Casa Stella Maris Caorle Italy
08.50
Casa Stella Maris, Caorle, Italy.
Rising at 06.00 from NightWorld adventures with Eno and Bowie. These characters just don’t let me alone.
Morning Sitting in the Chapel at 07.15 I…
Breakfast, with everyone present, at 08.00.
Brother Frank stood to announce that he will be leaving us this afternoon, returning on Friday.
Shortly afterwards, quietly enjoying breakfast with my chums, I noticed I was wondering whether Silence would put in an appearance. And then: a shift. Not a glide, not a whoosh, but immediately: what we recognise, and refer to, as the presence of Silence.
Nothing I report in this Diary is of greater profundity than this: when the qualitative world enters that of the quantitative; when the (non-existent) barrier between perception and actuality falls away - in an instant – and there we are: where we are. Occupying a moment in time, while out of time. Sitting with a Presence which is not constrained by time, but which enters the time-stream to visit, reminding those of us who live mostly-here that we are ourselves only visiting.
And then onto the outline plan for the morning.
The Orchestra Of Crafty Guitarists VIII
Casa Stella Maris, Caorle, Italy
April 28th to May 5th, 2014
10.37 Inaugural meeting at 10.00. The presence of the Circle was tangible, thirty-seven within it. Our course was acknowledged begun at 10.02 and 18 seconds.
Moving around the Circle, introducing ourselves:
who we are;
where we came from;
what brought us here;
our aim/s for the course.
Robert is from Dorset, where the Fripp family has lived since 1588 at least, currently living in Middle England.
What brought him here: because this is what he can do.
How to change the world? A story told of JGB and the Fall From Grace: We try to do what we can’t do and don’t do what we can.
My smaller aims fall under: doing what is necessary and, looking forward, seeing what is necessary.
We have a public performance on Saturday. Technically, this is referred to as a manifestation of our work.
Firstly, this is a flag for those young people who are looking for something more valuable in their lives. Also for old people, even as old as Hernan and Dr. Mike and Martin, looking for something more real than a glass of wine and dessert at the end of their day.
Secondly, the act of music is primarily social. Something remarkable acts through Music, moving from outside the time stream into the flow of events. This provides an energy, a certain something, that is available within the performance and becomes available to the audience.
Thirdly, the performance is for us. We are not ourselves from the timestream: we are only visiting. This is an opportunity for us to more fully experience who we are, what we are, while playing music.
I spoke for Bill Rieflin. Tom Redmond is ignoring us. We will also ignore Tom.
To practical matters.
20.30 Guitar Meeting at 11.00.
Beginning by bringing part of our attention within, from the soles of the feet to the top of the head;
and to what is without.
Bringing the attention to the boundary between within and without: the skin; and then within.
In the Circle: 25 + 1 guitars.
Circulating.
Now, without thought… That is, without what we conventionally regard as thinking. And circulating began.
Circulating in one, two and four groups.
One note, double-stops, three and four-note chords.
Down and upbeats seemed to merge into one. This was because they were being struck at the same moment.
The symmetrical scale and three-note 1/6/7 Procession voicings.
Taking a break for coffee to become familiar with the Procession chords at c. 11.55.
Returning 12.30 Addressing the Procession chords: Ferocious Vicious Elisa took the Circle walking.
Lunch at 13.00.
Kitchen Meeting at 14.30.
Alexander with Mariela and Pia at 15.20.
Personal meeting at 16.00.
Tea at 16.15.
The Guitarist Inside at 17.30.
In the Circle: 23 + 1 guitars.
Preparing for Saturday’s performance. How to become present, rapidly? Then, strengthening Wish; noting that, when we connect with Wish, we discover we are not apart from our Friends in the Circle, and our Friends in the audience; and that we wish for others what we wish for ourselves.
Addressing some subtleties in the practice of this; while acknowledging that intention is key and trumps a practical facility in the technique of the exercise.
Moving to guitaring and addressing the symmetrical scale from this morning.
Dinner at 19.00, this punctuality something of a surprise.
Fruit crumble also served, also something of a surprise.
Very good comments presented:
Mr. Marty on circulating without thinking; that is, as we conventionally understand thinking.
Roberto on breathing and Wish, agreed by Alain.
And more.
Mr. and Mrs. Moscow introduced themselves, with Baby Toad Moscow introducing himself throughout the meal.
House of Guitars called fro 21.30.
22.25 Thirty-one guitars in the Circle.
Orchestra Of Crafty Guitarists: when ready, please begin!
Two improvs, both c. 15 minutes. Then a dancer entered the Circle, and a third improv began in response. The dancer left the Circle and the Circle fell quiet.
C. 45 minutes in all.
