Creating Beauty
Today as I pondered what experiences I am grateful to have had, a few came to mind that are all related. The first was when I competed in a musical festival with my high school symphonic band. I played the clarinet in high school and loved being in the band. Our director was incredible and pushed us to work hard and he challenged us with quality music. My junior year of high school we played a song called Armenian Dances by Alfred Reed. It is beautiful and haunting and difficult. After months of practicing we went to a competition in Toronto I will never forget when we finished the last note after we played so well and the applause that followed. It was wonderful to be part of something bigger than myself and accomplish something difficult to create something beautiful.
I had that same feeling participating in the women's choir in high school. I am not much of a singer but they needed more voices and so I sat next to my best friend who has a fantastic voice and just tried to mimic her. We sang For the Beauty of the Earth at competition and I was in tears by the time we finished. It was a moving experience and again, the fact that my not-so-beautiful voice could join in with 30 other girls and sound that beautiful was amazing to me.
Lastly, when I was the choir director for our congregation while living in Dayton, Ohio, we had a small but very talented group of singers. I planned out a challenging program and they completely rose to the occasion. They sang a version of Gesu Bambino that flooded the chapel with a sacred and holy feeling. After the choir and congregation finished singing Once in Royal David's City, the room was hushed and reverent because of the special feeling we all had. I was grateful to be a part of it.
Since I am not very good at creating beautiful things on my own, I'm thankful for these experiences where I've been able to participate with others to create beautiful music. Each time I have felt the good feelings of accomplishing a challenge, doing it well and having others enjoy and appreciate it.
Here is a link to the Florida State University Band playing Armenian Dances. Listen for the awesome clarinet part about eight and a half minutes in. Armenian Dances
I had that same feeling participating in the women's choir in high school. I am not much of a singer but they needed more voices and so I sat next to my best friend who has a fantastic voice and just tried to mimic her. We sang For the Beauty of the Earth at competition and I was in tears by the time we finished. It was a moving experience and again, the fact that my not-so-beautiful voice could join in with 30 other girls and sound that beautiful was amazing to me.
Lastly, when I was the choir director for our congregation while living in Dayton, Ohio, we had a small but very talented group of singers. I planned out a challenging program and they completely rose to the occasion. They sang a version of Gesu Bambino that flooded the chapel with a sacred and holy feeling. After the choir and congregation finished singing Once in Royal David's City, the room was hushed and reverent because of the special feeling we all had. I was grateful to be a part of it.
Since I am not very good at creating beautiful things on my own, I'm thankful for these experiences where I've been able to participate with others to create beautiful music. Each time I have felt the good feelings of accomplishing a challenge, doing it well and having others enjoy and appreciate it.
Here is a link to the Florida State University Band playing Armenian Dances. Listen for the awesome clarinet part about eight and a half minutes in. Armenian Dances
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