Commentary by Samuel Strait – August 29, 2022 I must admit I am a relative novice when it comes to Classical Music. I am most certainly aware of much of its historical value to human society, yet my skill level in determining what is good and bad music is limited to those pieces of music that I find pleasing to my ear. I am sure that most will agree that this is very likely true for even the most intense musical enthusiasts, Granted that my attendance level in the concert halls of America and abroad is relatively limited, I have been induced into becoming part of an audience at a wide variety of venues and have generally found the experience to be more than worthwhile. As such, I was recently made aware of a performance to be held at Crissy Field State Park, just south of Brookings, Oregon on the 27th of August, this past Saturday evening. My friend and I loaded up the car to participate in a rather unique event held not in a Concert Hall, but in the dunes near the Crissy Field State Park Visitor's Center. What was to be a solo performance of Hunter Noack on a grand piano of classical music began promptly at 6:00 pm in the evening in the wide open spaces with not a wall or roof in sight. For the next ninety minutes an audience of near one hundred attendees was held in rapture by the performance of Mr. Noack and his grand piano. Music, inter spaced with Mr. Noack's inviting description of the individual pieces to be played, the history of Crissy Field and its path to becoming a State Park, plus an invitation to the audience to come up on stage, as well as wander the dunes all the while listening to his performance. Truly an excellent way of coming in tune with both the music and the environment. While I am by no stretch of the imagination an expert on classical music, or any music for that matter, I found myself to have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of Saturday's performance. Mr Noack has performed throughout Oregon, California, Wyoming, Utah, and Idaho in many other outdoor venues to call attention to the many State Parks and Wild Life areas in the Western United States and their need for our support. With literally hundreds of out doors concerts already preformed by Mr. Noack, many relatively near to Crescent City, I would encourage anyone to partake should they have the opportunity to attend. Information on upcoming concerts and their locations can be found on the internet by Googling "In A Landscape: Hunter Noack" and you will not be disappointed. His current season began in May and will continue on through September. While Mr. Noack has moved on, there are other opportunities for culture to be offered locally by Music In The Redwoods and their 2022-2023 Concert series to be held in Crescent Elk's newly refurbished auditorium, the first coming shortly on September 11th featuring Ilya Yakushev and Thomas Mesa. You may contact the Del Norte-Curry Community Concert Association for more information on upcoming events.