I've been struggling over the last couple of months to remember why I ever chose music as a career.
Today, I had three mini-gigs - unpaid, low profile, and completely unglamorous. I was reminded of three things I love about music.
Joy
The first was playing Christmas carols with my friend Anna Rosa Mari at St James' Church, Didsbury, for their Christmas fair. St James is my home, I work there and I love the church family. We played in the baptistry while people milled around and bought jams and other yummy goods. We were not warmed up, and we were sight-reading - hardly being professional! But people loved it. They really did - you could see it in their faces, as they smiled, clapped and approached us with encouraging compliments. Their joy fed ours, and, honestly, I got more satisfaction from playing that simple music than I have from anything else I've done in a long time.
Harmony
At mid-day, I joined a group of St James singers at The Parsonage, singing some well-known carols. I remember once telling a teacher in high school that one of the reasons I loved music was, 'The way two notes sound together'. Cheesy, naive, and some of you probably want to vom. But it's TRUE! I sing alto, and love feeling that I'm adding resonance and interest to the melody. Two is better than one, and four, or SATB, is even more fun. Nothing beats human voices coming together in a final perfect cadence, finding the place where all is resolved.
Curiosity
This afternoon Lazaros ceilidh band braved the cold and did a jamming sesh at the Manchester Christmas Markets. I am always struck while busking how little children inevitably slow down, stop and stare at us, the performers. They have a natural curiosity which makes playing in freezing conditions worthwhile. Some of them will smile and dance, too, but the vast majority of them will gaze and gaze, almost unblinking, drinking everything in with intense concentration. The fact that they get their parents to stop and give us money is also a plus, of course!
Part of the reason for me reviving this blog is to try to answer my questions... Why did I choose music? Why is it so HARD? What is it I really love about it? What do I want to do with it? May I always be curious, like a little child... 'The Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these'.
Today, I had three mini-gigs - unpaid, low profile, and completely unglamorous. I was reminded of three things I love about music.
Joy
The first was playing Christmas carols with my friend Anna Rosa Mari at St James' Church, Didsbury, for their Christmas fair. St James is my home, I work there and I love the church family. We played in the baptistry while people milled around and bought jams and other yummy goods. We were not warmed up, and we were sight-reading - hardly being professional! But people loved it. They really did - you could see it in their faces, as they smiled, clapped and approached us with encouraging compliments. Their joy fed ours, and, honestly, I got more satisfaction from playing that simple music than I have from anything else I've done in a long time.
Harmony
At mid-day, I joined a group of St James singers at The Parsonage, singing some well-known carols. I remember once telling a teacher in high school that one of the reasons I loved music was, 'The way two notes sound together'. Cheesy, naive, and some of you probably want to vom. But it's TRUE! I sing alto, and love feeling that I'm adding resonance and interest to the melody. Two is better than one, and four, or SATB, is even more fun. Nothing beats human voices coming together in a final perfect cadence, finding the place where all is resolved.
Curiosity
This afternoon Lazaros ceilidh band braved the cold and did a jamming sesh at the Manchester Christmas Markets. I am always struck while busking how little children inevitably slow down, stop and stare at us, the performers. They have a natural curiosity which makes playing in freezing conditions worthwhile. Some of them will smile and dance, too, but the vast majority of them will gaze and gaze, almost unblinking, drinking everything in with intense concentration. The fact that they get their parents to stop and give us money is also a plus, of course!
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| Lazaros Ceilidh Band |
Part of the reason for me reviving this blog is to try to answer my questions... Why did I choose music? Why is it so HARD? What is it I really love about it? What do I want to do with it? May I always be curious, like a little child... 'The Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these'.
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