Goodbye, Michael Carlson

The loss
of one
affects many.

I haven't blogged in a while, because I knew it was going to be hard to write this entry.

One of my very, very dear friends - and a gift to the folk music world - passed away a little over two weeks ago.

Michael Carlson was the president of the Apple Mountain Dulcimer Club, taught mountain dulcimer with an enthusiasm and passion that was unmatched, and was an expert folk dancer.

He taught fourth and fifth graders at Solomon Schechter Day School, and brought music into their lives, too.

He taught adults who never picked up a musical instrument before - ever - and his enthusiasm and gift of teaching let them know that it wasn't ever too late to learn to play enjoyable music on the mountain dulcimer.

I was so fortunate to have known him. Five years ago, I roped him into doing a production with me. It was a version of the Passion Play that was being produced by my friends who would soon establish the Fusion Theatre Company. They asked me to do the music for this play, that would rehearse in a whirlwind week and have three performances in a school-turned-amphitheatre in Cerrillos.

I said sure - if I could have help.

I enlisted Michael.

I got to know him so well during that intense week of rehearsals and performances. During the long drive to and from Cerrillos, we talked and talked. We talked about out school days and our families, my husband, Ken, and Michael's wife, Arlene.

We also talked about the music we would be playing. I wanted to feature Michael on a tune called "The Dark Island," and it came at a particularly poignant moment in this modern version of the medieval passion play. Michael performed splendedly.

Michael also was so helpful during the production that he got listed in the program as assistant stage manager. He even did a dive worthy of the major league to save my harp when it was it was almost blown over by the wind. He accompanied me on almost all of the music used for the show, but he was most impressive in his playing of "The Dark Island."

Gwen, Anastasia, and I played this tune at Michael's memorial service.

Goodbye, Michael. Your joy, love of life, enthusiam, and exhuberance will be forever missed.