One magical night in Poland ......

[ConnieK..]

Picture an ancient church, the spire reaching toward the sky, domes green with the wear and tear of many years. It is very cold, the wind howling through the market square of Krakow and down the street. Old town is grey and dark, the sun has set hours ago and the cold winter night makes the city seem weary and old. You climb the steps of the Church of St Peter and St Paul, through the wrought iron gate and cross the cobbled courtyard. Pushing down on the ancient iron lock you swing the door in and step down onto marble tiles in a small foyer, the surrounds are glass and wood and through them you see a magnificent sight. The altar is covered in gold and latin plaques adorn it, in the dome above individually framed marble releif work depicts biblical moments. A giant chandeleir hangs from the 60ft ceiling and smaller versions line the walls. You walk gingerly along the cracked marble tiles, on your left and right vestibules off the main aisle hold statues and works of art from long gone artists, crypts with black marble markers are spaced along the white stucco walls and Polish names and prayers flow across them. You reach the knave and look up - above you the spire reaches toward the sky and the ceiling follows, 100ft into the air the glass roof shows the dark star-less night. Inside the dome cherubs sporting gold adornments frolic in marble and plaster, their toes dipping into the air above your head. It is silent and still and you move to a well worn wooden pew and sit to ponder the false beauty in such a place. Across the floor a seated statue of a long gone pope offers his right hand in blessing while above his left shoulder the virgin mother cradles the saviour of man in a pastel fresco on the wall, surrounded by a flowing edifice of black marble and gold plating. The opulence of the interior a stark contrast to the drab grey walls and seemingly neglected exterior.

Slowly the pews beside and in front of you fill with other curious spectators, their movements subdued by the atmosphere, shuffling into seats, heads bowed, voices hushed into whispers. A bustle of activity in front of the alter heralds the start of the evening as 2 violinists, a violist, a cellist and a double bassist fill the folding chairs set up on the red carpet mat over the marble. The crowd holds a collective breath as the musicians raise bows and the first notes of Pachelbel's Canon swell to fill the spaces of the church. The violinists move in time with their bows and the cellist has his eyes closed, his body swaying back and forth with each note. The deep resonance of the double base creeps along under the music and floats above the marble in a constant rhythm. At the end of the peice the crowd erupts into applause and the musicians bow politely, smiling at you like a parent at a child who refused to beleive. They have performed here many times and you doubted the acoustics, they are now watching you acknowledge their choice. You sit entranced as the musicians enthrall the crowd with Chopin's Nocturne Es-dur and Mozart's Divermento F-dur no 3. Suddenly they stand and exit the church, only one chair is moved forward under the knave and only the cellist returns.

He sits, bows his head and leans the Cello into his neck, his thin white fingers grasping the handle. He raises the bow and the first notes of Bach's prelude from suite no 1 for Cello solo begin. You see him swaying, eyes closed, feeling the music, the notes are drawn from the instrument and thrown into the spaces of the church, they float around you, each one drawn equisitely, each one a perfect compliment to the other. His fingers constantly move on the strings, trembling and holding each dying note for the birth of the next. You want to cry, the sweet ecstacy of this experience moving you more than any of the gold artifices adorning the walls. When the peice is over the crowd applauds enthusiastically, but it doesn't seem enough, you want to spring to your feet and drop to your knees at the same time. The other musicians return and play through more Chopin, Mozart and Albinoni, but for you the Cello solo still plays under each one and your ears yearn for the notes. The musicians leave, returning to play "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" as the finale and then all is quiet. The people begin to shuffle out and still you sit, wondering how you could possibly express this experience in words and bring it to life for someone else. Finally you exit the church into the freezing air, drawing the memory of this magical night around you like a cloak you walk through a city where the composers drew inspiration and feel now a sense of awe. But it's still bloody cold!

Just wanted to share some of my trip guys

[asy]

Originally Posted by ConnieK

you sit, wondering how you could possibly express this experience in words and bring it to life for someone else

Dunno, I think you did a pretty darned good job...

Thank you for sharing it, must have been magnificent. One of my regrets is that I didn't have more time in Poland, just one day in Warsaw, didn't get anywhere near what I wanted to seen...

Still, I guess it's not going anywhere

I'll get there one day.

Djenkuye...

asy

[sundaymorningstaple]

I though I was reading the prelude to a masterful novel that I hadn't heard about! Fantastic writing Connie. The mental pictures you are capable of creating are amazing to say the least. You could/should become a writer with your gift.

[ConnieK..]

Awww thanks guys. I try

Will have to post some more later about the christmas lights in Paris tonight - Cest Magnifique!

Connie

[cmc]

Connie, like you I too had that very same experience.
There were 5 musicians in the one I saw, without re-counting your mentions of musicians I believe we were at the same place however when I was there it was snowing.
The amber glow of the lights at night on the snow was amazing which I had almost forgotten about when I left the church.. I had just gotten into the music that much.. but was quickly reminded by the cold and the snow which fell on me on my walk back to my hostel.

Please tell me you enjoyed some of the traditional pierogi? I had it for dinner the night before the orchestra... Was a wonderful night.

Carla.

[ConnieK..]

Ohh Carla ....

My mother in Law is polish ....... I have had peirogi many times LOL

Connie

[asy]

Hmmm... I'm having Pierogi at Xmas...

Going home to Mum's in Melbourne!

YAY!

asy