Big Sur
Recently I visited the Emile Norman House in Big Sur. I’ve been to Big Sur before, but not in many years. It is astoundingly, overwhelmingly beautiful. I spent three wonderful days hiking around and playing recorder and organ.
The Emile Norman House itself is an intense sensory experience. Emile Norman was a visual artist who spent over 60 years in Big Sur creating hundreds of sculptures, many of which are still in the house, which he built with his partner Brooks. They were avid musicians. I’ve never stayed in a place with an organ or worked a regular church job, so this was a real thrill for me. They also have a piano.
While I was there I felt compelled to play Mamoru Fujieda’s Pattern of Plants, which he created partly by recording electrical impulses on the surface of plants. Surrounded by Big Sur’s natural beauty and Emile’s art which drew from it, I couldn’t help but feel close to our little green friends.
Every night I woke around 3am to enjoy the full moon.
I also played Fujieda on organ, with varying degrees of success. If I get to go again, I hope I can borrow an adjustable bench. It was challenging for my short legs to reach the full span of the pedals. I loved experimenting with all of the stops and trying to learn pedaling.
The Emile Norman House itself is an intense sensory experience. Emile Norman was a visual artist who spent over 60 years in Big Sur creating hundreds of sculptures, many of which are still in the house, which he built with his partner Brooks. They were avid musicians. I’ve never stayed in a place with an organ or worked a regular church job, so this was a real thrill for me. They also have a piano.
While I was there I felt compelled to play Mamoru Fujieda’s Pattern of Plants, which he created partly by recording electrical impulses on the surface of plants. Surrounded by Big Sur’s natural beauty and Emile’s art which drew from it, I couldn’t help but feel close to our little green friends.
Every night I woke around 3am to enjoy the full moon.
I also played Fujieda on organ, with varying degrees of success. If I get to go again, I hope I can borrow an adjustable bench. It was challenging for my short legs to reach the full span of the pedals. I loved experimenting with all of the stops and trying to learn pedaling.
The caretaker Cory worked very hard clearing brush from around the house during my visit. Like many places in California, Big Sur is vulnerable to wildfire. Highway 1, the only way into the region, was closed south of Big Sur that week. The remoteness of the area and extreme loveliness of the surroundings make it a very special place, even more so being in an artist’s house who clearly had so much love for the land and music. I am very grateful to have been there.
Of course there was time for silliness, too, in the form of recorder glissandos. My husband had a birthday while I was away. Please enjoy this multimodal masterpiece.
Of course there was time for silliness, too, in the form of recorder glissandos. My husband had a birthday while I was away. Please enjoy this multimodal masterpiece.
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