There is a fable about a magical butterfly that appears from nowhere, flitter-flits all around and alights at last on your shoulder. And suddenly you are happy, and you see afresh the world is a wonderful place, and you have never felt so alive. Then the butterfly lifts off, and you drop dead.
1. It’s only metaphor. 2. Unlike the butterfly, the National Music Festival intends a return. 3. It isn’t really dead in Chestertown, just dozy.
But waking up here on an ordinary Monday the thought comes, where’s my magic butterfly? Something vital rushed out of the town with the last of the apprentice musicians – like the quick loss of youth hereabouts that follows every Washington College graduation, once again a demise of spirit on a graying stage.
In the wake of the National Music Festival, however, there’s something very different from all the other departures we’ve lately grown accustomed to – the empty storefronts, the weedy lots, the castoffs at curbsides, the for sale signs at favorite destinations like Twigs and Sam’s.
The Festival players leave us with more than merely hope. They leave us with expectations. Everybody just knows, next year it’ll be bigger, it’ll be even better.
The buzz has been giddy: What if the festival went for three weeks? Or summer long? How about having some of the musicians roving Chestertown like buskers, making quick and unexpected appearances in restaurants, say, like they do in Munich and Madrid? The Chester River Chorale was a great addition to the programming, so how about bringing in the Hundred Voice Choir, too? Couldn’t the Festival tap into the strong local jazz and gospel traditions? Might the influx of performers somehow lead to a build-up of the music department at Washington College?
Sure, some ideas are like putting the orchestra before the conductor. And artistic director Richard Rosenberg and executive director Caitlin Patton have their own visions of what the Festival will be – and their already daring concept has proven (over a good bit of skepticism) to work magnificently.
Even so, it’s been fun to hear Chestertownies once again dreaming large.
There’s just one thing before we nudge Tanglewood and Spoleto out of our way: a small matter of $100,000. That’s the announced shortfall in the National Music Festival’s budget for this fiscal year. It’s the one missing note of an otherwise bravura debut: the bank-note. What the Festival needs right now are Players.
Mark Schulman says
John, you have captured beautifully, even poetically, the glorious gift to Washington College and Chestertown bestowed by the music festival. My wife and I are classical music festival buffs, attending several major festivals each year. The National Music Festival was every bit as absorbing and accomplished as any we attend. The repertoire was also quite challenging — the great classics ((Schumann, Stravinsky, Hayden) mixed in with more contemporary pieces, such as Philip Glass. My great wish is that the festival can continue for many years and that it will bring even greater glory and enrichment to Chestertown, Washington College, and the music world. Thank you Caitlin and Richard!
Laura Wade says
John, I could not have said it better myself. I am president of the board of the National Music Festival and I am thrilled that our first year here in Chestertown was such a huge success. I know full well the life of a professional musician. My father, Arthur Lewis, was principal trombonist in the Dallas Symphony Orchestra for 25 years. I thought all daddy’s went to work at night in dress tales and white ties. When I first met Richard Rosenberg, director of the Festival at Carla Massoni’s suggestion, I immediately bonded with him when he told me he had to sell his piano years ago to afford to teach at the Aspen Music Festival. I was hooked and began telling anyone that would listen to me that Chestertown was in for a real treat. 170 musicians were coming and they are the best of the best and please come to the concerts and support us. Thank you everyone for coming to our concerts, rehearsals, concert talks, master classes, chamber players and farmer’s market music. Thanks also to all that have hosted musicians in your homes, merchants and restaurants that gave musicians discounts, Washington College, the Mainstay, the Garfield Center, Emmanuel Church, First United Methodist Church, Java Rock, Rock Hall Fire Station, St. Paul’s Parish, Margo Bailey and the town of Chestertown, many volunteers and most importantly Caitlin Patton and Richard Rosenberg for bringing their Festival to Chestertown. It will take all of us to keep the Festival here for years to come. Please donate and volunteer. Laura Wade
Carla Massoni says
51 weeks and counting!!! Come back magic butterfly. There was something for everyone in this festival. I for one felt privileged to share in the dreams of these young people and experience their talents firsthand. Although my 3.7 year old grandson was to young to attend the concerts he was mesmerized y the rehearsals at the gallery, the Garfield, and the outside concerts in Fountain Park!