I found a record shop in Waterville, Maine. I found it online. Waterville is a far drive from Boothbay, about an hour and 15. Something drew me to this record shop. I’m not sure what or why. I liked the description and figured I could give up a drive to investigate and remove the urge to travel to Waterville. I called first to ensure the place was in existence and would be open when I arrived. First I had to go to Union, Maine to Mark’s Imports to get the engine light code deciphered and plan a repair if necessary. I arrived in Waterville near 2 P.M.
The record shop is housed in an older building that was probably a home of combination residence/business at one time. The man at the counter was playing cribbage with another gentleman who was on the outside of the counter. They directed me to the back of the store to where the used vinyl LPs were stored. The place was amazing! Tables loaded with cases filled neatly with compact discs and larger ones filled with LPs. I noticed the prices on the LPs were kind of high (for me); $15 to $20 each. I continued to the rear of the store and found all LPs stored there. Rows and rows of older music and there was what I was interested in; the classical music section. I first checked the prices and they were all listed at $2.95! Kowabunga!
There were four rows of classical albums each consisting of about fifty or sixty records. I noticed right away the neatness of the displays and the excellent packaging. Each album had a plastic sleeve outside, then the album cover and inside the cover the disc had its own dust sleeve. I pulled the first record and examine the surface. The record surface was shiny, black, and without blemish. I was impressed totally. Each record I considered buying i examined with identical results. I ended up choosing five albums of Mozart, one of Brahms, and one of Sibelius. I paid $22 for the seven!
The prize for me on this foray is the Sibelius symphony number 5 Op 82, the third movement. I first heard this piece in the summer of 1979 when I was madly in love with a beautiful beach girl in Solana Beach, California. We spent the summer together and in the fall I was transferred to New York and things fell apart. My beautiful beach girl and I would meditate each morning to the third movement.
Here is a description of the third movement. (I lose it when the trombones and horns come in. I imagine I am the horns joining the human race for the first time at the age of 38 years old. That is when I got sober and began paying attention.)
Third movement (from Wikipedia)
“This movement begins with a rapid melody in the strings, played tremolando. After this is developed, a swaying, triple-time motif begins in the horns, which is said to have been inspired by the sound of swan-calls, as well as a specific instance when the composer witnessed 16 of them taking flight at once.[8] Over this, Sibelius has the flutes and strings play one of his most famous melodies. Both this and the motif are developed, until in the final section the motif returns majestically in the home key. The symphony ends with one of Sibelius’s most original ideas (and one not included in the original version): the six staggered chords of the final cadence, each separated by silence.”
Here is a link to the symphony on YouTube.
Go to 22.35 to begin the third movement. I will sit with you and listen and weep still.
Playing Fair and Being Kind 