Bella Musica da Firenze

 By: Elizabeth Arakelian

      After our first dinner in Florence, Javier and I took a stroll through the Tuscan city’s cobblestone streets. Within minutes we were in the presence of the Medici Palace and Piazza del Signoria outdoor sculpture gallery. We climbed the steps to the gallery and found ourselves amidst a throng of towering sculptures. We wound our way between the figures snapping photos and as we separated to explore different areas of the display, I noticed that a band of stringed instruments had sidled up near the Medici Palace. Intrigued by the music I took a seat upon the side stairs of the gallery and listened.

      First, the man standing began plucking the strings of his double bass. I was transfixed by the musicians fingers tugging the strings at such a quick tempo that before I knew it I found my foot tap-tap-tapping along to the tune. Soon enough the guitarist joined in by strumming in rhythm with the bassist and setting the scene for the entrance of the violin. Once the violinist raised his bow and began the quintessentially Italian song “Volare”, I wasn’t the only person engaged. As the band kicked up the volume of their playful rendition, what seemed like out of nowhere a crowd of couples and families alike gathered to hear the sportive tune. The song’s end was met with a loud clap of appreciation by the crowd and we all remained to hear more. However, the band’s next choice of song beckoned a less lively response from the audience. Composed of long and even sorrowful notes, this melody was more sensual. The guitarist strummed a few chords and the double bassist slowed his pace. Once again, the violinist took the lead and his bow generated long and somber notes. A couple got up of the steps and began to tango. The woman flicked her healed shoe between her partner’s legs and as he spun her around she clung to his shoulders. The couple embodied the romantic yet melancholic essence of the song and their performance seemed as if it was their last dance, their parting moment. When the song ended, everyone clapped in a somber delay, entranced by the music and the affect it had on the couple.

      I didn’t just enjoy the pleasant background music that accompanied my experience in the piazza. I became curious about these men: How long has he played that violin? Does the double bassist have callouses from all that plucking? What keeps these musicians nurturing their talent? As the band chose a cheekier tune for their next song, I got to thinking. I would expect that the goal of a performer of any sort is to bewitch their audience: to take them away from their present mindset, even for just the length of a song. This is the elusive moment that we as audience members all hope to experience and the performer hopes to give. Romdraculas, the Florentine band, managed to take me away from my seat on the steps of piazza and for the length of that second song I was transported.

      Their dispositions were rather withdrawn for street performers and as numerous people approached them and purchased one of their cds that they had on display (including Javier and myself), they supplied a shy smile of gratitude. Javier and I began our walk across the piazza with our Romdraculas CD in my purse and I couldn't help but smile at one of the most memorable experiences of my Italian holiday. I'm sure the dancing couple felt the same way as well.