After the Cowboy Breakfast
Yesterday was nigh unto perfect as far as I’m concerned. In the morning it was the Cowboy Breakfast at the Red Barn Arena. In the afternoon it was Vespers at the Oysterville Church. In the evening it was a walk through town and, later, conversations by lamplight until way past my bedtime. All-in-all, a lovely laid back day spent with four friends from Portland – Mark, Helen, Dale, and Cameron who, collectively and musically, are the Rose City Mixed Quartet.
They have sung and performed together for twenty-one years. They’ve done road tours from America’s heartland to the cities of Europe and have bolstered and sustained one another through every circumstance imaginable. I love hearing their stories and am amazed to realize that we’ve known them for almost ten of those musical years! Their first House Concert here in our own little corner was back in December 2007.
Mark’s Selfie with Dale, Sydney, Nyel, Helen, Cameron, Carol and Tucker
Yesterday’s highlight, of course, was their stunning performance at Vespers – mostly sacred music, mostly familiar, all showing off the little church’s possibilities to absolute perfection. No one has ever adequately explained to me why the acoustics are so heavenly in that particular space, but it took no words at all for yesterday’s congregation to understand that the acapella voices of the RCQM and that old-fashioned, wooden structure were a flawless match.
Thank goodness that Mark took photographs. I was too busy enjoying myself to do any documentation. And, anyway, I’ve never been good at capturing contentment and laughter and awe on film. Enough that we can tuck the weekend away in our treasure trove of memories and be thankful for the promise of ‘next time.’
So sorry to have missed Vespers, but having seen the Rose City Quartet in action, I can imagine!