This page is dedicated to my Great-Grandmother, Stella Hubbard - painter, cook, musician and loving wife.

The paintings of Stella Hubbard


14. Something Bright For A Dark Corner Donnie 1965	19. Untitled	Untitled 1967	9. Untitled 1968


4. Cabrillo Bridge, 1965	15. Downtown San Diego, CA 1964	6. Castles in the Air	11. The Checkerboard Young Mothers Watching


5. Untitled	16. Blue Valley 1967	2. Untitled	12. Land Where Sun Shines #1


Dear Esther	Untitled	Untitled	Untitled


Untitled	3. Happy Jungle 1969	Untitled


Untitled 1969	7. Olivenhain School House (with gremlins)	17. The San Dieguito Valley as seen from our window, April 1962


13. October Calm	Untitled	8. Untitled

In Remembrance of Harold and Stella Hubbard

For their children, Betty, John and Don and for all the grandchildren who knew and loved them, these few words cannot do justice to their memory or serve to recall all of the wonderful times we shared. But for the younger great-grandchildren and future generations who might wonder, let's try to describe this unique couple.

They were really a "couple" in every sense of the word, and that idea has been dominant in describing their life together. Almost never apart, except when Grandpa went to work, they were devoted to each other and to their "family", which included spouses and a few close friends.

Stella was able to do just about anything she set her mind to do. With hammer and saw she helped build the little house in Encinitas. A few garden tools and her magic touch and everything grew and bore fruit. A talented artist, she played the organ at the Methodist Church and entertained all of us at the piano and electric organ. With brushes and paint she could do a mural of full-size horses racing across a wall or a christmas scene in the patio or a life-like portrait of a grandchild. She loved her home and made it a happy place for everyone.

Harold was interested in everything, especially the latest inventions. He was among the first to have a radio, tape recorder, television set telescope with camera attached and a dark room for developing and printing his own color enlargements. Give him enough wire and friction tape and he could fix anything. Why he didn't burn down every house they lived in is still a mystery because he believed fervently in controlling everything electrical from his bed. Music was a great love and he couldn't resist buying records. Of course sales resistance was not one of his strong points anyway.

Grandpa and Grandma were great readers. They spent many happy hours reading to each other from the classics, the Bible, history, politics, art, religion. They devoured whole sets of thick volumes on civilization and philosophy.

Our warmest memories of Harold and Stella are of holidays, especially Christmas, when they invited all of the family and friends to the very long table at Del Mar. They cooked the dinner together and afterwards we all sang while Grandma jumped back and forth from the piano to the organ. And then piles of presents. Spending money at Christmas must have been Grandpa's favorite hobby.

Their life together serves as a sterling example of the meaning of "devotion" and "commitment". Their dreams for the retirement years were not realized because Stella's health failed after 70 active, fruitful years, but Grandpa fought to keep their lives together, trying everything to maintain their independence. His love never waivered and his energies were directed solely to Stella's welfare and happiness. He overcame every barrier to their staying together and she remained, as always, his Stella.

Their search for truth led them to a strong Christian faith, but they were non-judgemental and tolerant of other's sincere beliefs. They were very proud of their large family and we can all be thankful that they were there to lead us in their gentle, loving ways.

Music written for Stella Hubbard

In the summer of 1998 i began a project of composing pieces for the quartet Return To One inspired by Stella Hubbards paintings. These compositions (with the exception of the early version of kaleidoscope moon) have been documented on the following two recordings - Return To One: Promises (1999, C&PMCD001) and Return To One: Firecliffs (2001, CM039 A-B). This project continues to this day, and i see the twenty-four pieces written at this time as the beginning of a cycle that will continue for many years.

all is silent (1998-1999) lead sheet, transposed parts

blurred image (1998) lead sheet, transposed parts

bright lights (1999-2000) two page score, everyone reads from score (two woodwinds, bass, percussion)

castles in the clouds (1998) lead sheet, transposed parts

the checkerboard (1998) lead sheet, transposed parts

dancing horses (on the wall) (1998) lead sheet, transposed parts

firecliffs (2000) five page score, transposed parts (soprano/alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, bass, drumkit)

the freeway (1998)

in her garden (1998) two page score (solo piano)

kaleidoscope moon (early version) (1998) four page score, transposed parts (alto saxophone, bass, percussion-thundersheet, gong, two hubcaps, large spring, two bell plates, two triangles, small indian bells or finger cymbal chain, bongoes, low tom or conga, concert bass drum)

kaleidoscope moon I (1998-2001) five page score, everyone reads from score (soprano/alto/baritone saxophone, tenor/baritone saxophone/bass clarinet, bass, percussion-vibraphone/marimba/chimes)

kaleidoscope moon II (1999-2001) four page score, transposed parts (soprano and two tenor saxophones,
high voice, bass, percussion -two glockenspiels, two vibraphones, xylophone, chimes, almglocken and gong)

kaleidoscope moon III (1999) two page score, everyone reads from score (two woodwinds, bass, percussion)

the leaf song (1998) lead sheet, transposed parts

lonesome tree (1999) lead sheet, transposed parts

october calm (1999) lead sheet, transposed parts

parabolic flower (1998) one page score for any size ensemble

promises (1998-1999) lead sheet, transposed parts

secrets (for stella) (2000) two page score, transposed parts (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone/bass clarinet, bass, drumkit, high voice)

something bright for a dark corner (2000) two page score, transposed parts (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone/bass clarinet, bass, drumkit)

starsong (1999-2001) four page score, transposed parts (soprano/alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, bass, drumkit)

wind (standing waves) (1998) lead sheet, transposed parts

who are those guys? #3 (1999) lead sheet, transposed parts

Program from the Return To One promises CD release concert/art exhibit November 19th 1999 - 101 Artists Colony Encinitas

Stella Hubbard was born Stella Johnson on July 2, 1897 in York, Nebraska. Her parents had emigrated from Sweden to America. She met Harold Hubbard and they were married on July 3, 1920 in Denver, Colorado. They soon moved to Encinitas and (with the help of family) built their own home. As well as being a housewife and mother, she was also a musician and artist. She played organ at the Methodist Church and created paintings as well as etchings, murals and other crafts. Her paintings were exhibited at the Del Mar Fair (often winning awards) as well as various local art galleries. Late in her life, Stella suffered from several strokes, ending her artistry and leaving her to live the rest of her life in a rest home. She died on May 25, 1986 in El Cajon, California.

Her works exhibited today are just a few of the several hundred she created. For me, these paintings are very special. Her incredible use of space, color and her amazing synthesis of realism and abstraction continue to inspire me. Many of the works are very large, while others are discarded sketches. I love every one. They range from landscapes and nature views to abstracted imaginings to religious renderings to a whole series on clowns. Over the last several years, most of my musical compositions have been inspired by her paintings or my feelings surrounding them. These compositions are the basis of our CD and tonight we will be playing a wide variety of selections from the CD as well as new compositions written in the last several months. We will also be playing former bandmember Roger Riedlbauer’s composition, Strange Pictures (oh yeah?), which, although written many years ago, was in many ways the catalyst for this entire concert.

-NMH

The paintings exhibited tonight are - (using Stella's titles with corresponding composition titles)
1. Untitled - wind (standing waves)
2. Untitled - dancing horses (on the wall)
3. Happy Jungle - the leaf song
4. Cabrillo Bridge, 1965 - the freeway
6. Castles in the Air - castles in the clouds
7. Olivenhain School House (with gremlins) - who are those guys? #3
8. Untitled - blurred image
9. Untitled - parabolic flower
11. The Checkerboard Young Mothers Watching - the checkerboard
12. Land Where Sun Shines #1 - kaleidoscope moon
13. October Calm - october calm
14. Something Bright For A Dark Corner - something bright for a dark corner
15. Downtown San Diego, California 1964 - bright lights
16. Blue Valley - lonesome tree

The compositions played tonight will be chosen from from-
strange pictures (oh yeah?)
wind (standing waves)
dancing horses (on the wall)
the leaf song
promises
the checkerboard
who are those guys? #3
castles in the clouds
parabolic flower
the freeway
kaleidoscope moon
blurred image
in her garden/all is silent
october calm
bright lights
lonesome tree
starsong
something bright for a dark corner
secrets (for stella)

all compositions by Nathan Hubbard except Strange Pictures by Roger Riedlbauer