I first came across Gabriel when I discovered Genesis more than a few years ago. And I’m talking about “early Genesis”, not the Phil Collins-fronted pop machine talented though they may be.

My first contact with Genesis was The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, which is a double-album from the mid-’70s that is both a complex story and dense and sophisticated music. Largely driven by Gabriel, the “concept album” further confirmed early Genesis unique credentials, and it fascinated me.

Though not performed by Genesis, here is a high-quality version that sounds very much like the original title song. Though I have only seen him live once, by far the Peter Gabriel Growing Up Live is the best concert video I’ve ever seen.

I’ve always thought Gabriel offered a bit of science fiction and fantasy in his work. The Lamb Lies Down is a Kafkaesque trip through hell. And one interpretation of his first major solo success — Solsbury Hill — is that he is being taken away (rescued, actually) by aliens.

It is impossible to categorize Gabriel as a musician flirting with Sci-Fi, though. His body of work is too sophisticated and creative to fit in one box. Every time I listen to his songs I have to pay attention and think carefully to understand what he is singing about. His imagination is too big and his insights too unique to be predictable, which is part of why I find him an inspiration.

So I enjoyed reading the article. Though I have long enjoyed many of his more popular songs, it has been years since I listened to my original Peter Gabriel albums. After all…they are albums and I don’t have a record player anymore. But the article includes links to many videos so you can at least enjoy those.

If you are a fan of Gabriel and/or Early Genesis, check out the article. Good stuff.

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This afternoon we had a chance to hear the extraordinarily talented Elizabeth Pitcairn play the legendary “Red Mendelssohn” Stradivarius violin of 1720. It is the same “Red Violin” about which the movie was made… Sort of. When asked how accurate the movie was, she smiled and politely assured us that, “The movie is based on history about which we know nothing.”

Another funny story she told was the day as a teenager she answered the phone to be told it was an auction house calling to let them know the violin — which had once been in their family — was coming up for auction, and that if they were interested it would probably go for about $1.2 million. She said she decided to get her mon on the phone at that point.

As to the concert… The sound was amazing. It always fascinates me when I hear master musicians. The sound they can make seems to transcend what the physical device is capable of, and they seem to do it with such ease.

I often spend Sunday afternoons watching football or trying to get some writing done… This was a nice change.

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