House concert brings artists together

A few weeks ago I got an invitation in the mail to an event that turned out to be one of the most enjoyable evenings of my life. My memory of that night is one of warmth, melody, satisfying culinary delight and artistic expression.

The room was full of artists. We had been brought together by two sisters, women I had never before encountered but who I came to like after only moments of conversation. The evening left me with a desire to sit down and speak with them again. I imagine the conversation will be unhurried, full of art and beauty and a satisfying social delight.

The event was a "house concert" at the home of Karen and Elizabeth who described themselves in their invitation as "sisters in blood, soul and spirit, (who) love musicians, live within music (and) feel seized with afflatus."

Not only were they seized, but the evening filled everyone there with afflatus. I left replete.

Brian Kopper was the singer, songwriter, guitar player who performed that night. Brian lives in Missoula where he teaches Spanish and performs whenever possible. I must describe his guitar playing as remarkable. In a way it was like watching a magician at work. His fingers worked away at the strings with a skill that defies description.

Brian sang for us, and told stories about his songs and his life. The evening was intimate, entertaining and full of divine knowledge and understanding (see afflatus.)

It reminded me of stories I had heard and read when I lived in New Mexico. In the 1020s a woman named Mabel Dodge lived in Taos. She thought it was such a wonderful place that she wanted all her artist friends to experience New Mexico's beauty, culture and divinity. She opened her house to artists like Georgia O'Keefe and D.H. Lawrence and Taos became known as an artistic Mecca.

The experience at Karen and Elizabeth's also make me think of what it must have been like before TV or cars or telephones. In Mozart's day musicians were often invited to play at the homes of art patrons. Even up to the early part of this century it was common for families to sit together around the hearth to read a book or sing a song.

I don't know about anyone else, but I only knew about three or four people in the room before the evening began. I feel like I shared something important with those same people by the end of the event. I feel like I didn't have enough time to get to know them all.

A simple idea turned into a divine moment. It is lovely to see people who are not afraid to open their doors to like-minded strangers who quickly became open-minded friends. Our hearts were as replete as out stomachs and ears.

I look forward with anticipation to the next time I get the chance to talk with any of the people I met that night, especially Karen and Elizabeth.

Publicly I have to thank them both, and Brian, for a moment win my life that will live in my heart and my memory forever.

Mostly, I think I have to say, "wow."  

Whitefish Pilot January 30th, 1997 by Michael Friend go back to reviews listing