It is a joy to hear spontaneous singing from community residents during a performance. Such was the case on Saturday, September 14th at Vinson Hall in Virginia. This Outreach recital was unique in that pianists were outnumbered by other instrumentalists. There were two flutists, a guitarist, a violinist, and even a French horn player in addition to the three pianists. The recital started late because the wheelchair-bound residents were slower at finding their places on the balcony from which they watched. The Mason and Hamlin Grand piano was in the Dining Room below. With a total of 12 residents seated in the Dining Room and on the upper balcony, we began the recital at 4:05 p.m. with a brief introduction about the AMSF.
Alberto Gamez was the first pianist. He played Fantasy in D minor K397 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791). This piece was not for the faint of heart. The opening Andante was completely arpeggiated. The Adagio was peppered with ornaments and fast runs, both scalar and chromatic. The runs continued in the Presto and the Allegro with added trills, and throughout the piece the tempo changed constantly. Undeterred, Alberto easily exhibited the required dexterity of the fingers, and he performed the piece musically and with conviction.
Kit Chan followed on the French horn with “Come Unto Him” by George Frederic Handel (1685–1759). As the melodious sound of the horn permeated the atmosphere, it was joined by a beautiful voice floating down from the upper balcony. Necks suddenly swiveled to identify the source. We discovered that the elderly resident seated in the wheelchair on the far left of the balcony was a trained soprano singer! Lorna Laguard recognized the piece and spontaneously sang the words to “Come Unto Him” loudly, sweetly, and clearly as Kit played. Because of the high ceilings in the room, the acoustics were great, and the combination of her voice with Kit’s horn was ethereal.
Stephanie Dailey played next on her favorite instrument, the violin. She took us first to Czechoslovakia with “Humoresque” by Antonin Dvorak (1841–1904), and then to France with “Habanera” from the opera Carmen by Georges Bizet (1838–1875). The Habanera or ‘L’amour est un oiseau rebelle’ means “love is a rebellious bird.” Again, as Stephanie played both these lively and well-known pieces, she was joined by voices from above. This time several residents joined and they hummed along if they did not know the words. With well-rehearsed and spirited playing supported by her high-tech Bluetooth speaker accompaniment, Stephanie certainly succeeded in lifting their spirits.
In yet another first for Community Outreach, newcomers Louis Fidel and Amy Penchuk performed two gorgeous flute/guitar duets. Their pieces were Italian Air from Suite in A minor by German composer George Phillip Telemann (1681–1767) and “The Swan” from Carnival of Animals by French composer and organist Camille Saint-Saens (1835–1921). From their performance, it was clear that Louis and Amy were both highly competent musicians. They read each other well, and together they sounded heavenly!
Jodi Lipson was the second pianist of the afternoon. She chose the Great Polish composer Frederic Chopin (1810–1849), who is a favorite with many pianists. Jodi confidently performed Chopin’s Grande Valse Brillante Op. 34, No. 2 in A minor. This piece was perfectly suited both to the room and to the tone of the responsive Mason and Hamlin piano. Jodi took advantage of this, and, as her fingers danced over the keys, she made the music sing as Chopin intended.
Jodi was followed by the second flutist on the program, Sharon Atteh-Chi. Sharon played two movements of Sonata in Eb major BWV 1031 by Baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750). Reversing the order, she played the 2nd movement, Siciliano, and then the 1st movement, Allegro moderato. Baroque music is known for its movement and drama, and it is highly ornamented and detailed. Sharon showed her competence with her animated, fluent, and flawless performance of this beautiful Sonata.
Michelle Powell closed the program with a tender rendition of “Panis Angelicus” (or Bread of Angels) by French composer and pianist Cesar Franck (1822–1890). “Panis Angelicus” is a verse from the hymn “Sacris solemniis,” which was written by Saint Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century for the feast of Corpus Christi. Michelle poured her heart into the soulful music. Her sensitive playing enveloped the room in a beautiful calmness and serenity that resonated with the audience. Though many of them did not know the Latin words, the residents again responded to the familiar melody with soft humming.
As the recital ended, the applause was almost non-stop, and one gentleman sitting on the balcony named Norman Zalfa, was truly touched. He sang along for many of the pieces. Though wheelchair-bound, his eyes were dancing with delight!