A Beautiful Thing

For various reasons I have been in Paris three times in the last three months of 2006. Naturally, given my current interests I hit the record shops of Paris and splashed much cash on building up my collection of French traditional folk music. If I say so myself, I have a pretty solid collection now and the smoke is clearing as to who I like and who I don't.

However, I also took the chance to call in, on all three visits, on my good friend Susan, her husband Petros and their two beautiful children. I worked with Susan many moons ago and she is now lecturing in Paris. They were very hospitable to me throughout my visits and naturally we talked about what was happening musically. TAlthough not 'folkies', they were very interested in the French experiment and have given me lots of help and ideas.

Last week I received through the post from Susan a beautiful anthology of French songs - Volume 1 of a 4 volume series by a French Composer, published in the 1930s. In my thank you letter to Susan, I expressed to her what a beautiful object the book was but also what a beautiful thought it was from a friend, whilst passing a music bookshop in Rue de Rome, to take time out to go and look for a very special book. I was quite overwhelmed. What a joy it is to have good friends!