Program

Duo Migliore (Rick Florio and Valerie Nelson)

• La Maja de Goya” – Enrique Granados, arr. Frederick Noad
• Duet in D (three movements) – Ferdinando Carulli

Rick Florio

• The Reluctant Bride – Ralph Towner
• Always By Your Side – ““
• Green and Golden – ““

The Castle Peacock Band: Irene Ey (soprano), Valerie Nelson (alto, autoharp), & Robert Ey (Irish bouzouki)

• The Little Beggar Girl – Richard Thompson

Robert Ey

• Mountains and Valleys – Angela Mair
• Nowhere – “”

Marsha Rohe

• Solo #1 from Five Studies for Guitar Solo – Frederic Hand
• Study in A – Matteo Carcassi
• Valse Melancholico – Marianne Vedral

Gad Berger

• Liebeslied – Johann Kaspar Mertz
• La Rose – Mauro Giuliani

Jeff Griesemer

• Let Us Break Bread Together – African-American Spiritual, arr. Jeff Griesemer
• Jigs: Sliabh Russell – Traditional Irish, arr. Griesemer; Rock Hopper Jig – Jeff Griesemer

John Bogan

• Open Up Your Ears – Bryan Johanson
• Scherzo Vals – Miguel Llobet
• Think Fast – Bryan Johanson

A note on the Castle Peacock Band

The “castle” in question (known as the “Castle at Ralston Heights”), is a legendary edifice to the immediate north of the home of Robert and Irene Ey, which is the usual venue for the New Jersey Classical Guitar Society’s picnics or outdoor meetings.

The mansion was divided into apartments at one time, but now has been restored as a single family home. A peacock has been in residence at the Castle for many years. He has regularly participated in our backyard meetings, raising his voice to join in our performances and to show his appreciation.

The band was formed by NJCGS members who discovered that they also share an interest in folk instruments and song. As a by-product of the Guitar Society, the band has appeared occasionally at our less formal meetings (the Picnics in warm weather and Lasagna meetings in winter). Because the Castle Peacock joined in many of these performances, it seemed appropriate for the band to take a name honoring the noble bird.

(The original owner of the castle, Webster Edgerly, created the name “Ralston” as an acronym. It appeared in the name of the former Ralston Purina company, and independently in connection with Edgerly’s questionable enterprises involving the Ralston Health Club. For more on Webster Edgerly, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webster_Edgerly )

Longtime member Dave Starbuck reminded us that this January marks the 40th anniversary of the New Jersey Classical Guitar Society.

The first meeting was January 1986. I missed that one but made it to the next meeting in February. I brought my first 10-string guitar to the March meeting.
There were a few meetings between 1980-1985 at Connie LeCraw’s apartment in Westfield. It was mostly guys who worked at Bell Labs in Murray Hill at the time.

Dave added that a telephone tree was used to notify members of meeting plans.

Program

Rick Florio

• Etruscan Preludes – Reginald Smith Brindle

Joe Carbone

• Agua e Vinho – Egberto Gismonti

Stella Kosim

• La Rose, Opus 46 No 9 – Mauro Giuliani
• A Fancy – John Dowland

Victor Keremedjiev

• Prelude #1 – Villa Lobos
• Greensleeves arr. – Jorge Morel
• Canarios – Francisco Guerau

John Bogan

• Think Fast – Bryan Johanson

This meeting was hosted by Shane McKevitt. The cost of using Zoom in 2025 is covered by generous contributions from Ming Chao, Dana Hamilton, Rick Florio, Jeffrey Wilt, Gary Lee and Candace Wang, Jeff Griesemer. Valerie Nelson, Robert Ey, Gad Berger, Dave Starbuck, Steve Walters, Shane McKevitt, and Marsha Rohe.