Music

Can I just say that I love music? One of my callings right now is choir pianist. I have done this for years and so I feel comfortable enough - but I am also stretching as the chorister is a purist for timing as opposed to Tamara who was more about the feeling (not that Tamara didn't care about timing). And, I have always been more about feeling and so this is VERY good for me - needless to say - my metronome and I are becoming VERY good friends! LOL

I enjoyed playing for the choir, especially during holiday seasons or for special numbers because the music "spoke to me" and seemed to help me get in the mood faster than anything else I ever could do to get there. When our children were little it seemed that we sang children's songs all the time - especially nursery and primary songs. When the kids were in YW/YM I loved having their music in our home and having the kids sing around the piano - songs such as "Jesus Was No Ordinary Man," Called to Serve," or "The Work and the Glory."

I knew there was power in music to change lives, to bring the spirit into our lives. I am eternally grateful for the power of the spirit and music that enveloped Desi, Cherstin, and I as we played together. Perhaps there was nothing there but cacophony by anyone else's standards - but we could feel it and we were changed by it. Truly blessings were poured out upon our heads.

I never hear "Consider the Lillies" and not think of my mother. She too loved music and could feel its power. I will always be grateful to her for her patience and encouragment. There were many lessons that I "ditched." Sister Peterson was a good teacher but I just didn't enjoy my lessons after a while, like so many others, at that difficult stage where progression isn't readily seen or heard (especially if you don't practice LOL). I don't really know how much of Sister Peterson's time or my mother's money I wasted - let alone what I could have learned - but I am grateful my mom just never gave up on me. In fact, she got me a great teacher when we lived in Augsburg and a teacher when we lived in K-Town too. As I got older she would listen and tell me she could feel what I was "feeling" in my playing - that made me feel good. Oh, how I wish I could tell her that today.....

I remember when "I Am a Child of God" was first published for our use. It came through the Primary for the annual Sacrament Meeting Program. It seems that that song, and a few others too, have always been a part of me. Even when I had just heard it for the first time it seemed as though I had always known it. When the new Hymn Book was published there were songs in it that were "new" but felt so familiar. "Because I Have Been Given Much," "Lord, I Would Follow Thee," or "Press Forward, Saints." I often have wondered how that could be.

When I was a teen living in Germany Alexander Schreiner, the Tabernacle Choir Organist, came to visit. He spent time with all organists and "aspiring" organists of our stake to teach us a little bit about the organ and music in the Church. After our meeting some of us were standing around chatting with him and he was gracious enough to spend that time with us in an unfettered way. I remember telling him about "I Am a Child of God" and how it had always felt a part of me. I asked him if he thought it was possible that the "inspiration" that some sacred music composers describe was necessary because it really was a hymn from our "Heavenly Hymnal" and could that be why it seemed so familiar - because it was. He responded that he didn't know - but that he too had felt that inspiration as he had composed hymns and as he had sung others that "he knew." Sometimes I just wonder. It kind of makes sense to me if we're going to come forth with songs of everlasting joy - don't we all have to know the same song? I can't imagine being in that chorus or choir!

Both Cherstin and Desi have shared how much they love the new song they are learning and teaching the children in their wards this year. I wonder if it is one that is and will be sung by Heavenly Choirs. I don't know - but I sure hope each of us learns it and that it fills each of our hearts with the redeeming love of our Savior. Seems to me that we are going to need it!