Submitted on May 4, 2009 by Barb Northwood, Weekend Hospitality Coordinator
Mark McGregor came to Queenswood to play the flute for the Evenings with an Artist Series. As I have told different people about his being here, I have been corrected for how I pronounce "flutist." So, I began calling him, "The man who plays the flute." I sat with Mark at the dinner table on Sunday evening and after I introduced myself I asked him about the pronunciation and he said it the same way I had been saying it. I asked him about the other way, which he had heard but didn't subscribe too and I felt vindicated. I smiled at that and warmed to him right away. He spoke at dinner of his studies - he is close to getting his Doctorate in Music which will allow him to teach at Universities. Mostly though, he continues his studies because he wants to keep learning more about what he does. He is clearly passionate about the flute.
After supper we made our way down to the chapel where, after an introduction by Sister Marina, Mark began the evening's performance. And the evening's education. I can see the aspect of him that is a teacher and who would teach music in an interesting way. He taught us about composers and the flute both of the past and the present. And he shared his interest, passion and respect for contemporary Canadian composers. My eyes closed for much of his playing as I let the notes really penetrate deeply. I noticed many other people were doing the same thing. I haven't heard the flute being played like Mark played it ever before. Afterward, he asked me if I had liked one piece, "East, South, West and North", written by a Jennifer Butler who is originally from Victoria and is a fellow student in the Doctorate program . While he was playing, he had watched some of my facial expressions and wasn't sure if I had. Mostly, when I was listening, I was putting the music with the stories he had told before he began to play. East - sounds from the Far East. South - tropical birds. West - the coast, ferries, sea. North - wolves howling. All from a flute, can you imagine? My mind concentrated so deeply on finding the images the sounds created - I thought that must have been the face he saw. But, as I have been pondering it since, I realize that there were some notes that were challenging for my ear to listen to and my face likely reflected that. And that is true in a few of the pieces Mark played. But, I stayed with it - listening deeply to sounds that are unfamiliar to me and I was rewarded because the sounds really did evoke the images he spoke of.
Elsewhere in his playing, as I sat with my eyes gently shut, I let images float through my mind. JoAnne Di Castri, whose late husband was the architect who designed the room we were in, was in audience, beautiful in a turquoise shawl. I have been thinking of painting her a painting based on the colour turquoise which is her favourite colour and had just spoken to her about it prior to Mark's performance. With that in my mind, I listened to the music and watched the images I might paint grow through my mind. Some of the pieces created lush gardens in my mind's eye - with lots of turquoise. Some created running water. And walking paths, seas, birds. I smiled several times as the birds chirping outside the chapel grew quite loud and joined with Mark's music. Other parts of what Mark played made me smile as well. I am not sure how to describe it, but it was a joyful sound.
Watching Mark play is an experience and I am glad I kept my eyes open for parts of the evening. His face and eyes are extremely expressive and his body moves in a way that somehow seems to reinforce the story of the music he is telling us with the flute. There was one piece near the end where his body conveyed a playfulness within the piece that made me laugh out loud. Fortunately not too loudly but still, a laugh. Earlier in his performance, he played a piece that was heart wrenchingly beautiful. After sitting for a little while wondering how best to describe the evening I realize that is likely what comes closest - heart and beautiful. He received a standing ovation and everyone I spoke to was visibly touched by their experience in listening to him play. It was a lovely evening.
For more information on Mark his website is at: http://www.markmcgregor.ca/
