So is everyone muted? Is that? Good. Well, welcome everyone to BCC's first virtual evening of musical offerings and skits. We have 11 people have 11 people or gatherings of people have created videos. And thank you all for that, for that effort. It's really a great creative endeavor and all together I think these will run for about an hour. This year we have more musical offerings than skits but they're all of a very high quality and I know that you will be entertained. So I just want to you should be aware that because these were variously recorded by different people.

[01:00]

The volume levels may be different from skit to skitter, from music to music. So you may have to adjust the volume on your computer. If things need to be softer or louder, that's kind of up to you. So all of us can do that easily, I think. So I'd like you to sit back and enjoy the next hour or so of these offerings. The first act is Bits and Pieces of Bach by Sojan Mel Weitzman and Rob Lyons. And it's really a good place to start with the most deep and classical musics. So take it away, Sojan and Rob. so

[02:34]

so so Oh so

[04:04]

so Thank you.

[06:52]

Thank you, Rob and Sojin. We debated whether to have a canned clap track at the end of each piece that we decided, perhaps not, perhaps that would not be tasteful, but thank you for that wonderful socially distanced music. The next offering is from Ross Blum, and it is a memorial for Jordan Thorne, who was a priest at San Francisco Zen Center and at Green Gulch. And many of us knew him, and I'm sure that some of you knew Jordan also. And Ross will just recount his connection with Jordan. So please pay attention to what Ross has to offer. Jordan Thorn died some years ago.

[07:55]

Jordan Thorn lived some years ago. Like all of us in Suzuki Roshi's descriptor, he was half good and half bad. Not quite a monk and not quite a lay person. I knew him in the context of a small group of gourmands who met every month or so to share a meal. The hosts had the privilege of planning the menu and calling the great varietal for the attendees to BYO to share and compare. While the meals I hosted were vegan, the others were most definitely not. At the latter, I nibbled around the animal and received Jordan's half-good, half-bad ribbing as best I could. So as not to appear too pure in their eyes, and because I do enjoy cheese, I partook spreading it generously onto crackers served in their homes. George was fond of bringing Maldon's sea salt flakes to the table to finish off his preparation.

[08:59]

With his deft hand overhead, I sat transfixed as the crystals rained down onto the plate. Despite his boisterous fill-the-room expression and sizable girth, I knew that his touch with the salt and light comportment revealed someone inside worth my investigation. Besides, he had received Dharma transmission from Norman, and the associated accoutrements displayed on a shelf near our dining table. I asked Jordan if he would be available for a Dharma chat, to which he assented, and being a member, happily invited me to join him at the de Young Museum Cafe as his guest. When he arrived, he pulled out the membership card stating that he loves to support the arts. The doorkeeper noted that the museum was free to all that since this was the first Tuesday of the month.

[10:04]

He had a laugh. We had, we had a laugh about this and it did not undermine his generous spirit to talk with me. Not quite Doka-san, not quite a chat. We coined it Doka-chat. After Jordan's memorial service at Zen Center, I went to the DeYoung and became a member. I had lunch in their cafe and toasted Jordan's memory. Later, I bought this box of Maldon Sea Salt Flakes and think of him and his at-time salty personality. When I have conversations with a Sangha member, I call it Doka Chat. I don't distinguish one expression from another. Not quite a monk, not quite a lay person. Quite a nice fit, Suzuki Roshi. Ross Estes Blum, on the second anniversary of Jordan Thorne's death, it would have been my father's 99th birthday, June 10th, 2020.

[11:07]

Thank you, Ross. Thank you, Jordan, for both of you adding the salt, which is a necessary addition to this set of offerings. The next offering is a wonderful musical offering. And I really appreciate it. And I also miss the fact that We're not going to hear the long shaggy dog story of Ron Nestor's summer vacation. Maybe we will. Maybe he hasn't taken his summer vacation yet. Or maybe it's a summer staycation like many of us are doing. But I think many of you have not heard Ron play the piano. So here is Rockin' Ron Nestor's rendition of Amazing Grace.

[12:22]

so [...] So, let's get into the tutorial.

[14:02]

so so I can feel it, I can feel it, I can feel it, I can feel it so so Thank you so much, Ron.

[15:27]

That's really, I get lost in your left hand. It's really beautiful, beautiful flow to that music. So the next piece we have is a skit or a monologue or a search for one's place. And this comes, this is an offering from Sabrina Morris, Uh, and it's called Zendo in Place. Ah, what a mess. I don't know if I can deal with this right now. I'd really like to just be able to do some Zazen. This'll work.

[16:31]

This is definitely not going to work. Maybe if I go outside today. Where can I sit? A little bit noisy out here. Peaceful and quiet. I think I have a chance. Oh, hey mom, can you help me with something?

[17:45]

Okay, so what should I do? I can't seem to find a place to sit. Do you remember what Sergeant Roshi said about that? If you can't sit... Oh, that's right. Just be in your breath. Okay, thanks. Okay.

[19:00]

you It is a good idea. I wonder if there's a Zen of bread making. Thank you so much, Sabrina.

[21:01]

I think you answered that question yourself, whether there's a Zen of bread making. And I'm afraid my phone just rang someplace. It might be in the kitchen. I don't know. I apologize for that. So I'm going to wait till Laurie gets back in the room, because she's got to make the moves here. I hope that. I want to eat some of that bread. I'll bring you some. The next offering that we have is from Luminous Heart Penelope Thompson. And Penelope is going to share with us two of her own poems. So let's listen and watch Penelope. Hello, dear Sanka. coming to you today by Zoom, sending on two poems with love to you all.

[22:07]

This first one is called Will You. As everything descends, belly, breasts, bottom, where there is little space between age spots, When I know someone's name as well as my own, but it takes a while to surface. When I say, I want to take a hike, but I mean on level ground. Will you? When you have to call my cell phone so I can find it. Help me locate my house keys three times a day. In short, When I am a barnacle, bin around the ocean, whale, a visible reminder of time that herds us all toward the dividing line, when ministering ones say, last rites, and doctors pull their masks down, will you

[23:17]

This one is called Whistle. My whistle has come back after long years of absence, a thinning of the lips, perhaps, or a change in my palate. This morning I walk through the heavy air that lingers after rain, see white camellia petals puddle at the base of their shrubs, The daybreak chorus has begun. One tree-hidden bird sings, two descending notes in minor key, and, unthinking, I whistle back. It's an older whistle, less robust than in the days my boyfriend stood below my window, whistled a line of pennies from heaven, and I answered him, in kind.

[24:24]

A surprise, this reprise, when so much else falls away, to discover this soft-colored song still wanting to be sung. Thank you. Thank you, Luminous Art. And he's on earth. The next offering we have is from Mary Beth Lamb. And Mary Beth is going to do her own introduction to this. So I will just turn it over to her. I am going to play Tarantella by Sergei Prokofiev for you. It was composed in 1935 for a collection of music for children. The form of the tarantella is obscure.

[25:29]

We don't really know where it came from. Some people say that it comes from the town of Toronto in southern Italy, and it was a courtship dance that was characterized by a lively, upbeat tempo and the playing of tambourines. Others say that it might have come from Dionysian rites and that eventually those went underground and became the thing that was very popular in the books that I taught the students piano from, that it was from the dance of the tarantula spider bite, so that when you danced, you danced the venom out of your body. Well, there's also the idea that maybe it was a dance for neurotic women, for them to dance their frenzy out. Well, hey, maybe that's why I was so excited to learn this piece during the time of COVID-19. And who knows? Maybe if you dance along while I'm playing, maybe you'll dance the COVID virus out.

[26:31]

It's worth a try. so [...] I'd like to hear more.

[28:05]

That's really incredibly alive music. Thank you so much. Very good. So the next piece is a skit. And during the COVID epidemic, Lori and I have been watching a lot of television. And if you watch television these days, especially from about 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., there are a lot of prescription medicines that are being advertised and sold to you for whatever varieties of ailments you may have from constipation to psoriasis and things of various commonality and obscurity. So with help from Lori and from Kika Helene, we have this skit, which is called Hossan's Remedy.

[29:11]

Oh, dear, you look down in the dumps. What's wrong? I just don't feel... I don't feel the same. The same as what? I really can't explain it. All I can say is that everything is dark. Dark. I can't see the light. Well, not knowing is most intimate. And you know everyone has their own light. Hozan Sensei, you look as if you need a strong medicine. As your doctor, I'd like to prescribe you something. Have you ever heard of Zenexa? Even though we are taught not to pick and choose, you can take Zenexa in its traditional capsule formula or in the new easily digestible pill formula. The white powder of enlightenment will fall. It reaches everywhere. And the hole in the center signifies emptiness. How do you feel?

[30:17]

Ask your doctor if Sinexa is right for you. It has an ingredient found in jellyfish who can sit very still and have excellent posture for jellyfish. Side effects may include obsessive thoughts, sleeplessness, anxiety, shortness of breath, suicidal ideation, earworms, obsession, hallucinations, incontinence, loose bowel movements, constipation, slumping posture, sore knees, lustful thoughts, sloth, and torpor. Please tell your doctor if you experience an ugly outbreak or experience voidness. There. may be signs of a complete dissolution of self, which could be fatal, leading to an unpleasant rebirth. Doctor, I feel great now. Nothing doesn't bother me. Remember, Zenexa is spelled with two of the last three letters of the alphabet, so it must be good. Take Zenexa every day. Body and mind just drop away. Zenexa. Well, thank you, one and all.

[31:32]

That's great. And that is available without a prescription. The next offering, which is of a somewhat different quality and valence is from Susan Marvin. And Susan is going to sing one of John Prine's wonderful songs, and I think that she's going to introduce it. So this is John Prine's song, Angel from Montgomery. This is Susan Marvin. I was just heartbroken when John Prine died in April in Tennessee from the coronavirus. He was 74 years old. I'm going to sing his song, Angel from Montgomery. And my friend Libby McLaren is on the piano. I am an old woman named after my mother.

[32:39]

My old man is another child that's grown old. If dreams were thunder, lightning was desire. This old house would have burned down a long time ago. Make me an angel that flies from Montgomery. Make me a poster of an old rodeo. Just give me one thing that I can hold on to. To believe in this livin' is just a hard way to go. When I was a young girl, well, I had me a cowboy.

[33:42]

He weren't much to look at, just a free ramblin' man. But that was a long time and no matter how I try The years just flow by like a broken down town Make me an angel that flies from Montgomery Make me a poster of an old rodeo Just give me one thing that I can hold on to To believe in this livin' is just a hard way to go There's flies in the kitchen I can hear them, they're a-buzzin' But I ain't done nothing since I woke up today.

[34:51]

How the hell can a person go to work in the morning? And come home in the evening and have nothing to say Make me an angel that flies from Montgomery Make me a poster of an old rodeo Just give me one thing that I can hold on to To believe in this living is just a hard way to go. To believe in this living is just a hard way to go. Thank you, Susan.

[35:53]

That's such a fine song. As Laurie said in the last piece, everyone has their own light. And what I see here is that everyone has their own voice. And we're really grateful for that. The next musical offering is from Joel Fagan. And it is the Bop French Suite. So take it away, Joe. Ah, great to be here. Here's some cheerful Bach as requested. And this is the Gavotte from the G major French sweep. do do

[36:55]

There it is. Wow. Thanks so much, Joel. That was remarkable. That could have gone on a bit longer, I think. We're down to the last two pieces. And the next presenter is Lori Sanaki, who is going to present her own gloss on a Zoom meeting. Three, four. They all ask for you.

[38:33]

Everybody inquired about you. I went on down to the deep blue sea. They all asked for you. The sharks asked, the whales asked, the barracudas asked me too. Oh, they all asked for you. They all asked for you. Everybody there wanted to know where. They all asked for you. That was shorter than most of our Zoom meetings are. And also more varied in the species that show up at them. So the last piece that we have was put together by Jerry Oliva, Sandeep Lahil, Kabir Nabi,

[39:45]

and Phil Sherrard. And I want to say that Phil was unable to record his video and audio at the same time. So he will make a video appearance after the performance. But they're going to do a song from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, South Pacific. And the title of it is, You Have to Be Carefully Taught. Hi, everybody. Before we start singing our song, I wanted to give you some background about how we happen to be singing it tonight. When I was watching the George Floyd video, I was absolutely shocked, traumatized by seeing it. And a few minutes of the end of the video, this song came to me.

[40:47]

All the words and music, I hadn't heard this song or sung it for a very long time. And it's a song from the musical South Pacific. And it's a musical that was set on an army base on a South Pacific island. And as part of the musical, there were a lot of themes that are very current today. There were themes of class, differences and class attitudes of gender stereotypes and gender attitudes, and also of racial hatred, racial discrimination that happened on that army basis, particularly with the army people and the indigenous population of the island. So at one point in that show, a Brazilian resident of the of the island is the raiding of a white lieutenant about how awful the American's behavior is and how he can't understand.

[41:58]

And he says to him, how can the Americans be so cruel? I don't understand it. How did they get that way? How can they act like that to other people, to other human beings? How can they be so unkind? And the lieutenant says, you've got to be taught. So the name of this song is, You've Got To Be Taught, and we'll do our best to do it justice tonight, after many tries. You've got to be taught to hate and fear. You've got to be taught from year to year. It's got to be drummed in your dear little ear. You've got to be carefully taught. You've got to be taught to be afraid. Of people whose eyes are oddly made.

[43:00]

And people whose skin is a different shade. You've got to be carefully taught. You've got to be taught before it's too late. Before you are six or seven or eight. To hate all the people your relatives hate. You've got to be carefully taught. You've got to be carefully Thank you, everybody. Thank you. And Philip will un-video, or show his video. Or not. If he doesn't do it now, we will... Go frozen. There he goes! Yay! and the difficulties we had with this recording.

[44:06]

Thank you very much. All right. Well, that is our performance for tonight. I'd like to thank all of you for attending, thank everybody who made these wonderful offerings, and particular thanks to Lori Sanaki, to Mary Beth Lamb, and to Sylvie Sanaki, who all made sure that this all came off like clockwork, which kind of did. So thank you so much and enjoy the rest of the evening.

[44:45]

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