Authors: Clifton La Bree
“You and Lisa are dressed in the same colors,” Jonathon
noted. “I guess we can get going now. Are you anxious, Faith?”
“Oh, Daddy. You can’t know how much I’ve looked forward to
this concert. Lisa has talked a lot about the orchestra to me. When I go to
school I’m going to play in one too.”
“That would be nice, honey. You look lovely tonight. I’m
glad we’re going to have some time together. I love you.” Jonathon hugged his
daughter and kissed her on the top of her head.
“I love you too, Daddy, and I’m awfully proud of you. You
look handsome in your uniform.”
“Flattery will get you anything,” he laughed, grabbing the
car keys from the counter. “Lets mount up and move out.” Terry followed Faith
out the door.
The auditorium was beginning to fill. Jonathon parked the
car in the parking lot and locked it. He held his arms out for the children to
hang on to him. Faith held his right hand and Terry grasped the tong on his
artificial arm. He was as comfortable with it as he would have been with his
right hand. They had reserved seats in the front row near the piano. The stage
curtain had been removed for the orchestra, because it used up all of the main
stage area plus the front extension. Lisa’s piano was always to the left of the
conductor’s platform and positioned so that she could see the conductor when he
was at the podium. Soloists and singers had a position marked on the stage
floor where they stood so that, at a glance, she could watch the conductor and
the soloist at the same time without moving her head from the music rack on the
piano.
Jonathon sat Terry between Faith and himself. He leaned over
to ask Terry if he had to use the bathroom. Terry shook his head, slightly
embarrassed. Jonathon squeezed his little hand and Terry squeezed it back. It
was a simple gesture but it filled Jonathon with contentment. He recalled
reading somewhere that to be loved by a small child was the ultimate
compliment. He was inclined to believe that it was true.
The lights in the auditorium blinked twice and dimmed. The
stage flood lights were amplified as the orchestra members filed across the
stage to take their assigned positions. They saw Lisa walk directly to the
piano. She bowed to the audience and took her seat. She was beautiful and
Jonathon felt his heart beat faster. The conductor was the last to come on
stage. He was a relatively young man. Jonathon recognized him as one of the
senior ROTC members. He bowed to the orchestra and turned to bow to the
audience.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he announced. “Thank you for coming
to the New Hampshire Symphony Orchestra winter concert. Tonight we have a
variety of selections for your enjoyment. At the heart of our presentation will
be passages from Beethoven’s Sixth and Ninth Symphonies, which describe a
pastoral setting not unlike our own New Hampshire countryside. We are thrilled
to also include different types of music to reflect the different tastes of our
community. Now, sit back, relax, and enjoy our interpretations.”
The orchestra began with opening passages from Beethoven's
Sixth Symphony. The classical passages held the audience spellbound. The
transition from classical to contemporary selections was seamless and the
audience followed closely those portions from Broadway musicals, such as
Guys
and Dolls
and
The King and I
. For an hour the orchestra played
without a break, doing Scottish and Irish folk songs and a large number of
currently popular selections including,
Goodnight Irene, Mona Lisa
, and
Buttons
and Bows
.
The conductor then turned to the audience. “Tonight we are
honored to present to you an internationally famous violinist from Japan. It is
a privilege and my distinct pleasure to introduce Mister Horio Taniguchi.” The
conductor held out his left hand to a short white-haired man in a black tuxedo
and bow-tie. Mister Taniguchi bowed to the conductor and to the audience. The
conductor shook his hand and directed him to the microphone. The audience gave
him a warm welcome.
Mister Taniguchi stood in front of the microphone holding
his violin and bow in his left hand. He raised his right hand in acknowledgment
of the reception. He was a very dignified looking figure. The audience slowly
became quiet. Mister Taniguchi bowed again to the audience and talked into the
microphone. “Thank you, thank you for receiving this humble fiddle player with
such enthusiasm. I was anxious to come to America before I became too old to
play. I want to bring the soothing power of music to our war-torn world, one
more time. Music touches everyone’s heart and what a privilege it is for me to
carry that message to people like you. Well,” he smiled and scanned the
audience side to side, front to back. “I came here to play the fiddle not to
lecture. I’m sure you’re familiar with the lovely lady who will accompany me
tonight—Miss Lisa Carter.” He motioned her to take a bow.
Lisa curtsied to the audience and to Mister Taniguchi and
sat down. Mister T left the microphone and took his position marked on the
floor near Lisa’s piano. He caught Lisa’s eye and paused for a second then
began his rendition of one of Beethoven’s most moving pieces of music—the Ninth
Symphony.
Jonathon couldn’t take his eyes off Lisa and Mister
Taniguchi. The two musicians were completely synchronized and became as one
with the music. Their interpretation of the emotions expressed by the composer
were felt by the audience as well as the performers.
Mister Taniguchi played the violin with long sweeps of the
bow across the strings, creating a smooth continuity to the melody without a
break between the notes. He held the notes for a long time pulsated with a
frequency that embraced the full spectrum of human experiences. It was the work
of a gifted master. Exquisite sounds filled the auditorium, elevating the
musical experience to new heights. The music embraced both performers as well
as the audience—part of the magic he imparted to every composition he played.
Lisa radiated with happiness. The music had touched her in a
way it had never done before. It was almost as if she were playing and hearing
the selections for the very first time. Tears of rapture filled her eyes. When
the composition ended quickly and with a flurry, the audience was so enthralled
that it took a few seconds for them to respond. And they did so with a standing
ovation that rattled the auditorium walls.
Mister T’s eyes were also
glistening. He looked at Lisa and motioned for her to take a bow. She did so
and the applause continued for a long time. When it ended, Mister T's eyes
again met Lisa's and they began an encore of popular songs including
Canadian
Sunset, Shrimp Boats, Cry
, and
Ghost Riders In The Sky
.
The Japanese fiddle player, as he called himself, captivated
the audience. Again and again he was called back, for five encores. The
applause was spontaneous and enthusiastic. He did a few Broadway musical
numbers and more contemporary music. He held up his hand in salute after the
fifth encore then started a bouncing rendition of
Turkey In The Straw
, a
traditional hoedown. It brought the crowd to its feet again. Tears streamed
down Mister Taniguchi’s cheeks as he played the final notes.
Lisa was entranced. Never had she experienced such profound
emotions from music. She bowed to the audience and to Mister T. He placed his
violin on the piano and embraced her. Their tears joined as one.
Jonathon absorbed the power of the performance and the
response from the audience, and wondered if he had made a mistake in not
telling Lisa who Mister T really was. Terry and Faith were also caught up in
the energy that filled the auditorium. The orchestra left the stage for a short
intermission. Jonathon was unable to contain his misgivings. He grabbed Terry
and Faith and climbed the side steps to the stage where he confronted Lisa and
Mister T. Still holding Terry in his left arm, Jonathon embraced Lisa. She
wrapped her arms around the two of them.
“Lisa,” he cried.
She saw the desperation in his eyes. “What’s wrong,
Jonathon?”
“I have to tell you that Mister Taniguchi is Terry’s
grandfather.” He was filled with emotion, but he had carefully sounded each
word so that she would not misunderstand him.
She looked in his eyes with disbelief. “Are you sure, Jon?”
“Yes.”
“I knew there was something special about him,” she
answered, dazed by the revelation, yet, not surprised. The music had bonded the
two! She released Jonathon and Terry.
“Do you want me to tell him?” asked Jonathon breathlessly.
“No, I will do that,” she answered, taking Terry in her
arms. She turned to face the emotional Mister Taniguchi.
He looked deep into her eyes and at Terry. Instantly he knew
without having to be told.
“Is it true? Are you the one I wrote to? Is this your son?”
The elderly fiddle player was overcome. He recognized Jonathon, and knew that
his instincts were correct.
“Yes, I’m the one you wrote to. This is my son, Terry.”
“I’m sorry, I feel weak all of a sudden,” pleaded the
passionate Mister T.
“Please, sit at my bench,” suggested Lisa, helping him.
“This is just as much of a shock to me as it is to you. Jonathon just told me
who you are. I had no idea this would happen to Terry and me.”
“May I hold Terry?” requested Mr. Taniguchi in a low voice.
Terry studied his face for several seconds. When Mister
Taniguchi took one of his small hands in his, Terry was not sure just what was
going on, but instinctively knew that this man who had eyes like his was a
friend. Mister Taniguchi held Terry tightly, closing his eyes against the flood
of tears the evening had produced. Now he knew why it was so important for him
to make this tour!
“Tonight, in a far land, I have found fulfillment and peace
for the first time in years,” Mister Taniguchi told them, his face contorted
with emotion. “For that I thank you, Colonel, and you Lisa. Can you forgive
me?”
“Hush, Mister T,” demanded Lisa, embracing him. “The past
has already been buried. Let’s lift our hearts and look to the future. I’d like
to include you in our family circle.”
“Lisa,” interrupted the conductor. “Are you all right? You
were magnificent tonight. The orchestra is coming in from intermission.”
“I’ll be fine thanks,” she replied, taking Terry from his
grandfather and passing him to Jonathon. “Thank you for making this possible. I
love you so much.”
Jonathon took Terry from his mother. “Lisa, will you marry
me?”
“Yes, oh my… yes! I hope tonight never ends.”
And life becomes an endless song…
Postscript
On May 18, 1972, Second Lieutenant Terry Carter Wright,
United States Army, graduated third in his class from the United States
Military Academy at West Point, New York.
Those who attended his graduation ceremony included the
following:
His Mother, Lisa Carter Wright.
His paternal father and role model, Colonel Jonathon Wright,
USA (Ret.).
His sister and best friend, Dr. Faith Wright Collins, MD.
His sister’s husband, Dr. Alfred Collins, MD.
His grandfather and benefactor, Mr. Horio Taniguchi, world
acclaimed violinist.
The Song Lives On!
By
Clifton La Bree
Fading Shadows
Fading Shadows
is the saga of Glenn Hastings, a
severely wounded Medal of Honor recipient in World War II, and his long,
tortuous search for fulfillment and happiness.......
Lake of Three Sorrows
A warm spiritually uplifting story of courage, commitment,
and sacrifice. This is the story of Dale Cooper, a battle-weary American
soldier who served in two world wars...
Flickering Flame
(Colonial Series
Book One)
A historical novel, about the Cullen family who settled in
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and their participation in events prior to the
French and Indian War. Freedom and opportunity were on the march, but it
extracted a heavy price. Frontier settlers were ruthlessly killed and
butchered by rampaging Indians lead by French officers and Jesuit priests who
frequently incited them to greater levels of inhumanity. A peaceful future was
in jeopardy and fear gripped the land. A story of love, family and heroism on
the colonial frontier.
Raising the Torch
(Colonial
Series Book Two)
A continuation of the saga from Flickering Flame, Colonial
Series book one, of the Cullen family in Colonial Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
This is a moving story of love and sacrifice when a small colony had the
audacity to fight for independence from their motherland...
NON-Fiction Books
By
Clifton La Bree
NEW HAMPSHIRE’S
GENERAL JOHN STARK,
LIVE FREE OR DIE:
DEATH IS NOT THE GREATEST OF EVILS
A fresh look at one of America’s staunchest defenders of
liberty and freedom. John Stark was a courageous New Hampshire citizen-soldier
who fought in both, the French and Indian War, and the Revolutionary War. His
pursuit of leadership excellence on the battlefield distinguished him as one of
the most successful combat commanders of the war, and one of the least
appreciated.
His selflessness, modest life style, and devotion to the
cause of freedom are an inspiration that time has not diminished. He remains
today the embodiment of the frugal, independent, and cantankerous New Hampshire
Yankee.
GENTLE WARRIOR,
GENERAL OLIVER PRINCE SMITH, USMC.
Kent
State University Press. Kent, Ohio, 2001
The Story of one of the United States Marine Corps best General
Officers. His flawless performance in Korea is a story that needed to be told.