Beautiful or Powerful Momentos Musicales; Joolen

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Updated 19 January 2026.❤🌹

I GREW UP classically. (I was a cello and piano girl.) Here are some pieces that gripped me; moved me; compelled me then. Sometimes; there is a story too. Please enjoy my beautiful Youtube channel; and some brief notes below.❤🌹

  

One. Here is Jacqueline du Pre on the Dvorak cello concerto. She played it for the Czech people in 1968; when the Soviet Union invaded their land. I felt that somehow; i remembered that somehow; and sought it again when Trompeta became president in our land. I felt the passion; i felt the anger in her playing. I have never seen a woman play that way!

❤🌹

  

Two. Here is Pablo; and his famous playing of the Schumann. He was known to moan and groan while he played; and so; he seemed to be in the room with me! 

I read a cool book about him once too. 

I learned to play the tender second movement of that concerto; when i had cello lessons in high school. But just as Yo-yo Ma has said too; in interviews; i most loved ensemble work.-I loved the thrill; and human engagement; of a duo or quartet or orchestra. Yo-yo is always trying to play with people; with everyone! He is very fun and engaging and cool.

You should listen to him too! He is famous; well; for everything; of course. But especially for his Bach Suites.❤🌹 

IN ONE of my former workplaces; one of my coworkers would call me Yo-yo; which is how you say the "J" of my name. Which no American would honor me to do! Which is not a respectful thing; is it? Americans need to bump it up; on their language skills; or they will be the fools of the world. 

Nor would they say the o's right.-In Dutch; two o's makes oh; not ooh. And yet; no matter how often you would teach and explain; they would not do it. But she would.

Yo-yo! she would call. She was an Asian lady; who had escaped from mainland China by swimming to Taiwan. (Wait; did i get that right?) But no; she swam to Hong Kong! 

They silently practiced swimming in the middle of the night; in the pool at the work camp. And when they escaped; they would travel through the forest to the sea by night! And sleep by day; to avoid being seen. When they swam; some grew tired and did not make it. Some; tragically; were eaten by sharks.-That is what freedom is worth to people. Which is an amazing story in itself! But she grew past all that. Though she would still swim; and isn't this deeply moving? In a pool at the Y after work each day.❤🌹

 YO-YO! It is time to go to lunch! she would call to me; from the other side of the cubicle wall.-I liked her. We were birds of a feather in many ways; i think.-My family had survived the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam; and came to America by boat in the post world war; and i was on that boat! 

So i understood the crux of her life; and the powerful importance of freedom.-She was fun for me. Most computer folk were bent on a certain image of status and power; and we were both top at our game; but it was nice to have fun too. You would also live for human things. I would; i did. By the teachings of my parents; and my sweet modest immigrant life. That was always good enough for me!❤🌹

  

Three. Here is a violin piece by the Polish-Jewish composer; Wieniawski. Written to win the hand of his sweetheart; the British Isabella Hampton; whose family resisted his proposals before.-Wow. That is a sad piece. 

And that was a powerful love; wasn't it? I could deeply feel the longing; the tenderness. In high school; i was always in love!-First; with the same boy my two friends were. But then; with the Native American flute boy; because we spoke the same language. (And both; very well at that.) But by the end of this piece; you can feel the joy. It is palpable; isn't it? You can feel the joy. And both are good; aren't they?  Both are good. Love is good.❤🌹 

 

Four. And here is Jean-Pierre Rampal; playing the Mozart Flute Concerto; which is so bright and gay at the start.-It made me dance; it made me high! And i confess; i would do pretend ballet.-Great leaps through the air! Until i sorely hurt my back that way! But i liked that concerto so much; that i learned to play some of it on my alto recorder. And isn't that conductor's face so cool? But sorry; Sydney; so sorry. For what happened the other day. (December 2025.) 

The world is not good in this day. But music is a medicine. Music is an important antidote. Music will help humans to be good; and to prevail.❤🌹

  

Here is Bernadette on Youtube!

Bernadette Joolen; Beautiful Dreamer

https://www.youtube.com/@bernadettejoolen

And now also on Medium!!

Under the same name.

Let's go!!❤🌹

  

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THE AUTHOR can be reached
at contactbjoolen@gmail.com.

❤🌹

Sentimentale; a Mama's Journey; Joolen

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Updated 19 January 2026.❤🌹

HERE ARE THREE fun homemade videos i crafted; from bits and pieces of other things.-Fotos; music; and bits of other videos. Which was a new thing for me! But we had gotten a free sample of Adobe Premiere; with our first fotoshop; which my boy needed for school; and so; i was completely up for that! And what a fun trick to learn! Though it did take a bit of mucking around; it did take a bit of time for me. But worth every minute; i thought. It was a whole new
art form for me!❤🌹

THE FIRST is a video of my older brother Frank; above. Who has; several years ago; passed away. Which also includes me and my boy; when we went; by train; to visit him in LA. 

I also used; as background; the deeply touching music of my boy's jazz quartet; in which he played the saxophone.

We had a fun recording session by our piano at home. The song is Midnight Blue.-Most notably sung by Melissa Manchester. And they were; and surely still are!-Such dear fun talented boys. It was just play; though quite in earnest! With this dear impulsive project.❤🌹 

THIS LOVELY lazy delicious song; reminded me of the sweet nostalgic rhythms of LA.-It was so hot there! We always just kind of shuffled along.-I still love this piece. I think these sweet; perhaps clumsy homemade projects; are still a lovely way to share and treasure sweet memories. And i really adore the gorgeous gentle way those boys played that song. Children making music is the best thing.-Don't you think? 

It is absolutely 

the sweetest thing.❤🌹

THE SECOND VIDEO; Scenes from an Immigrant Childhood; i crafted from the small videos my mother made; with her Super 8 camera; that she got with her Blue Chip Stamps. They are crazy; random; delicious! 

I love the one of Opa digging in our yard.-A proud man on his rented property. And he became quite an avid gardener that way! Because of course; with all of that sunshine in LA; what else would you do?! I also love his fun silly dancing scene at the end; with the relatives in Holland. 

He was a shy modest man who worked hard; lived quietly; and truly loved all the beautiful things he did. And then; passed them on to all of us. And; furthermore; musically speaking; that is me on the alto recorder; playing Penny Lane.-By the amazing Beatles; of course. 

And then; Chopsticks; on the piano! (I arranged both of those pieces myself.) A fun way to snap up my chops a bit! And i am so glad; that i took the time to make these sweet small videos. Because of course; the sad note being; that time moves on; of course; and so.-Rest in peace; Oma and Opa and Brother Frank. I think we had good times; when we did.❤🌹

OTHER BRIEF fun notes. It is also me on the cello. And i love the bit with Oma petting the goat!-We were at the Griffith Park Zoo in LA; which was maybe three busses away. And that part was always fun too. We got to see the world that way! We got to see the city that way. And to think deeply about a lot of things; that maybe we wouldn't have otherwise. I always loved that. Many trips to the sea that way too.❤🌹

AND THE THIRD VIDEO was a delicious playful piece that i conceived while i was deep into my writing; and taking a fun delicious acting class. And we were always tasked to bring small notions in to play with; and so; i kept doing that! 

The table; as you will see; was my stage. We had just gone to the Cirque du Soleil; oh my! I was higher than a kite! And; i was just learning to play the accordion. Which was a life-changer for me.

I had for so long longed to have a personal handheld folk instrument; more personal than a piano; to sing with.-I was getting into everything! Inspired by the journey of my boy; and his fun ever-changing and interesting world. 

The piece i was playing on this video; was my own arrangement; of a gorgeous song by Peter Ostroushko; the American mandolinist and singer of Ukrainian descent.

His voice was deep and rich; and the language is so beautiful. And the song was so tender it nearly killed me! And so then; you have to sing it or play it yourself; of course; don't you? 

The foreign words were too difficult for me to transcribe and learn; and so; i worked out this instrumental version instead. But a lot of music came in and out of our house those years.-Still does. And so; you couldn't help but not create something yourself! And; as you can see; i went absolutely mad with special effects in this fun fun video.-With that new Adobe Premiere software. And clearly; i was highly suggestible! All in day; and in a time; that was ever sweet and delicious for me. As was the incredible journey of that boy.❤🌹

AND POSTSCRIPT; dear Google; why don't you show my beautiful posts on this site?-Have they somehow disappeared me? And have they forgotten; that we writers were some of the earliest humans who warmed their giant new electronic bits-and-bytes worldscape.-With our dreams; and with our music; and with our passionate politics; insights; and humanity.-And all for no pay; mind you. And we deserve to be seen for that!-Ja; no; i know. From this old Dutch immigrant mama; Bernadette Joolen! Don't forget that.❤🌹

Here is Bernadette on Youtube!

Bernadette Joolen; Beautiful Dreamer

https://www.youtube.com/@bernadettejoolen

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All materials on this site are protected; Copyright © 2025 by the author, Bernadette Joolen; All Rights Reserved. Which includes all text; design; and photographs.

THE AUTHOR can be reached
at contactbjoolen@gmail.com.

❤🌹

The Peace Makers; Ghandi

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All materials on this site are protected; Copyright © 2025 by the author, Bernadette Joolen; All Rights Reserved. Which includes all text; design; and photographs. Greetings; and thank you!❤🌹

Updated 19 January 2026.❤🌹

I HAVE SEEN too much trouble in this changing political time. I will gather these Youtube clips to uplift me; to inspire me. Come have a look if you like! This may start with only one; but you know my intent. Come visit again and again!

And visit my other collections too! Youtube is a wonderful arts and political and cultural resource; in these ever changing; and often now; difficult times.❤🌹

  

Ghandi.  I remember seeing this film in the theatres 43 years ago! And i was looking for clips from the film; that would be instructive or relevant or moving today; but wow; could it be true?-That the whole film is available on Youtube for free? Older films just flow to the public domain; i suppose; after a certain number of years.

I remember at the end of the film. Standing up to watch to the very end; as people were rising and leaving the theater. And those who wanted to see it stood in the aisle. (And those who left missed something so beautiful!) 

But many stayed; to watch the masses of people marching to the sea; in the famous Salt March; of course. And i remember feeling completely overwhelmed.-As the Indian people kept coming and coming; and as the closing music began. Which i sang to myself for weeks after.-I am a musician; i am an artist. I always stay for the closing music. 

Sometimes that is the most beautiful part. I stay to the very last; and most important crystalline note. Which was a sequence i will never forget. And; it was the power of the people; of course.-And bravo to the brilliant Ben Kingsley too! Who has been so beautiful in so many important roles. I will keep checking for clips.❤🌹

  

Here are Some...

Amazing clips about Ghandi's political proposals and actions; including the general strike; and the Salt March. As rendered by the incomparable Ben Kingsley; and John Gielgud!❤🌹

  

Here is the Powerful...

Closing music that completely blew me away; as the Salt March continued. No one breathed; no one moved. The powerful human humming began; and then; Ravi. It was amazing; in that way; to experience an epic moment in history; no.-To almost be inside of it; to see it firsthand.❤🌹 

  

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All materials on this site are protected; Copyright © 2025 by the author, Bernadette Joolen; All Rights Reserved. Which includes all text; design; and photographs.

THE AUTHOR can be reached
at contactbjoolen@gmail.com.

And more videos here.❤🌹

Vocabulario; Joolen!

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Updated 19 January 2026.❤🌹

Foto. It is called a tag cloud. That gathers all the fun keywords that you associate with your blogs. It gives the reader a sense then; of the subject of a site; or post. 

Below is another play at words. Here are a few of my favorite recently relevant words; and some difficult ones; in a most difficult time. My somewhat familiar languages; are these.

English, by use and absorption; as a young immigrant. Dutch, by birth. German by study. And Spanish by proximity; and bus signs; and street signs. My list; perhaps; makes a gentle social statement all its own.-Cheers then! Or well; sorrows, i suppose. But we shall overcome. By our words; and by our acts; and by our strength; and of course; by our sorrows. We shall overcome. It wouldn't be worth the ride otherwise.❤🌹

In English

in Nederlands

auf Deutsch

en Español

❤🌹

For Christmas!

voor Kerstmis

zu Weihnachten

para Navidad

❤🌹

Peace

vrede

frieden

paz

❤🌹

Love

liefde

liebe

amor

❤🌹

Goodwill

goede wil

wohlwollen

buena voluntad

❤🌹

Freedom

vrijheid

freiheit

libertad

❤🌹

Equality

gelijkwaardigheid

gleichwertigkeit

igualdad

❤🌹

Democracy

Democratie

Demokratie

Democracia

❤🌹

Injustice

onrecht

ungerechtigkeit

injusticia

❤🌹

Falseness

valsheid

falschheit

falsedad

❤🌹

Hypocrisy

hypocrisie

heuchelei

hipocresía

❤🌹

Bullying

pesten

mobbing

acoso escolar

❤🌹

Crime

misdaad

verbrechen

delito

❤🌹

Dignity

waardigheid

würde

dignidad

❤🌹

Sanctity

heiligheid

heiligkeit

santidad

❤🌹

Innocence

onschuld

unschuld

inocencia

❤🌹

Childhood

jeugd

kindheit

infancia

❤🌹

I WILL TRY to add some more excellent words to this list; as i think of them. And generally; i have enough of a sense of these languages to know that i am getting the right form of the word from Google Translate. Some cognates; i expect. 

Other translations surprise me! And i would like to fling these words around at some folk; if i could; but i tend to be a polite, gentle, respectful, modest sort. (Which traits some people might try to learn.) I am seeing a sad; and quite shocking; lack of grace; class; modesty; respect everywhere. Replaced by a crass arrogant falseness and duplicity. 

I guess; money and status and power and large houses; flips some sort of switch in people. (It has no interest to me.) What draws people in me is a gentle soft-spokenness. And a gentle kind creativity perhaps; in their language or in their style. And a certain modesty and curiosity; about the world. And i will tell you truly; the arrogance shocks me. 

It truly flips my stomach sometimes. My family was always very respectful; polite. We were friendly; we were vriendelijk. Nonetheless; i hope you enjoy.-I love language. It is a way to show a gentle respect to people; and their people; and their lands. It is a way to heal the world!❤🌹

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THE AUTHOR can be reached
at contactbjoolen@gmail.com.

❤🌹

The Bully Beat; Joolen

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Updated 20  January 2026.❤🌹

Foto. My dear Mr. Cat and Tweeter; who are always on my side. They don't much like those couple'a troubling bully neighbors either.-Thanks guys! It is good to have someone on my side. Back off; bullies! they say. Back off! Our mom is a cool lady.-Our mom is the coolest lady! Cooler than you will ever be. That bugs them; you see?❤🌹

PLEASE NOTE; that i have taken down my prior and most important post on neighborhood bullying. Simply because it grew too long; to organize that most important information well. It will be good as a small book; i think! 

And i do love to make those! In fact; quite often; my longer creative works begin that way! Just as a small important scrap; or blog. But when you think of it; if you must; relentless neighborhood bullying; is just one small step towards political dysfunction; and towards social decline and dysfunction; and sadly; towards war.

Call them Nazi's or not; but bullying is that. The strange notion that you; and only you and your ilk; should; sadly; dominate a society. But i; personally; have never had; nor will ever have; any notion to do that.❤🌹

MY POST was to identify their game; and to plainly warn innocent others.-Don't play with bullies! Good then! And some of them; these days; of course; are called ICE. 

And their tactics are as chilling as that sounds. I am so sorry for this time; which i will no longer call my time; no. I grew up in Southern California during the Sixties. And our most beautiful subjects then; were love; poetry; music; education; social equality; and; most especially; no war. 

I am so glad; that i experienced all that before. Because the memory of; and the music of; that beautiful beautiful time; still defines me; and still buoys me. And inspires ever more beautiful work in me! Call me whatever you like; but i simply cannot listen to fools. I simply cannot listen to bullies!

No; ja; no thank you; no! And welcome! To all of those lovely humans; who have enjoyed my gentle thoughtful beautiful show! And bravo; Democracy; let's go! And go and go and go and go!! And there can be; there will be; no other answer; no!-Did you shout that out?! Good then. Ja; no.❤🌹

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THE AUTHOR can be reached
at contactbjoolen@gmail.com.

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Be Smart in Healthcare! Joolen

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Updated 19 January 2026.❤🌹

Foto. Here is a heart i drew; and then; messed around with like crazy in my fotoshop! But then; my operating system grew old; and my fotoshop wouldn't work anymore! 

And when i tried to load it onto my new computer; my computer had a fatal heart attack! So now; i have grown afraid of all of that! Better mostly just to write anyway.❤🌹

I HAVE HAD mixed feelings about the use of AI. For example; i do not think people should let AI write investigative and creative work for them.  

I think our human authorship remains of vital importance. Because it comes from us. Because it represents and distills the essence of who we are; in every word we say or write. 

A ballet dancer; for example; would write a paper; or an opinion; differently than a football player or a poet; perhaps. There would be different references; memories; context; shading. And we maintain our beautiful human diversity and humanity that way.❤🌹

BUT FOR research; i have found it to be quite a useful tool.-To answer medical questions; for example. Instead of having to gather the research yourself; from every major medical site. (And i have done that.) But AI will gather and distill all that for you. Especially; as doctors are difficult to reach; and they do not always want to answer questions. Or; they will tell you far less than you need to know. 

I forget the two types of medical systems; fee-for-service is one. But in that one; i think; doctors only get paid when they sell you a specific test or procedure; which i have sadly discovered for myself. Or even; as many tests or procedures as they can! (No one seems to check on them; so make sure you do.)-Why do i need that procedure; you must say. 

Or; more pointedly; why do i need it again? But not this; never this.-Oh; let's do another MRI! For fun. Even though you did one last month. (So i can earn that mountain cabin or retirement boat.) And they do not like to answer questions; of course. Maybe; because they cannot anymore; because they simply do not know! Because they have long fallen out of the habit of answering questions. But that; of course; is wrong wrong wrong. But you are not wrong. You are not wrong. 

Your body is your own; and they must answer to you. Or; they simply do not care to answer questions. It is more lucrative for them; to keep; even your very own healthcare; a mystery! But you should walk out of every doctors visit with powerful useful information in your pocket.-And not fear; not lies. Never those. And definitely not; an empty pocket!❤🌹

OR; they do not answer you because they think you are stupid perhaps. As a monkey; or an uneducated child. And then; they will pull out a simple child's drawing and say; for example; with such compassion and gentleness; that would not even serve in Acting 101. But because; of course; they truly care. These are all the parts we would like to rip out!

Say; tomorrow? Sure; doc! But NO. Never say that. Always ask them more and more and more. And save all of your precious vital body parts; that are not meant for daily harvest. And make sure they truly earn those mountain cabins and pleasure boats.❤🌹 

SO IF YOU know your stuff.-If you know what to ask; and you know enough to understand the answer; then always ask the AI first; and they will tell you everything! Quite clearly; concisely; completely; respectfully. And they will show you actual diagrams; not simple scrawls for children. And they will not talk down to you.-Just saying. It could give you a better starting place; than a trip to the doctor.  

And of course in health care these days; they could be selling you that same AI! (If they would even trouble themselves to.) Just start from a better place. Because it is difficult when you can see their blatant pitches; and when you can see their criminal lies. It will completely disillusion you. 

Or; when they simply smile; so sweetly; and say; when you ask them something really important that is vital to your case. They shrug and say; i don't know. Because they do not want to tell you. But why are you a doctor then?! 

If i know; and you do not know; when it is your main subject of work; then why are you a doctor then? Check it out and see what you can learn and where it can go. And protect yourself! Doctors are not always smart; and they surely are not saints; and they are not always on your side! It is cynical; but true. 

They are not always on your side. There are Girl Scout and Brownie Scout promises. There is the Hippocratic Oath. But some people; perhaps; are better than others; in keeping those.❤🌹bernadette

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THE AUTHOR can be reached
at contactbjoolen@gmail.com.

❤🌹

What's on Bernadette's Youtube Show?!

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Updated 21 January 2026.❤🌹

Foto. What it is. When the moon 

is in the seventh house; baby.❤🌹

WELL; because people do not always read those introductions! But you will find there some beautiful videos; linked to stories on this blog.-Do you like my fun new blog name? That is what the hippies; the cool people; used to say in the sixties; when i was a young schoolgirl.-To reflect that certain sixtyish state of being. Though they did not always know! What it was. Sometimes; it seems better not to.

But regarding my former published literary works; which sometimes consider that time; they remain under full copyright; by me; and are no longer meant to be bought or sold. I intend to use that work again; in some form again; before i close down my show! Writing is delicious; and life-consuming! And people are not always receptive. 

But stick by the work you know is good! And keep working it again; as long as you like! Something will always come of that. Inquiries welcome below.❤🌹 

MY BEAUTIFUL publishing story is this.-I had been dabbling with my writing for a long time. And because of my computer career; i also had the tech chops to do what it took to design and publish a book; and so; i did!-What i knew i had to. 

What i knew i was meant to do. I was one of the first writers to take advantage of the new self-publishing opportunities that exist today! My writing chops remain top-of-the-line. And my design chops; and the tools available; have only grown and evolved! But in my world; many of the things i love.-Classical music; classic and foreign film; have sadly fallen by the way. So i like to celebrate the things that have meant so much to me; and that i think; can still save humanity; in this violent technological world. 

And i have the utmost respect! For artists who take the risks they do; to offer gentle HUMAN things. I hope you enjoy my gentle thoughtful posts.❤🌹bernadette joolen; 2025

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THE AUTHOR can be reached
at contactbjoolen@gmail.com.

And more videos here.❤🌹

Have You Seen These Films?! Joolen

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Updated 21 January 2026.❤🌹

Foto. Here was me reading in a coffeeshop one day. And here was a cool book that spawned a cool cool film! (With some really excellent classic Brits.) I love classic books; i love classic film.-I love foreign film. I guess you could say; i just basically love excellent film! And; um; i do not like streaming.❤🌹

I HAVE BEEN a lover of film all my life. Ever since we were old enough to walk to the matinees on our own; to see whatever they had! And that is how you learn; over time; over the years; to find the good ones! In college; i had NO discretionary income; but for the $5.00 i could save for a matinee each Saturday.-No snacks! And a long walk back and forth. But it was an escape from poverty; and again; a way to learn who is who; and what is good and bad in film. 

I walked walked alone along busy; car-filled highways. But after college; i moved to a smaller town; with many small theatres; and people who knew what good film was! And who took the effort to create a scene that way. And so; i felt i had landed in heaven! Film has inspired me all of my life.-In my writing; in my music; in my childrearing. (We also loved to share the joy of film with our boy.) And i never took for granted the delicious inspiration and escape it offered me. 

And so; i have seen a lot of films! Here then; on my Youtube channel; just to share a few of the things i have loved.-Some Favorite Powerful Scenes in Film. I will gather more by the by; because acting inspires me; and i like to remember beautiful things!❤🌹

Eddie Redmayne in Les Miserables. Empty Chairs at Empty Tables.-Well; he just about killed me. The power of that scene; and his performance; and his singing; overwhelm me every time. You cannot help but be grateful; for art; and artists like that. That whole film killed me; i cried so many times. And the two young women behind me whispered.

"Oh; she's crying again!" they said. "I wish i could still cry," one said; "but i've seen this story so many times."-Thank you; sweeties; that was dear. You were good company to me. 

And Eddie Redmayne; of course; is one of the most beautiful powerful actors i have ever seen. Afterwards; i stopped by the Starbucks for a coffee and a cookie; and told my friend there of the film; and how i cried and cried and cried.-Oh; that's not good! my friend said. But of course; me and those two girls would have to strongly disagree.❤🌹

Do You Hear the People Sing? I love the simmer; the slow boil; in this scene; and how unwitting bystanders catch on. I love when the powerful voices of the leaders break free! I can simply taste the excitement. And well; of course; i cry again. I cry for joy; i cry for sorrow; i cry for life! I will cry for anything. Sit behind me someday; and you'll see.❤🌹

The Widow Cliquot. I love this whole film so much! I love the setting; and the central trio of this story; and the powerful inspiration she finds; in her new young life; with her troubled young husband. It is filmically exquisite too. 

But the scene that i loved the most; was an early scene in the vines; where he asks her to sing to the grapes; to make sure she hears them. And to make sure they hear her; and that they will like her. And she is uncertain; she is shy; she does not really want to. (I could not find that scene for you.) 

But you just get a shiver when she does. This film is very spare; simple; pure.-I will see it again. And that; perhaps; is the best measure of any film.❤🌹

 

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Row Row Row Your Boat; Joolen

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Updated 21 January 2026.❤🌹

And Foto. We were the glitterati!❤🌹

ONCE UPON A TIME; in my small village; when a new independent or foreign or art film would come out; everyone would line up! At our small film houses; for a first view. And that was really really fun! It was an occasion; it was an event. 

Though not quite; of course; as it would be in Cannes or Hollywood! But it made the premiere of that film; something to look forward to. You would know everyone there; lined up and down; or even sometimes; around the corner; to get a privileged first view. It was a veritable who's who! Of artists and actors and writers and filmmakers; in our once small arts-loving-celebrating burg. Though of course; everything grows; and then sadly; in this era perhaps; everything goes away! So don't look away; or it will be gone.❤🌹 

SO THEN; of course; we got streaming. And don't even talk to me about streaming! Which should refer to a stream. And when a stream flows; the fish flow! The community of the fish flows. But when we do streaming in our human world; the community of film; and of the arts; and of the humans; stops. It just simply stops!-I know! But that isn't right; is it? 

And i will only permit one answer on that; because this is my blogpost. You can go and write your own! And have fun then; with that.-But no; just kidding about that. (You will have fun.) Though Google does not seem to show; or to honor; our beautiful blogs anymore. But blogs are just another sweet exercise in humanity. (Whether anyone ever reads them or not.) But humans cogitating; that is a good thing. And humans celebrating art and humanity. We need all the humans we have on board these days. To save us from climate change; war; autocracy; let's go! 

And i think film helps with that too. I think all of the arts do. Art celebrates and reinforces humans; and their beautiful hopes and dreams. And their beautiful democracy. And i will not put that in the past tense yet. Nor should you.❤🌹

BUT SO i thought i would just save some bits and pieces of film notes here too! (And on my Youtube.) As well as the other notions i have begun; as they strike me; or please me. Anything about the arts is worth being celebrated; and saved. While for example; on the flip side; nothing about war would be. We need to keep celebrating. We need to keep uplifting humanity; not destroying it. From bernadette in earnest; 2025.❤🌹

Postscript.

Catch some of my other thoughts 

and collections here!❤🌹

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The Ave Maria; Joolen

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Foto. Here was a lovely quiet courtyard; in a church in San Diego; where we said our last goodbyes to Oma. And i know she is with Opa now! Frolicking in the warm sunny California part of heaven.-Hi, guys! I will see you when i see you; and we'll party then. Though i am hoping yet; it will be a while.

❤🌹

WELL; THERE ARE literally thousands of classical pieces written under the title; Ave Maria. (Thank you; google AI!) And i suspected as much. But the two that i have grown up with; and played on my cello; are the ones by Schubert; and Bach-Gounod. Which has always been my favorite one. 

And which i also gloriously; and nearly impossibly; learned to sing! But i learned my chops and earned my song. Because; oh, my; it is so delicious. And it is so iconic; pure; moving; and gorgeous. And of course; it is deeply spiritual. I prefer the Bach-Gounod the most; for its pure clean simple rhythm and musical construction. And for its exquisite; though surely difficult intervals! But you always feel good when it is done. You feel satisfied. You feel complete.❤🌹 

THAT IS something you should know for this Christmas season; when perhaps they are both sung the most. (The two Ave Marias; i mean.) Unless i made that up. I will let you talk to the Google AI about that. But; longing to hear it again; i thought to try and find the best performance; to my ear; on the Youtube today. (Of the Bach-Gounod Ave Maria.) 

And my standards are very high! I require a European pronunciation; for one thing; as i think it was meant to be sung. (I think it sounds kind of cheap otherwise. It is not a pop or country song.) And; quite simply; not everyone can maintain and sustain those heart-breaking intervals; and long exquisite notes! While also then maintaining; an exquisite and powerful purity of tone. Wait a sec while i go for a listen; to make sure. I also do not like it overly operatic. It is a pure simple song.❤🌹

SO WOW;  i found something i haven't seen in years; that i could not believe i would have found. I love this partly for it's gorgeous filmic production; of course. 

I can feel her reverence. I am seeing less foreign film; and art film these days; with all of our filmhouses gone. (Sucked dry by streaming; of course.) And this evokes for me that. 

I also love this for the earnest; but almost punk-rock modern freakiness.-Though i mean that in the very best way!-Of the exquisite pianist; of course. And for the beauty and filmic performance of the singer herself. But; most essentially; for the simple effortless purity of her voice. She sings it a little bit faster than i would chose; but honestly; who would i be to complain?! Once i saw this; i looked no further.❤🌹

THANKS, GUYS! We need more reverence and earnestness in our world today.-To deflect and counterbalance; well, you know. Everything; i suppose. And this video has all the parts of me! It has the classical piano; which i also played.-And; the singer; which i also do. But then also the cellist! Who played this; that is; i did. As an earnest young cello girl. I think they must have made this just for me!-Well then; bravo.❤🌹

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Et in Terra Pax; Joolen

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Foto. We must preserve a gentle quiet reverence for life. We have grown a bit loud; i think. We have grown a bit glib; i think. We have let too many things fall; perhaps; into an irrevocable decline.❤🌹

 

HERE IS A beautiful quote; and musical piece; and story i want to share with you.-Et in terra pax hominus. And on earth, peace; to men of goodwill. Which is a most important message; for all of our humans; and all of our leaders; of our time. This piece is gorgeous; this piece is simply glorious! 

Which is maybe why it is called the Vivaldi Gloria. Which in my life; i played at one time; on my cello.-Lucky me! With our premiere high school choral group.-Who daily mesmerized; and uplifted and transfixed me! While they sang the sublime songs of angels; to my most diligent important fundamental orchestral ground. Did anyone one want to play? they asked. And well of course; i did! As you will also see in my last story; The Cello Girls.❤🌹 

IN HIGH SCHOOL; i played in eight musicals that way; both spring and summer. And innumerable choral works with our choir! And also; concerts with the string and symphony orchestras. And for a young high school girl; that was not only a blessing; but a solid musical grounding; and sublime addiction; of course; for a lifetime. And i will always be grateful for that; and hope the schools still offer that! 

Because the music of the gods will never be less than great. And surely; the purest work of Vivaldi; has been some of the greatest. And now; without an orchestra; and by the inspiration of all of those sweet years; i am singing too! 

Because once you start a life of music, of course; it cannot stop. You will see that; you will know that.-It cannot stop. And which doesn't mean you cannot start at any time! Go ahead and start any time! And your life will be sublime. 

And maybe; all of our lives on earth would be better too. Because you cannot invent or launch a bomb; i think; if you have just sung or played the Gloria. Many other things; better things; would occur to you than that.❤🌹

Postscript. I was even transfixed by their warmups. To have an entire choir of angels singing arpeggios to me. 

I was on the ground floor with the conductor; and they were on risers; that went quite high; facing me.-Do you want to play? the conductor asked. And well, yes; of course i did; and so; she yelled out the chords for me. 

Shall we do it again? she asked the choir when the warmup was done. And everyone nodded.-Yes; again. Sweet as pie; higher than the sky. And which was just fine with me. 

The only sad part of this story being; that just like Jacqueline du Pre; in my Cello Girls post; this conductor also died too young; in the prime of her life; from breast cancer. 

But she surely made an invaluable contribution to our young lives those years; that would not be forgotten. As our dear orchestra conductor too.-Who played the bass; and directed us for the musicals. And for string and symphony orchestra too. You always remember the invaluable few.❤🌹 

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The Cello Girls; Joolen

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Foto. Here is an earnest young cello girl; fourth grade. And two even younger reluctant brothers; gently nudged into the frame; by our ever-determined director; Oma. She loved to take fotos! With so many shy young subjects around. And she took many surprisingly good ones!❤🌹

I GREW UP a cello girl. It was the most rich beautiful absorbing informing; and delicious thing to do. I will never forget that. In my senior year i sat first chair; and so; i had an inner-circle view; of all of the things that could happen in an orchestra. I could see the first-chair violins. 

I could see the first-chair violas and flutes. And i could see a front-facing view of everyone else! The bassoons; trumpets; and various other; and sometimes; very loud horns. And when there was a problem in any section; usually the horns; i had a quite privileged view; of the problem; and the solution firsthand! Sitting just beneath the conductor; as i did. 

It was a glorious way to discover; and to play; an integral part in a musical world. The only people i couldn't see at all; were the basses! But i could surely feel; their steady low rhythms and rumblings; that would often echo our own.-In the cello section; i mean. Though we also had the delicious privilege; of a frequent joyous melody and counterpoint all our own.❤🌹

AS I WAS growing up; there was a famous young woman cellist; just  emerging onto the national; or likely even; international scene; who looked almost exactly like me! (Well; mostly just the hair.) Which i did not know at the time. Though i am sure it wouldn't have escaped the notice of others. Though she was out-of-this-world plain brilliant! 

While i was just pretty darned good. (Though she died; quite tragically and too young; of multiple sclerosis. Which was a shock to everyone.) Here is a gorgeous cello concerto she once performed; that is so passionate it kills me. And her performance is absolutely jaw-droppingly brilliant. 

There is a great passion; and there is a great anger; that i have been feeling too; as our democracy has begun; and quite tragically, unbelievably; continues to crumble. Music can enrich; absorb; reflect; inform a world.❤🌹

BUT HERE IS A LIGHTER; funny story about that. We both also had sisters who played the flute! And their mother taught both of them now to play; while she would play the piano. And she taught her daughters to move while they played. She taught her daughters to dance while they played. 

I learned that in a beautiful film of her life. But when the flute sister; in her later life; would do that; people would tell her to stop! Though it was always celebrated and encouraged with Jacqueline. (Well; that is the sad part.) 

The funny part of the story is of my flute sister; who gave up music just past junior high; which was perhaps a good thing. Because when we tried to play duets together; she was like a runaway horse! If her part had a rest; which meant that she should wait and not play; my sister would skip the rest and play anyway! And continue the song ahead of me without me!-I don't have time for that! she would say. 

Which would; of course; turn that piece into something quite; well; to put it gently; avant garde. But i just like those gentle parallels in our lives. And of course; the amazing performance; above; of Jacqueline Dupre. ❤🌹

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And more arts notes here.❤🌹

Author, Author; Joolen!

Copyright and Permissions.
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Updated 21 January 2026.❤🌹

Foto. I love the cover of this old classic book i once bought; from a used bookstore. About that writerly and political group; who hung out; and did famous things together in England. (Loosely; the Bloomsbury group.) I don't need to be famous; and i don't really need to have a group. But i have this sweet small blog. And i do love to write! Almost more than anything.❤🌹

BERNADETE JOOLEN lives in the gentle warm Southwest United States. She is a proud lifelong liberal democrat; and of course; a supporter of democracy! Especially in this most sad perilous time. She will continue to speak out whenever and however she can. Her beautiful previous literary works; remain proudly under her own copyright; and are not to be sold or published; or adapted to any other form; as she still has her own designs; on all of that work. And just to note.-That a copyright lasts for your life; till 70 years past your death! (She will leave those rights to her boy.) Inquires about her work may be sent here: contactbjoolen@gmail.com.❤🌹

ANY REPORTS of copyright violations would be welcome too! As she thought perhaps previously; there was a stolen eBook version being sold of one of her books.-Thank you! 

For enjoying these posts. And for protecting; and enjoying; and respecting; the ever beautiful; though sometimes dwindling; state of the arts. But no one can ever stop art! 

We can stop war; at least; she hopes we can stop war. She hopes we will stop war. But humans are meant to make art. In fact; humans have partly survived because of art.-A small bit of wisdom then; for free! From the faithful author; and musician!~bernadette joolen❤🌹

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❤🌹