“If the only prayer you say in your whole life is ‘thank you’ that would suffice.”
(Meister Eckhart, 12th C. Mystic)
As a tree changer of nine years in Denmark I find myself enormously grateful for so much New Life and Good Life. To honour this decade and the privilege of ‘living in this paradise’ I cheekily asked Fiona Campbell, one of Australia’s top opera singers and a stunning chanteuse living in Perth to come to my home Tree Song (visiting her mother in Denmark) and sing to us in an exceptional and once off night of High Romance! – along with Simon Rovis-Hermann, a Perth classical guitarist extraordinaire and internationally renowned luthier (maker of guitars). We were enchanted and heart-filled.
The inspiration came from a desire to honour the Music and Muse that especially nurtured and sustained me in the building years and the isolation years when one is a stranger in the town. Music has always been at the Heart of my life, as a drummer in a rock and roll band in my university years, now in my later life the Classics and Opera grow me and are my lifelong friends.
This spontaneous Salon came at the same time as the devastating disasters in the Philippines. I am so pleased that a significant amount of money raised from that night went to help the countless needy in some small and meaningful way. I am also so touched that our Denmarkian Businesses – Singlefile, Ducketts Mill and IGA Express gave generously of their quality produce. I wanted this occasion of Culture-Making to be the Best, and that we were given – the Savouring of Song, Denmark’s wine, cheeses and other delights of earth.
What I’ve learnt and gained from this grand yet homely occasion was that often gifts and blessings come in unexpected ways – stimulating and life-changing conversations, new and deepening friendships, and the discovering of the largesse, good heartedness and generosity of people. Most of all, how Song is so much more than music and Culture is more enduring and enlivening than an activity or event. This was a Night To Be Remembered. Thank you all who came, celebrated, gave and Loved.
“Give thanks for a little and you will find a lot.”
(Hausa Proverb From Nigeria)