San Luis Obispo

24 Feb, 2023

MUSIC Information:

California Sessions

C Major / A minor

36 Measures

Cello and Piano

2:57 min

4 Pages

“The light was different here in California.” ― Heidi Freestone, Growing Home

A WISE LADY

Compare to many people, traveling has never been a priority in my life. If I were to make an inventory of all the trips I've taken, I could easily count them with the fingers of one hand. However, I can attest that the entirety of San Luis Obispo County is one of - if not the - most elegant and dignified places I have ever visited. Almost everywhere I turned, the breathtaking views were like watching a wise lady that knows better than to lose her composure - or else.

As a visitor, I ventured to the destinations commonly frequented by tourists. The beautiful beaches, Hearst Castle, and the Spanish-style towns scattered throughout the area were landmarks impossible to miss. The Pacific ocean seems even more pacific along this coastal area, as if sending a direct message of approval to the inland nature that surrounds the county.

DIRTY SECRETS

The agreeable weather, the wine tasting, even the salty smell of the ocean directed my attention to the surreal beauty of the place. Everywhere I looked, the view before me resembled an intentional, colorful postcard, ready to be sent. Walking tours are probably the best choice for anyone interested in learning about historical details of the place, and I embarked on a series of them, gaining a great deal of knowledge while having fun at the same time.

On my last trip to San Luis Obispo, which I believe took place in 2022, I learned about a darker side of the city while taking a downtown walking tour called "Ghost and True Crime in San Luis Obispo". The tour was fully packed with history and myths, along with intriguing details about the lives of locals throughout the city's past. Their obscure, dirty secrets were revealed in an unexpectedly casual way, prompting me to ask myself more than once, "Who in the world were these people?"

FREEDOM

Nonetheless, I've learned that if I want to enjoy California, I cannot dwell in its faults. No place on the face of the earth has been free from formal disapproval one time or another. SLO is no exception. Once you visit, it becomes easy to forgive—and almost forget—anything unsavory about its past.

I wanted to write a piece of music shape by San Luis Obispo County - free of conflict, easy to absorb, but stimulating at the same time. Hoping to secure a similar feeling to the one I experienced when I first visited Hearts Castle in San Simeon. It has been at least ten years since that trip, but I do remember it as if it was yesterday. I wanted to capture the nostalgic freedom I noticed while exploring the area, a feeling that reoccurs over and over every time I think about that trip.

PRIDE AND JOY

The beauty of San Luis Obispo County is remarkable, and I dare say it is a land unlike any other on earth. If I were to describe the combination of attributes that exist there, I would not do it justice. That is why I composed a piece of music trying to capture those moments_ whether in Cambria, Grover Beach, San Simeon, or any other city in the County. I can only hope it helps you visualize the delicacy that San Luis Obispo County holds.

Despite the inevitable injustice, it is my desire that, with this cello-piano piece you may be transported to one of the landscapes of San Luis Obispo and feel - if only in a small measure - the pride and joy I was fortunate to experienced during my visits to this wonderful place.

Play-along

Anaya, Javier
San Luis Obispo (California Sessions Notebook)
PDF + MP3
Cello and Piano