Sunday Musings - August 19, 2018
Last evening, thanks to a generous friend who had an extra ticket, I attended a performance of the Cleveland Symphony at the Blossom Music Festival. As I looked at the giant pavilion covered in slate and housing a large seating area and a giant stage with a rich wooden design for the sound walls and ceiling I was filled with awe and gratitude. (There is a huge curved steel beam forming the frame for the structure. One can look on line to get more information. The structure was designed by architect Peter van Dijk.)
Well over a hundred musicians joined the guest conductor James Gaffigan and the guest pianist Stephen Hough to present a program of music composed by Barber, Mendelssohn, and Sibelius. The rich sounds washed over the crowd in the seats and on the lawn where many more were seated. People of all nationalities and representing many cultures were nurtured by the magical sounds of the various instruments playing together.
Sadly, being able to attend such an event requires a generous host such as the one I had or enough money for the ticket(s) and safe transportation. There may have been some whose attendance was sponsored, but, in general, these sorts of evens are not designed for those who struggled just to pay the bills including school supplies.
Certainly, the internet gives even the poor access to a wide range of music and art then once was possible. Yet, I also know that when schools cut or “trim” budgets it is the arts program which often are the first to be eliminated.
Some museums have a free evening and/or day every week. Some schools still sponsor field trips to museum and other cultural attractions.
Many communities have free summer concerts. Here in Wheeling, WV, where I am now living, during the summer there is a weekly free concerts and also some lunch time free concerts. They Wheeling Symphony also offers some free concerts and works with local students.
Some of us, no matter what our early economic or cultural background, have been blessed to find our way to the arts. Luck, fate, accidental meetings and other chance events can ignite the spark of creativity.
Some of us, no matter what our economic or cultural background, will not have the creative spark ignited or will have it snuffed out by addiction, mental illness or the daily struggle of basic survival.
I am reminded that the poet Niki Giovanni once said that that it is sad enough that money and opportunity are so unequally shared, but just as sad is to have the privilege of money and opportunity and not enjoy or make good use of it. (I have no idea how accurate I am quoting her but my memory tells me this is the gist of what she said.)
Humility means many things but, for me. It means reminding myself to be grateful for all that has been given me, to make good use of all that has been given to me, to remember that I am not more deserving than others of what has been given to me. Accidents of birth, the generosity and faith of others, and other events for which I can take no credit allow me to live in a nice home, to be healthy enough to work and to enjoy such events at the performance at Blossom as well as the art of the pavilion.
It is not okay for these gifts to be withheld from many. It is not okay if I take them for granted or fail to appreciate them.
Written August 19, 2018
Last evening, thanks to a generous friend who had an extra ticket, I attended a performance of the Cleveland Symphony at the Blossom Music Festival. As I looked at the giant pavilion covered in slate and housing a large seating area and a giant stage with a rich wooden design for the sound walls and ceiling I was filled with awe and gratitude. (There is a huge curved steel beam forming the frame for the structure. One can look on line to get more information. The structure was designed by architect Peter van Dijk.)
Well over a hundred musicians joined the guest conductor James Gaffigan and the guest pianist Stephen Hough to present a program of music composed by Barber, Mendelssohn, and Sibelius. The rich sounds washed over the crowd in the seats and on the lawn where many more were seated. People of all nationalities and representing many cultures were nurtured by the magical sounds of the various instruments playing together.
Sadly, being able to attend such an event requires a generous host such as the one I had or enough money for the ticket(s) and safe transportation. There may have been some whose attendance was sponsored, but, in general, these sorts of evens are not designed for those who struggled just to pay the bills including school supplies.
Certainly, the internet gives even the poor access to a wide range of music and art then once was possible. Yet, I also know that when schools cut or “trim” budgets it is the arts program which often are the first to be eliminated.
Some museums have a free evening and/or day every week. Some schools still sponsor field trips to museum and other cultural attractions.
Many communities have free summer concerts. Here in Wheeling, WV, where I am now living, during the summer there is a weekly free concerts and also some lunch time free concerts. They Wheeling Symphony also offers some free concerts and works with local students.
Some of us, no matter what our early economic or cultural background, have been blessed to find our way to the arts. Luck, fate, accidental meetings and other chance events can ignite the spark of creativity.
Some of us, no matter what our economic or cultural background, will not have the creative spark ignited or will have it snuffed out by addiction, mental illness or the daily struggle of basic survival.
I am reminded that the poet Niki Giovanni once said that that it is sad enough that money and opportunity are so unequally shared, but just as sad is to have the privilege of money and opportunity and not enjoy or make good use of it. (I have no idea how accurate I am quoting her but my memory tells me this is the gist of what she said.)
Humility means many things but, for me. It means reminding myself to be grateful for all that has been given me, to make good use of all that has been given to me, to remember that I am not more deserving than others of what has been given to me. Accidents of birth, the generosity and faith of others, and other events for which I can take no credit allow me to live in a nice home, to be healthy enough to work and to enjoy such events at the performance at Blossom as well as the art of the pavilion.
It is not okay for these gifts to be withheld from many. It is not okay if I take them for granted or fail to appreciate them.
Written August 19, 2018
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