| From: | ANGLISS BRIAN EDWARD <angliss@****.colorado.edu> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | The concert |
| Date: | Sat, 23 Dec 1995 13:14:28 -0700 (MST) |
showed up. I recognized Mr. Shade, the Dark Stranger, Paladin, and many
others. I was quite surprised to find Commander Drake in attendance, but
without his bodyguards. He sat in the last row and left immediately
following the concert, but I know of no arrests of anyone leaving Haven
last night. As the concert was far too long to upload here, I'll comment
on it and let others comment as well
The concert opened with the Haven student orchestra. They performed
several traditional Christmas songs, including a beautiful version of
Silent Night with a viola solo. In all, they played some six movements
with some Mozart, Vivaldi's "Winter" from _The Seasons_, and two
movements from _The Nutcracker_ as well. When they were done, Pat
rolled out a piano and played an amazing version of Mozart's
Concerto #21 for Piano and Orchestra. It was something of a counterpoint
to the more solemn music the orchestra had played prior to Pat's taking
the stage with them, but very refreshing. However, Pat had to write a
special arrangment so it would fit within the program time.
In case some of you didn't know, Pat is a classically trained pianist and
played professionally for several years before becoming to Seattle.
Every ounce of that training was spoken through those wonderous fingers
and chords. It was wonderously moving.
After the concerto was finished, the orchestra left and he played an old
song by Randy Newman called "I Love Seattle," followed by a couple more
older songs by Billy Joel, "Piano Man" and "Only the Good Die Young."
He
commented that that song was as true today as when it was written, 80
years ago, and that most of the audience would likely live to a ripe old
age. Needless to say, there was much laughter, except from one very
solemn looking man in the second row, wearing an authentic cowboy
outfit. I didn't understand until afterward when I checked the
guestlist. That was Josie Wails. He's not missed a concert of Pat's in
2 or three years at least....
His last piano song was yet another old, twentieth century song, a
version of "Winter", by an old pianist and performer, Tori Amos. I'm a
mage, and I know when a spell is being cast on me. Well, while Pat
occasionally uses magic in his concerts, he only does so when he truly
wants to make a point, or when he plays his beautiful harp(which no
person I have ever met can resist, but that's a different story). But
the effect of his playing and singing that song was so nearly magical I
had to check to see if he was casting magic, and he wasn't. But it
nearly moved me to tears, and in the process of singing it, he began to
cry softly himself. After the song was done, he turned off the mike and
I think that only the front row, or perhaps only me, heard him say, very
softly, "I miss you still, my friend...."
But the concert continued with the Haven Choir. They sang Silent Night,
Winter Wonderland, and a few quieter, solo songs as well, such as the
traditional story of the sister who was drowned by a jealous sister
returning as a swan that is turned into a harp and who sings in her
father's hall. The version that Melissa, the soloist, sang was an old
version from 1994 by a Celtic singer, Loreena McKennitt. By this point,
the choir had reached a point where the next song was "O' Christmas
Tree", and the choir refused to start. In a rather enjoyable theatric
production, the entire choir went on strike until Heidi Bachmann, one of
our instructors and originally a German citizen, came up and sang a
beautiful version of "O Tannenbaum", or the same song in German.
The next thing was a beautifully choregraphed joke on the audience and,
more importantly, on Pat. Little Arial, Bruce, and the newest
student(who looked rather nervous at this sudden public appearance),
Kenneth wheeled out Pat's beautiful harp. I wish I had had a camera
trained on Pat's face when his harp came out onto the stage. His eyes
got all huge and his jaw dropped. He's left very specific instructions
regarding his harp, and here they were, all being ignored. It was
classic. He stood up very slowly, and walking as a dead man, mounted the
stage, went up to his harp, touched it lightly as if expecting it to bite
him, and then got a really perplexed look on his face. Then he laughed
as he laid his hands lightly on the resonator box(if I have the term
wrong, I'm sorry. I don't know instrument specifics very well), and
turned to the three children and shook his head.
I cannot do the harp justice in description, but it is formed out of
birch and oak, inlaid with ivory, mother of pearl, carved in intricate
Celtic designs, and strung with orichalcum strings. Anyone with any
Sight at all can tell it is a powerful focus, and I've heard rumors that
this harp was part of why the O'Kennedy clan in Tir Nan Og wanted Pat a
couple of years back.
He also glared at me as I had given the children permission, but it was
well worth the glare. Bill MacAbee, Daniel McMann, and Ellen McHenry
joined him on stage, and the four druids played Celtic, Scottish, and
Welsh seasonal music on pipe, harp, drum, and flute. Not all traditional
Celtic instrucments, but the melodies and harmonies interwoven spoke well
of their talents. The other three left the stage, wishing Pat a
wonderful Yule, and told him to stay there. There was one last surprise
for Pat and the audience.
I was given the honor of announcing the final festivity of the evening.
"For the first time since the founding of Haven, we have come near losing
the man, the performer, the teacher, and, to some of us, the father who
has given us our dreams back. We missed him when he was gone, but now he
is back with us and has made Haven a far safer place than it was when he
was taken. For the first time as well, the children and instructors of
Haven have come together and decided to give something back to the man
who has given so much of himself to us." Sorry, but I had it
memorized.... I asked up Martin to present Pat with his gift from the
children of Haven. He said, "Mr. O'Kennedy, we've always looked up to
you. When you were arrested, we all suffered a crisis in our souls. How
could our great and wonderful teacher be accused of all the things the
police say? And we watched and waited, wanting to be proven wrong. And
then you, yourself proved them right. You admitted to being guilty of
all the things they said you did, and you lost many students that day.
But many of us stayed, and we learned, for you gave us our dreams and
futures back. Some of us, you saved our lives, or became a father to us
when our parents died or abandoned us. You have never asked for anything
in return, and have even refused a couple of attempts at our giving you
gifts. Well, as the representative of Haven in this, including all the
instructors, I'm to present you with the gift you cannot refuse. We have
all been working on this since you were released, and you cannot say no
this time."
"Mr. O'Kennedy, this is from all of Haven, as a gift to you for decades
of helping kids like us live to become adults who dare to dream and rage
against the dying of the light."
And a couple of the children rolled out a relatively large package, all
wrapped in paper that had been signed by all the students and teachers, and
with a huge, gold bow on the top. The card said "To Patrick John
O'Kennedy, for years of helping us kids. Merry Christmas, Happy Yule,
and Thanks. Haven." Inside was a box, and inside the box was another
box. And another. But inside that third box was a case, made of silk
and covered in Celtic designs, for Pat's harp.
All Pat could say was "Thanks. Thanks a lot."
And then the concert was over, and everyone left gradually, most after
getting at least a cookie or two and a glass of punch(kept non-alcoholic
by the expert detoxification spells of MaxiMillion himself, but who also
drank more than his fair share). I seem to remember seeing Pat talking
with Josie Wails and, later, the Dark Stranger as well. And I overheard
a comment that Bill made to Shade, about their needing another druid for
the next concert, but I don't know where that went.
While I'm not a druid, I'll pass on my heartfelt thanks to all who
attended and also Pat's blessings on a wonderful Yule and a fantastic
Christmas, or whatever holidays you celebrate.]<<<<<
-- Mozart <13:13:32/12-23-56>
