Recordings - Elizabeth Adda Robinson Ratcliffe

Elizabeth Adda Robinson Ratcliffe
1923-2015

Recordings

• Lewis Perry: On Living Alone

Lewis spoke at the Resident Lecture Series on 18 March 2019. The Series occurs once a month at Piedmont Gardens and is organized by Flossie Lewis, supremely gifted teacher who also makes her nest at PG.
Audio only recording
The text Lewis read from is here.
He begins reading his “Never Too Late” poem at 35:34.

• Elizabeth Robinson Ratcliffe - Reflections on Life

(00:00-58:11)

From growing up in China in the 1920s and ’30s, to getting a Byzantine Medieval Art History MA degree (1973), to working as a psychotherapist for more than 30 years in Oakland and Berkeley, CA.
Audio only recording

• Lewis Perry - The High Point of My Career

beginning at 58:12 (to 01:16:02)

Mom Moments (06:21) 8mm silent home movies, 1951-1962

Grampa’s Jokes, Stories, and Songs (25:42)

Recorded in 1976 by Elizabeth with her father, Harold Wesley Robinson, when he was 90 years of age. As she recounts at the tape’s conclusion:

Two years have gone by; this is Christmas now in 1982 and Grampa has been gone from this world nearly two years. Grampa and I dialogued this little collection of jokes and songs when he was 90 years old in his room in Hillcrest House, Carmel Valley Manor. It was November of 1976 then. I thought my daughter Patty, who was living in Japan, would especially enjoy hearing his voice as a Christmas present clear across the world. And indeed she did. Now this year, I have rediscovered the tape and am making copies for other relatives who might, at Christmas time, get a kick out of remembering Dad’s great good humor and playfulness which was with him nearly to the end of his life. Along with Grampa, I send you all my Seasons Greetings and love. This is Eliabeth Ratcliffe, or Lepai, signing off.

Songs and Memories of North China American School in Tungchow, China, (31:55)
recorded by her daughter Patty, 12 December 2012

Elizabeth sings two Chinese Children’s Songs, 13 November 2015

Growing Up In China - 1925-1940

1999 audio recording (two 90-minute cassette tapes divided into four parts) of Elizabeth recounting her years growing up in China to her son David going through old photographs. As more of the images are re-located a slide show will be produced. In the meantime, transcribed selected text excerpts are presented via the following links into the Chronology timeline as well as the China and Family Picture Books.

Part I, March 1999 (46:35)
- Harold Wesley Robinson’s photographic memory - starts at 13:54
- How HWR was drawn to China - starts at 20:22
- the American Board Mission (ABCFM) sent HWR to China - starts at 23:08
- Mary Robinson’s calling card - starts at 32:42
- Harold and Mary taught H.S. wherever they lived in China - starts at 34:15
- “We always kept goats...” - starts at 44:29
- “And here’s the birthday party...” - starts at 44:56
Part II, March 1999 (46:50)
- Robinsons and other American Board members in Paotingfu, circa 1922 - starts at 00:50
- “Hal’s & Jim’s amahs and bound feet - starts at 05:35
- “The old home” South Hollow, Warren, Vermont - starts at 12:24
- “This is my grandmother Robinson...” - starts at 14:08
- Harold Wesley Robinson when he would return to Vermont - starts at 15:33
- Uncle Guy and Aunt Bess visit Long Beach - starts at 16:04
  George Garrison and Adda Wooley Stambaugh
- Sidney and Betty Jeanne Stambaugh - starts at 17:07
- 1925 Passport Photograph in Long Beach, California - starts at 23:04
  Mary and Harold take stock of their lives
- Robinson house in Paotingfu - starts at 25:12
  very important Chinese people in Elizabeth’s life
  including her amah, Tien Da Tsao and the cook, "Zang Sha Fu"
- how the little ones went up the mountain to Gwantzeling - starts at 32:02
  Jim, Emma Rose, Elizabeth, and Faith Galt in winter
  at Peitaiho on the Pacific ocean in the summertime
Part III, March 1999 (42:05)
Part IV, June 1999 (47:30)

George Friederic Handel’s Messiah

George Friederic Handel’s Messiah was performed on 18 May 1968 in the Congregational Church of San Mateo by the Chancel Choir, Organ, and Orchestra beginning at 8:00 in the evening. Patricia Hudson was the Director and S. Leslie Grow was the Organist. Elizabeth was present at this performance and purchased the 3-record box set (manufactured by Century Records in Saugus, California). The music was played often in the house, especially during the end-of-year holidays.

SIDE 1 – 24:22
		Overture Recitative: Comfort Ye My people Air: Ev’ry Valley Shall Be Exalted Tenor - Peter Sacco Chorus: And The Glory of the Lord Shall Be Revealed Recitative: Thus Saith the Lord Air: But Who May Abide the Day of His Coming? Bass - Milton Williams Chorus: And He Shall Purify
SIDE 2 – 17:58
		Recitative: Behold, a Virgin Shall Conceive and Bear a Son Air and Chorus: O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion Alto - Margery Tede Recitative: For Behold Darkness Shall Cover the Earth Air: The People That Walked in Darkness Bass - Milton Williams Chorus: For Unto Us a Child is Born
SIDE 3 – 24:04
		Pastoral Symphony Recitative: There Were Shepherds Abiding in the Fields And Lo! the angel of the Lord came upon them And the angel said unto them And suddenly there was with the angel Soprano - Edith Zitelli Chorus: Glory to God Air: Rejoice Greatly Recitative: Then Shall the Eyes of the Blind Be Opened Air: He Shall Feed His Flock . . . Come Unto Him Alto - Margery Tede Chorus: His Yolk Is Easy
SIDE 4 – 23:54
		Chorus: Behold the Lamb of God Air: He Was Despised Alto - Margery Tede Chorus: Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs Chorus: And With His Stripes We Are Healed Chorus: All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray Recitative: Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart Air: Behold, And See If There Be Any Sorrow Tenor - Peter Sacco
SIDE 5 – 21:14
		Recitative: He Was Cut Off From the Land of the Living Air: But Thou Did’st Not Leave His Soul in Hell Tenor - Peter Sacco Chorus: Lift Up Your Heads O Ye Gates Air: How Beautiful Are the Feet Soprano - Edith Zitelli Chorus: Their Sound Is Gone Out Air: Why Do the Nations So Furiously Rage Together? Bass - Milton Williams Chorus: Let Us Break Their Bonds Asunder Recitative: He That Dwelleth in Heaven Air: Thou Shalt Break Them Tenor - Peter Sacco Chorus: Hallelujah!
SIDE 6 – 23:15
		Air: I Know That My Redeemer Liveth Soprano - Edith Zitelli Chorus: Since By Man Came Death Recitative: Behold I Tell You a Mystery Air: The Trumpet Shall Sound Bass - Milton Williams Chorus: Worthy Is The Lamb, Amen.

from The Program:

Georg Friedrich Handel (1685-1759) composed MESSIAH in the remarkably short period of three weeks, from August 22 to September 14, 1741. It was the eleventh of 23 oratorios composed by Handel, and was to become the best-known and most frequently performed of any. The text was selected and arranged from Holy Scriptures by Charles Jennens. The first performance took place on April 13, 1742 in Dublin, Ireland.

In general keeping with Handel’s first scoring of the work, the orchestation for tonight’s presentation consists of strings, trumpets, organ, and timpani.

MESSIAH has been performed under many kinds of conditions and interpretations, with small choirs and organs to choirs of thousands and huge symphonic orchestras. Many have struggled to find the true, the real, the authentic performance – a difficult, if not impossible, task. The deeper question remains as to how this remarkable music could be so profound as to have survived over two centuries of being all things to all people while yet maintaining the capacity to continually renew itself and move the hearts of human beings.

In preparation for this performance of MESSIAH, we have been guided by the watchwords of simplicity, gentleness, poignancy, and joy. In striving for these inherent qualities, and in trying to keep them uncomplicated, we have found Handel’s MESSIAH, to be, once again, . . . new.