61st Performance
**First International Music Kitchen Performance**
Kelly Hall-Tompkins, violin
Craig Ketter, piano
Coeur de Femme Shelter
In Partnership with the Festival des Musique Sacree
Paris, France
What an incredible day! I am simply
blown away by the wonderful experience of bringing the concept and
practice of Music Kitchen - Food for the Soul to the shores of Europe -
one of the great cities of the world in fact, and a favorite of mine -
Paris, France. I am here in Paris as an invited guest artist of the
Festival des Musiques Sacrees, for which the concert is this evening. I
was also invited as guest panelist speaker yesterday at the US Embassy
with the Vice President of the French Senate (and third person in
succession for the Presidency of France) Madame Vice President Bariza
Khiari, and conductor Zaia Ziouani on the occasion of International
Women’s Day.
Our topic was cultural education in France and the US.
Both the Festival and the American Embassy are very interested in my
creation of the Music Kitchen project in addition to my professional
career. Particularly the festival director, Sofiane Aoudia, is very
much interested in the concept which he refers to as “democratizing”
classical music, since access in France, being not so much an issue of
money, but rather of class by heritage, can be very closed to many
people. So as I sit here in my hotel, looking out the window at one of
the awe-inspiring, highest bastions of culture and academic thought - La
Sorbonne, open only to a select few for centuries - it underscores even
more the success of the Music Kitchen mission served here today.
I wasn’t sure if the concept would
work as well here. What would the dynamic be like? Would my French
make the concert experience as warm and accessible as I can make it in
English? What is the relationship between disadvantaged French citizens
and classical music, even their own? I got my answers soon enough and
loud and clear - The first shelter client I saw as I was shown to the
room where we would be playing (a tiled eating room, just as shelters in
the US) a woman came up to me and said, “Nous avons attendu ca depuis
les jours et les jours! Et finalement vous etes la!” (“We’ve been
waiting for this for days and days, and finally you’re here!”) I was so
touched at the warmth and sincerity of her excitement. Our appointed
time to begin the concert was at 11:30am. We arrived early, around 11am
and the room was already half full with ladies in great anticipation.
I
noticed that similarly as in Music Kitchen concerts at home, some met
my gaze eagerly already while some demurred, not yet knowing what to
expect, but in a gentle, hopeful anticipation. I felt guilty to not
start the performance right away, but the director of the festival who
organized this performance in gracious partnership with Music Kitchen
had not yet arrived. Yet the desire and anticipation in the room was
very nearly palpable. Though I generally like to wait until everyone is
there before beginning to engage with the audiences, I could not help
beginning that sooner. I asked where the listeners were from. Most
were born and raised in Paris, one from Italy, another lived first in
the US, but in France for many years, several from Africa - one woman
from Cameroun, another wrapped in a beautiful sky-blue African-style
“sari” was from Kinshasa Zaire.
Finally, we began our program. As
in the US (but now in French) I explained to my full room of 25 or so
eager listeners that my name is Kelly and I am a professional
violinist. I perform concerts in all the big halls, but more and more I
began to I recognize that not everyone has access to those concerts and
that’s not…I paused to find the word I was looking for. “Juste?”
(fair) a woman offered, not precisely the word I was looking for in the
moment, but I went with it as it was more meaningful coming from her.
Yes, I affirmed, “Juste.” So I created Music Kitchen- Food for the Soul
to offer music to people in shelters as well. Already with this
statement and explanation I gained even more the confidence of the
listeners. We had not yet played a note, but this concept in France
seemed to carry more weight by itself.
I explained that I so love your
French composers and music, especially the impressionists, that we would
begin there today. They all seemed very pleased to hear that. I said
if you desire, I can also play some American music later. Yes, they
eagerly affirmed. I explained the circumstances around our first piece,
Debussy’s sonata for violin and piano. That he had had the intention
to complete 6 sonatas but did not survive to complete them all, that
this violin sonata is the last piece he ever wrote and that I absolutely
adore it. I told them it is filled with imagery. It was wonderful to
have my colleague of almost 20 years in Paris to perform it with me,
pianist Craig Ketter. We’ve played the Debussy Sonata many, many times
but to play it here in Paris for this audience was very special. The
audience applauded heartily after the first movement, such that I had to
make sure they understood that there is more to the piece. They seemed
to know this, but still wanted to demonstrate their appreciation and
excitement. And they were eager to hear more, so we launched into the
spritely 2nd movement.
Typically for Music Kitchen concerts I
engage the audience verbally between movements to break up a large work
if they need a break from continuous music, but this audience was more
like a typical concert hall audience. They wanted to drink in the music
sans cesse - they were motionless and quiet, in rapt attention as we played. With the whip and flash of the G harmonic, we finished the 3rd
and final movement of the piece. The applause was long - warm with many
bravos. Surely now, there are questions? I asked. A few hands began
little by little to go up and venture questions, but more and more so
that people began asking questions at the same time and I had to find a
way to gently defer to one person or another. We had a warm exchange as
the rapport between us opened with each note of music and each word of
exchange. “Where are you from,” came one question. I said that we are
both from New York and we came all the way here to play for you. They
were shocked and delighted as some had not realized that I was not
French. We can play some American music now, if you like - something
from tonight’s concert for the Festival. Again, they eagerly desired
it.
“Are you familiar with the African-American spiritual tradition?” I
asked. Much to my surprise, they all bobbed their heads with many a
“bien sur” (of course) to be heard around the room. Just to be sure
that we were on the same page and also repeating the notes on the
program that I wrote for these songs in the festival program, I
continued with my description of the works: During the time of slavery
in America. African-Americans were prohibited from congregating or
meeting for fear of uprising. However, since singing was permitted,
they ingeniously developed poetic songs which celebrated and
strengthened their spiritual faith while at the same time being encoded
with messages of escape. This perspective on the tradition was perhaps
new for many of the listeners. I gave a rough translation of the two
songs, arranged by Harry Burleigh that I was including in my program for
the sacred music festival that evening: “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” and
“Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen.” They loved them both and we had a
few more questions before I offered another American work, Summerland
by William Grant Still. Now when I asked if there were any more
questions, much to my surprise, there was nothing. A hand went up
gently and when I recognized her she said simply that after hearing the
music, “Nous n’avons plus des mots” (We have no more words.)” I was
very touched at her sincerity.
But there was in fact another question,
“Do American’s like French music?” “Classical music you mean?” Yes,
she said. “Definitely!” I confirmed. Americans. Especially this
American, loves everything French, music, culture, food. “Really?” she
seemed surprised and delighted. I got lots of laughter around the room
when I said, “Mais Oui! - Why do you think your streets are absolutely
packed with Americans?? It’s because we are clamoring to go to your
museums and concerts and restaurants!” Score one victory of diplomatic
relations between the citizens of our two countries. I reminded them
that since they are all invited to tonight’s concert, they would hear
these American songs a second time. No, several said, it was
unfortunately only a concert in a few days to which they were invited.
When together with representatives of the festival I confirmed that they
were in fact invited to tonight’s concert as well, they all broke into a
delighted applause and many in fact attended the concert.
For the last piece we brought the
sonata of Richard Strauss. Just as I have done for American Music
Kitchen listeners many times, I asked, “Who has been to Vienna?” I did
expect that there might be more here who would answer affirmatively, but
still there was only one. My answer is designed to put the listeners
at ease. “Ne vous inquietez pas, avec la musique on y va aujourd’hui!”
(Don’t worry, through the music we are going there today!”) They were
just as delighted as listeners across the Atlantic in the US. I told
them a bit about the orchestral scope of this sonata for only 2 people.
And when we came to the end of the powerful yet beautiful first
movement they were the most excited yet, rising to their feet with
boisterous applause. I played one more movement, the slow movement with
classic Viennese charm - they laughed easily and joyfully when I told
them they will taste the cream of Viennese pastries and see the winding
streets of old Vienna.
It was a beautiful, gentle place to end our
afternoon together since they were soon to leave for an outing to the
Louvre. (Wow - incredible. I’ve never heard of a homeless shelter in
New York taking clients to the MET or similar!). So many of the ladies
came up to me at the end, and with warms smiles and embraces told me how
much they so appreciated my being here. “Really, thank you so very
much,”one woman said to me then came back several minutes later to say
again. The director of the shelter who was our contact for the event
was so warm and appreciative of our time there as well. Since a French
radio station had been there recording the entire performance, they then
interviewed me about today’s events and my philosophy of the Music
Kitchen program. But I left the shelter, very excited to have opened a
new frontier of service, thanks to the Sofiane Aoudia, director of the
Festival des Musique Sacrees, and the American Embassy, and am
encouraged to discover that the success of the Music Kitchen mission
endures.
Following are lots of comments from the listeners with translations by me:
Dear Kelly, I love you already- your interpretation, your sense of others, your heart. Thank you!
What
emotion in these notes emanating from your violin, the piano…your
sensibilities to each note and to each composer - grandeur, gaiety,
melancholy, force, sweetness, joy…Thank you for your generosity towards
us- I will remember these moments of blessings! Blandine
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Love you.
You
have recharged my heart in the space of 15 minutes- thank you for
recharging my heart, thank you for this journey and this generosity. It
warmed my heart. Despite my problems, I took much pleasure in
listening. I cried tears of happiness and joy. Thank you so much
Madame Kelly - I am very touched by your generosity and your heart. May
God bless you. Thank you so much. Magali
My
God, what emotions. Kelly you are filled with much love. I have sung
in a chorale for a long time, but with instrumental music one is truly
transported towards “liberty” ‘Nobody knows the trouble I see…’ only
Jesus. May God bless you and keep you always in his way. I love you my
sister and darling. God bless AMERICA. Augustine
I
had a vague idea about classical music but today you have given me the
chance to understand that music is very deep and melancholic…this music
truly has stories. I would like to one day learn to better understand
the texts. Bon courage and long career to you. Sandra
Thank you infinitely for this pleasure. Sakina
I wish you “Everything” You deserve it…This was for me a “Grand moment.” Dominique
I
love your arrival. I believe your presence has done us much good. I
thank the good Lord for your presence, what you have done and for your
wisdom.
Happiness to share. Jocelyn
Me personally I love you with all my heart and I wish you a great future. Thank you and a bientot. Fatou.
Thank you for having filled La Maison Coeur de Femmes with this melody and sweetness. Angelique and the team
Bravo- Sumptuous- Thank you again for your simplicity, enthusiasm and what music!
You are magnificent with a simple majesty and of course tears of emotion came to my eyes… THANK YOU, Stephanie
Thank U so much* U are welcome in France and I like your work, your music. Bravo!!! Patricia
Thank you for your support of Music Kitchen Concerts – now breaking the barrier of the Atlantic!
Sincerely,
Kelly Hall-Tompkins, President and Founder
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