"Runis and Eagles' Feathers" in Aiken

Just back from Aiken, South Carolina, where I presented "Ruins and Eagles' Feathers" for the Aiken Music Teachers Association. The University of South Carolina - Aiken provided a very nice large space, and the photos showed very nicely on a large screen, and a small grand was in good estate. I liked the fact that so many young people came at 10 on a Saturday morning. Three of them sat right beside me, and I was able to feel their interest and at times look them in the eyes. It was a good idea to preface the "Piano Portrait" with remarks that reminded everyone that this is a story about two young men (Chopin and Schumann) with great ideals, growing up side by side in a time when the middle class has started its rise after the French Revolution. No two lives could have been more different, but yet their similarites of spirit are revealing and riveting.

It is daunting to lecture and perform at the same time, especially with PowerPoint, but I feel this is a very creative form, one that blends technology with a resolute human touch, flexible and able to move at a pace one judges from audience reaction. One aside is the fact I was so far away from the PowerPoint equipment I had to depend on the assistant to change the pictures, and sometimes a gesture meant to emphasize a point got misconstrued as a signal to go to the next picture! Talk about improvisation!

I think they liked the compositions by Schumann and Chopin equally, which pleased me. Chopin of course has the greater public, but Schumann has that down to earth, homey touch, that reaches out with a warm embrace. One student said she was working on "Traumerei", and she was excited to hear other works by him. I spoke and played up to the hour, and then made a decision to go ahead and play Chopin's "Barcarolle"
as a final offering. Its rather long in some ways, but very much one long line in total. I was so glad I did afterwards. It seemed to sum up Chopin's philosophy in a powerful way, and my listeners felt its weight. A lovely morning, with a wonderful audience.