The Horn of Plenty

One old Greek myth speaks of a young Zeus being suckled by a nourishing goddess in the form of a goat. Zeus was endowed with unusual strength and accidentally broke off one of the goat’s horns. which then had the divine power to provide unending nourishment. Known as the “horn of plenty” or cornucopia, it is overflowing with produce, flowers and nuts constantly replenished. 

 

It's a good image for my time here at Hidden Valley Music Seminar. Every single day without exception offering abundant nourishment in the form of soul-healing music and dance and the general sense of good fellowship everywhere you turn. Naturally, I feel especially bonded with my 33 students, every day seeing another delightful facet of their character and uplifted by their presence. Not to mention the consistently ideal weather, the Shangri-la quality of Carmel Valley, the little surprise pleasures. For example, today:

 

• A morning session teaching a Sonny Rollins blues and a Duke Ellington/ Juan Tizol jazz standard (Perdido) sharing the essentials of jazz theory in 90 minutes that allowed the 33 person big-band to play the hell out of both pieces. They marveled that jazz could be played on Orff instruments, in company with the folks that play drumset, bass, piano, trumpet, trombone, flutes, violin. And with two great vocalists. It was swingin’!!!

 

• The next session was reviewing the powerful Bulgarian woman’s song, then playing the powerful 15/ 16 dance piece. Then suggesting that one of the Chinese students create a choreography with fans for a lovely Chinese song played on the Orff instruments. She did and it was marvelous. 

 

• Later in the day, we put all four pieces together in 45 minutes to prepare for performance tonight. (In 30 minutes!)

 

• Meanwhile, I got to enjoy my daily swim in the pool. And play cornhole by myself —made a new record of sinking 10 out of 13 beanbags in the hole!

 

• Then at dinner, an ex- San Francisco School student who ended up coming to an Orff course I taught in Brazil a couple of years ago showed up to visit the Brazilian friends she met on that trip! She’ll stay for the performance tonight and also reunite with her other SF School teachers, James and Sofia. 

 

• A woman who was pregnant in Level III last year, came back with her baby, two people who just took the New Orleans Jazz Course came to visit to see the show, and various students have their partners coming to see the show, along with babies and kids! 

 

Could it get any better than this? Unending gratitude for this horn of plenty that keeps offering unending sensual delights and nourishment.