We had hoped to celebrate Tim Merton’s BIG birthday at the final concert of our 2019/20 season on May 16th in Cambridge with a gathering of as many of our Sarasa family, friends and fans as possible! However, in the current climate, we must adapt to new methods of celebrating from afar, so here is a newsletter dedicated to Timothy Merton, founding director of Sarasa, on his 70th birthday which takes place today, May 7th, 2020!
Whether it’s playing the cello, making maple syrup, tending to his bees, skiing, enjoying nature or being with friends, Tim has touched us all with his camaraderie, his compassion and his unique artistic spirit.
Happy Birthday to you from all of us, Tim!!
“‘Beyond category’ is Duke Ellington’s expression, and Tim is absolutely there. I don’t know anybody else who could have gotten me into a juvenile detention center and attempt to lay down a beat for “Ice Ice Baby.” Gently pushing me and the rest of his pale crew to get over our discomfort, Tim charmed our challenging captive audience to get beyond our stiffness to open up to us and our music. I can’t think of a moment of the many I spent with him where he was not positive and supportive of everybody around him. And doing this while putting on some damned good concerts, and making some of the best maple syrup in Southeastern Vermont.”
Tim tuning up at a Sarasa Garden Party, Riverview 2015
“Tim,
We thank you for sharing your gifts of music and compassion with our DYS youth. We’ve known you here at DYS for 19 years now.....you were merely a child when you started visiting us. :-) We look forward to the many performances ahead. Happy Birthday Tim!!”
Tim on tour with cellist/gambist Richard Campbell
Horseback riding in Dorset at the home of Sarasa violinist Miranda Fulleylove
Sarasa at the Omni Hotel, Mount Washington, NH (top L-R: Alison Bury, Richard Earle, Robin Bigwood, Tim; front- Paige Whitley-Bauguess)
“I will always remember Tim’s first phone call to me which basically went something like “Hi, this is Timothy Merton. I’m calling you because I have a baroque dance emergency…” That is now a chuckle-line at my house! (Seriously, how often does one have a baroque dance emergency?) I am so glad Tim called and that I was able to help out and to meet and play with the group. It was most enjoyable! Happy, happy birthday! What a wonderful life!”
Tim surrounded! (L-R: Asako Takeuchi, Deborah Hoover, Hsing-Chwen Hsin, Tom Vignieri, Jenny Stirling)
“Congratulations on a career dedicated to bringing the finest classical music to the disadvantaged, and especially to incarcerated teenagers. In the process you’ve also enhanced the lives of countless concert-goers and brought together a close-knit community of the finest international musicians.
Happy Birthday!
”
“Happy Birthday Tim! Here is a picture of my daughter and your maple syrup. It’s like you are with us at our pancake breakfasts, which seem to be more frequent these days. I was going to create a lute solo version of the Porpora cello sonata in your honor, but I couldn’t find the time. Have a wonderful birthday and I hope to see you next season.
Much love,”
Tim often plays The Swan by Camille Saint-Saëns for the teenagers at DYS. Here is a beautiful rendition of swans by violist Jessica Troy!
“On Easter Sunday a couple of years ago, Tim and Jennifer walked into my church hearing the brass and organ music we were playing. And we had a wonderful conversation afterwards about music. It ended up being a magnificent connection that continues now. I’m so grateful that I met Tim and love his generosity and talent!”
(from Sarah Cantor, recorder) Tim repairing bows at a conservatory in Cuba
Tim at Tregye, Cornwall— a source of inspiration for the formation of Sarasa. (L-R: Hetty Wayne, Vera & Peter Lissauer, Tim, Maggie Cole, Dick Earle and Richard Macphail)
“Whenever we’re doing juvenile detention outreach with Sarasa and Tim plays “The Swan” by Saint-Saëns, he tries to educate the kids a little about swans. However, when trying to convey the metaphorical meaning of a “swan song”, he gets a little confused - and calls it a “swan dance” :) We’ll forgive you, Timmy - your lifelong “dance” with Sarasa has been a priceless gift for so many, and we are grateful & honored to share in it with you! Happy birthday.”
From Stephen Kruse, Sarasa’s Graphic Designer
“I’ve always been struck by the kindness of Tim when collaborating in Sarasa concerts. Truly, the generosity of the Sarasa way, having a series in which there is important social outreach attached with each performance set, has been a heartwarming inspiration. And kudos to Tim for appreciating a good Japanese onigiri (rice ball)! ”
Tim enjoying the waters with Maggie Cole
“Dearest Tim - I’m holding back from calling you TimBum, but oh wait… I just did!
This is a little note to wish you the HAPPIEST BIRTHDAY from me and Richard. It’s a big one, that’s for sure. I hope that you will revel in the knowledge that you have used these years magnificently well! Your creativity, energy and love have flowed in so many directions and we, your friends, are the lucky ones who have been swept along, learning great lessons from you on the way. Here are two examples. I have so many to choose from but these have instantly come to mind.
Outreach!! I remember our early experiences of this when we were still visiting all sorts of facilities. You created this program and you were a model of trust, always seeming to know that good would come out of sharing our music and being in a room with our participants in a way that was simple, down to earth and without any need to force an agenda. I remember that we would all be exhausted after the first sessions with teenagers and would have to head back to High St, get under a duvet and eat some kind of comfort food. This work changed me. I discovered just how much I particularly love being with teenagers and it directly led me to get involved with the Lifebeat program over here. Thank you for this opening, this pointer in a direction I wasn’t aware I would be drawn to.
The second thought is to describe how exhilarating and terrifying it was when you encouraged me to swim out through choppy waves in the Indian Ocean to the dugout boat that young local boys were scudding along in. You were already on board having thought nothing of this type of swim and the scramble that it took to climb aboard. You somehow made me lose fear and know that I could do it. It was the best ride ever and one of those moments of feeling stronger and more able than I had pictured myself. Thank you!
XXX from Shepherd’s Bush and I’m holding tight to an image of all of us being around a table again - laughing, eating, knowing the absolute joy of very long friendship.”
Tim in his 1932 Ford Pick-up truck
Bath Time!
“Dear Timothy, I come to wish you a very happy birthday. You are a kind man, and making music with you has been a lot of fun throughout the years. I am still waiting to taste your maple syrup, but I suspect that is is as sweet as you”
Much love,”
“It’s safe to say that without Tim I wouldn’t be in England right now. Some 30 years ago Tim moved to London as a freelance cellist and took a room in a house in Crouch End owned by another cellist, Gabriel Amherst, who had a sister named Ali. And the rest, as they say…”
Birthday Sarabande for Tim from composer Julian Grant
Happy Birthday to Tim from the High Street gang in Cambridge!
“Dear Tim, I remember with great fondness the “Hands and Feet Across the Water” project we did together with Mag, Miranda and Billbob many years ago. What a blast that was! Wishing you all the best on your “milestone” birthday and sending great big hugs.”
“Happy Birthday, Tim! I’ve been so fortunate to enjoy making music with you from the stage as well as listening to your music making from the audience. Not only a beautiful musician, but one of the world’s few, true gentlemen. I hope you have a great birthday, and that we’ll see each other again, soon. Happy Birthday!!”
“Happy Birthday dearest Tim! How grateful I am to know you, play music with you and have you in my life! I’ve never know anyone like you. You exude such a human, vulnerable warmth that is cherished by so many. Your celebration of the beauty of life translates into everything you do, which is a lot! Whether you are bringing music to teenagers in lock-up facilities, making maple syrup or any of the other endless things you do, you bring so much joy to so many people. I have felt so honoured to be apart of Sarasa and the unique, beautiful community of musicians you bring together. Sarasa weeks have been some of the greatest times in my life!
I wish we could all come together to celebrate you and give you a BIG hug!!! Sadly, you are having a big Birthday right when we have to stay away from you :(
You are so dearly loved and we will all be with you in spirit.......
Sending you TONS of virtual hugs and kisses,
❤💓💞💜💕💗💓💞💜💕💗❤💓💞💜💕❤
Christina & family ”
Tim at Dent du Géant, French Alps
“Happy Birthday, Tim! Though we haven’t worked that much together, I have always admired your independent spirit, your musical taste and entrepreneurial success. ”
“I met Tim at Putney School in 1966. We had similar interests: music, skiing, girls and drugs (well, maybe leave that bit out -Ed.). We played together in the school orchestra and skied on the Ski Team, played soccer and lots of unmentionable activities. Tim was a year older then (he’s much older than me now, of course!) and therefore very Cool. But after that we lost contact until the late 80s when Tim got in touch after seeing my name on some records and wanted to get into the Early Music scene. The rest is history: he moved (back) to England and we played in various groups together until he moved again, back to the US. Since then, I’ve done a few projects with Sarasa and he’s come back to England for the odd bit of playing as well as more ski trips to the Alps. I look forward to plenty more skiing and playing together, as well as the next delivery of maple syrup!”
“Although Tim and I played in Sing Sing before Sarasa even had its name, I think he has always considered our event there the beginning of the idea of Sarasa. We played for inmates who were incredibly responsive, attentive and grateful, and in turn I am thankful to Tim for an experience that I will never forget. His vision and generosity have been powerful and meaningful for a very long time and for a great many people. I am sending letters of thanks which were written to us in November, 1996, and also sheet music that was signed by the inmates. They were largely jazz and blues players and after we played for them, they asked us to play WITH them. They were in the position of helping us play Autumn Leaves as best we could along with a number of them who had brought assorted instruments.These guys were anything but hardened criminals - it was a real eye-opener to meet them. They gave us personally signed copies of the sheet music afterward.”
“Tim,
My first memory of you was a lunch at the Plow and Stars. It was my roommate interview, orchestrated by Phoebe. Ali, Rae and you were there. I guess I passed the test, as I quickly moved in with Rae at 12 High Street.
I was in the midst of being pursued by an angry Dutch ex and it felt very safe and comforting to be living with other people. I didn’t live in the house long, as I was able to buy a place, but I cherish my time living on High Street.
I quickly became involved with Sarasa. For a while I did front of house, shopped, made brownies, set up and broke down the reception, and ultimately, did what I call, the “Hello and welcome”, before the concerts. I remember I even worked for Sarasa for a while. I was surprised to recently realize I’ve been on the board since 2002!
I can’t really express how meaningful being part of this community, with you, and now Jennifer, at its core, has been for me. As Barbara Kapp will tell you, I have thrived getting to know our audience. I enjoy hearing about their lives. And their devotion to Sarasa is fierce. That’s what you want in an audience. And, over the years, this audience has loved Tim and so appreciated the uniqueness of the programs, the intimate atmosphere of the concerts and venues and so valued the outreach work, which is so central to Sarasa’s identity and mission. They love Merton’s Maple Syrup, too.
The Sarasa Board has been VERY patient with all my comings and goings. For all of 2016 I was commuting to Philly to work. And for almost all of 2019 and part of 2020, I was working in Sacramento. I’ve missed a LOT of meetings...
I think I can speak for many of your friends that, the additional of Jennifer into your constellation, has paid so many dividends: love, music, partnership, help and meaning. Getting to be at your wedding and witness Jennifer’s arrival was a real highlight.
Both of your houses have hosted warm and meaningful events. From New Year’s, to meeting Rosika early in her time with your family, to board meeting dinners (with Merton’s “famous chicken” as Christoph calls it), to the wedding and post-concert drinks and snacks.
I know you are a VERY loyal friend, because, at your seventh decade (goodness!) you have SO MANY people around you. I know you’re very good at keeping in touch. I think about the people you went to Putney with who are still part of your life.
So, happy birthday, dear Tim and thank you for all you’ve given me. I look forward to getting to say this to you in person, giving you a hug and raising a glass.
Skell (Helen)”
“Dear Tim,
Congratulations on your big birthday!!
Hugs from Asako, Andrew, Junzo (4), and Sumi (2)”
“When I think of Tim, I think of the wonderful serendipitous connections in life. I met Tim through a former work colleague Naomi, who worked for Sarasa for a few years and got the website up and running, and the financial books in order. I took over the website work when she moved to Wyoming and go to know Tim and the heartwarming work Sarasa was doing at juvenile lockups.
I value this warm friendship with Tim. He is such a giving and caring person. He played at Katsuya’s and my wedding, and hosted us at his Vermont home where we saw how maple syrup gets made.
Thank you for your friendship over the years, Tim. Happy Birthday and warm wishes for many more!
Tina & Katsuya”
“Dear Tim,
It’s been about 15 years now since the first time I went to a first Sarasa concert. I was struck immediately by two things: the sweetness of your playing and the sweetness of your spirit. The intensity of my appreciation for you has continued to grow during these years. Your quiet, gentle manner conveys transcendent joy even when you are playing music that has fire in it. And then there is you maple sugaring. That adds another dimension of sweetness to your being. I feel blessed by the time I have spent with you at concerts. You are someone anyone want want for a friend, and I am honored to call you a friend.
In my favorite 20th Century opera, St. Francis of Assisi, Olivier Messiaen set a scene that presents the encounter between St. Francis and the angel musician who says to him:
Ah, God dazzles us by excess of Truth.
Music carries us to God in default of Truth.
You speak to God in Music;
God is going to answer you in music.
Know the joy of the Blessed by gentleness of color and melody.
And may there be opened to you the secrets of Glory!
Listen to this music that suspends life from the ladders of heaven,
listen to the music of the unseen. . .
I think that’s what music is: a way in which life is suspended from the ladders of heaven. And it comes through you. The great conductor Bruno Walter put it nicely: “Music’s wordless gospel proclaims in a universal language, what the thirsting human soul is seeking beyond this life!” You bring that wordless gospel to those of us who are seeking transcendence in life through music. So thank you for being a conveyor of such grace. And may this new year in your life be a time of great blessing.
Happy Birthday!”
