Quake Scientist Brings “Music for the Angels” to Pasadena Church

Musically-inclined quake scientist shares love of baroque chamber music in free performance in Garvanza neighbohrood

If you've ever wondered what an earthquake has in common with a stringed musical instrument, you need to talk to renowned quake scientist Lucy Jones, PhD. of the US Geological Survey.

Better yet, you need to hear her play her treble and bass viols as member of an ensemble playing 17th-century chamber music.

The ensemble will perform at 4 p.m. Sunday in Pasadena at the Church of the Angels. It's the first in a yearlong series of concerts, "Music for the Angels," that parishioner Jones organized in celebration of the historic Church's 125th anniversary in 2014.

"This is a present from the church to the community to provide a venue for classical music," said Jones during a rehearsal break.

Jones is joined on viol by Wes Radlein and Ellen Stern. Laurel Diskin plays baroque violin. The ensemble is led by Ted stern, Professor of Music at Glendale Community College. Stern plays theorbo and the flute-like wind instrument called the recorder.

Now that her children are grown, Jones finds she again has the time to pursue the musical passion she last enjoyed during her colllege days at MIT.

"Once I discovered the 17th century, there was no reason to go back," Jones said, musically speaking.

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Admission to Sunday's perfomance is free. The Church of the Angels is located at 1100 Avenue 64 in southwest Pasadena's Garvanza neighborhood.

Beneath its imposing stone exterior, the church has been reinforced with steel for seismic strength, the centennial retrofitting done a year after Jones joined the congregation.

You didn't think she'd play in a Church not seismically up to date, did you?

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