And now...for some thoughts on something beautiful in Abilene...
I just came back from a concert performed by the Abilene Christian University Chamber Orchestra. (My friend Emily Lafont is their PRINCIPAL Oboe player. :) ) The first piece they played was "Five Variants of 'Dives and Lazarus'" by R. Vaughan Williams. It was a BEAUTIFUL piece. I can't even describe to you the wonder my heart felt at hearing this fine music played by fine musicians. It almost brought me to tears, and I don't cry.
And it got me to thinking about the nature of beauty. Was Baden Baden SO beautiful to me not because it was actually the most beautiful place I'd ever been, but rather simply because it had been weeks since I'd seen a sunset? Was Williams' piece SO moving because it had been so long since I'd heard such music played live rather than because it is a truly exquisit piece?
I don't know much about music, and even less about sunsets, so I guess I'll never know unless one of you reading this happens to be an expert on music or sunsets and wants to tell me. Untill then, I'll just sit in quiet gratitude for the beauty I see, hear, smell, taste and feel around me.
The final piece the orchestra played was a jazz-inspired work called La Creation du Monde (The Creation of the World) by Darius Milhaud. This piece was very difficult, but they played quite well. I was really impressed. As I listened, I also found myself watching the musicians. It was funny to me how they seemed to match their instruments. For example, the principal violinist, or the concertmaster, was very put together. His black clothes matching his dark, gently-combed hair and his posture strong, allowing him to look intimidating without looking mean. His was very, very focused on his music and his gently moving hand both grabbed my attention and unnerved me as it looked -- like most Violinist's hands do -- like his hand actually had no power of its own, but was barely holding onto the bow and being pushed up by the arm.
Just a few seats over, the saxaphone player was so cool. He was a tall man, kind of lanky with whispy hair that looked like it had been stuck down to his forehead with gel. He sat comfortably, almost slouching, in his chair and moved his shoulders and back as he played. It was the most fun to watch this guy's face. His eyebrows changed with every note, and I could guess what emotional charge the next set of music might hold simply by watching his face. It was wonderful seeing someone so connected to his music.
The Cellist , though, was my favorite. She had the elegance of someone who knew she was important, but the coolness of someone who intimately loves her instrument. She had black high-heals on and played with intensity and focus, yet as she held the large, stringed-cello against her body, she seemed sometimes to be laughing with the music. The knee of her beautiful black pants bore the white mark of the occasional brush of her bow.
Needless to say, it was a great night.
If you'd like to hear the Williams piece, you can check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZ4bx4r1VeQ
The video that accompanies it is kind of trippy, so just minimize the screen and listen.
The first part of the jazzy, Milhaud piece can be heard here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGN0je3x8_M
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