When my phone rang this morning with the caller being a friend from Bar Harbor, Maine, where I had performed countless times with conductor Shirley Smith, I knew what news might be coming. Shirley had died yesterday. A large Maine coast ocean wave of sadness washed over me.
Shirley…..how does one describe Shirley Smith? Down home, no nonsense, wore jeans, t shirts
and sneakers to rehearsal, rugged enough to survive numerous brutal Maine winters and damaging ice storms,
honest, sentimental, lover of dogs, a good musician and organist, a good
conductor, crazy sense of humor whose contagious laughter sent sparks of delight
through a room. For 23 years she led the
Acadia Choral Society in programs from the Mozart “Requiem,” Verdi’s “Requiem,” opera choruses, Purcell’s “Ode
on St. Cecilia,” a staged version of “Dido and Aeneas,” Brahms’ “Requiem,”
creative Holiday programs and much more.
Her chorus was always well prepared and her orchestras and accompanists
willing and able to make music.
Music….that was what Shirley could do….make music through
her skills, love of music and comradery.
Her goals were always to make great music, to enjoy making music, taking
the pressure off oneself to have fun.
Her chorus, orchestras, soloists rose to the occasion for concerts with audience
members capturing the enthusiasm from all of us led by ... Shirley Smith. The after concert parties held at chorus
members’ homes would find Shirley enjoying a beer, laughing and sharing in the
musical high we had created a few hours earlier.
My first performance with the Acadia Choral Society was singing
Purcell’s “Ode on Saint Cecelia.” It
became evident from our first rehearsal that Shirley and I shared the same sense
of humor. From then on let the jokes, sometimes
pranks, flow with one of us topping the other!
Trumpets – yes, trumpets became the center piece of our pranks. Just
know, we howled with laughter.
I looked forward to learning from her as she pointed out details
in a score or sharing why a composer’s life experience had made that particular
moment happen in the music. She would stop to
ask me why or how I chose to interpret something never finding fault but
learning another way to approach music. This
was musical comradery and admiration.
After one concert I mentioned to Shirley that I would love
an opportunity to sing the Verdi “Requiem.”
She listened, said not a word.
Two years later I received a call that she had programmed the “Requiem”
and invited me to be the mezzo soloist. Arriving
a few days before the concert, magical rehearsals with sympathetic colleague
soloists, the chorus and orchestra made that glorious music come alive in performances. Forever in my heart’s memory will be Shirley drenched
in sweat letting that hushed ending echo through the church. She stood absolutely still allowing the moment
of silence ... to be.
After Shirley retired from the Acadia Choral Society, we stayed
in touch speaking every 3 to 4 weeks.
We shared a love for nature with Shirley giving us a “critter” report
from her home in the country. The
occasional bear sauntered through her yard during the summer, deer appeared
year round, a red fox visited and every variety of birds ate at her feeders. Living in the country suited Shirley. She hated cities with all the crowding and
cars. She did make two trips to attend
the Metropolitan Opera for a performance of “Don Giovanni” and “Orfeo ed Euridice.” She loved the performances but hurried back
to her beloved Maine.
After much teasing from Dan to at least consider him for a
soloist position, at an after party she made Dan “audition” for her. Poor Dan taken by surprise sang a little
Mozart melody he knew….he didn’t know the words just the melody. Great roars of laughter and Dan came to
realize….he wasn’t going to be hired as soloist!
Sadly Shirley’s faltering memory became her daily
existence and our phone calls ceased. I
missed our conversations.
Well, Shirley……….job well done, you lived a long, meaningful
life that touched the hearts of many of us. I will always see your smile, hear your
laughter, holding forever in my heart the music we made in Bar Harbor,
Maine. Oh, by the way, I hope you are hearing trumpets....the ones with the mouthpieces properly attached! RIP, my friend.
