For me, music has been a vital part of my soul. I was a child of the 80’s – so I loved dancing to Madonna, Cindy Lauper, Flock of Seagulls, Ah ha, Starship, bubble gum pop.
And, my parents also listened to piano and guitar: Windham Hill, Mannheim Steamroller, David Lanz, Shadowfax, Liz Story, Suzanne Ciani, Yanni, Kitaro. Artists who were exploring sound, rhythm, and the flow of music.
Music has always been a powerful tool that has inspired, soothed, and lifted my soul over the years.
I wore my ’84 Windham Hill Sampler cassette tape out, as I journaled in candlelight to William Ackerman, Michael Hedges, Mark Isham, and George Winston before the world woke at dawn.
By far, William Ackerman’s music has had the greatest impact. Hawk Circle was one of the greatest songs that I have returned to again and again. More recently, Rain to River has been on my playlist. Returning has all my favorites – The Impending Death of the Virgin Spirit, Anne’s Song, Visiting, Last Day at the Beach.
In 2015, Barton had just left hospital after semi-emergency surgery, and we knew I was facing some tough decisions for my own health, and later surgery as well. Three days after this freak surgery where his body rejected a medical implant, Barton and I drove down to a little church in Charlotte. We arrived early and sat outside writing poetry and absorbing the beauty of life before we listened to William Ackerman, Vin Downes, and Stanton Lanier crack our hearts open.
We steeped into the awe of beauty in life.
I knew my dad loved William Ackerman, and if had been at any point it time, I would have let him know that they were playing down the street from their house the next weekend. But I was wrapped up in our own lives, our own stories of health and living. Yet, an opportunity missed can lead to an even more powerful experience.
I kept this dream of my dad and I seeing William Ackerman in concert over the years.
But distance and timing kept putting my dream off.
You know when you have that feeling, that sense, and you just throw it out there? What if?
In January, all of the stars begin to align. Barton and I were headed to Randolph this year. My dad and stepmom would be in Maine for a wedding. And William Ackerman’s studio is in Windham HIll, Vermont.
It began with a dream, and an email.When I received an email back no later than an hour later, I ran around the house with a glass of wine in hand.
A surprise house concert with William Ackerman at our cabin in Randolph, New Hampshire.
The scheming was afoot!
When I’ve talked with my family, it’s been about some really heavy things. I had a complication after surgery and struggled with accepting myself in this new self. And some aspects of life have felt heavy and complicated. It felt like everytime I drove to Atlanta, there was a new piece I was processing. And I just wanted to have some fun with them!
The rest of the spring, my secretive planning percolated. Even when our year didn’t go quite as planned, I was determined to hold onto this dream. I wanted to bring my dad into the amazing magic that Barton and I live in, where the unexpected abundance lifts our hearts, and amazing things just happen.
An early-August morning in Randolph New Hampshire, I was so excited I couldn’t stand it.
While Barton waited for friends to arrive, I drove two hours to pick my dad and stepmom up from Maine; the drive was through this little one lane road past rivers and lakes. Windows down, the breeze through the van. We met at a McDonald’s in a little Maine town. Once back in Randolph, we spent the afternoon on the back porch of a cabin catching up.
And, then I left my dad and stepmom, so I could greet Will and Vin, to show them our little cabin the woods.
As they pulled out guitars and sound systems- I thought – this was real, and my dad still had no idea!
For me, the most impactful moment was hanging back watching Vin and Will set up and tune guitars. Will was playing with notes. What is it to witness the creation of a new expression? It was only a few moments, but the birth of a new tune, notes, flowing where the notes take you, into the rhythm into fruition. And then to let them go into the air, drifting.
To be born, live, and release.
I did pull myself away to go back over and pick my dad and stepmom up. Family and friends began to gather outside our cabin with conversation and greeting. When we arrived, guitars lay out in a row in front of the cabin. This was real!
I invited everyone in, and an evening of a lifetime unfolded.
I thought of a million ways to give my dad a hint, to prepare him, but in the end, it was more fun to be a total surprise.
I could see my dad’s eyes light up when I introduced an evening of music with William Ackerman.
Barton’s cousin, Brent Arnold got the evening started off right. In May, we were headed to the airport to travel for Brent and Sarah’s wedding when we were hit on the highway. As Brent played, I reflected on the time since that point, how Barton and I have been in awe of life, how we have relished every single day, every single experience. We are alive!! And the melodies stirred the soul.
William Ackerman
William Ackerman and Vin Downes held the evening with music I have grown up with, and it was an amazing experience. Informal and fluid. Steeped in humanity, it was a gift of a lifetime to hear where songs were born, pieces of William’s career in playing in spaces around the world, and watching fingers on guitar strings create the most stirring sounds.
After the concert, Will and Vin stayed a long time after to talk with dad and stepmom, to talk to our family and friends that had gathered. I was overwhelmed with how much time they really took to honor the space and time.
And when everyone left, my dad and stepmom, Barton and I had a glass of wine to relish in the experience.
When I got married, just before I walked down the aisle, my dad turned to me and told me to remember this moment, to take it all in, to look around and remember everyone that had gathered.
And this was one of those events that will remain a highlight in my life!
Thinking of house concert with William Ackerman? Check out the house concerts page!
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