Amazing things always occur when the Rose City Mixed Quartet comes to town and their current visit is no exception. Mark Petersen, Cameron Herbert, Dale Webber and Helen Deitz arrived Saturday afternoon to spend the weekend with us and do a House Concert here Sunday evening. The hours have been packed with music, laughter, and serendipity.
That doesn’t surprise us. We met by chance four or five years ago outside the Liberty Theater in Astoria. It was rainy and cold and the doors were late opening. As the crowd grew restless, four people moved toward the doors, turned toward the huddled masses, and burst into song!
“Would you consider a House Concert in Oysterville?” I couldn’t resist asking later.
“Oysterville? I helped build a house there a few years back!” said one of the men who turned out to be Mark. And so our association and our friendship began. I think yesterday’s concert was the third (fourth?) they have done at our house, plus a Vespers (or two?) at the Oysterville Church.
Saturday night they treated us to dinner at Jimella’s Market Café. When we arrived, only one other couple was there and, wouldn’t you know – hugs all around. It was the former director of the Portland Symphonic Choir to which each of the RCMQ not only belongs but has awesome responsibilities. Later, at Jimella’s suggestion, they sang a song or two.
“It’s what we do best,” was Dale’s comment. “Drive-by singing!”
Yesterday we went to Bailey’s Café for lunch where they again sang a few Christmas carols. This time there was quite an audience and, between numbers, a moment of recognition. “I think we’ve been in your house!” said Mark. “I think you have, too,” said Sharon VanHeuit, “back in 1993 at a reception for Water Music Performers…”
And so it went. Perhaps the biggest coincidence of all involved the lions guarding the gates to Leadbetter Farms. Back in August of 2010, the Quartet arrived on a warm, drippy day laden with snow clothes. They headed out Stackpole Road to pose for a photograph that would become the cover – with a little snowy help from Photoshop – for their upcoming (and now available) Christmas album.
So a few weeks ago, Annie Daniels, the artisan-in-residence behind those impressive gates, walked into the Portland shop where Cameron works. One thing led to another and all of us were invited for a tour of the property and its buildings. That’s where we spent Saturday morning. It was an amazing, magical experience and deserves a blog (or ten) all to itself.
Last night Annie and her partner, Debra Olson, were in the audience at our House Concert – yet another RCMQ serendipitous experience and, we hope, the beginning of another friendship. Oh yes, and it turns out that they have recently moved into the old Dr. and Val Campiche house in Seaview – a house we once knew well.
Oh, and did I mention that during one of their early visits with us, the discovery was made that our friend Barbara Poulshock had been Cameron’s teacher at PLU? It had been many years since they had seen one another and when they reconnected Barbara said, “I didn’t really remember the name, but when she sang I knew her instantly.”
When it comes to the world of the Rose City Mixed Quartet, it does, indeed, get smaller and smaller.
Since I could not attend this year, I am glad I have the lovely memory of last year!