A Gift From The Heart

I have a couple who are friends along with their two growing boys (9 and 14) who have struggled somewhat financially over the course of the last few months.  I have also struggled some, but with the start of my  SSRB, I am doing OK.  However I still make use of the local food banks whenever possible to stretch my grocery budget.  I often times get more than Will and I can use before it goes bad or items that either he or I do not particularly like.  At those times I have helped my friends out some by providing this excess food for their table.  I do this because I want to help, it does my heart good to do so and there is nary a thought for recompense in any form.  My friends are also my coworkers who I enjoy working with very much.  He because of our in depth and wide ranging discussions of a myriad of topics of mutual interest while accomplishing the tasks at hand and she for the thorough and methodical way in which she goes above and beyond in the performance of her duties.  Last night, he was my relief when it came time for me to get off work.  Rather cryptically he mentioned as part of our dialogue before I departed that some people really appreciate the things I do for them and then presented to me a gift from the both of them as a way of showing their appreciation.  This was not just a mundane gift, rather it was a rare and beautiful thing made all the more special because I was not expecting to receive it in the first place.  

The gift was a rare 1977 box set recording of the Six Brandenburg Concerti composed by Johann Sebastian Bach on  3 vinyl LP's along with the liner notes and the book that came with it.  This recording was made under the auspices of the Smithsonian Instituition Divisions of Performing Arts and Musical Instruments.  The performance is by the Aston Magna Music Festival Orchestra on Period Instruments.  These performances, a singular accomplishment of the Aston Magna Foundation under the  Artistic Direction of Albert Fuller, represent the first recording of the Brandenburgs on original instruments in America.  This box set was the first time that these masterworks had been preserved on record in the true spirit of the Baroque, cooperative performance style.  And, not the least of the laurels garnered by this project, this was the first time that the Concerti had been presented in the order in which Johann Sebastian Bach scripted them over 250 years ago.  The box, the LP's, the liner notes and the book are all in pristine condition and the set is a collector's item as it is no longer available on vinyl, not even from the Smithsonian.  To say I was blown away would be a major understatement and as I said above, this was totally unexpected.  The LP's themselves look like they have never been placed on a turntable, much less played.  I do not have a turntable, nor would I want to actually play the LP's for fear of damaging them.  I do, however have a friend who owns a recording studio across from my old store.  I may considered letting his professionals convert the recordings into a set of CD's in a one time only playing of the LP's, but I will have to think a while on that and discover whether or not that would devalue the recordings in any way.  I accepted the gift in the spirit it was given and will treasure it for many years to come.  

In honor of this gift, your Musical Moment for this Friday is a performance of all 6 Brandenburg Concerti.  I could not find video of the recording I received, however as the next best thing, this performance by the Freiburger Baroque Orchestra, also on period instruments and conducted by Gottfried von der Goltz takes place in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Cothen (Der Spiegelsaal im Schloss Köthen), where the great German composer himself served from 1717 to 1723.  You can also catch the Sonatas for Viola de Gamba and Harpsichord BWV 1027, 1028, 1029 by Johann Sebastian Bach with a performance by Wieland Kuijken on Viola da Gamba and Gustav Leonhardt on Harpsichord over on my tumblr along with the Hottie of the Day!.  While below the play list you will find a salute to Bears, Cubs and Cougars in this week's edition of Furry Friday for your visual appreciation.  Thank you for sharing a part of your day with me, see you again soon.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!