Harvest

It’s taken me a little while to fully realize what we achieved with our first live performances Sept. 8-11. I hope that, if you were able to attend, the experience has stayed with you as well. My sincerest thanks to everyone who helped make it possible.

I’ve been calling upon imagery of plants and growth throughout the summer, and as the musicians of Arpeggione finally gathered for rehearsals at Manship Artists Residency I found myself thinking about the idea of Harvest. But I could not have foreseen just how transformative the week of residency at Manship and performances at Starfield and Long Hill would be.

Looking back on what we achieved, I realize that Harvest is really about transformation – not as much about the seeds and roots and growth that came before, but more about being in the moment as we move from one season into the next.

All musicians (and performing artists, and athletes) know the rewards of working towards a particularly intense performance. The preparation is arduous, but if you have done it well the act of performing is life-changing: raising you to a new level and giving perspective to see the next goal ahead. The Harvest is like that – the hard work through the growing season, the intensity of the harvest itself, and then the sudden leap into the unknown of the changing season. At Arpeggione, we now see more distinctly where we want to go. That includes making space to challenge ourselves musically and personally, to discover and explore new ideas and connections within our repertoire, and to perform wherever the power of music is needed the most.

Our very first live performance was on September 8th for the residents at Harborlight House, a low-income assisted living facility in Beverly. Playing for such an appreciative audience deepened our personal connection to the music, and the people we perform for.

One woman, both moved and eager to talk after the concert, told us “When I’m ready to go, I want to learn to play the violin.”

I had to try hard not to tear up. Her attitude of not only looking beyond the next step, but looking forward to the ways we might change and transform once beyond it, was both the most fitting reaction and a gift: What inspired Thomas and me to create Arpeggione was our shared desire to never stop learning, never settle for what is expected or comfortable, and to make deep connections within our community.

We are so excited for our next concerts, and to continue our outreach programs. Like any performing arts organization, ticket sales cover only a portion of our operating costs, and we rely on generous individual contributions as well as support from organizations such as Volunteer Musicians for the Arts and other grantmakers to make our programming possible. Help us bring delightful, surprising, boundary-expanding, and historically-informed performances to the North Shore, wherever music is needed. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today to allow us to continue our journey as we plan for future harvests for years to come.

Arpeggione is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the charitable purposes of Arpeggione must be made payable to “Fractured Atlas” only and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.