ED HENRY: Encounter of The Third Kind - Flavio Sala in Reisterstown, Maryland

Flavio Sala (Bojano, Italy) at Temple Emanuel in Reisterstown, Md. 13 December 2014

15 December 2014
Reisterstown, Maryland

      Children are so funny. They can be brilliantly honest or so far out in left field in their thinking that as an adult you have to shake your head in wonder. I have witnesses to this event I'm about to relate, so rest assured I'm not making this up. Again, it reinforces in me the distrust I have for any adult or parent I hear use the over-worn phrase, "Children are so smart nowadays!"

      Only a few people know I'm a calligrapher. It's a hobby. It's me making the rebellious statement that in an increasing world of technology there is still an old and artistic way of producing something timeless and beautiful. For a few years I was tasked to take my pens and inks to a basket-ball free throw competition at a local church gymnasium. As the kids progressed through the competition I would have to sit there and hand-letter 60 or 70 very nicely printed completion certificates. Since we didn't know who the winners would be, it was the only way to assure that we got the right names on the right certificates. So I mastered a quick way of doing it, and the more I did it the easier it got. I was utilizing the French Humanist form because of the flow and rapidity required. The children came in groups of two's and three's by age. I'm whipping through the certificates asking name spellings, laying them aside so the ink can dry, like a drill sergeant moving along with a battalion of Marines. I barely looked up from my work and I'm still trying to have conversations with some of the adults next to me. I had to work on an old gymnasium bench; not the best of places to be handling Renaissance-styled calligraphy. The children watched me work; fascinated that pen and ink could still be used in such a fashion. Three 10-year old girls were right in front of me. I could hear them having a disagreement:
"Look how he does that!" one said.
"He's not really doing it." said the other.
"Yes he is. I've seen my teacher write like that!" the first one said.
" You're wrong! It's not really him. It's the Pen!" said the other.
We adults laughed. It broke up the monotony of the day and eased the pain in my cramped fingers. The beauty of pure statements coming out of children's misdirected thought processes and total lack of reasoning.

      You know by now that crazy thoughts and memories like this go through my brain while I'm being transported through other worlds. I'm at my third Flavio Sala performance in Reisterstown, Maryland. The concert is nearly ended and Terry Mandell, one of the concert directors is asking Flavio Sala to talk a little bit about the unique, one and only, guitar he had been playing all evening. The guitar was made by Master Luthier Camillo Perrella of Bojano, Italy, which also happens to be Flavio Sala's hometown. Flavio tried to turn his attention to the work of Camillo Perrella, the intricacies and artistry of turning wood into a world-class musical instrument, the science of sound, acoustical properties, it was all a bit too much to explain in a few minutes after completing a rigorous and exhausting 2-hours of playing classical guitar and then in the second set, introducing works from his upcoming 'discographical' project. I could see some looks on people's faces in the audience; non-musicians and non-acoustical science types who were probably thinking, "It's not him. It's that fantastic guitar!" They laughed. They applauded. They stood three times and delivered three ovations. With a chuckle, Flavio stated, "I'm really tired!" and left the performance area. Give him a break. Let him rest. He floated out of the main auditorium area while the crowd gathered for snacks and drinks and there was a hub-bub of excitement in the room. Flavio would be back to meet-and-greet and sign autographs. Performing causes a natural adrenalin rush (only when it's done right; only when it's done well) and I could see that look on Flavio's face when he graciously and humorously excused himself. Let him rest. Let him catch his breath.

      As beautiful as it is, as perfect as it is in its harmonics and acoustical quality, the Camillo Perrella Guitar is nothing more than a pretty piece of wood-sculpture unless it's in the hands of a master. I've had the "Flavio Sala Experience" now for three concerts and I can more easily focus on audience reaction to what guitar and master can produce in a matter of two performance sets. I've learned by now to expect more than a few surprises at any Flavio Sala concert experience. On this particular evening at Temple Emanuel, Flavio executed his per usual first set of classical selections with flawless enthusiasm. I need to add that he garnered excellent audio assistance from Randy Goldberg who was running the sound system. The temple is basically a huge, open space with a flat, back wall of windows and could have been an acoustical nightmare. Flavio can spend up to an hour before each performance perfecting the range of that beautiful piece of wood sculpture. I'm fortunate to be able to sit quietly and listen to every note, every nuance, as Flavio works with his sound engineers to get the perfect quality that he wants. Once maintained, there is no going back, no interruptions, no changes. He and the sound techs get it done once and then the guitar mastery takes off like a rocket ship.

Flavio's normal first set is comprised of selections from Fernando Sor, Bach, Chopin, Rodrigo Riera, Vincente Ascencio, and a host of others. Tonight's presentation of Ignacio Figueredo's "Los Caujaritos" was especially memorable for it's fire and passion. He ended the set with an homage to Carlos Santana's "Europa" which is one Flavio's most frequently selected songs on YouTube. The reason for the concert was the second set; devoted to introducing and show-casing selections soon to be available by signing up on Flavio's website. The "discographical project" - Mi Guitarra y Mis Amores - will be, as Flavio Sala announced, "A Gift to all my fans. All those people who have followed me and enjoyed my music." There is nothing to buy, nothing to order. Flavio will automatically download monthly offerings from the project - a raft of music he's been feverishly recording since September. All one needs to do is contact Flavio's website to sign up. He's got a plan. A succinct plan to move himself forward as I've mentioned in other articles. Tonight's concert was a prelude; just a teaser; and I was as much interested to know what was going to be offered as the next listener. As the second set progressed Flavio introduced only a few of the songs by author and title. Some I recognized, most were obscure, some I hadn't heard in years, all of them were brilliantly interpreted in the hands of Flavio. I was especially struck dumbfounded by the third selection, which I tried to pin-point as something out of the height of the English Renaissance. I made a note to get the author and title from Flavio at a later time. (He was swamped after the show with mobs of people asking questions - he's always swamped, and gracious enough to accept the adoration!)

    Two days later Ruth Perrella Barker e-mailed me a set-list and I matched it up with my notes- the song was from Queen! - "Love of My Life." I rolled over with laughter because I'm not unfamiliar with Freddy Mercury and Queen. I also laughed and gave Ruth a wink at the concert when Flavio slid quietly into "Are You Lonesome Tonight" written by Lou Handman. I looked around the audience to see how other people were reacting to this Elvis classic. There were a lot of smiles. The woman next to me grabbed my arm. She asked me, "Is he really playing that??" Yes, I said. He's really playing that and it never sounded that good when Elvis did it. My reason for writing this is to give you the listener an opportunity to know what's coming up in "Mi Guitarra y Mis Amores" I've decided not to. I'll just leave you a few hints. I don't want to spoil the surprises. It would be like yelling out the punch-line of a good joke or telling a child what's underneath the wrapping of a Christmas present. I don't want to spoil it for you. You can also find out by attending the next Flavio Sala Concert. It'll make you a firm believer in this talented, young Italian with the beautiful guitar.

      With many thanks and gratitude to Tesca Concerts of Temple Emanuel in Reisterstown, Maryland. Tesca founders Steve and Terry Mandell have produced some outstanding programs at the Temple and in the surrounding region. Thanks too, to Randy Goldberg for the audio engineering.

For more information about Mi Guitarra y Mis Amores contact www.flaviosala.com
For more information about Tesca's upcoming events contact: tescaconcerts@gmail.com
Visit TESCA Temple Emanuel on Facebook.