Music sounds sweeter to those in love…and sadder too, depending on the trajectory or station love finds us upon, or temporarily stopped at. This Friday, in anticipation of Valentine’s Day and in celebration of all of the complexity that comes with love, we will be treated to an evening of Bluegrass Love Songs by the amazing Bluegrass Band, The Splinters. Songs reflecting longing, heartbreak, new relationships, and the occasional tale of deception or misfortune are common Bluegrass music. The Splinters will present a range of pieces that touch on these themes, offering a well rounded look at love in its many forms. The concert features a thoughtful collection of traditional and contemporary bluegrass love songs, performed with the band’s characteristic groove, three-part harmonies, and driving banjo and fiddle.
While all of our offerings hope to subtly and gently inspire love for subject, self, and community, the following offerings are intentional about base needs and highest aspirations – and do not shy away from the four letter word that makes the world go round. The following classes and events deal directly with matters of the heart. As you can see, the subject this term is love. • Venus and Aphrodite with Sky Shirley • Walking in Beauty through Difficult Times with Lupita McClanahan • The Science & Spirit of Heart-Art: An Artist Talk with Judith Ellen Sanders • Rumi: Sufi Poetry of the Heart with Tracy Marks • Mommy and Me Valentine’s Day Flower Arranging with Laurie Grossman.
Tonight we complete our two session class on Brian Eno. It’s been an amazing and lovely experience to learn through Eno’s work, biography, and philosophy how all vibrational things work together. I’ve only really done a deep dive into Eno recently as I prepared to co-teach (with Lisa Carey) the class. Although well aware of music Eno has worked on/musicians he has worked with, I was hesitant for years to dive headfirst into pure Eno. Tempted, but hesitant. “Music for Airports” sounded like something I could put on the back burner of/for never. But listening to that record for the first time recently (sitting in a high school classroom alone after 9pm) was a profound experience. And from there to “Discreet Music”…and on, and on. Sound, vibration, emotion, language, breath, life, soundscapes, landscapes, love….Eno’s ambient music has really had an impact after all these years of being aware but not engaged. It makes me wonder what else has been waiting for me all my life…waiting patiently to change me in profound and positive ways. Hiding in plan sight…or not hiding at all. The experience of this new, yet wonderfully familiar vitality is what I’m so excited to say is what this community education program offers. No matter what, if love exists life is still good – and music really does sound sweeter, sadder and/or both to those who are wrapped and wrestling within the tavern of the heart.
I hope to see you this Friday night at Follen for Bluegrass Love Songs with The Splinters!
Craig Hall, Director of Lexington Community Education
