THE DEBUT
Last week was my recorder debut, at the nursing home our church visits monthly. Coralie admitted later that she cringed as I misplayed notes, lost my place and had to stop once to clear the wind-piece. {What is the etiquette for that, anyway?} I don't blame her; I was quite terrible! I was surprisingly at ease, however, despite my famous perfectionism, so I consider the experience a great personal development. {Hazel will tell you that I am always the optimist.}
And the small audience was very gracious—applauding enthusiastically and even throwing in unbelievable exclamations of ‘Beautiful!’ and ‘¡Gracias!’ {I wasn't sure whether to feel sorry or grateful that they are so hard of hearing.}
Almost before the closing remarks were finished, I was buttonholed by Mr. Don. He approached me as quickly as can be done in a walker when one needs it. I had already heard from the others that he is quite a character—a highly educated agnostic—though I hadn't conversed at any length with him before.
He thanked me for my ‘beautiful’ performance and asked if I was interested in early music. {I had introduced the three pieces as ‘Renaissance dances,’ without making the attempt to pronounce German or French.} I said I was, and he sat down to chat pleasantly about Gregorian chants, Bach cantatas, Cervantes' Don Quixote, how social mores have changed since his childhood in the 30's, and how suburban development has increased dependence on motorized vehicles. {Yes, he hit a few of my favorite topics. I actually got to mention James Kunstler in a live conversation.}
Mr. Don does not profess to believe in God but says that listening to early music—especially Gregorian chants and two Bach cantatas {‘Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring’ and ‘Sheep May Safely Graze’)—make him feel that ‘there really could be a God.’ ‘Music does have a way of speaking to us more directly than other things,’ I ventured, and we left it at that.
He watches a lot of Catholic television, and told me that he loves the beautiful programming. ‘What do you enjoy best?’ I asked and was surprised by his answer: the station regularly broadcasts prayers recited in Latin. ‘I'm not Catholic,’ I said, ‘but I love language, and recently began studying Latin with my brother.’ He asked at what school I was able to take Latin class, but I told him we had bought some books and were studying independently. ‘We both enjoy Classical history and decided on a whim to tackle the language.’ He stared a bit before remarking, ‘You and your brother may be the only people in America studying Latin outside of school.’ {A small but very present minority, Mama responded when I told her later.}
Mr. Don gave me his name {said mine was very pretty}, and hoped we would talk next month. Perhaps I will not be too embarrassed to play my recorder again, though I may have had my ambition tempered somewhat. Instead of lively Renaissance dances I might try some languid love songs!
• detail from Boy Playing a Recorder by Hendrick ter Brugghen •
March 18, 2014