"FRIDAYS with FRIENDS"
Steve Lehning
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One of the benefits that many of us have experienced during the past months is getting to know others a bit better through phone calls, Zoom parties, and simply being more in touch.
Steve Lehning, ABS’s Artistic Administrator and Principal Bassist, is one of the busiest people at our concerts, often switching hats as pre-concert lecturer, harpsichord and organ tuner, and performer. So, it’s hard to catch him with a free minute for a chat. We’ve asked him to share a glimpse of himself now when we all might have a few extra minutes to learn more about each other.
Get started by clicking on the video:
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Q: Would you tell us something about your pre-ABS life that most of us don’t know?
A very long time ago, not long after Washington’s Mt. St. Helens erupted, I graduated from Pacific Lutheran University. At that time, a dear friend approached me and said something like: “Congratulations, you’re the poster child for a liberal arts education, but now what are you going to do? Everyone should also have some sort of everyday skill as well.” It was in jest, but it did have a sting of truth to it.
So, one evening, while I was in was playing background music at a nice Seattle restaurant on a busy Friday night, a busboy made a scene and stormed out leaving the rest of the wait staff and kitchen high and dry. As our allotted time for playing had just ended, and I was in need of a bit more income, I asked the owner if he’d let me take that busboy’s place (not knowing exactly what I was getting myself into). He was in a bind, and said “yes,” and off I went to the kitchen, viola da gamba in tow. I had found myself a steady part-time job, and every night, as the evening service came to a close, the overnight baking staff came in. As I got to know them, I started hanging out later into the night than I needed to, and at the same time began lending a hand when needed, simply because it was fun. In no time, my job description changed (as did my hours), and I found myself baking from 11pm to 7am. While I didn’t stay with that particular organization very long, I had discovered the “everyday skill” that my friend had asked me about.
I continued practicing, attending workshops, and performing as much as I could, but that alone wasn’t enough to keep up with my student loan payments. So, I continued to bake: first in a place that sold cakes and pastries, and that had a catering department that served up-scale formal dinners; and eventually as an apprentice in a French owned
boulangerie
in Seattle’s Pike Place Market, while continuing to perform as often as possible. One such performance was as an additional player for an ensemble from Boston—Banchetto Musicale, now Boston Baroque—in a short set of performances throughout the Pacific Northwest. At the conclusion of that gig, their conductor invited me to join the ensemble in Boston. Since my apprenticeship time was just about to come to an end, I took him up on the offer and moved to the East Coast: my full-time performance career had begun.
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Q: How have you coped with sheltering-in-place?
Now we find ourselves in a very strange world. The ABS March performance cancellation hit me particularly hard, since all of the drastic changes like sheltering-in-place had only begun and we were all trying to understand what that meant, and especially because the particular musical works that were to be performed in that set are among my very most favorites. But I’m still able to look forward to our next season when we will be presenting another somewhat similar program that will include an absolutely spellbinding work: a 1673 setting of the “Saint Matthew Passion” by Johann Theile. Like a number of large works that ABS has presented—including
Parnasso in festa
by Handel at the 2016 Academy, and Lotti’s “Mass for Three Choirs” at last year’s Academy—the Theile Passion isn’t available with modern performing parts, so I am spending much of my at-home office time working on an edition. Yes, ABS continues to run like a well-oiled machine, but now in locations in our individual homes in San Francisco, Oakland, and Walnut Creek.
I remember on the second morning of our initial shelter-in-place, I woke up, set my feet on the floor and thought, “Oh my, this is just day two.” Then and there I realized in order to remain sane, I would need to find a new, regular schedule. Since then, I have gone out for walks twice a day: before I begin working, and just before dusk. It has been nice to watch peoples’ gardens and flowerbeds wake for the spring and summer; every day a new smell (through a mask of course). In a way, we can, if we choose, spend more time looking at the natural world around us and observe that, slowly but surely, beautiful things keep moving forward.
I have been using some of my spare time to explore music for the viola da gamba that I hadn’t looked at in years. I also have a harpsichord at home, and I’ve been slowly getting my fingers to remember what do to there as well.
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Q: Have you been able to enjoy your culinary skills since those earlier years in the Pacific Northwest?
By the time we founded American Bach Soloists over three decades ago, the only times I would venture into the kitchen with any serious intentions was on holidays. The legendary soprano, Judith Nelson, would have local musician friends join her family (those who were around) for a full Thanksgiving Day of cooking and eating. She told me my attendance was mandatory; not because of the pear and almond cream tarts which she loved, but because I could make gravy without lumps!
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But NOW I understand that my friend’s recommendation to have an “everyday” skill has become even more valuable. I have dug out all my old French tin pastry shells and molds, my big green marble slab, and my old work notebooks with recipes that begin:
120 eggs
(separated),
8 lbs
. of butter,
12 lbs
. of semi-sweet chocolate (melted), etc! Even using smaller proportions now (of course) I’m having a wonderful time remembering the particular feel of bread dough when it is time to shape and be put into the oven. But, in an effort to lose a few extra pounds—in addition to getting some exercise every day—my pantry is now filled with 2 dozen eggs, 3 pints of cream, several types of sugar, and a tub of lard—
perfect!
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Q: These days, lots of people are sharing lists of the favorite books, movies, etc. that might be enjoyed by others. Do you have any recommendations?
Interesting that you would ask that. In post-concert conversations over the years I’ve often been asked similar questions. So, here is a short list of my “favorites.”
- Books about Bach: I might recommend My Only Comfort by Calvin R. Stapert.
- Composers other that Bach (The question isn’t really fair, but musicians do get asked this a lot, so ...): Schubert (particularly his Lieder), Buxtehude, Mahler, Beethoven, Haydn, Telemann.
- Movies: Babette’s Feast (1987) and A Room with a View (1985).
- Restaurants: Since these, like concert performances, are somewhat challenged these days, I find myself dreaming about several that just happen to be in Santa Fe, NM: Cafe Pasqual and Geronimo are probably my favorites.
- Books not about Bach: The White Castle by Orhan Pamuk and Tregian's Ground: The Life and Sometimes Secret Adventures of Francis Tregian, Gentleman and Musician, by Anne Cuneo.
Q: When traveling again becomes an option, what do you have in mind?
While I enjoy living in the Bay Area, deep down I’m a Northwesterner. I love both Seattle and Vancouver, BC, and given the opportunity to spend some free time somewhere, I’d head for the high Cascades or Olympics, or I’d equally be happy spending time on the waters of the Northwest coast. Also, having been on the ABS Bach Heritage Tour last June, I’d be very happy to go back to Thuringia and spend some more time there, particularly in Erfurt.
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Q: Thanks for helping us get to you know a little better, Steve.
As I remind myself that at some point this will all be over, I look forward to seeing and playing music for you all again, hopefully soon!
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Be well and stay well!
from all of us at ABS
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READ ABOUT THE PLANS FOR OUR 32nd SEASON
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We Thank our Sponsors
The American Bach Soloists are grateful for the support of Individual Sponsors and these and other Foundations, Corporations, and Government Agencies:
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