Delights: August 7 to August 13

August 7: I’d heard a concertina before but didn’t know its name. I’d seen a concertina before, but couldn’t place its sound. This gap was filled last week during my Gregorian Chant retreat.

To our retreat’s delight, one of our supremely gifted sopranos — who is also a harpist — offered an evening concert of instrumental music. She was joined by her husband — who had traveled four hours for this purpose — and his concertina, among other instruments. For over an hour, in the dimmed chapel still resonant with the monks’ chants, they performed medieval dances, Irish folk songs and a few contemporary pieces. 

In addition to playing his own harp, a whistle and that concertina, her husband played the organetto. As its name suggests, an organetto consists of pipes and a keyboard, along with hand bellows. Playing this instrument requires not only musical artistry (right hand) but also bicep strength (left hand).

After giving us a closer look at the instrument, the soprano’s husband quipped, “Sure, in old paintings, you’ll see angels hovering in the sky while playing organettos; they’d need plenty of divine assistance for that trick.”

Bonus: Despite consulting The Last Museum, I couldn’t find a painting of an angel playing an organetto. But I found one on the Met’s website of angels playing a harp (right) and a clavicytherium (left), both of which the soprano played. I learned that a clavicytherium is essentially a vertical harpsichord. Her instrument was made by the same contemporary craftsman who made her husband’s organetto.

August 8: Home again, I spent Saturday afternoon running errands in the midst of back-to-school shopping, long lines and full shopping baskets. I had only a handful of items and my Gregorian chants. I was surprisingly content.

Bonus: Yippee! Kevin joined me for a Washington Nationals game on Saturday night. Kevin attends one baseball game a year, so I’m doubly delighted that the Nats summoned a win for him.

August 9: I burned a lot of energy during my Gregorian Chant retreat. I rushed to four Liturgies of the Hours each day. I scurried to class, where I tried very hard to find my voice. I tilted my laptop at all angles, up and down stairwells and through hallways, searching for an internet signal to post my blog. I walked in the rain to the Shenandoah River and pondered the perils of country life to a city girl like me.

And, yeah, I attended a whole bunch of 3:30 am Vigils.

So, I needed another retreat. I arrived this afternoon at the Bon Secours Retreat & Conference Center, where I will begin my annual silent retreat. Effort is not on the agenda. 

August 10: That sputtering you hear is my car … running …. out …… of …….. gas.

During my silent retreat, I will refill my tank. In this beautiful place, I’ll read neglected texts, ponder incomplete thoughts, and allow my mind to go blank. 

I also won’t have a lot to say. 

Enjoy the silence with me.

August 11-August 13: [      ]

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