I've been busy the past several days with multiple endeavors, not the least of which is getting established with a new primary care physician (more on that later ... GRRR).  But I also got an article written for our Nashville Harp Society website (as seen below). This just gives my loyal readers (all 3 of you) a little taste of a different style from me.

A Harpist to Watch

The Nashville Harp Society was privileged to have Heidi Van Hoesen Gorton as guest artist for our Fall 2010 meeting. As winner of the Young Professional Division of the American Harp Society (AHS) National Competition in June 2009, Ms. Van Hoesen Gorton serves as the current AHS Concert Artist, touring extensively throughout the country through 2011, all while completing her masters in harp performance from The Juilliard School and serving as principal harpist of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Van Hoesen Gorton’s appearances have included recitals as well as taking part in workshops with local harp societies, and generally serving as a wonderful ambassador for the harp. Both Ms. Van Hoesen Gorton’s performance for NHS and her “question and answer” session following the recital served notice that this is definitely a young harpist to watch.

Ms. Van Hoesen Gorton opened with the three-part “Sonate” written by French-born Pierick Houdy, regarded as one of the five main composers of sonatas for harp of the twentieth century. Ms. Van Hoesen Gorton was privileged to meet the naturalized Canadian Houdy at an international harp competition in France, and it was obvious in her playing that she admires the composer. Of special note was the bell-like quality of the central Lento. Up next was a modern take on an old theme: Kati Agocs’ “John Riley,” the first movement from ‘Every Lover Is A Warrior.’ Agocs is a modern classical composer and fellow Juilliard grad, who has taken the traditional Appalachian folk ballad “John Riley” and adapted it for harp. Ms. Van Hoesen Gorton allowed the listeners to appreciate the bluegrass feel of “John Riley” while yet maintaining its classically lyrical line. Ms. Van Hoesen Gorton closed the first part of her performance with Jean-Michel Damase’s “Sicilienne Variee.”  Although not technically perfect, Ms. Van Hoesen Gorton showed with every note that this is her favorite piece for harp, and she played it with a style and passion that thrilled everyone present.

After a short intermission, Ms. Van Hoesen Gorton returned to the stage and gave us pieces from three of the greatest composers for harp. Up first was Marcel Tournier’s “La Voliere Magique, Opus 39.” The title of this piece roughly translates as “The Magical Aviary” and it was easy for the listener to appreciate the magical bird-like tones she evoked with the harp. Ms. Van Hoesen Gorton’s next piece was probably the most notable of her recital: Grandjany’s arrangement of the Bach composition “Andante from Sonata No. 2 in A Minor.” This piece was originally composed for solo violin, but Grandjany reworked Bach’s masterpiece and it stands as one of the most beautiful works for harp being played today. Ms. Van Hoesen Gorton infused “Andante” with such feeling, she made it obvious to everyone listening that it holds a special place in her heart: her mother studied under Grandjany and this particular piece was played at her parents’ wedding. Ms. Van Hoesen Gorton concluded her performance with “Ballade, Opus 28” by Carlos Salzedo. Along with Grandjany, Salzedo is considered to be one of the most important performers, teachers and composers of music for harp, and this piece was a fitting end to a stellar recital.

Ms. Van Hoesen Gorton gave her listeners all they could hope to hear packed in one dynamic performance, and yet they wanted more, bringing her back to the stage for an encore. She finished her recital with a lighthearted and enjoyable rendition of Alfredo Rolando Ortiz’s “Red Merengue.”
 

While taking questions following her performance, Ms. Van Hoesen Gorton stressed to the audience the importance of playing from the heart and finding something to love about every piece one performs. It was obvious to all who attended that Ms. Van Hoesen Gorton is following her own advice. She plays each piece with such style and passion that it is easy to see she is doing what she loves to do, and that each composition holds a special place in her heart. And we, as listeners, are privileged to be along for the ride. We look forward to hearing more from this talented young artist as her career unfolds in the years to come.

A sense of melancholy has overtaken me tonight. After a fairly uneventful day at work, I went to see my mom as I always do, and instead of sinking mindlessly into her couch to watch college football all afternoon, I decided to actually follow through with an idea that struck me earlier in the day: to take my mom book shopping with me.

For me, book shopping is a fairly standard thing: I am a voracious reader and therefore spend inordinate amounts of time at Books-a-Million, Barnes & Noble and the like. My mom is a voracious reader as well, except she has vast expanses of time to enjoy it,  and yet no way to get her hands on anything new unless I provide it.

You see, my mom is 83 years old and no longer drives. She gave that up 5 years ago at the behest of my brother and me. I know it was the best decision -- slower reflexes and poor vision had made her a danger behind the wheel, but she is now at the mercy of others to go anywhere and do anything. I do my best; off days are spent running errands and fulfilling the obligations of numerous doctor's appointments.  Mom's health isn't great, but it's the best I can hope for, for this 12-year breast cancer survivor. Chemo saved her life but ruined her bone marrow. And her immune system. And the entire chemical makeup of her body. And yet she survived against some pretty stiff odds. Her hearing is almost gone and she has trouble getting around, but my mom's mind is as sharp as ever. Because she reads.

She's worked her way through almost my entire library. She could probably give Maura Isles or Kay Scarpetta herself a run for their money after reading every Patricia Cornwell novel I own ((which is all of them.)  She devoured Gregory David Roberts' 1000-page masterpiece Shantaram and barely came up for air until she was through. (I'm still somewhere about the 500-page mark three weeks later, but I have been busy.)  This week it was The Help by Kathryn Stockett.

But my mom would probably be scandalized if she knew how much I spend on books. She lived  through the Depression, and that struggle for survival is a scar that she carries deep within her soul. Money is not to be spent frivolously or excessively, and living on Social Security, she doesn't really have any extra to spend (and is too proud to allow me pick up the tab on much. Believe me, I try.)  So I came up with the perfect solution: I took her to The Book Attic, a nifty and quite well-organized used book store. It was like seeing a little kid turned loose in a candy store with a pocket full of money. I can't believe I'd never thought of this before. And then I took her to BAM and when she protested, I told her about their sale tables and markdowns. SCORE!!

I was thrilled that such a simple afternoon could give her such pleasure, and yet I was disappointed in myself for not doing this sooner. I get so bogged down in all of the necessities of filling prescriptions, and going to the hospital for tests and checkups that I forget that this is also a necessity: an afternoon spent enjoying a basic pleasure. I realize that she won't be with me forever, and I need to make a solid effort to ensure that she gets to enjoy happy times that she so richly deserves.  

I had dinner with my wonderful cousin/great friend/traveling companion the other night, and she commented that I seem so busy and yet happy right now -- and she's exactly right.  I have battled depression for a number of years now, and there have been a number of contributing factors, not the least of which is a general dissatisfaction with my job and the inherent stress that goes along with it. I have a really low tolerance for bull crap, and yet I work for the government and deal with the public -- both ready-made crap producers. Go figure... And yet something happened the other day that has given me a newfound appreciation of my vocation.

I have split days off in my current position -- Sundays and Tuesdays for the past 3 years. It has it's advantages, but one of the larger disadvantages is never feeling like I get enough rest (which greatly contributes to my depression.) So when a position came open at another location with weekends off, I bid on the job -- and then almost immediately had reservations/regrets. Indecisive much? I had actually thought it through before bidding and thought I was doing the right thing, but when the panic set in almost immediately, I'm like "What have I done?" And with 25 years of seniority and no additional training required, I was pretty sure I was going to get the job and then be forced to take it. But then amazingly enough, I didn't get the job and I was happy I didn't. (Some doofus with FORTY-ONE YEARS seniority got the position. Seriously, dude? Why are you not sitting on your porch in a rocking chair already? Or out shooting something like a good Southerner?)

The relief was almost instantaneous and overwhelming, and I realized I'm right where I need to be and right where I need to stay. I'm literally 150 yards from my house to work. I can go home every day at lunch and check on mom and spend time with her. I can leave work almost any time I need to if an emergency arises. And I've built an amazing rapport with some of my customers -- one friend and her husband gave me tickets to the Nashville Opera, another brings candy, several have loaned or given me books (since anyone who spends time around me realizes I am a voracious reader.) One customer even stood in a long line just to say "hi." No, she wasn't even mailing anything -- she wanted me to meet her Mom who was visiting from New York. How special is that?!?

So even though I might not love my job, I love many of the people. And I also love what it allows me to do.  I get a lot of vacation time, therefore I am able to travel extensively, and it also pays well enough that I am able to afford to travel extensively. But with this newfound contentment has also come a feeling of freedom. Instead of constantly feeling bogged down, I have begun to be productive again. Hence the revival of this blog along with several other writing endeavors (most notably as editor of the Nashville Harp Society website.)


But this week also brought another dream to fruition: the co-founding of an independent record label with my immensely talented best friend. We are initially producing her music, but down the line hope to sign other like-minded artists. She will head up the artist development end, and I will be working on the marketing and promotions end of it, which will be yet another outlet for my writing skills (I've already composed her full-length bio as well as the more abbreviated version for promo packs.)

So... if you're in need of well-traveled, music-loving writer who can also package and mail anything you want to anywhere in the world, I'm your woman.