RCMQ Rehearsing

We’ve been hosting House Concerts for twelve or thirteen years now – about one a month, September through May.  We get lots of strokes from our audiences in the form of admiration and adulation:  “These are so much work,” they say. “Thank you so much for continuing to do them.”  When we answer “Not at all; it’s our pleasure,” we are telling the complete truth.  And sometimes, like this weekend, there’s even more to the story.

The Rose City Mixed Quartet (from Portland, of course!) have been doing concerts here for seven years now.  Individually, they are Mark Petersen, Helen Dietz, Dale Webber and Cameron Herbert.  They have become our friends – actually, the “have become” is a bit misleading.  The friendship was absolutely instantaneous because that’s just the way these amazing people are.  And, when they come to do a House Concert, they do it all – right down to the set-up, the tear-down, and the dishes! (Not to mention that this time, they moved our piano to vacuum underneath it!  And I got lessons on my new Dell i-pad-like-thingy!)

Moving Furniture

They work together effortlessly (as great teams always do) and by now know exactly which furniture goes out, which gets moved, where the chairs get set up and where the silverware is kept.  Talk about being a hard act to follow…      But, that’s only part of the story.  As hosts, we get to hear their concerts twice – once in rehearsal, and then the real thing.  Plus, they’re likely to burst into song during a conversation or treat us to a favorite just because we mention it.

The ‘entertainment’ goes far beyond what our audiences see.  We get caught up on their latest tours, on the doings of their spouses (or “spice” as Cameron calls them} all of whom we’ve met and feel like we know quite well, indeed!  Ditto the progress of children and grandchildren who we’ve met only through the magic of photographs on i-phones and other magical ‘devices.’

Housecleaning

And speaking of photos – last night we actually took a cruise with Dale and his wife – to Hawaii, Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia and watery spots in between!  (I hope he tells Wife Sally that I have opal envy big time!)  We were still cruisin’ when the others called it a night.  And that’s another thing… they know which lights to put out, where the extra towels are, and how to turn down the heat.

“All that work!” you say!  We are glad to take full credit but, in truth, we don’t understand why more people don’t host House Concerts.  Talk about enriching our lives!  It goes far beyond the music.