This one is universal! And it Needs No Translation Apps.

Jules Heartly| December 2022

First, I noticed his eyes gleaming through the hotel windows, then I saw his face, shadowed by the sun rays, coming strong at that time in the afternoon.   At first, I wasn’t sure what captivated his attention, but soon I realized he and I, had all our senses focused on the street musician playing known heart-stealing melodies, right there in downtown Bellagio.  I was another tourist among the many arriving and departing this well known Italian destination, enjoying outstanding music on a lovely sunny afternoon. He, the guy behind the hotel glass windows,-  I learned later-, was doing more than that. 

I had reached the town of BELLAGIO, Italy, after a scenic drive from the town of Lecco.  A drive where the  urban aspect of places like Milan, disappears as Lake Como and the surrounding mountains come prominently into view, and take you right into this enchanting little town.

Bellagio, known as the pearl of lake Como, is a very attractive lakeside village, tidy, trim, pretty, picturesque with stone lanes and ancient narrow and  other times ample stairways.  A romantic town boasting  a contrast between the old historic constructions,the most modern, hotels, and cafes, gelato bars, restaurants with standardized tourist menus, discotheques, nightclubs and the totally dramatic natural beauty of the area, the panoramic view of the lake and the prominent hills at a distance. 

On a summer day thousands of tourists arriving by car or boat, crowd the streets, the  town steep steps and the mostly flat downtown area, where street performers could find momentaneous audiences when showcasing their artistic abilities.  I was one  among the spontaneous audience.  Captivated by the music played by a man, probably in his late 50’s playing the Sax.  I stood there first alone, and later joined by other passerby.  

“I will stay for one more song,” I said to myself, thinking of going to visit the other venues in the area, but melody after melody the music was so good I couldn’t get myself to leave.  That is when I noticed the guy behind the window curtains. So, I wasn’t surprised when he came out and stood closer to the Sax player. 

During a short interlude, he made the effort of starting a conversation, but to his surprise the musician wasn’t Italian nor he spoke English.  I approached them, wanting to congratulate the Sax player.  I gave him  some Euros, and he smiled and complacently  nodded.  I asked him for his performer name , and where he would play  some other days,  but he had no idea what I was asking for.

While all this was happening, in the blink of an eye, the guy who had attempted to start the conversation disappeared  just to return as quickly with a steel drum, which he placed right at the left side, next to the guy playing the Sax. 

That is when I remembered  the first reaction to the unknown is of survival, of protection, of rivalry! 

Because the Sax player got angry, say some words on his native language and signaled the steel drum player to move away.

 “ I want to practice with you!, I want us to play together!  I don’t want your tips, I just want to play music”  was all the  pannist said in a friendly smiling voice.  The language barrier did not allow for an understanding.  He pulled his cell phone out trying to get his message across using a  translation app, but then the Sax player wasn’t talking anymore. The intermission was over.  He started playing his Saxophone again.   

The steel pan player waited a few minutes,and soon, using his amazing musical skills,  he smoothly followed the melody.  Without talking to each other or planning the next musical piece,  pretty soon the steel drummer with heightened energy and rhythmic vitality, was accompanying the saxophonist. Together, they sounded like a band.  More and more people stopped by to listen.  The round of applause after each musical segment was everlasting.  

And that’s when something magical happened.  At the next interim, the now grinning  Sax player shook the hand of the Steel drummer.  From that moment on, still without saying any word, guided  by their gifted musical ear, they decided on each subsequent  musical piece to be played.

As the afternoon progressed slowly, the clouds came to a still closeness, and  the sunrays caressed the improvised music venue, as well as the enlightened hearts of us the listeners of the outstanding music performed by the duo, bringing even more  joy to downtown Bellagio.  

 I realized I didn’t need to be anywhere else.  There was no longer a desire to be checking other venues in the vicinity.  I had it all there: lovely live music enhanced by the gifted steel drum player. A romantic view of a sunny afternoon in Bellagio, and  all my senses orchestrating the creation of a forever memory. The visual, the sounds, the aroma, the vibration on the skin and the delightful experience of having seen the splendor of temporary oneness expressed in the unison of the tunes played by those two musicians.

The language of music had crossed all language barriers.  And I, along with all the other tourists and locals in Bellagio that day, had benefited greatly from it. 

Later, it was time for me to start the drive back, but before I left, I spent a few minutes talking to Akwasi, the  very talented steel drummer.   I learned, Akwasi Abrefah  is a music teacher, who had been hired to play at a wedding the night before this event and because of his wit and free Caribbean spirit he was drawn to play with the Saxophonist.  

Akwasi had been listening to the music while still inside the hotel, and he had curiously approached the window to see who was playing. What happened after, we all know it. Akwasi couldn’t resist his desire to play his music too, and be part of it all, right there in  the beautiful Bellagio, an  italian town within the Lombardy region, where we had all  gotten together for different reasons. 

 I was blissful to be a witness of it all!.  “In this 21st century, despite all the technology, music keeps being a universal language, one we all understand without any need of a translation app!”  I agreed with Akwasi when we were saying our good-byes.

Thank  you for reading my blog.  I would be happy to hear your stories of language barriers resolved in unexpected ways. 

 

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