March 04, 2006
	Blueberry Hill    St.Louis, MO, USA

As Beautiful Now As It Was When We Were There -- Exquisite Music Played With Heart and Mind in Sync   September 23, 2006
Written by LTinAspic

The first thing I’d like to say is that my wife, Elisabeth, and I were there the night Robert played this exceptionally moving piece of music. In fact, it was I who provided the "accompanying cash bribe" that convinced Robert to play the two "Starlight" pieces.

Everything about that evening was magical. We sat in the front, not more than 6-7 feet from Robert during his Q&A session. We asked him a question the answer to which filled our eyes with tears. I always suspected Robert had very deep feelings, but my question proved it.

And so did his glorious music.

Soundscapes are extremely emotional! They wash over me in waves, especially this one from March 04, 2006 Blueberry Hill in St. Louis, Missouri. Elisabeth and I drove hundreds of miles (from Michigan) to be there and we were thrilled from the first notes Robert played. I remember looking at my wife during this performance and seeing her mouth open wide in complete awe. She, too, was bowled over by not only the technical virtuosity but also by the raw emotion these compositions elicited.

It’s very difficult to pick one of these pieces that means more to me than another. They seem to be taken in as a whole in my mind. "Starlight" and "Starlight II," of course, are my favorites because I "paid for" them that night. But the entire concert was a joy to experience.

And "experience" is the proper word, for Soundscapes aren’t necessarily for the eyes. After all, it’s just Robert sitting with his guitar in front of a stack of gizmos. What’s to see? No, the best way to experience a Soundscape performance is with eyes closed, allowing the music to enter in and stir the soul.

That said, I will admit "At the End of Time" contains some powerful, lush-sounding string passages that are incredibly moving. I think it was at this point in the performance -- roughly half-way through -- that we felt the most emotional. Such beautiful music! It transcends mere words.

But as moving as "At the End of Time" was (and still is), "Starlight II" is another animal entirely. It’s quite possibly one of the most beautiful passages of music I’ve ever heard.

And to think it exists almost as a fluke. Robert was as surprised as his audience was when the melody to "Starless" emerged from his equipment when, as he put it, "This shouldn’t be happening." Somehow, the noodling from "Starlight" was still recorded and it came out during his encore. In full improvisational mode, Robert went with it...and "Starlight II" emerged just as you hear it. Breathtaking.

Thank you so much, Robert, for making Blueberry Hill available to everyone. Hearing it again allows us to relive the evening. (I’m listening to it now as a fairly heavy rain falls outside my windows, mingling with the lushness of the Soundscape to create a wholly new listening experience. John Cage was right!)

I’d love to hear the Q&A sessions as downloads. Those are as engaging as the Soundscapes themselves. Robert is extremely witty and entertaining when he chats with his audiences and it would be fun to hear that banter again.

All in all, if you only download a couple of Soundscapes, please make sure this is one of them. It’s truly an experience of sound and emotion that will stick with you a long, long time.

Bill Murphy
Grand Rapids, Michigan

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