A Musician’s Cottage

Anthropology 102, Professor Wolfe

November 16, 2010

Dan the accompanist

Dan is a semi-retired accompanist who lives in a house in the San Fernando Valley. He used to work as an accompanist in Montebello High School’s music department, which, means he a plays a musical accompaniment for the choirs and other singers in the music and theatre classes.

Today he works at the high school twice a week and plays at his church every Sunday.

Work space

This is where Dan does his paper workor anything that involves editing music notes or preparing any lesson plans he might have with the other music instructors in Montebello High School. He also takes phone calls here,whether work related or taking calls from his family members who live out-of-state.

Definitely not the neatest

But then I don’t know too many musicians who are. His piano has piles of notes and letters laid upon it. I think he forgot to open that letter on top of the Brahms notebook.

Books Books….

Other than loving music, Dan loves to read also and not everything is related to music although a lot of it is.The lower part of the shelf is mostly filled with books like Dali and Cosi Fan Tutte and many others that I hadn’t heard of.

And some more reading material

Can’t have toomuch reading material in his workspace.

Piano Spiel

This is where he gets his practice on his piano and what a surprise almost his entire family has some musical talent including his wife and stepson.

Collection Of Records

When I noticed the bags under the piano I wasn’t too sure what they were until I got a chance to check inside. And they were all records.

Records

He has records of international stars like Chopin, Debussy/Ravel Quartets and albums from The Beatles, Mozart and one of The Ritual Orchestra and Chants of Tibetan Buddhism.

A record player in use

We got to put his record player to use by putting on Franz Schubert’s album: Winterreise.

Art…

On top of the fireplace is a painting of the waves crashing on the rocks, and it’s perfectly positioned across from the piano so he can always look up at it.

More Art

Now this art piece was my favorite one. Twas the perfect picture to gaze at while listening to Winterreise.

And it ends with a chair...

When he’s not working part time in Montebello High School and when he’s not attending Operas Dan just likes to sit back, close his eyes and sleep on the seat that’s placed there for a reason; to let him let loose in his favorite part of the house.

Dan Agrees and Bids thee Farewell