Pan et les Oiseaux from Mouquet's La Flute de Pan

I'm often inspired by the people, places, and things in my world. Last weekend, I had brunch at a friend's house and found myself thinking that the murals in her breakfast room perfectly captured the atmosphere of Pan et les Oiseaux ("Pan and the Birds") from La Flûte de Pan. I asked if I could play it for her, there in that room. The mural is by Olga Saldivar, and it is the fourth work of hers that I've admired in person. The beauty of her art continually inspires me. The storks and Mediterranean ruins feel perfectly suited to Pan's world. At first, the monochromatic blues seem simple, but the longer you look, the more the layers reveal themselves, creating remarkable depth and atmosphere. And then there's the house itself—wow. The combination of old and new, bold statements and subtle details, hard lines softened by gentle curves, manufactured metals alongside natural woods and fabrics. Everything reflects elevated taste while remaining warm and welcoming. It inspires one feeling above all: balance. And Annie cultivates balance in her home, in her design choices, and in her life in a way that inspires me. Mouquet's piece seems to evoke that same atmosphere of balance. Pan observes the birds in their playful chirps and soaring arpeggios, while his own haunting melody ebbs and flows between melancholy and hopeful longing. Throughout the music, lightness and depth, wonder and wistfulness, exist side by side. It felt perfectly at home in a room where beauty is found not in extremes, but in the harmony between them. I love that I get to be inspired by others in this way. Every time I play this piece, I'm reminded to be grateful for the beauty, creativity, and generosity that surround me. The Facebook community Solo of the Month worked on Mouquet's La Flute de Pan this June 2026. Matthew Allison, flute https://www.practiceflute.com Accompaniment MyPianist Pro app (used within licensed agreement) Mural by Olga Saldivar https://www.olgasaldivarart.com/ Flowers and decor by https://eurotrash.us/ ‪@EuroTrashAnnie‬