Deny The Cold

Regrettably, the hellish cold has arrived and scared away my ability to sleep. The past couple of days have been spent blissfully out of the studio and in the company of great friends doing enjoyable holiday things.

Friday night was an evening so extraordinary that blogging about it in detail would cheapen it somehow. Food was enjoyed, wine (VAST understatement) was consumed and a large crowd of new friends made Rebecca and I feel like happy new members in an incredibly warm and loving family.

Today, Rebecca and I bundled the kids and leapt over the bridge to catch the SF Youth Symphony's holiday concert. The first of what I hope to be an annual tradition for us. The program was light-hearted but quite well-thought-out and easy to get lost in. The main draw was Prokofiev's classic 'Peter & The Wolf' led by the symphony's 27 year-old(!) conductor and it was a nice reading. However, the selections played just before it were picked to highlight for the children and neophytes in the audience the different sections of the orchestra. Light waltzes and bright brass symphonies gave way to a stunning piece performed entirely by a quintet of drummers. The lone bass drummer stood stoic on stage beating his simple, but crescendoing, pulse while 4 other drummers slowly proceeded up the aisles toward the stage beating their single tuned toms. As they neared the stage, the rhythm became more frenzied and the audience more spellbound. Written as a 'wake' for the composer's musical idol, I was left utterly reminded how much more powerful music is when rended from the soul by an honest emotion and a unique thought.

The highlight, though, did not come from the stage, but from little Olivia whose response to first hearing the sweeps of the full orchestra were little gossamer tears that trickled down her sweet warm cheeks. From the first, she was completely consumed and did not disengage until the final strains. Selfishly, I grinned as I felt my parental satisfaction reserves overflow enough to warm me through until spring.

More Halou news soon, as I can hear the faint, siren-like whisper calling up the stairs from the studio. Much, much to do in the week ahead.

Ryan.