My taste in music is eclectic. Even at my age, I enjoy some hip-hop, and recently fell in love with the '80s college-circuit group, "The Cure." Somehow, I seem to have slept through the '80s, and don't remember much about the music of that decade. But when I heard The Cure's greatest hits CD a few months ago, their music appealed to me. I've played it until I've about worn it out.

This week, though, I felt the need for a change. Driving back and forth between Lexington and Orangeburg five days a week, I enjoy listening to my CDs or NPR news programs. I get tired of listening to the Top 40 stuff. And, for a long time, I've avoided classical music. Couldn't tell you why. I have loved classical music since I took a Music Appreciation class when I was at the University of Georgia. Our professor looked just like a young Kirk Douglas, dimpled chin and all. When he played a recording of Respighi's "Pines of Rome" for us, I swooned.

I went on to fall in love with Ravel's "Daphnis et Chloe/Daybreak," Handel's "Water Music Suite 2," Pachelbel's "Canon in D Major," Aaron Copeland's "Appalachian Spring" and so many other classical, baroque and contemporary pieces.

So why hadn't I been listening to music like that instead of The Cure? Beats me. But on Monday, I tuned the radio back to classical music, and I'm loving it.

This morning as I was driving to work, I was thrilled to hear the announcer introduce a piece called "Appalachian Dances and Ditties" by composer Kenneth Frazelle, performed by pianist Jane Hawkins and violinist Sarah Johnson. I'm a big fan of Sarah's, having met her when the old S.C. National Bank sponsored her in some concerts in Bamberg County many years ago. Sarah, who made her debut with the Minneapolis Symphony at the age of 10, is amazing.

I was with the newspaper in Bamberg when she performed there and had the pleasure of interviewing and photographing Sarah during her performance at the Bamberg Job Corps Center. She is a warm, engaging person.

I observed first-hand how Sarah's music touched some of the Job Corps students, and it definitely touched my soul.

When Sarah played "Adagio in G" by Tomaso Albinoni, tears began streaming down my face. One of the photos I took that day shows the intense passion Sarah puts into her music.

After that, I had dinner with Sarah and her hosts during her Bamberg stay, Joy and David Stone. David was manager of the local SCNB. One night we played Trivial Pursuit with Sarah. That was the night Joy thought Quasimodo was a wrestler. We were all bent over double laughing! It was a fun evening.

Joy and I became Sarah's "groupies," attending several of her performances at the Dock Street Theatre in Charleston during the "Sarah & Friends" concert series there. One night we walked from the Dock Street to Tradd Street with Sarah to an after-concert party, and I got to carry her precious violin, or as Sarah calls it, her "fiddle." Sarah said it cost as much as a house, so I was quite nervous about being entrusted with it. Fortunately, I didn't trip.

I later visited with Sarah and her husband at their home in Belews Creek, N.C., but I have since lost track of Sarah. So it was wonderful hearing her play her fiddle again. Brought back a lot of good memories.

By the way, the piece she performed is from her third CD titled, "Fiddler's Galaxy." I'm ordering it today.

n

T&D Region Editor Carol Barker can be reached by e-mail at cbarker@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5525. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

You must be logged in to comment.