Amazing Poetry and Music Evening

[sr71plt]

Have just returned from a WOW unique program matching the poetry of Rita Dove (Pultizer Prize; national poet laureate) with the original music of Boyd Tensley (violinist for the Dave Matthew Band). Dove read from her new book, Sonata Mulattica, based on the life of the Euro-African 18th-century violinist, George Bridgetower, for whom Beethoven wrote a violin sonata. An amazing pairing. Dove crossed over to sing to a violin--played by Tensley (and two guitar) original composition, and Tensley crossed over to read poetry (very well, too). And hour of this and then a hour of the two of them sitting on stage and talking about their inspiration and the development of their art, while a packed theater listened in. All for $10 a pop.

 

[bluebell]

Have just returned from a WOW unique program matching the poetry of Rita Dove (Pultizer Prize; national poet laureate) with the original music of Boyd Tensley (violinist for the Dave Matthew Band). Dove read from her new book, Sonata Mulattica, based on the life of the Euro-African 18th-century violinist, George Bridgetower, for whom Beethoven wrote a violin sonata. An amazing pairing. Dove crossed over to sing to a violin--played by Tensley (and two guitar) original composition, and Tensley crossed over to read poetry (very well, too). And hour of this and then a hour of the two of them sitting on stage and talking about their inspiration and the development of their art, while a packed theater listened in. All for $10 a pop.

You need to film your life so the rest of us can get a glimpse of the wonderful.

I love finding little pockets of coolness like that. An event which somehow costs little to nothing and winds up being completely magical. I had one like that last summer. A band that I love love love (and who have done pretty well for themselves in terms of fans, money, and number of albums) actually came here to Connecticut for a summer show in a park and it was free. Which is stunning because these are people who generally would never ever have to play a free show. So three of us went along and it wound up being the best memory I have from all year. It almost still is, to date!
I think sometimes everything is just right, and we are able to absorb richly. A very good thing, indeed.

Glad you had a good time!

 

[sr71plt]

You need to film your life so the rest of us can get a glimpse of the wonderful.

Thanks. But all you really need to do is arrange to live in a major university/historical town like Charlottesville, Virginia, that attracts major money and stars of the literary and entertainment worlds. Then you just keep your ears open for creative things these folks are going to provide for you (Both Rita Dove and Boyd Tensley live here--Dove only about three blocks from me; don't know were Tensley lives). This was an event at the Virginia Festival of the Book. We also have a major film festival here in October--and historical stuff at Thanksgiving and 4th of July (Monticello is a major venue for swearing in new citizens on July 4th--Pres. Bush was the speaker this year--and the event is open to local representatives, although I wouldn't cross the street to listen to Bush). Movies are made here. And we have one of the first First Night festivals for New Years.

Last night, it was an evening with John Grisham, who does almost no promotion and only does book launchings the two places he lives--Oxford, Mississippi, and Charlottesville, Virginia. Could have bought his latest book, signed, at 20 percent discount--but by the time I came out from the author's reception after the talk, they were all gone.