It’s about freedom. It’s about free will. Its about environmental awareness. It’s about expression and universal consciousness. But mostly, its about music.
The Desiderata Festival kicked off on Thursday, and attendees are looking forward to 72 hours of non-stop sound. Boasting dozens of acts on three stages, the Desiderata Festival draws people from around the country to gather together and celebrate being alive.
This year also marks the first time that the festival has been held in Herkimer County. Having played in a location in Bainbridge, N.Y. for the past several years, concert organizers discovered, seven days before the start of the festival that they had lost their venue there. That’s where Gelston Castle comes in. In less than a week, employees and volunteers of the castle had the grounds ready and waiting for the arrival of the festival goers.
Gelston Castle and its grounds, located on Robinson Road near Jordanville, will be host to thousands of people gathering to hear the music play. Initially part of the 16,000-acre estate given by His Majesty King George II to his royal physician James Henderson, the Gelston Castle and its surrounding area is steeped in history. The castle proper was built in 1832. A model of Scotland’s Gelston Castle, it was built from Little Falls stone and constructed by craftsmen from across Mohawk Valley. The place has seen many greats from American history pass through. Teddy Roosevelt’s sister Corinne lived there, and is, in fact, buried in the cemetery that remains a part of the grounds.
In the 1970s world renown Soviet cellist Mstislav Rostropovich purchased the land with its castle, now fallen into disrepair, and build a three-story mansion overlooking a spectacular view of the Mohawk Valley. Called the greatest cellist of the 20th century, Rostropovich moved into the Mohawk Valley after being exiled from the Soviet Union. His views of art as borderless, and his views on freedom of speech, and democracy branded him a radical. In 1970, he sheltered Russian writer and poet Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. His support of Solzhenitsyn and other dissidents earned him official disgrace. In 1974, he moved to America, and resided in the country until 1990. The ending of the Cold War brought about a softening of Russian attitudes towards the musician, and his citizenship in Russia was restored, although he and his family had already received American citizenship.
More than 10 years ago, the property was bought by Safflyn Corporation. Sylvin Lyn, president of Safflyn, and his partner CEO Jason Safford, established the 330 acre estate as a sustainable development, seeking to achieve a clean green environment. They saw the property to be a perfect location on which to harness wind power, and to expand environmental awareness in the community that surrounds them.
“Our mission here is to help rethink the Mohawk Valley,” said Jeff Tew, chief of operations, “To become a vital part of the community, to be good neighbors and do our part to help stimulate the local economy.”
In April 2009, Safflyn Corporation announced the launch of the Green Leadership Institute. Sylvin Lyn, founder of the Institute, said in a press release issued at the time, “Going green is something people want and need to understand. They need to see it, touch it, feel it and we can help them. We have the knowledge, experience and physical property to help anyone who truly wants to physically and mentally understand how to apply green practices, materials and methodology into their life.”
For more information on environmental programs and other events happening at Gelston Castle, call 574-0135.
The estate’s history, with its Soviet-born musician dedicated to the concepts of democracy and freedom of speech, and its current focus on environmental awareness and going green, the Desiderata Festival seems to have found the perfect location in which to flourish and grow. Even with the last minute change of venue, they lost only six attendees out of the more than 1000 pre-sold tickets. Calling themselves “a resource for revelers” organizers encourage the freedom of expression that immersion in music and the arts brings forth. According to their Web site, www.desideratafestival.com, the Desiderata Fest is a meeting of open minds, a grassroots venture fueled by exuberance and a passionate promiscuous interest in music. The festival will be going on through Sunday evening. Weekend pass tickets are still available at the gate.
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It’s about freedom. It’s about free will. Its about environmental awareness. It’s about expression and universal consciousness. But mostly, its about music.
The Desiderata Festival kicked off on Thursday, and attendees are looking forward to 72 hours of non-stop sound. Boasting dozens of acts on three stages, the Desiderata Festival draws people from around the country to gather together and celebrate being alive.
This year also marks the first time that the festival has been held in Herkimer County. Having played in a location in Bainbridge, N.Y. for the past several years, concert organizers discovered, seven days before the start of the festival that they had lost their venue there. That’s where Gelston Castle comes in. In less than a week, employees and volunteers of the castle had the grounds ready and waiting for the arrival of the festival goers.
Gelston Castle and its grounds, located on Robinson Road near Jordanville, will be host to thousands of people gathering to hear the music play. Initially part of the 16,000-acre estate given by His Majesty King George II to his royal physician James Henderson, the Gelston Castle and its surrounding area is steeped in history. The castle proper was built in 1832. A model of Scotland’s Gelston Castle, it was built from Little Falls stone and constructed by craftsmen from across Mohawk Valley. The place has seen many greats from American history pass through. Teddy Roosevelt’s sister Corinne lived there, and is, in fact, buried in the cemetery that remains a part of the grounds.
In the 1970s world renown Soviet cellist Mstislav Rostropovich purchased the land with its castle, now fallen into disrepair, and build a three-story mansion overlooking a spectacular view of the Mohawk Valley. Called the greatest cellist of the 20th century, Rostropovich moved into the Mohawk Valley after being exiled from the Soviet Union. His views of art as borderless, and his views on freedom of speech, and democracy branded him a radical. In 1970, he sheltered Russian writer and poet Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. His support of Solzhenitsyn and other dissidents earned him official disgrace. In 1974, he moved to America, and resided in the country until 1990. The ending of the Cold War brought about a softening of Russian attitudes towards the musician, and his citizenship in Russia was restored, although he and his family had already received American citizenship.
More than 10 years ago, the property was bought by Safflyn Corporation. Sylvin Lyn, president of Safflyn, and his partner CEO Jason Safford, established the 330 acre estate as a sustainable development, seeking to achieve a clean green environment. They saw the property to be a perfect location on which to harness wind power, and to expand environmental awareness in the community that surrounds them.
“Our mission here is to help rethink the Mohawk Valley,” said Jeff Tew, chief of operations, “To become a vital part of the community, to be good neighbors and do our part to help stimulate the local economy.”
In April 2009, Safflyn Corporation announced the launch of the Green Leadership Institute. Sylvin Lyn, founder of the Institute, said in a press release issued at the time, “Going green is something people want and need to understand. They need to see it, touch it, feel it and we can help them. We have the knowledge, experience and physical property to help anyone who truly wants to physically and mentally understand how to apply green practices, materials and methodology into their life.”
For more information on environmental programs and other events happening at Gelston Castle, call 574-0135.
The estate’s history, with its Soviet-born musician dedicated to the concepts of democracy and freedom of speech, and its current focus on environmental awareness and going green, the Desiderata Festival seems to have found the perfect location in which to flourish and grow. Even with the last minute change of venue, they lost only six attendees out of the more than 1000 pre-sold tickets. Calling themselves “a resource for revelers” organizers encourage the freedom of expression that immersion in music and the arts brings forth. According to their Web site, www.desideratafestival.com, the Desiderata Fest is a meeting of open minds, a grassroots venture fueled by exuberance and a passionate promiscuous interest in music. The festival will be going on through Sunday evening. Weekend pass tickets are still available at the gate.
