FAERY MUSIC

A true story by Steve Andersen

 

 

Several years ago, I had the opportunity to play folk music with Nancy Vivolo. Nancy was Karen’s former sister-in-law who lives in Port Angeles, Washington.  Nancy was host of a folk music venue in Port Angeles much like the venue I was hosting in Kent.   We played concerts at each others venues.  We soon started playing music together around the Port Angeles area. Nancy is a gifted song writer and was very good about getting musical gigs for us in the area.

 

My most memorable musical adventure was the wedding of a Native American Bride to a logging man on top of a mountain in the Olympic Mountain Range on the Olympic Peninsula in Western Washington.  It took place outdoors in the most beautiful outdoor  “cathedral” you can imagine. God’s glory was breathtaking.  High on the mountain in a grove of huge fir trees.  Logs were laid out as benches, and the wedding party and Nancy and I stood behind a huge tree before the procession started. The tree was so large, you couldn’t see us behind it. It was just gorgeous.  Nancy led the procession from behind the tree, playing a Native American drum I had just recently built. As she played a beautiful rhythm on the drum, I followed with my guitar. The music was made up on the spot, but was very nice.  We sang a couple songs for the wedding and it was a wonderful experience.

 

Coming down from the mountain, we encountered a Golden Eagle flying very close to us at tree top level (we were on a very steep logging road). It was magnificent!

 

The next morning was a beautiful, Sunday morning in the countryside outside of Port Angeles where Nancy’s house is located.  I woke up at day break and felt like playing my guitar outside on the front porch (still moved by the experience of the day before) .  There is a very nice flower garden right there by the steps.  As I was playing my usual, made up melodies, I noticed a cottonwood seed floating in the breeze. It was one of those soft, white cotton puffs that gently float in any breeze, like a faery.  It drifted over the flowers and lingered in the garden for quite awhile.  As it performed it’s ballet from flower to flower, I played a nice melody to accompany the performance,  I was entranced.  Finally, it drifted on out of the garden and down the valley.  Soon, Nancy and Bill came outside to see where the beautiful music was coming from.  When they saw it was me, they asked what I was playing. I replied “FAERY MUSIC”, of course!