A few days ago on Facebook,  I posted something about a sweet moment that occurred during a Tremper High School choir rehearsal when I noticed a young lady in the front row bursting into tears as the men of the choir were singing an especially lovely moment from Beauty and the Beast.   One of the most interesting comments about that came from a friend of mine, Roseanne Mason,  who said “I love how your life is full of music.”  As I read those words,  it occurred to me that I sometimes take this for granted.   It’s not that I take music itself for granted- but I sometimes forget how exceptionally blessed I am to have so much music, and so many kinds of music, in my life – whether as a performer, collaborator,  or audience member.  

Last weekend is a perfect example; it was a veritable smorgasbord of all kinds of music.   It began with the MARVELOUS MALLETS of Carthage’s spectacular Percussion Ensemble, led so brilliantly by Michael Kozakis, playing for the new alumni convocation that kicks off commencement weekend.  I always attend their concerts if I possibly can because it brings back such fond memories of watching Luther band concert back when I was in elementary school.  I would sit up in the front row, all by myself,  as close to the percussion section,  and sit there completely mesmerized by what I saw and heard.   And whenever I’m lucky enough to see our percussion ensemble in action,  I’m suddenly that 10-year-old kid again, agog at what these musicians are able to do.

COLORFUL COAT:  From there,  I ran to the Racine Theater Guild to finally see the Racine Theater Guild’s spectacular production of Joseph and the amazing technicolor dream coat.   The show had opened the previous weekend, but I had to miss every one of those first performances because of various obligations – so this was my first chance to see the show with an audience present … and Joseph is one of those shows where the real magic only occurs when there are people in the audience to get swept up in all of the energy and magic.  But beyond the fun of seeing the show so rapturously received,  it was also neat to see how the cast was giving their all as though it were opening night.  And I already know from having worked with this cast that when this show finally closes on June 3, they will still be giving 110%.

Saturday morning, I got to play piano for the audition of a SUPERB SOPRANO planning to transfer to Carthage in the fall,  and I was reminded of the special pleasure – and challenge – that comes with making music with a complete stranger.  Right after that, I had the pleasure of rehearsing with a TALENTED TRUMPETER by the name of J.R. Buzzell,  a young man from Kenosha for whom I played piano on many occasions while he was in high school.   J.R. is now a student at DePaul University in Chicago and asked me to play piano for him for his year-end jury.   There is something really gratifying about these kind of collaborations that span a number of years,  especially when one sees a young musician grow in skill and confidence over time.

HOLY HEALING:  At 4:00 that afternoon,  I got to engage in music-making that was poles apart from the Hummel trumpet concerto.   My church,  Holy Communion Lutheran Church,  was holding a lovely new healing service developed by Kate Potter-Barrow and Pastor Mark called “Too deep for words.”  It was a highly contemplative service with a mix of prayers, scripture readings,  silence,  and the singing of songs from the Taize community.  The two of them not only crafted the service with great care,  but took equal pains to make sure that the sanctuary itself was as beautiful as could be,  with candles everywhere.

For the songs,  Kate assembled a group of string players – some as young as middle school – and they played beautifully.   Taize is meant to be done “as the Spirit leads,”  with these songs repeated many, many times-  which meant that these young musicians had to watch and listen very carefully as Kate and I led each song.   They did a wonderful job and made what would have already been a very beautiful and meaningful worship service even more so.

 

DUELING DULCIMERS:   About an hour after the conclusion of the healing service,  Holy Communion’s sanctuary became the stage for two brilliant virtuosos of the dulcimer, Brett Ridgeway and Phyllis Woods Brown,  who came to town to do a two-day dulcimer workshop at the invitation of Evie Belland, who belongs to Holy Communion and sings in my senior choir.   I am not a huge folk music fan,  but when it’s done really well,  I’m in – and this performance was inspiring in so many ways.  I especially loved what they said between pieces because it was so much deeper than the usual “the next song I want to do for you is inspired by my grandma’s delicious chocolate chip cookies- I call it ‘the cookies song’ and I hope you enjoy it.”   They were sharing rich and sometimes engrossing stories about their lives, including their joys and heartaches- and their wonderful playing was in some ways the icing on the cake.  I am very glad I came.

(By the way,  the instrument pictured below is not actually a dulcimer- but a reverie harp.  It is often used in hospice settings.)

BEAUTIFUL BACCALAUREATE:   I slipped out just before the concert ended so I could get to Carthage in time for baccalaureate.  I was especially anxious to be there because I was going to have to miss commencement this year,  and this would be my last chance to say goodbye to the seniors.  Baccalaureate used to be Sunday morning but several years ago was shifted to Saturday night and made into an entirely optional event.   Truth be told,  even the old baccalaureate was optional-  it’s not like they would have taken your diploma away if you didn’t go,  but it was a very formal (and Lutheran) event with both graduates and faculty in full academic regalia, and very few people skipped it.   Two years ago,  the decision was made to make the service a bit less formal and much more ecumenical,  and it was a change that at least most of us very much welcomed.   Anyway,  I was impressed with most of the speaker-  but especially Penelope Woodward, the wife of the president,  who spoke very movingly about her personal battle with cancer and how touched and inspired she has been by the passionate way in which so much of the Carthage student body has demonstrated their support of her in numerous fundraisers for cancer research.  And I am very glad I was able to hear the Carthage Choir’s gorgeous singing of several different pieces, including “O Magnum Mysterium” by Memly.  It brought tears to my eyes.   Of course,  most of us are already feeling emotionally vulnerable at the thought of saying goodbye to our seniors-  and when an exquisite piece of music is exquisitely sung,  it’s all over.

BRILLIANT BRASS:  And if all that wasn’t enough for one weekend,   Holy Communion was blessed beyond belief to be joined Sunday morning by the Belle City Brassworks,  a marvelous group conducted by Doug Johnson,  a member of Holy Communion and the coordinator of fine arts for Racine Unified.  Belle City is comprised of first-class musicians,  many of whom are band directors and/or music teachers in Kenosha and Racine,  and in a magnificent space like our sanctuary,  it’s absolutely incredible.  And with our organist Randy Fischer out of the country on vacation,  the task of being organist fell to me-   and what a thrill that was!    The brass sat right up in the back balcony with the organ and we really raised the roof on the hymns,  which included “My hope is built on nothing less” and “Love, Divine, All Loves Excelling.”   I was in heaven.

Some of you may have seen something I posted on Facebook about a Subway employee who said to me the other day “you’re always wearing a musical tie.  Do you play in a band, or something?”

Yeah, something like that.  And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

(P.S.-   Tonight as I’m finishing up this blog entry,   I’m also reveling in the joyous celebration of our niece Anna’s graduation from high school.   Along with all of the delicious food and conversation,  there was also more than two hours of spirited square dancing and a beautiful moment when Anna and the other two girls being celebrated were serenaded by their families and friends.   It was so fitting because music has been an enormous part of the Spencer-Bergs life together …  and I’m sure it’s a huge reason why Aidan, Anna and Kaj are three of the most wonderful young people I’ve ever known.   And I know that music will continue to play a powerful role in all of their lives,  no question about it.

What is it about music?   For one thing,  it is through music that one learns what it means to listen – in the most profound sense of the word.  It is through music that we learn to let down our guard and open up our hearts.  It is through music that we experience the deepest beauties that life has to offer.  And it is through music that we are brought in touch with the One who gives us music and every other blessing that life has to offer us.

Thanks be to God.