Frisson

Frisson (UK: /ˈfriːsɒn/ FREE-son, US: /friːˈsoʊn/ free-SOHN[1][2] French: [fʁisɔ̃]; French for “shiver”), also known as aesthetic chills or psychogenic shivers, is a psychophysiological response to rewarding stimuli (including music, films, stories, and rituals[3]) that often induces a pleasurable or otherwise positively-valenced affective state and transient paresthesia (skin tingling or chills), sometimes along with piloerection (goose bumps) and mydriasis (pupil dilation).

The Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium

When I was a kid–I’m guessing 10ish or so–my mother took me to a recital at The Met.  I remember a harpsichord piece. I remember a harpsichord piece that filled the auditorium with sound that I would not have believed could possibly come out of such a dainty instrument. The piece began with a simple melody which repeated over and over, building upon itself and growing in intensity until the music filled the auditorium and left an indelible imprint within me.  Fast forward 40+ years when I mentioned this recital to a musically inclined friend of mine, Josh Gilinsky, a director/composer who I’ve known since I was a kid.  He suggested it might have been La Folia.  And thus began my quest to find this piece that touched me so deeply as a kid.  Now, years later of listening to dozens and dozens of recordings of La Folia, I believe I may have found that same piece I heard played at The Met.  (First recording to the right).

As an aside, I also fell in love with Emilie Autumn’s performance of the same piece.  (Second recording to the right)

Sainte-Chapelle

This is an emotionally charged piece of music for me.  When Meggie, my wife, Dominique, my daughter, and I were in Paris years ago, I found that La Folia was to be performed in Sainte-Chapelle, a reliquary in Paris, which I consider to be the most beautiful structure on the face of this earth. To hear La Folia performed here, in this transcendent building, was a dream come true.  For whatever reason, Meggie convinced Dominique to stay with her and not join me for this concert. I don’t think I’ve ever forgiven Meggie for this.  For me, this was a religious experience, and I felt sensations I subsequently learned are called frisson–chills, goosebumps, and tears rolling down my face. I would like to have shared this experience with a loved one, but alas, I was there all by myself.  It still makes me sad to think of this to this day.  Nevertheless, it was a powerful experience that I will cherish forever.