Homer
August 27, 2017
Population: 5,810
Venue: Bunnell Street Arts Center
One reason why I chose Alaska as the location for the first Gather Hear Tour has nothing to do with music: I simply always dreamed of going there. When I'm not playing piano, I live for the outdoors, whether it’s running, hiking, backpacking, or horseback riding. My adventures have taken me backcountry in places like the High Sierra in California, Nepal, Norway, and Iceland. All of this adventuring makes me feel like an imposter in the music world sometimes, since I rarely choose to spend my free time practicing the maximum number of hours humanly possible, seeking out more music to listen to, or obsessing over music in general. Does that somehow make me less “serious” a musician?
But there are similarities in both pursuits. Both music and outdoor activities alter our perception of time and space, and as a result, recalibrate our sense of being in this universe. I think both aim at some of the same lofty goals: knowing ourselves better, connecting with something larger than ourselves, experiencing the beauty that life has to offer. When we’re outside, we do this by connecting to the natural world. In music, we do this by connecting to other humans. I believe an artist’s work always reflects the richness of their life experiences; I’ve learned to allow myself the freedom to pursue the things that make me feel more alive, music or not.
On August 26, we had our first day off after six concert days, and I wasted no time setting off on my Alaskan wilderness adventure. Alone, I drove to the city of Homer from Soldotna, with the goal of hiking and camping in Kachemak Bay State Park. Homer is quite literally at the “end of the road” of America. Route 1, which I had followed out from Anchorage down the Kenai Peninsula, reaches its end in Homer. Across the water from Homer is Kachemak Bay State Park, which covers 400,000 acres of wilderness and was the first legislatively designated state park in Alaska.
In the late afternoon, I set off from Homer as the sole passenger on a water taxi, which dropped me off directly at the campsite on the Kachemak beach where I planned to sleep. The taxi driver promised me that someone from her company would pick me up in the morning the next day. I had no choice but to trust her- there was no cell service in Kachemak, and I absolutely had to get out of there on time, since I would be playing my concert the next afternoon. I felt like I was on Survivor, but with no other contestant; I didn’t encounter a single human soul during my stay. However, I did feel the presence of bears as I hiked that afternoon and following morning - I hooted and hollered as I walked, in an effort to ward them off, and kept my bear spray near my hand. At dusk, I stood at the edge of a lake, in awe of the floating glaciers. Back at camp, I watched the otters play as I ate dinner on the beach and the sun set. The whole experience was equal parts terrifying, thrilling, and somehow peaceful.
Back in Homer the next day (the taxi came punctually), Jarett and I were under the amazing care of composer Conrad Winslow’s family, who fed and housed us for two nights. Conrad is from Homer but moved to NYC to pursue his composition career, and now lives in Berlin. I wanted to include a piece by an Alaskan composer on tour, and so I got to know Conrad and his music through my research. His piece that I performed is called “The Same Trail,” and Conrad writes of it:
THE SAME TRAIL references the things one picks out on a hike, informal trail markers encountered going to and from a place that appear couched in different contexts each time one passes, sometimes excited, sometimes exhausted, sometimes dazzled, sometimes meditative.
The concert was held at the Bunnell Street Arts Center, which is adorned inside and out with whimsical and beautiful local art. As luck would have it, the weather that day was absolutely gorgeous - sunny and warm, probably one of the last days of the year for that kind of weather in Alaska. I think most Homer folks chose to spend their Sunday afternoon outside, and turnout was low. Regardless, I loved getting to know the people who did turn up, who were artsy folk who gobbled up all of my offerings, especially my contemporary pieces. Of course, they especially loved Conrad’s piece, and for me “The Same Trail” will forever be entwined with my memory of Kachemak - a rare moment when classical music and outdoor adventuring intersect. [listen to my full recording of “The Same Trail” here]
Thank you, Homer and Bunnell Street Arts Center, for an unforgettable Alaskan weekend! And a huge thank you to Kim Winslow who welcomed us so warmly into her home.
