SOME THOUGHTS AT A CONCERT IN KENSINGTON
St Stephen’s Church, Gloucester Road, in the centre of Kensington, is a stone’s throw from where I live. I used to take my mother to St James’s Church in Piccadilly nearly every week. As we were getting ready to go out, she would ask me, “Are we going to the concert?”
I went to a funeral at St Stephen’s Church of someone I met in the local coffee shop. We weren’t close, but we always got on well together and passed the time talking about artistic things together. That must have been five or six years ago… time can be so indefinite when you’re looking back.
A middle-aged woman who walks her dog in Gloucester Road visits St Stephen’s for the concert recitals… I wonder if dogs appreciate music?
I hope all is well at the office. Family businesses always carry more responsibility. Our secretary has to leave early today… I hope the concert finishes before she leaves.
The music was composed by a Czech, Antonin Dvorak, and the group playing is the Bisengaliev Quintet.
I tried to play the piano when I was a boy, but I didn’t keep it up. I did play the recorder for a while. But the dedication of these musicians, who met at the Royal College of Music, is amazing. Most of them have been playing their instruments since they were kids. They make it all look so easy.
I am a writer and writing is much more private than playing music, although the writer and musician both want to reach out to the public. I must try harder to get my article published, even if it is only on the internet.
One magazine editor was very sympathetic to my writing, but said I needed to give different points of view, to speak with other’s voices.
I hope it doesn’t start raining… it will be nice to walk to work through the park.
I wonder why it is that some people can write prolifically throughout their lives, whereas I struggle to write one piece?
The dark suit that the violinist is wearing looks similar to mine… I wonder if the dry cleaners will have my suit ready for Saturday? They said they would.
At the beginning of the concert I warm up slowly, becoming acclimatised to the music. The best part, though, is always the climax. Classical music weaves a spell, soothing the spirit, melting away your troubles… I feel quite uplifted now, and energised.
I will come again next week
© Robert D Dangoor 2009
