Saturday, March 17, 2012

FANGIRLING!!!


Fangirling!!!

A wonderful new word. Denotes exactly what it says. Fans who are mostly female swarming around the hapless artist, usually a musician, like ravenous wild things around Max "gnashing their terrible teeth and rolling their terrible eyes". Actually it is not quite this bad. Most people that wait at the end of the concerts to greet the artist will preserve a modicum of respect. There are couples, usually the lady pulling on her partner to approach the target. Younger people, alone or in couples, enthusiastically bringing CD's and magazines or programs to be signed by the accommodating artist, and some gay garçons, eager to converse and deliver their words of admiration . Who knows? Then the mommies and grandmommies who usually fall speechless in the face of so much artistic beauty especially if the artist is young and hot. Ah me,  we women have tender loving hearts! As well as nurturing instincts which make us bring all sorts of gifts, practical and not so much, from chocolates, wine, little souvenirs, to articles of clothing and musical scores.  
Leave it to the pauvre artiste to figure out what to do with such largesse. Take it home?? How much over the luggage limit will it be? Leave it in the hotel? Flowers won't last so long but they will be perfect for a few days….And we will not mention what thoughts will go through the star's mind when full sets of warm clothes find their way to his/her green room. Scary thoughts of having been claimed for adoption immediately by these loving ladies.
Fangirling. Madonna mia. In my very mature years I can boast I played the fangirl game, I lined up, I bought thoughtful presents, I carried flowers and chocolates and books all for the little flash in the eyes of the idol and the words, "Oh, for me? It is like Xmas!!" plus a kiss and a photo. And that was it. 
Fangirling. Playing the game. Feeling young and embarrassed even if one has 7 grandkids. I have successfully reverted to my adolescence and relived the horrible nervousness, racing heart, stammering tongue, blushing like a Juan Fernandez boiled lobster, knees trembling and blood pressure dangerously at stratospheric heights.
Fangirling indeed. Done the deed we leave feeling we "should have said" and "why did I say" and "oh no, I forgot to say"….until the next time. I have to space fangirling a bit in my case as I do want to last a little more. But I have a nice feeling of I DID IT!! HOW COOL!

Jordi Savall in Miami


I admire Maestro Savall. His dignity and presence on stage always reminds me of another time and place, a much earlier century, old Spain perhaps, and he carries this solemnity with him.
Jordi Savall and his ensemble teamed with a mexican baroque group called Tembembe and made sparks fly in the beautiful First Methodist CHurch in Miami. The program started with some"Folias Antiguas" and improvisations , some pasamezzos by Diego Ortiz (1510) and some pieces from the "Cancionero Musical de Palazio " by Juan del Enzina (1468) The Fandango "son" born in the 17 c is a passionate mixture of mexican and caribbean and famous for its strumming. All in all it was a jewel and Maestro Savall excelled in his improvising and incredibly virtuosic technique. He also dedicated some slow solos to his wife Montserrat Fiqueras who dies last November. Sponsored by the Miami Bach Society where I am a contributor, and the zspanish Consulate, it was really well attended. I love people at concerts where everyone is united by their common love for music and the "bravos" and applause were enthusiastic. This concert's emphasis was not so much on South America as Los Pajaros Perdidos but on Central America and the interaction with Iberian early music. Jordi Savall totally rocked!!!