The calming presence of music

A scene by Hartland Hill Road in Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

So often, music sends a message to the heart just when we need to hear it. Such was the case this week, when I came across a version of “Simple Gifts” performed by cello master Yo-Yo Ma. His gentle, soulful performance of this song drove home its much-needed message of simplicity over complexity, as shown with the opening verse:

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,

'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,

And when we find ourselves in the place just right,

'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

To me, it was a timely message for today, which invites us to find peace in the simpler things in life, things that goodness and love  guides us to cherish and share. This universal good counters any heavier, more complicated layers of negativity, and any pressure that can overwhelm. Whatever the world may throw our way, it’s still true that cultivating and building our thoughts in the opposite direction — the direction of only good — has a powerful effect on us and those we interact with.  A brief but meaningful message, such as that contained in this song, can be part of that process and can uplift us in any situation. It adds to those lighter, heartfelt layers of inspiration that bring grace into our lives. Grace invigorates us, brings freedom, and allows each of us to have the patience to go forward, letting feelings of burden and heaviness fall away like layers of yesterday's laundry. 

That process is reflected in the tangible harmony of Yo-Yo Ma’s rendition of this beautiful song. After the familiar opening verse, several layers of graceful notes build, and then the performance ends on a simple, fitting note as the perfect conclusion, followed by a tender word of gratitude for the audience. It’s another shared experience, calming the soul as only music can. And I’m grateful to share it with all of you.

— Gareth Henderson

Chester festival returns, adding music and new exhibits

Acoustic trio Moon Hollow, with Tim Cardiello, Charlie Peckar and John Jamison, performs at the Chester Festival on the Green on Saturday. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Reconnecting. It’s been a theme of 2021, and it was certainly happening for those attending the Chester Festival on the Green on Saturday in downtown Chester, Vermont.

The annual two-day festival has made its return after last year’s cancellation due to the pandemic, and it’s got several new features this time around — live music and agricultural exhibits and games, with a hay maze nearby. A variety of food vendors have been added, too. All this brought a big crowd in the mid-morning hours and into the afternoon. 

“I just like the fact that I ran into a bunch of people I haven’t seen for a couple of years,” said Brendan D’Angelo, of Windsor, who was there with some friends Saturday afternoon. 

One of them, Faith Wood, is the bassist with The Break Maids, performing in the music line-up, today, Sept. 19. Wood lives in Chester and was enjoying the atmosphere on the festival’s first day back in 2021. 

“I just love the fact that it’s outside, just a nice walk in a great, little town,” she said. 

The festival has been going for over 40 years, forming an event hub for many crafters and artisans in the region. But this weekend, as people checked out the various vendor booths on the Green and nearby, they’ve heard festival committee member Barre Pinske on his bullhorn, gently reminding people there’s new stuff this time. Saturday brought a great turnout. 

“I believe we killed it,” he said. “It’s been awesome.” 

People check out the various vendor tents in Chester on Saturday. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Pinske said the new additions to the festival were well received. 

“If you drive here or you’re visiting, now you get to experience more things,” he said. 

Ashley Cormack, owner of the Little Art Supply Store downtown, which she just opened on Labor Day, said mid-afternoon Saturday that she’d seen double the amount of cars arriving in town, compared to when she moved here and experienced the festival in 2018. Some of that traffic came into the store as well. 

“We’ve gotten a lot more people than we normally get on a Saturday,” Cormack said. 

Outside, just across the street on the Green, Cormack’s grandmother, Betty Rounds, was doing what she’s done for decades: selling her hand-made sweaters for children and other knitted creations at her tent. She's been knitting since she was a child growing up in Chester, having picked up the skill from her grandparents and her aunt. 

"I guess it’s in the family," she said with a smile, as several customers checked out the items in her tent Saturday afternoon. The crowds were there in droves by late morning, she said. 

Here are some of the sweaters by Betty Rounds, a longtime vendor at Chester’s annual festival. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Some festival-goers enjoyed hanging out and listening to the live music, located behind the Fullerton Inn and Restaurant downtown. The stage was set far back from some bleachers and the lawn, with food and drink offered nearby. In the nearby parking lot, a tractor would occasionally arrive to give wagon rides. 

On Saturday, Royalton-based musician Ali T and her band were providing the musical entertainment in the evening until 8 p.m. She was excited to join her friends on stage, since she usually performs solo. The band includes Bobby Gagnier, Skip Truman and Ed Eastridge — a Grammy award-winning sound engineer.

“It’s a nice opportunity to join my full band for change,” Ali T said, after checking out the hay maze on Saturday. 

The 2021 Chester festival’s final day is today, Sept. 19, with vendors and exhibits going until 4 p.m., and music from noon to 6 p.m. For more information, check out the website. 

— Gareth Henderson

Kids, adults and pets alike enjoyed the new hay maze at the Chester festival. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Venue grants awarded to Pentangle, VINS

A view of the mountains surrounding Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson)

As reopening efforts continue, more financial help is on its way for the many local venues that closed their doors during the pandemic. That’s thanks to the latest round of federal shuttered venue grants. 

Among the 59 Vermont recipients are Pentangle Arts Council in Woodstock, which will get a $96,969 grant, and the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) in Quechee, which was awarded a grant of $248,419. Overall, $18.7 million in grant assistance will go to eligible live music venues, movie theaters, and performing arts organizations in the Green Mountain State.

Alita Wilson, executive director of Pentangle, said the local nonprofit plans to reopen its theater this Saturday for a three-night run of the movie “In the Heights” — the theater had closed in March 2020. Wilson said the federal grant will be a huge help in covering reopening expenses, including the higher wages needed to pay projection staff, after some former employees moved on. 

“We’re thrilled we got this money,” she said.

It also helps add a financial buffer, Wilson added, since it’s not clear how many people will show up or if restrictions may happen again in the future. So far, Vermont officials have kept things as they are — statewide restrictions were lifted in June, including all capacity limits.

As for VINS, the Quechee organization closed for three months in 2020, and went through the winter with all indoor spaces closed. It reopened to full capacity after the state lifted all restrictions last month. Like Pentangle, VINS has used other federal relief, including the paycheck protection loan program, to stay afloat through the many challenges of the past 18 months.

“The whole range of programs designed to help organizations make up for revenue loss have been tremendously helpful,” said Charlie Rattigan, VINS’ executive director. 

With the generosity of many friends and supporters, along with the federal money, Rattigan said VINS was able to avoid layoffs or program cuts. Now, they’re able to run the usual summer schedule of four programs, daily, including camps. 

“It’s fun every day to hear the shouts and laughter of children through the open windows,” Rattigan said. 

Other nearby venues receiving the shuttered venues operators grants (SVOG) include JAG Productions Company, of White River Junction; Northern Stage, of White River Junction; Chandler Center for the Arts, of Randolph; Friends of the Historic Playhouse Theater, of Randolph; and the Paramount Theatre, of Rutland. Click here to access the full list of grantees and amounts.

The support of the Vermont Congressional Delegation was vital to the legislation containing the grants. The money was part of the Save Our Stages Act, which was introduced last year by U.S. Rep. Peter Welch. As chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy played a key role in getting this legislation signed into law and funds appropriated for the grants. In a joint statement, Welch, Leahy and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders noted the importance of these venues to local communities.

“What began as the ‘Save Our Stages’ movement over a year ago, has now materialized into meaningful relief for the venues we know and love,” the delegation said. “Our independent live music and entertainment venues not only bring joy and energy to our downtowns and communities, they are economic engines that help make Vermont such a special place to live and visit.”

— Gareth Henderson

Krishna Guthrie: Honoring legendary roots, and forging his own path

Krishna Guthrie, descendent of American music pioneers Woody and Arlo Guthrie, has forged his own career path in Vermont but also stays close to his roots. (Chris Lillie Photo)

Not surprisingly, Krishna Guthrie’s childhood was steeped in music. He remembers being backstage as a young child, hanging out while his family toured. His famous grandpa, Arlo, would leave the stage briefly after concerts, and come back to be with the fans. 

“The show would finish and he’d walk off-stage and maybe get a beer or something, but then he’d just come back on stage and sit there, and wait and talk with everybody who wanted to have a conversation or get something signed. And me, as a little kid, I loved that, I decided I would do that, too, even though nobody knew who I was. I was like, ‘Does anyone want an autograph from me?’”

Years later, he would join those tours, too, at age 15. Of course Arlo was there, and also Krishna’s dad, Abe — who has been joining Arlo on-stage since his teenage years. 

Fast-forward from there, and today, Krishna, 29, has a growing musical career of his own, but his deep roots running back to the earlier days of folk music are never far behind. Rock, blues and other influences drive the music of his group, the Krishna Guthrie Band, and the Woody Guthrie classic “This Land Is Your Land” shows up, too. Krishna just puts it to a reggae beat, a style that better fits the high-energy rock his band thrives on, and still gets the tune’s hopeful message across. Always a fitting way to wrap up an evening of music. 

“I’ve tried to bring a lot of those songs with me,” Krishna said. “I’m very proud of where I come from.”  

That said, it took a bit of time for young Krishna to get familiar with those substantial family roots. During those long tours, at about age 19, he got curious about what his grandfather was up to when he was his age. Luckily, his grandmother was prolific in taking video footage of the early days of Arlo’s career, which Krishna viewed. There was that awe-struck moment of discovering his family's legendary place in music history. But it also became a calling to carve out his own career from the ground up, rather than follow the footsteps of his world-famous relatives.

"I don't think it's a bad path to follow, by any means, but I don't want to look back one day and say, 'Oh, I play all these theaters just because I'm this guy's grandson, or this guy's great-grandson, or whatever the case may be," Krishna said. 

He has indeed walked a journey all his own. Originally from the small town of Washington, Mass., he played gigs on the side in Massachusetts, while also working at a store. He later accepted an invitation from a friend to play music in Killington, Vermont — that led to Krishna’s decision in 2014 to move to the Green Mountain State, where he’s made a living performing live in southern Vermont and beyond. He would eventually form the Krishna Guthrie Band, teaming up with Bobby Maguire (fiddle), Nicky Fitz (drums), Josh LaFave (bass, vocals) and Josh Cote (guitar, vocals).  

Krishna’s virtuosic guitar skills, wide-ranging solos and bluesy vocals richly express his deep passion for music. Most of his own songs line up with some kind of personal experience, such as “Milfoil Blues”, sparked by his old job uprooting Eurasian milfoil in Addison County’s Lake Dunmore for two summers. Those brutal, eight-hour shifts in scuba gear couldn't be left to the past. 

"It needed a song," as he simply put it. He would spend daytime on the lake, and then perform at night until 2 a.m., followed by a few hours’ rest. It was challenging, but there are worse things, he said. “As far as a day job goes, being on a lake every day isn’t the worst thing in the world.” 

But there are other topics in Krishna’s music, too. 

“I love the idea of alternate realities and questioning what we’re living in,” Krishna said, noting 20-30% of his songs are along that line. For example, “Blue Pill” is based on a central idea from the movie “The Matrix,” where choosing to take a red or blue pill lands an individual either in reality, or a fake simulation blissfully ignorant of the real world.

When performing, Krishna also pays homage to the wider world of rock and blues. At his shows, listeners will find a mix of originals and covers, but they aren’t the covers you might expect — and he brings an original twist to those you would. Case in point: Pink Floyd.

“I do play ‘Breathe’ and ‘Another Brick in the Wall’, but I do it way different than other people do,” he said. 

Now that the region has entered the pandemic recovery phase, more venues — and therefore more gigs — have opened up, and Krishna’s weekends are booked out through July and August. 

“It’s really nice to be able to get out and play again in an almost ‘normal’ world,” he said. “People are very appreciative to have live music back.”

And there’s a festival on the horizon — Krishna and his band will perform at the Mountain Music and Arts Festival in Warren, New Hampshire, on Aug. 14. That performance will come exactly a month after Woody’s birthday, when Krishna took to Facebook, as he often does, to share a tribute to his great-grandfather and his music. The song Krishna played July 14, a Billy Bragg & Wilco tune, "At My Window Sad and Lonely", was written with Woody’s words — out of a treasure-trove of his lyrics discovered some years back. 

Billy Bragg & Wilco crafted many other tunes from Woody’s lyrics, contained in the epic three-volume “Mermaid Avenue”. These songs will keep making appearances at Krishna’s shows, along with his own music and some Guthrie favorites, like “This Land Is Your Land” with its new, lively reggae beat.  

“It’s a nice, light, fun feeling, and just the style conveys the type of message I like to leave: ‘We’re all in this together,’” he said. “It’s kind of an uplifting thing.”

— Gareth Henderson

The omnipresence of music

A field along Route 106 in Weathersfield, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Music is like the abundant goodness in the world: It’s all around and inspires us when we least expect it.

That musical magic came to my virtual doorstep on Thursday afternoon, in the form of a Jakob Dylan song I hadn’t heard before. I’ve been a fan since his famous days as the frontman for The Wallflowers in the 1990s, when a slew of their songs like “One Headlight” and “6th Avenue Heartache” topped the charts. Great songwriting was already in the family, thanks to his dad Bob Dylan, but Jakob also followed his own path — ending up with some real gems during his post-band solo career. 

One of them was “Something Good This Way Comes”, which Jakob wrote in 2008. Perhaps like many who were in high school in Jakob Dylan’s chart-topping days, I lost track of him after the 90s. So, it was a treat to discover this song, with its mellow, laid-back melody and positive message. I was grateful to hear it, as we near the end of a very newsy week which has brought its share of political rumblings and related fears. A simple tune can bring us back to center, and shine a welcome light on the good in this world, giving us hope to face what lies ahead. 

That light, however, is part of a much bigger picture; it’s greater than just a fleeting feeling. When we receive that gentle, calming inspiration from a great piece of art, whatever its form, it’s really part of an ecosystem of reminders telling us about the best parts of life. Like continuous radio signals bringing songs to us, they are everywhere, and always at work. Even when the radio is off, those same ideas are all around us as we look inward and embrace that ever-present goodness and love. They drive progress, and, as we remain open to such moments, they touch the heart with that light of good, and its sweet permanence. As the younger Dylan’s song says, “This kind of day has no night.”

— Gareth Henderson

That musical touch

White, gray and blue grace the sky in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Light, love, harmony, reassurance and, most of all, hope. These form the substance of what we feel when great music sweeps us up in its settling influence, especially when we need to be uplifted. Sometimes, music brings us inspiration when we don’t realize we need it, and it fills up part of our soul.

For me, that unexpected gift appeared when I heard Claude Debussy’s “Clair de lune” on Friday night, for the first time in years. Its soothing, peaceful tones were just the right way to end a long week, and to be more specific, they were also the perfect inspiration for finishing up that night’s post. Though there was no correlation between the music and the words I actually wrote, that musical masterpiece had a calming influence. It helped move me from a space of over-thinking what I was doing, to settling my thought and focusing more on the information I really needed. 

It’s difficult to put a fine point on how music makes us feel, because it’s so profound it often defies definition. Sometimes it spurs us to take some needed action, other times it simply clears the clouds from the sky of our day when we need it most. But we recognize its impact, every time. 

The arrival of that spontaneous inspiration is always a special moment, one that was particularly needed over the past year, when so many were looking for peace. Given that, perhaps we take the positive impact of music a little less for granted now. Its light has shone brightly in recent months and provided a meaningful way to not only feel a stronger sense of calm, but also connect with others in search of it. We’ll always have a need for connection, and music is a powerful way to do just that, being a strong expression of what creativity can accomplish.

Whether old or new, musical creations are a constant gift, and they point to a landscape that’s always evolving and ready for more exploration. The beauty of it is, you never know what will inspire you next. And when we gain that inspiration, we have the opportunity to share it with others who may be in need of its harmony. By doing that, we enhance the pattern of creative continuity and fulfillment we can all access. That’s a true gift.

— Gareth Henderson

Listening to harmony

The Ottauquechee River on a calm late afternoon in Woodstock, Vermont, as seen from the Ottauquechee River Trail. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Writing has the power to transport you to another place. Indeed, the best books we’ve read have done exactly that. 

Of course, the same is true about music and its innate ability to embrace us in harmony, humility and love. I felt that great calm while listening to “Rain Falling From Roof”, a song performed by famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma and his good friend, musician Wu Tong. The video was released in August as part of Yo-Yo Ma’s #SongsOfComfort project, which he launched at the beginning of the pandemic. 

This tune provides comfort in abundance, and beautifully illustrates the sound its title refers to, and the serene stillness those little raindrops inspire. This song, like so many others, shows that music is a warm blanket for the soul. The most inspiring masterpieces never leave you where they found you. They bring peace and imbue moments with a joyful stillness that’s familiar to each of us. It’s fertile soil for inspiration, and impacts our lives for the better. 

Though that stillness can be overshadowed by the busy-ness of life, it’s so worth resisting that pattern. I strive to remember what we’ve learned in recent months, about how the quiet moment is to be welcomed, and most of all cherished. The embrace of the song I’ve mentioned here, was a beautiful series of notes, some of them so simple in their brilliance. But as a whole, they wove a tapestry of sound that couldn’t be ignored. Their presence draws you in, offering the gift of harmony. 

It’s my hope that in the coming months and years, people can increasingly find more such harmony among each other. If we allow for moments and opportunities of discovery, and embrace them, we’ll be welcoming such progress into our lives. And, far above the noise of dissonance or discord, harmony will ring out louder, and allow us to witness our collective goodness more readily.

As Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote, “Music is the universal language of mankind.” Music helps us recognize our shared humanity, and doing that will allow us to make meaningful collective progress as a society. If we strive for that outcome, and cultivate more awareness of the good we share, the results will bless every one of us.

— Gareth Henderson

Healing through music

The majestic winter landscape in Starksboro, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Music has a healing effect, a way of cultivating peace within us. We know what a profoundly beautiful impact music had on a world crying out for some calm over the past year. The gift of song answered that call, and still does.

That's why music is part of the answer as we seek calming, uplifting influences at the end of a week like no other. Part of that reassuring effect is the fact that music unites. The peace, harmony and love it imparts is unconditional — it requires no political party, no race, no other background nor attribute. It spans across the human experience and blesses everyone whose heart it touches, no matter who they are.

Sometimes, the effect of a song can be enhanced by hearing it performed with a new voice, which can be a refreshing experience. Such was the case for me when I recently happened upon a 1976 performance of "Homeward Bound", the famous Simon & Garfunkel tune, sung by George Harrison and Paul Simon on the Saturday Night Live stage. This was a new experience for me, as I hadn't viewed that recording before. But I found the song, with the addition of Harrison's talent, to be comforting, just as it was when I first heard it as a young boy.

Even if some of you have heard this performance before, maybe it can be a calming reminder of not only its inspiration, but also the powerful effect of music in our hearts and in the world. Part of the power of song is its ability to stand in stark contrast to unrest, discord, and especially hate. Its beauty starts from a shared place, a place where our common humanity thrives in the joy we all feel from an inspiring song that renews our soul.

From that shared experience, music helps us recognize the potential for productive connections and powerful work that can elevate mankind's progress. Joy is an essential ingredient in that impact, because it makes us look up to the light, and helps us see our abundant potential, far above any discord in life.

Music is a lasting, positive influence that brings us together, even amid severe challenges and times of fear. It's a resource that helps us cut through the fog, dissolve tensions, and lovingly see each other through what we have in common. That starting point gives us hope, and can reveal the possibilities of what we can build together.

— Gareth Henderson

Giving the gift of music

Caroline Spencer plays her trumpet for the community on Wednesday evening, as she does each week in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

After teaching herself how to play the trumpet, Caroline Spencer is giving that gift to her community every week. 

Each Wednesday at 6 p.m., you can hear Spencer's trumpet echoing across the village, from the steps of the Norman Williams Public Library in Woodstock, Vermont. People stop often to hear the music, saying it uplifts them, and that's the whole point. 

"It's a little gift I can give, for whoever's around," she said. 

Spencer, who lives in Woodstock, said people can use some joy, especially given the stressful time many are having in the world today. 

"It's so difficult for all of us, no matter what," she said of the current state of the world. "If I can do something that makes somebody happy, that's good."

This routine began after Meg Brazill, who works at the library, suggested that Spencer play her trumpet out on the steps at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays, when the Woodstock Farmers Market on the Green and the library both close. It so happened the first day she played was 9/11. The day carries great personal meaning for Spencer, as both she and her partner, Bob Burchess, know people who died in the 9/11 attacks in New York City. Furthermore, Spencer grew up there. 

And so, she opted to play “Taps” that first day, and now, during each weekly performance, she offers “Taps” and one other tune. She recently played "We Shall Overcome" and "Let My People Go" — selected to highlight the need for social justice.

"Love and inclusiveness is the bottom line," she said. 

On Wednesday this week, she fittingly went with a fall theme on that sunny October day: "Autumn Leaves".

The interest in the trumpet began earlier this year. Spencer, a longtime musician, said she can no longer play the keyboard or violin due to arthritis, so she taught herself how to play the trumpet over the summer. 

"I'm left with three valves and three fingers, so it's easier to do," she said. 

She doesn't plan to leave her new gift at the library steps, either. Spencer said she's happy to drive to someone's home and play them a tune outside, or over the phone.

“Anything anyone wants to hear, I’m happy to play it, as long as I’ve heard it.”

And it doesn't have to be on Wednesday, she noted. Spencer added she won’t take any payment, because the joy of giving is compensation enough.

"I don't want any money," she said. "All I want is to be able to give a gift back."  

Spencer, 79, said she's going to keep on learning new things, as well, and she hopes this story inspires others to “start something new and bring joy.”

"I'm almost 80 years old, and I've got plans for the next 20." 

— Gareth Henderson 

Concert series to begin in July

Burlington-based trio Pete’s Posse will kick off Pentangle Arts’ “Music by the River” summer concert series at the North Chapel’s back lawn on July 24. From left are Pete Sutherland, Oliver Scanlon and Tristan Henderson of Pete’s Posse. (Photo Provided)

Amid a year of constant change, Pentangle Arts in Woodstock, Vermont, just confirmed its summer concert series will begin later this month. 

It was exciting news, following a springtime that saw the schedule wiped clean due to the pandemic. 

"It feels really good to have some programming, I can tell you that," said Alita Wilson, Pentangle's executive director. "Any opportunity to support artists and present entertainment to our community and visitors is welcome."   

The weekly concerts are in partnership with the North Chapel, which will still be hosting the series on its back lawn at 5:30 p.m. The line-up for 2020: Pete's Posse on July 24; Interplay Jazz on July 31; Emerald Rae on Aug. 7; VSO's Jukebox Quartet on Aug. 14; and Jay Nash on Aug. 21. 

"I think it's a good representation of Vermont artists," Wilson said, noting the addition of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra's Jukebox Quartet this year.  "I'm thrilled to have them; it's classical with a twist." 

Wilson said she's looking for some clarification from the state on what the mask requirement will be, since a number of patrons usually bring something to eat. She said there will be social distancing, with groups asked to enter the event six feet apart. Wilson said there will be sufficient distance between the performers and the audience, as well. 

"We will ask when patrons leave, that they put their masks back on," she said. There will be no tables at the concerts, and no food served. 

Despite the changes, Wilson is just glad to have this series going forward, noting how important it is to support the musicians. 

"This is going to be part of our new world, trying to support our local artists in our state, so they can get their feet underneath them and have the opportunity to perform," she said.   

Throughout that very long, difficult springtime we had, music and the outdoors are two things that gave people a sense of peace, and continue to do so. This series combines them, and people are sure to love the opportunity to enjoy both. 

This welcome news follows several statewide reopenings connected with outdoor fun in the warmer weather — still a very attractive notion after those many weeks stuck at home.  On Monday, Vermont cleared playgrounds to reopen amid guidelines such as six feet of social distancing. State parks reopened Friday. 

For more information about "Music by the River", go to www.pentanglearts.org or send an email to info@pentanglearts.org. 

— Gareth Henderson