Intoxicating Effect of Acoustics on Harp Music in a Monastery

On Sunday April 7th I performed at the New Camaldolese Monastery in Big Sur for their Sunday service.   I can't even begin to share the full ramifications of what it is like to hear even one string being played in this sanctuary.  It's truly intoxicating for a musician.

There is just this magical effect that I feel when I tune up and begin to play in this location.  Is it the God effect ? the acoustics? or what?

I feel so much more fully alive when I play in a setting like this.  I know that people come to the Retreat location to find peace and meaning in their life.  I like to think that because I am there with the harp on that particular day that somehow the retreatants will find even more meaning for their sojourn.

I may never ever know from any of these seekers whether its the choice of the music played, or just the immeasurable impact that music has on our souls that has the most impact.

I do know that Father Ranier had this experience he grabbed me at lunch and said:  " The last piece you played where it went up and up and up and up...I felt like I left my body.  and then when you stopped and I heard Father Daniel say: and NOW....Let's PRAY!  I heard a voice in my head say: NO! I want to stay right here in this moment of the music.   

And I must say that that last part of the piece was totally inspired by the spirit of the Monastery because it wasn't written on the music in front of me..it was something that just flowed out of my fingers in that moment in time.  I feel so blessed to have this gift and to share it with others. 

Back in 2004 one of the other monks (who has since sadly passed on in 06) sat with me after my first recording session in the sanctuary after I had spontaneously included AMAZING GRACE in the session:   With tears streaming down his face he said:   "These tears are not sad tears...they are joyful ones...when you played Amazing Grace just now I felt like the heavens just opened up and God's grace poured out.  "   

The impact of  his  emotion filled words have never left me ....and I am happy that I followed the internal prompting to just play from my soul in a Godly space.   

Join me in May at the Monastery where I will be once again playing for God and those in the Sanctuary.