SJA Concert Series

"Bohemian Rhapsodies"

Entering the foyer was a sight to behold. The host troupe was swaddled in kerchiefs of peasant styles and trim of gold ring earrings. Carrying baskets and fortune bowls, they intensely worked the crowd reading fortunes and good tales, declaring monetary pay for each one. Candles glowed invitingly and multi-colored beads draped the entrance as you passed through. It is Fall, a perfect time of season to warm the heart and capture the mood of the Bohemian in all of us. Centered in the church was the piano accented with fall leaf decor amongst collections of candles flickering in a dance. The stage was set for an intimate performance. Dan Chouinard was the host for the evening. His collective repertoire stemmed from the following: the divine accordionist Mark Stillman, Ukrainian expatriate and Soviet vocalist Sima Shumilovsky and violinist/mandolin master Jim Price. And let us not forget the host himself, Dan Chouinard, an accomplished pianist and master of ceremony.

Dan opened the night with a mini history lesson on Bohemia. It included such associated words as Czech Republic, Prague, and the Hapsburg dynasty. The eastern world has a history that includes a romantically rich musical culture. This night it was expressed by each individual performer together in a mix of soulful melodies. Many of the pieces were unfamiliar to us but, proclaimed the gypsy-like culture.

Sima started out with ethnic songs of yearnings. Her interpretations took you to a surreal world of her country. She electrified the air with a gregarious voice and tone. Her deep tonal sounds completely enthralled the listeners. She was accompanied by Dan on the piano , Mark interluding with his accordion and Jim's full violin. When Sima was done, Mark countered with regional music he's studied.

Mark stated that he likes to interpret each different eastern countries' music just for the fun of seeing how closely he can replicate the originals. His talent manifested itself as a one man ensemble and a versatile performer. He strolled throughout the crowd and engaged them in his pieces, stirring them to join in with clapping to the beat. Mark can play not only Russian but Romanian, Bulgarian, Hungarian, Czechoslovakian music, along with other styles such as Klezmer, Brazilian and Argentinean. His music was playful and ecstatic. The crowd appreciatively enjoyed his presentation.

Following Mark, Dan presented Jim Price. He captivated all of us with an exquisite performance of Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody. The violin sang and spoke as rich a voice as the singers who preceded him. It was a superb piece of the highest quality. He included a few more selections that left us breathless in return. Dan indulged us with a authentic twist of a Argentinean 'tango' . If you closed your eyes you would have believed you were in "los barrios" de San Telmo or La Boca. His fingers swept across the keys with such grace you could almost imagine Carlos Gardel dancing around us!!!!

Lastly, Sima returned in a bright maroon sparkly sequined dress to sing the remainder of the program. She called to her sister in the audience and dedicated her next piece to her. Lovingly performed, she captured everyone's hearts and completed the night with a visible glow. The finale included all the artists in full rendition of a rhythm and beat true to their ancestors, the Bohemians. These musicians engulfed us with a warmth and compelling appreciation for the beauty of the music they performed. This night was truly beyond belief with its passion and excellence!

Peg LaSota is interested in the biographies of parishioners... any suggestions?? She also loves studying piano, recorder, Spanish, and of course...singing in the choir!