In the early 1980s I met an extraordinary man, the cellist David Darling.

I had been invited by Susan Osborn to come to Paul Winter’s farm for an outdoor concert.

The Paul Winter Consort included that day a South American Percussion band, Pete Seeger, Susan Osborn, David Darling and others.

It began with the percussion band descending down a mountain from up high making their way towards the musicians and a small audience.

As they came nearer the consort started to join, Pete Seeger sang, Paul blew his horn and Susan joined or sang acapella, and then there was David raptured in his cello sounds ...it was an unforgettable experience !

What was also unforgettable was this quiet man who sat in a corner at a long table, where Susan and I were serving chocolate fondue with strawberries we had hastily put together for the crowd. I got into a conversation with Shelly Snow, flutist and music therapist (which resulted in a long friendship and recording collaborations). 

That afternoon in, Litchfield Connecticut, I asked Shelley who this man was I had just listened to during the concert, this extraordinary cellist. David Darling.

Not long after I attended the next concert with Susan and David and I REALLY fell for the way he hugged his cello, the instrument melting into his body, his hands making love live as they caressed, fluttered, stroked, pleaded and sang into the wooden body that was breathing together with his own. 

Stunning Oneness of music, man, voice and wood formed into an instrument vibrating in a room and into all the listening bodies.

Susan introduced me to David and I found out that he teaches ‘Music for People’.

So I got a bunch of professional and aspiring musicians together in Doylestown, Pa. where I lived and amazing David created an orchestra with us, ....no matter a person played the violin professionally, or had never played an instrument and tried the kazoo ! Again, he found a way to create a deep sense of astounding Oneness, total surprise and Joy !

He stayed in my house as a guest that evening. We sat in the garden and talked. David asked the questions and lured me out of myself as he had all the music makers that afternoon. This unnoticeably turned the tables for me, it always had been me who asked the questions, but here with David I found out that I could be a life story teller when someone was able to completely l i s t e n .

It was a vulnerable evening full of joy. I found my voice... grace.

The next day we were off to a concert I had arranged for him in Philadelphia, a fundraiser for my first eco village experience we were trying to build in that area.

David had brought some recordings of Whales ! 

Previously CBS had sent him out onto the ocean sitting with his cello on a raft playing for whales. He first payed a Bach suite to the ocean. 
A big mama whale came to circle the raft and made her own music in response, she sang to him, then disappeared and returned with her baby. More Whales came to join the concert ! What I would have given to witness this Oneness of the Earth’s creatures, the sea, one man and his music. 

In this concert in Philadelphia he introduced us to the whale sounds on his stereo. We listened and became spacious in our imagination as David subtly took the bow and answered the call of these gentle giants communicating with the gifts of his cello of this soul man.

When I think of David I think of this man who touched my soul, always now ....and forever.

I know you will continue to bring your gifts of soul, David, wherever you are, and I will, in deep gratitude, be touched by you and your music and your ability to listen.