I have slept now for three days… have taken an antiviral… have a voice that would move me from soprano past tenor to baritone (I sound strangely like my father)… and still I feel less than stellar… I.E. I have influenza (the evil flu)…
Instead of remaining in bed to continue my recovery why not jot a happy little entry to my blog! I will see if my words will fail me or if I am coherent enough to even know what I am typing or is that word processing?
Last Friday I had the occasion to attend an event. Nothing new for me, I serve on many boards and go to some really great events and some… maybe great but not to my personal taste. On this occasion it was an incredible evening. I heard great music, had the atmosphere of Manhattan and beyond belief company.
First the music… in my secret hidden dreams I have always wanted to be a vocalist. I am not talking this pop stuff of today. I wanted to sing with the soul of Holiday, the timbre of Vaughan (Sassy) and the dexterity of Fitzgerald. Whenever I am in the environment I can close my eyes and dream. Okay, t’aint ever gonna happen but a woman can dream!
Drummer, two sax, keyboard, vocalist and off we went. I must admit that there were many standards but I like standards. Misty and At Last not cutting edge songs but when well done they always leave me wanting more and more. Now you may think that I did not enjoy the rest of the combo… NOT! I am just not as familiar with this set up…I study clarinet for decades. Let me stress studied. I am a true classically trained musician this means that I am unable to do anything that requires free thought. I am truly a square. Please do not tell anyone.
I know the sax was sweet in its sound and resonance nothing syrup like or to lull you into a diabetic comma. Just soothing…. something like a breeze of an on coming rain on a sizzling day. You want to close your eyes and absorb the coolness, the scent and the immediacy of it all. All this communicated to me through pitch and color. Then add piano that rode the crest of a melody and a percussion that kept the pace driven but never frantic. Ah, to appreciate those who have mastered their art. It seems all so simple and effortless but is no such thing…
The atmosphere was diverse in anyway you can name. Age, race, color, sex, dress, background this is what makes America tick! Add to this too many people in one room, those who came to listen, those who came to be seen, and those who like to have a great time. The lighting dim, the drinks strong (I had a touch of hangover) and no smoking (New York went smoke free). Oh, and the fact that I wore a dress that I could never wear any place else…too much décolleté but I had it on great authority that it was becoming.
Now add great company. A tall, handsome, wickedly smiled, well-dressed, intelligent gentleman...I earnestly mean the gentleman part. Doors opened, walk me to the door kind of gentleman. Now I came of age where men just didn’t do those types of things. I did not know how to behave and felt rather goofy? Silly? Giddy? Flighty? I am not sure what I felt but it was fantastic!
To any man reading this try it. As a female of the species I have a newfound respect for this aspect of men. Talk about a turn on. I thought a sharp mind was great but add a gentlemanly manner and I am yours! The things we learn about ourselves that we never knew existed. If the gentleman reads this I offer warm hearted and personal thanks for a extraordinary evening and the hope that I have the opportunity of this intimacy once more.
Alas, the flu calls me once more to slumber. This is a good thing to in all honesty I look and feel unprepossessing. Lets face it I am crap and it is best to sleep through it…. Snooooorrrrrr…..
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Monday, February 4, 2008
Day to day living, tears of the purest rapture and the roots of faith.
I am an artsy type. I love music, dance and theatre. I had forgotten this aspect of my soul for some time. Why? Simple, it is day to day living. The kind of living that is demanded by our society. Living is that thing that grinds your ass to the bone daily. I do not blame society for this or my current position I blame myself. If my soul is to be fed it is my responsibility to do so.
Alvin Ailey Dance Company. Alvin Ailey... There are few words that I can use to describe the experience I had last week. Poignant, emotional, enthralling do not seem to carry the weight of what I felt and experienced. I was moved to tears. Tears of the purest rapture.
The rapture takes form from my past studies of music, dance and theatre. I understand that there are those who are proficient and those who are gifted, who are blessed. Some are truly touched by the hand of God. I am and hope to always be a capable director but gifted? I am not. Still the study that I have received has left a mark on my soul that is a blessing.
As the lights lowered I readied myself for the experience. This was my first live performance of the company and I did not know what to expect. Movement of course but the depth of color and sound heightened every step. It is a wonder how the human body can respond. Agility, strength and grace all encompassed in one movement…the placement of feet the extension of an arm. All I could think was magnificent!
Revelations was performed. When I think of Ailey I think of Revelations. This is my first and most loved piece. I believe that Revelations was fist performed in 1960. The music is spiritual I Been 'Buked, Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel, Wade In The Water, I Wanna Be Ready and Rocka My Soul In The Bosom Of Abraham.
There is a joyfulness in this. I could see the roots of Ailey’s faith and upbringing. I saw fellowship in God, sadness in loss and inequity and the immeasurable pleasure of song. From the sereneness of the soft amber lighting of I Been 'Buked I witness the potency that was expressed through measured and fluid movement. I was laid speechless by the celebration of bright blue and white of Wade in the Water. It is the celebration of Baptism! I will always see this when I think of Ailey. Still there was more.
Three brilliant dancers move to Bach in Solo. This brought to me the realism of movement. This company was designed to share not one aspect of dance that is limited by any school of thought. This was more. This is proof of the ability to take the traditional and stir the new into a flavorful mix that floats and then rest gently on the pallet. I could name each ballet step… arabesque, fouetté or a batterie but what made each move more passionate was the freedom of expression.
I was a washed. My senses tingled. Tears formed. My soul sang in dazzling tones. My spirit was lifted. God’s design of the human form is nothing short of a miracle. Maybe we do see God every day we just fail to realize it. May my soul be fed often and may I feel and recognize its hunger! It is time for me to Wade In The Water
If you get there before I do.
God's gonna trouble the water.
Tell all of my friends I'm coming too.
God's gonna trouble the water.
Alvin Ailey Dance Company. Alvin Ailey... There are few words that I can use to describe the experience I had last week. Poignant, emotional, enthralling do not seem to carry the weight of what I felt and experienced. I was moved to tears. Tears of the purest rapture.
The rapture takes form from my past studies of music, dance and theatre. I understand that there are those who are proficient and those who are gifted, who are blessed. Some are truly touched by the hand of God. I am and hope to always be a capable director but gifted? I am not. Still the study that I have received has left a mark on my soul that is a blessing.
As the lights lowered I readied myself for the experience. This was my first live performance of the company and I did not know what to expect. Movement of course but the depth of color and sound heightened every step. It is a wonder how the human body can respond. Agility, strength and grace all encompassed in one movement…the placement of feet the extension of an arm. All I could think was magnificent!
Revelations was performed. When I think of Ailey I think of Revelations. This is my first and most loved piece. I believe that Revelations was fist performed in 1960. The music is spiritual I Been 'Buked, Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel, Wade In The Water, I Wanna Be Ready and Rocka My Soul In The Bosom Of Abraham.
There is a joyfulness in this. I could see the roots of Ailey’s faith and upbringing. I saw fellowship in God, sadness in loss and inequity and the immeasurable pleasure of song. From the sereneness of the soft amber lighting of I Been 'Buked I witness the potency that was expressed through measured and fluid movement. I was laid speechless by the celebration of bright blue and white of Wade in the Water. It is the celebration of Baptism! I will always see this when I think of Ailey. Still there was more.
Three brilliant dancers move to Bach in Solo. This brought to me the realism of movement. This company was designed to share not one aspect of dance that is limited by any school of thought. This was more. This is proof of the ability to take the traditional and stir the new into a flavorful mix that floats and then rest gently on the pallet. I could name each ballet step… arabesque, fouetté or a batterie but what made each move more passionate was the freedom of expression.
I was a washed. My senses tingled. Tears formed. My soul sang in dazzling tones. My spirit was lifted. God’s design of the human form is nothing short of a miracle. Maybe we do see God every day we just fail to realize it. May my soul be fed often and may I feel and recognize its hunger! It is time for me to Wade In The Water
If you get there before I do.
God's gonna trouble the water.
Tell all of my friends I'm coming too.
God's gonna trouble the water.
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