I'm comin' home...

In the 70's John Denver sang a song with such lyrics... Something to do with "tie a yellow ribbon 'round the old oak tree..."
Played that song 1,000 times in Viet Nam. 1968 - 1973. I toured the Pacific Islands, Korea, (3 times) Germany, and Europe, (3 Times) Iceland, Japan, the Mediterranean, Alaska, it goes on and on... but one thing I always knew, I would be coming home! (even without yellow ribbons!)

I love New Zealand. A part of my heart honestly belongs here, because of my DNA. My Great Grandfather served a Mormon Mission here in and around 1896 - 1900... I also, have a a very common surname, Johnston which is Scottish and is a very common name in NZ. I cannot find a more perfect place for a holiday than NZ.

NOW after 5 months I am ready to return to my Brokeback Mountain and make some money... I honestly do love Wyoming. I always have. In the 70's I drank enough vodka in Evanston and Rock Springs WY to sink a major battle ship. I used to say: "When I grow up, I will move to WY and marry a Cowboy"... Well I did not get the cowboy, but I did get WY.

No place on earth has such views of the western skies and the Tetons are breath taking. My body, soul and mind know where I belong and it is in Alpine, WY. I will fly out of Auckland NZ Monday afternoon. 11 - 12 hours in the air and I will land in LAX. Then walk to Domestic Flights Delta and fly to SLC, UT. From there I will drive to Alpine, WY.

Last year I created a recording I have tried to manifest the past 11 years... I DID IT! This year, I had a knee replacement, which I never in my wildest imagination thought possible.

I read more books than I have read in years and I did not take a hike on the wild side. I did achieve some very sacred and spiritual events. I had a 4 1/2 hour life regression session! I discovered new ways to make my body well... I discovered so many mental and physical truths on a level that is difficult for me to write about. I reached for the sky and I touched it with my own two hands.

I will write one more blog before leaving my studio in Queenstown. I also had one of many blessings... after 13 years My Diviana and Zen Man came to see me in QT. UN-FUNKING-BE-LIEV-ABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Could write a book about it. Four of my favorite Goddess's saved my life! Divi, Debbie, Belva, and Shirley. If I ever get the four of them together God only knows what could happen to life as we know it.

I am off to bed. Big day tomorrow. Tie and yellow ribbon 'round the old oak tree 'cause I'll be seeing you!

Moon River...

The moon! That tiny satellite that keeps the planet's tides flowing... it's magnetic pull helps keep the space ship we live on in a balanced state of spinning faster than the eye can see.

We all appear slightly different in various shades of light. Candle light, sun light, stage lighting, infra red light, and yes moon light, even starlight!

Hundreds of years ago certain rituals and ceremonies were performed during the light of the full moon. One event was that of the American Native Indians, who planted crops during the full moon and the seeds were planted by woman that were in full cycle of their periods... they also planted crops by placing bits of fish guts and small fish in the ground to serve as fertilizer and nourishment to the seed. We are at least 90% water, fish are created and live in water... eggs, which are really seeds that live within a saline solution of blood deep within a woman's body...

Tonight the moon it 90% FULL. That means it is kind of like my body being 90% of water... Last night I awoke after having been sound asleep for two hours. I got out of the bed, put on my bath robe and walked up the stairs that lead into the kitchen. We have a window at the top of the stair well that looks directly into the sky! The moon was shimmering as if it were vibrating!
I unlocked the kitchen door and stepped out onto the patio. Every blade of grass was being kissed by moonlight!

Without warning the words to a song I playing in High School began singing within my skull... Moon River! It was the theme song for my Jr. Prom when I was in High School. I did not have a date or want one at the time, but I did attend the prom as I was to perform this very piece at intermission.

Moon river, wider than a mile
I'm crossing you in style some day
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Where ever you're go-in' , I'm going your way

Two drifters, off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbow's end, wait-in' 'round the bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me...

I've watched moon light on rivers all over the world and on oceans, lakes and I always love the way moonlight dances on rows of water running through corn fields when I would irrigate late night into the early morning hours... (were talking years ago!)

Moon River the rainbow has been wait-in' 'round the bend more times than naught in my lifetime. Thank you.

April 2008 NZSO CONCERT

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra resides within a very sacred part of my musical heart, mind and spirit. Last night was no exception! A new conductor! I was looking forward to the conductor from last year however, this young man is from Finland, and more than proved his worth as a conductor. Name, Pietari Inkinen. His hair is beautiful and his body and face are very easy on the eyes!

The symphony made use of every acoustical niche and cranny within the walls of the great Town Hall in the city of Dunedin.

Starting with Douglas Liburn's Aotearoa Overture. Simply used every instrument within the world of symphony! Gorgeous. This piece was composed in 1940 while Liburn was a student in London. It's first performance was in 1940. The NZSO's file records that Aotearoa was first performed by the NZSO under G. Warrack in 1953.

The guest artist for last night's concert was a Cellist, Natalie Clein. One of Britain's leading cellists. This young woman took the Elgar Cello Concerto in E minor Op. 85 to an entire different level. I have heard Julian Lloyd webber perform this piece with such elegance and heart wrenching agony, however, Natalie approached the piece with a delicate and very feminine energy. I cried!

Intermission was a much needed break.

The Crowning Jewel of the evening was the Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 in E minor Op. 64. ONE OF MY FAVORITE SYMPHONIES. At intermission everyone was handed a roll of confetti and ribbons to toss from the balcony seats into the orchestra and on the patrons below. The passion and fervour and orchestral colours of this symphony were beyond brilliant. The opening clarinet theme is a haunting memory. I learned the melody to the second movement when I was about 8 years old which was arranged for a very simple piano piece, from that time forth I have always loved it.

In notes found shortly after Tchaikovsky's death, he referred to the brief programme he had roughed out for the 5Th Symphony: "Introduction. Complete resignation before FATE, or, which is SAME, before the INSCRUTABLE predestination of PROVIDENCE. Allegro, Murmurs, doubts, plaints, reproaches against xxx Shall I throw myself in the embraces of faith???"

The entire hall was on it's feet and pounding the floor boards at the conclusion of this magnificent piece of art. (FULL HOUSE BTW!)

The NZSO was founded the year of my birth, 1946. On August 21, 1946 with Andersen Tyrer conducting they performed this very symphony! I have copies of very old photographs that were taken in the early 50's of Percy Grainger with the NZSO!

To say the least it was a night of magical vibrations and deep emotions. I am a blessed man beyond my wildest dreams! Music has no time frames. It is the past, present and future and most of all it is what we are. It is the universe. The invisible made visible and felt in every atom of the emotional fabric.

Keep the good vibes flowing.