It took two earbuds, yesterday morning, to deliver to my two ears a great Stephen Sondheim song — “It Takes Two.”
It takes two exceptional actor/singers — Chip Zien and Joanna Gleason — from the original Broadway production of Sondheim’s Into the Woods to sing “It Takes Two” in that YouTube video.
It takes two things very dear to my heart — seen on October 2 — to create the first “It Takes Two” image of today’s post:
It takes two happy moments for me to tell you that’s my wonderful friend (and ex-co-worker) Mary next to my new yellow car.
It takes two — I and my iPhone camera — to notice and capture pictures I think relate to my blog posts, every day.
As I’m typing this post with my two hands, it takes about two moments for me to come up with more than two associations for “It Takes Two.”
- It takes two parents to help our son Aaron negotiate the college application process, so I’ve asked Aaron’s father, Leon, to meet with us today after 2 PM, to discuss all that.
- It takes two days for me to come up with all the wonderful things I can say about my son Aaron, so I’m probably going to spend two hours today at the keyboard creating a “Parent Brag Sheet for College Recommendations.”
- It takes two people, or more, in a therapy office to come up with effective ideas for dealing with anxiety, depression, and many other challenges to people’s mental health.
- It takes two cardiologists — Drs. Deeb Salem and Mark Estes — to give me the level of care I need for my very unusual heart.
- It takes two doctors — my Primary Care Physician and a sleep specialist — to help me figure out how the heck to treat my mild sleep apnea.
- It takes two sleep machines for me to conclude that I really dislike wearing a medical machine at night.
- It takes approximately two minutes for me to attempt to explain why I dislike wearing medical machines at night. That experience is way too close to too many memories I have of being attached to medical machines before the age of 12, when it took two parents to take me and leave me at Children’s Hospital to receive more than two pacemakers between the ages of 10 and 12, to keep me alive.
- It takes two months to reschedule an appointment with the sleep specialist at Tufts Medical Center, so I’m too grateful that I’m finally seeing seeing him, in not too much more than 2 x 2 days.
- It took two tickets to Boston’s Symphony Hall last night to get me and my boyfriend Michael in to see Mozart’s Requiem — which I sang 2 x 2 decades ago with the MIT Chorus. Musical scholars think it took two people to write Mozart’s Requiem: Mozart and Franz Sussmayr to complete it after Mozart’s untimely death at age 35.
It takes two people (at least) to create a legitimate Wikipedia page, and it takes two sentences from the Wikipedia entry about Mozart’s Requiem to show that it takes two of several different instruments to play the Requiem:
The Requiem is scored for 2 basset horns in F, 2 bassoons, 2 trumpets in D, 3 trombones (alto, tenor & bass), timpani (2 drums), violins, viola and basso continuo (cello, double bass, and organ). The vocal forces include soprano, contralto, tenor, and bass soloists and an SATB mixed choir.
When I sang the Requiem with the MIT Chorus two years after I had graduated from a college not too far from MIT, I was an “S” in the SATB (Soprano Alto Tenor Bass) mixed chorus.
Yesterday, it took two people to have this conversation about the Requiem:
Me: Perhaps the best music ever written — Mozart’s Requiem — is playing at Symphony Hall tonight. Do you want to go?
Michael (after a pause): Sure, baby.
It takes two words from my boyfriend to make me really, really happy, sometimes.
It takes two seconds for me to decide to share this part of the Requiem (which everybody agrees was written only by Mozart).
It apparently takes two musical numbers for me to successfully complete this post.
It takes way more than two people to help me create every post I write here. Thanks to all of them and to you — of course! — for taking the time to read this.
It took 2 X 3 extra posts for me to congratulate you on #1,000. An unusually hectic schedle kept me from much of my spare reading. It only took the last 2 sentences to remind you how much I do enjoy reading your blog.
It takes me two sentences to express my gratitude that you read this blog. THANK YOU, RAY!
I am proud to be your secon post of the day . It takes two friends to share important thoughts and feelings. I was twice happy to see you.
I am proud to call you my friend, Mary, many times over.
Two things that almost always stir my soul…and they’re both here. Mozart and Latin. Pax vobiscum, Ann. ❤️
❤ ❤
so sweet
having two
even when just
my split
personality 🙂
so sweet to
calmly accept
the different
parts
of you
“Mozart’s Requiem — which I sang 2 x 2 decades ago with the MIT Chorus. Musical scholars think it took two people to write Mozart’s Requiem: Mozart and Franz Sussmayr to complete it after Mozart’s untimely death at age 35.” Wow Ann! That’s amazing, to have sung with the MIT chorus!!!! I know the Mozart Requiem because I once went through a stage in which I listened to several “cantatas”. Maybe I’ll share one or two later with you here. The problem, however, at least for me, is that NOW they make me sad! So in that sense, I’ve changed, but witnessing that performance must be heavenly!
Are you then a “Soprano Alto” Why did they add the “Tenor Bass”?
I see that it took two comments today for you to express yourself, Maria. Of course, they are both welcome.
The chorus that sings the Requiem includes sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses, like many pieces of choral music. I was one of the many sopranos that sang in that MIT Chorus production of The Mozart Requiem in the 1970s.
But are you also able to be a Tenor Bass?
Nope. Guys can be tenors or basses.
Ok., I see, you were just in that section, of course I know about the tenors, I just didn’t understand why they placed you in the Soprano Alto Tenor Bass section
I was in the soprano section of a SATB chorus.
Ok, I see, a Soprano Alto Tenor Bass “mixed chorus”. Ann, maybe it takes 4, 5, or 6?
The numbers depend on several factors. There were between 8 to 10 people in each of the four sections last night.
Such a wonderful blog! It takes two lifetimes to read all the wonderful blogs on WordPress, unfortunately…
I think it’s wonderful that you took a portion of this lifetime to visit here today!
It takes two – my partner and me – to host two. We’ll have two international students with us for two nights!
2x2x2 fabulous, Emilie!
It takes two ears to listen to the beautiful music you share, and it takes (for me, thankfully) two good eyes to read your words!
I am many times grateful for your two ears and your two eyes!
I’m so glad to offer my two cents here. Mozart’s Requiem is an amazing piece of music and I can’t imagine what it must have been like to have taken part in performing it. I also hope Aaron gets his choice of colleges and that it’s not too far away even though you and Michael will still be a twosome.
And I have too many hopes for your health to be put into words.
Your two cents mean a great deal to me, Chris.
I am listening to Mozart’s Requiem for the first time, as far as I know, and savouring the discovery that irony is the opposite of wrinkly. Thank you for these two new things.
Thank you, thank you, Maureen.
This is one cantata I still like:
The Requiem is also a “mass” not a “cantata” right? Here’s one from the Requiem I also like (that makes two):
Thanks for all of it, Maria!
I am posting this video because it shows John Oliver, who was the wonderful conductor of the MIT chorus when I was singing in it. Until this year, he was the conductor of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus (which he created over 40 years ago).
No wonder you have such lovely voice Ann!
It takes you to see the world like this, Ann. I love that, too.
Too too cool, friend Mark.
2 words: great post 😀
2 words: thanks, Lisa!
It takes two to tango!
It takes two photos to create this comment!
Great post as always Ann 🙂
I don’t know why, but I never see your posts in my Reader. Enjoy your day.
It’s great to see you, Irene. I don’t know why WordPress takes me away from people’s readers. Have you tried following me again? It might take two times doing that to make it work.
I do follow you Ann and have done that for years. Maybe more visits might help 🙂
More visits from you would certainly help me, Irene!
🙂
Wow you sang with the MIT chorus. I didn’t know/remember you did that. My younger daughter sings in that group now.
How awesome that the two of us are both connected to that great chorus, Debbie!
Two sets I like: The quotes, e.g. the irony one; and the silhouettes
I’m glad I took the time to take those two you liked, Derrick.
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