information and the swapping of ideas. The Kendal project rests on the principle of subsidiarity, which in turn is grounded in convictions about trust and optimism.
Third there is GROWTH. And here a quick word is in order to avoid misunderstanding. For although the Kendal project has in fact seen the steady and planned addition of new affiliates over the past four decades, John's point is not that Kendal thrives by expansion. Rather, it is that Kendal fosters and values the growth of the people who are associated with it. For residents, there is personal growth – the broadening (or perhaps deepening) of interests, the cultivating of friendships, the realizing of the opportunity to use this new stage of life to become fuller persons. But equally important, there is the chance for employees to grow. Kendal aims to be a model employer. It therefore supports and encourages plans by its employees to extend their educations and widen their professional competences.
Fourth there is GENEROSITY. The Kendal ethos inspires those associated with it to be generous in spirit, generous in time, generous in substance. Philanthropy is seen as an opportunity and a duty.
When John completed this useful precis of Kendal's principles, he then related a story. On one recent occasion, when he had invoked the "four G's," a person in the audience suggested a fifth: GAIETY. And when we heard this tale, we could only agree. There is something about the spirit of Kendal that manages to confer happiness. Certainly not for everybody. Certainly not all the time. But nevertheless, palpably and broadly, participation in the Kendal project fosters gaiety.
I'm much inclined to think that in this encapsulization John has put the matter right. It seemed to me that he was saying that Kendal manages to elevate those whom it touches. That may sound a bit pompous or boastful, but it is also true and an achievement of immense importance. It was therefore appropriate that John Diffey, the outgoing leader of the Kendal project, be the person to remind us of the truth. It was his parting gift to us.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)