Singing Deer Healing

I have started a new harp quest!  You can read my declaration here (and find out what in the heck a harp quest is anyway!)

What follows is an accounting of my first gig in pursuit of the title “Millennium Dragonharper Of The San Francisco Peninsula And Beyond”.

Feb. 12, 2010 ~ Valentine’s Luncheon At Sunnyvale Senior Center

Story can be woven into any expression of art. This was a music gig, but I reflected that it might be a possibility to present some sort of ’story’, however briefly. Was there a ‘Valentine message’ that I could deliver with the music?

  Before the gig I wandered out to the lake. It was a gorgeous day–typical of late winter in this area–sunny and trees in bud and bloom. Swans swam in the water, Canada geese stretched legs and wings on the grass. A trio of mallards wandered close to me.

  It occurred to me that Valentine’s Day is about reminding us that we can love this world deeply. We can deeply love and be grateful for the family and friends in our lives, the birds and trees and animals around us, the magic of the natural world. And we can take this ‘holiday’ as another opportunity to remind ourselves that we do love, and know ourselves
to be loved.

Back at the luncheon, I said something along these lines, then dove into my set of Valentine’s songs — John Denver’s “Annie’s Song”, Pachelbel’s “Canon”, the Golden Oldies “Daisy Bell”and “Let Me Call You Sweetheart”, Bette Midler’s “The Rose”, a couple of Celtic tunes (Carolan’s “Eleanor Plunket” for one), some improvisations to serve as musical candy hearts and long-stemmed roses for the occasion, and a few other songs.

  A number of the seniors listened attentively, clapping after my pieces. Others continued their conversation. A couple of the organizers were dismayed at that! But I reassured them: the harp provides an ambiance and weaves its own magic. As far as I’m concerned, however folks enjoy it is just right! And indeed, a woman came up to me afterward saying, “I hope you don’t mind that some of us kept on talking. It was just so lovely to be able to hear the music, but also to enjoy our conversation.  With other instruments, like a piano banging away, you can’t do that …”

  I delighted in my audience of elders, with their “snow-on-the-mountain” hair (an old way of describing elders), which included women in purple and with their cheerful red hats–members of the Red Hat Society! I’m currently writing a children’s story about our black hen Yikes, in which she joins the Red Hat Society ….

~~~

Return To Singing Deer Healing Home