Penny and I just returned from singing in the Island Chorus (about 100 voices), doing Mendelsohnn’s ELIJAH. We were joined by a small orchestra, mostly imported from off-island, as well as some soloists.
We’ve been practicing this complex and long piece for months, since January, when a friend enticed us into the group. There were times of deep disappointment for me, because it was the first time I ever sang bass and because I know so little about reading music on clefs below Middle C (I did take piano lessons as a kid, but really only could read the right hand parts). And the timing! Don’t forget that! The timing was particularly difficult because the composer uses it creatively. So I came close to dropping out several times.
Results? Glorious music and we felt grateful to be a part of it, but it was a bit like being part of a sophisticated drill team and yet not having proper instruction in all the complexities of its moves.
Somehow we got through. At several points today during the singing I almost broke down: tears popped into my eyes and my throat clutched and I had to just wait until I had emotional control enough to proceed.
It is a gorgeous piece of music, deeply spiritual and moving. Listen to Neville Mariner’s version on CD (because it’s in English rather than German). It will bring a thrill.
ADD ON NEXT DAY
Neither Pen nor I slept well last night. Both of us had vibrant memories of the songs echoing through us, but perhaps it was more than that, something we don't quite understand yet perhaps. Just now, taking a shower, I tried to sing the last section, a building set of crescendos of which a main repetition is "Lord our Creator, how excellent thy name is...in all the nations," repeating with more emphasis on a rising scale of what I think would be called contrapuntal melodies. Again and again I tried and again and again I choke up on it. Tremendous is too small a word for the feelings it engenders.
Don't give up on anything worthwhile. I am so grateful that I stuck with this.
Amen.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Harry Potter's First Job Application
Name: Harry Potter
Whereabouts secret, Contact me by Owl
I most recently attended Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, leaving after my 6th year with several N.E.W.T.’s to pursue a course of independent study designed by the late headmaster of Hogwarts, the much-admired Albus Dumbledore.
This last year was extremely dangerous and required me to learn much more about magic and, indeed, about human nature, than any prescribed set of courses could. I was to pursue and, if possible, slay before he killed me the Dark Lord who called himself Lord Voldemort. That I succeeded is due in great measure to the continuing advice I received from Professor Dumbledore, from the steadfast support of friends who more than once saved my life, and from some erstwhile enemies who at least temporarily aligned themselves with my pursuit.
But the full story has yet to be told. Tired of notoriety, weary of being blamed for things that I haven’t done or that aren’t my fault, bored by gossip and impoverished by celebrity, pursued by vengeful Death Eaters, I’m eager to find a steady occupation in this unsteady world, in which I may — in some sort of disguise — continue to grow, meet challenges and rescue others from death or worse.
In short, I seek a position in which I may continue to battle evil.
I understand that I do not have the formal credentials to qualify as an Auror, but it is my hope, as it was the hope of Professors Dumbledore and the current headmistress of Hogwarts, Professor McGonigal, that my extracurricular activities and independent study may prove sufficient.
Short List of Achievements: Using a powerful counter-hex (i.e., Mother-Love), I thwarted Voldemort’s desperate attempt to kill me as a baby. Ten years later, thwarted the weakened Voldemort’s desperate attempt to regain human form by stealing the Sorceror’s Stone. A year later, confronted and defeated the Monster in the Chamber of Secrets and saved the life of Ginny Weasley. A year later, saved Sirius Black from Dementors and a Hippogriff from false accusation and beheading. Won the Tri-Wizard cup in my fourth year at Hogwarts and engaged the reanimated Voldemort in a duel. A year later, thwarted Voldemort again by denying him a prophecy that concerned him. Also assembled and led a group of students in battling Death-Eaters. In my sixth year, I started a private course of study with Professor Dumbledore and accompanied him on what turned out to be his final mission in an effort to defeat Voldemort.
Family: I am a Serial Orphan Boy, first by my parents James and Lily Potter, who were killed by Voldemort when I was one year old. Then, by my godfather Sirius Black, who died when I was 14, lastly by surrogate parental figure, Professor Dumbledore. Lived for some years with a Muggle family, but by mutual agreement that attachment has been severed. Now, age 18, I wish to have no more family because I cannot abide the pangs of loss. I wish just to have friends and occasional romantic attachments, which seems the way of witches and wizards.
Job Experience: Taught Defense Against the Dark Arts as an unpaid instructor while at Hogwarts. Could be persuaded to teach same as an intermediate step toward my ultimate goal. Captained Hogwarts Quidditch Team as Seeker, and led it to win the House Cup in my 6th year. I would of course willingly accept assignment to a professional team.
Recommendations: Please interview Prof. Dumbledore’s portrait in the Headmaster’s office at Hogwarts.
In Case of Disappearance or Demise, please notify: Prof. McGonagall, Headmistress, and Dobby, House Elf, Hogwarts; Remus Lupin, itinerant teacher; Hermione Granger, Apprentice, Department of Mysteries; and Ronald Weasley, Keeper, Worcester Warlocks.
Whereabouts secret, Contact me by Owl
I most recently attended Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, leaving after my 6th year with several N.E.W.T.’s to pursue a course of independent study designed by the late headmaster of Hogwarts, the much-admired Albus Dumbledore.
This last year was extremely dangerous and required me to learn much more about magic and, indeed, about human nature, than any prescribed set of courses could. I was to pursue and, if possible, slay before he killed me the Dark Lord who called himself Lord Voldemort. That I succeeded is due in great measure to the continuing advice I received from Professor Dumbledore, from the steadfast support of friends who more than once saved my life, and from some erstwhile enemies who at least temporarily aligned themselves with my pursuit.
But the full story has yet to be told. Tired of notoriety, weary of being blamed for things that I haven’t done or that aren’t my fault, bored by gossip and impoverished by celebrity, pursued by vengeful Death Eaters, I’m eager to find a steady occupation in this unsteady world, in which I may — in some sort of disguise — continue to grow, meet challenges and rescue others from death or worse.
In short, I seek a position in which I may continue to battle evil.
I understand that I do not have the formal credentials to qualify as an Auror, but it is my hope, as it was the hope of Professors Dumbledore and the current headmistress of Hogwarts, Professor McGonigal, that my extracurricular activities and independent study may prove sufficient.
Short List of Achievements: Using a powerful counter-hex (i.e., Mother-Love), I thwarted Voldemort’s desperate attempt to kill me as a baby. Ten years later, thwarted the weakened Voldemort’s desperate attempt to regain human form by stealing the Sorceror’s Stone. A year later, confronted and defeated the Monster in the Chamber of Secrets and saved the life of Ginny Weasley. A year later, saved Sirius Black from Dementors and a Hippogriff from false accusation and beheading. Won the Tri-Wizard cup in my fourth year at Hogwarts and engaged the reanimated Voldemort in a duel. A year later, thwarted Voldemort again by denying him a prophecy that concerned him. Also assembled and led a group of students in battling Death-Eaters. In my sixth year, I started a private course of study with Professor Dumbledore and accompanied him on what turned out to be his final mission in an effort to defeat Voldemort.
Family: I am a Serial Orphan Boy, first by my parents James and Lily Potter, who were killed by Voldemort when I was one year old. Then, by my godfather Sirius Black, who died when I was 14, lastly by surrogate parental figure, Professor Dumbledore. Lived for some years with a Muggle family, but by mutual agreement that attachment has been severed. Now, age 18, I wish to have no more family because I cannot abide the pangs of loss. I wish just to have friends and occasional romantic attachments, which seems the way of witches and wizards.
Job Experience: Taught Defense Against the Dark Arts as an unpaid instructor while at Hogwarts. Could be persuaded to teach same as an intermediate step toward my ultimate goal. Captained Hogwarts Quidditch Team as Seeker, and led it to win the House Cup in my 6th year. I would of course willingly accept assignment to a professional team.
Recommendations: Please interview Prof. Dumbledore’s portrait in the Headmaster’s office at Hogwarts.
In Case of Disappearance or Demise, please notify: Prof. McGonagall, Headmistress, and Dobby, House Elf, Hogwarts; Remus Lupin, itinerant teacher; Hermione Granger, Apprentice, Department of Mysteries; and Ronald Weasley, Keeper, Worcester Warlocks.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Country Going Bad
The NYTimes today had this lead on a story about the national mood:
"Americans are more dissatisfied with the country’s direction than at any time since the New York Times/CBS News poll began asking about the subject in the early 1990s, according to the latest poll.
In the poll, 81 percent of respondents said they believed that “things have pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track,” up from 69 percent a year ago and 35 percent in early 2003.
Although the public mood has been darkening since the early days of the war in Iraq, it has taken a new turn for the worse in the last few months, as the economy has seemed to slip into recession. There is now nearly a national consensus that the country faces significant problems.
A majority of nearly every demographic and political group — Democrats and Republicans, men and women, residents of cities and rural areas, college graduates and those who finished only high school — say that the United States is headed in the wrong direction. Seventy-eight percent of respondents said the country was worse off than five years ago; just 4 percent said it was better off.
The dissatisfaction is especially striking because public opinion usually hits its low point only in the months and years after an economic downturn, not at the beginning of one. Today, however, Americans report being deeply worried about the country even though many say their own personal finances are still in fairly good shape."
Well, yes...and no.
Of course, part of the problem here is that the dangum pollsters only list a number of possible responses, all dictated by the media, and "the economy" is on top and "spiritual awareness" is nowhere on the list.
I've been thinking for some time that the USA is on the wrong track, but my thought is not based on economics. It's on spirit. If you ask me what track America should be on, I reply: "There should be more spiritual awareness. I'm not talking about hunting for ghosts, I mean of each person's spiritual identity and goals, which have nothing to do with economics."
So that people know that God doesn't send guilt and punishment, or economic misfortune, but that NOT respecting God causes those things and worse. With true spiritual awareness of the true source of all good, we will be fearless, contented, and, despite the Rolling Stones song, satisfied.
"Americans are more dissatisfied with the country’s direction than at any time since the New York Times/CBS News poll began asking about the subject in the early 1990s, according to the latest poll.
In the poll, 81 percent of respondents said they believed that “things have pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track,” up from 69 percent a year ago and 35 percent in early 2003.
Although the public mood has been darkening since the early days of the war in Iraq, it has taken a new turn for the worse in the last few months, as the economy has seemed to slip into recession. There is now nearly a national consensus that the country faces significant problems.
A majority of nearly every demographic and political group — Democrats and Republicans, men and women, residents of cities and rural areas, college graduates and those who finished only high school — say that the United States is headed in the wrong direction. Seventy-eight percent of respondents said the country was worse off than five years ago; just 4 percent said it was better off.
The dissatisfaction is especially striking because public opinion usually hits its low point only in the months and years after an economic downturn, not at the beginning of one. Today, however, Americans report being deeply worried about the country even though many say their own personal finances are still in fairly good shape."
Well, yes...and no.
Of course, part of the problem here is that the dangum pollsters only list a number of possible responses, all dictated by the media, and "the economy" is on top and "spiritual awareness" is nowhere on the list.
I've been thinking for some time that the USA is on the wrong track, but my thought is not based on economics. It's on spirit. If you ask me what track America should be on, I reply: "There should be more spiritual awareness. I'm not talking about hunting for ghosts, I mean of each person's spiritual identity and goals, which have nothing to do with economics."
So that people know that God doesn't send guilt and punishment, or economic misfortune, but that NOT respecting God causes those things and worse. With true spiritual awareness of the true source of all good, we will be fearless, contented, and, despite the Rolling Stones song, satisfied.
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