So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. ~Romans 10:17 A friend’s drawl thickens when he calls family in Texas. Another friend, far from her native Taiwan, finds a balm for homesickness in speaking mandarin with newfound friends. This is our heritage: our mother tongue sings our homecoming. What […]
Music: Language of the Spirit Read More »
The psychologist Erik Erikson writes of how in the first stage of our development the primary concern is basic trust versus basic mistrust. For infants, the outer predictability of consistent patterns of care becomes an inner certainty. Trust births hope. This inner certainty runs deeper than memory. It lives in spirit, flesh and bone. And
Musicians have a tendency to pick apart songs. You could say we dissect them but that is too clinical a word – as if we wait until it’s dead to slice up its cadaver. The attitude carried in the word “dissecting” is a sure way to kill a song and leave us cold. Defending the
Musicians picking apart music Read More »
Notice: JavaScript is required for this content.
Were You There for solo cello Read More »
In Mark 9:36 Jesus tells the disciples the one who leads must be “the servant of all.” An accompanist leads as a servant of all. Artistry is ever in service of supporting and augmenting the song of the assembled faithful. Instilling confidence is foremost. Listening and responding is constant. When those around them falter, a
The art of accompanying Read More »
When you a sing near a cello, it vibrates. If you sing the pitch of one of its strings, it will vibrate sympathetically, continuing even after you stop singing. Like us, the cello was made to sing. And when a skilled cellist plays from the heart, a vibration is set up sympathetic hearts attuned to
Sympathetic vibration of the heart strings Read More »
In divine moments, by the Holy Spirit, nature’s beauty uncloses us. Tightly wrapped, we are unbound
Why does Music have such an effect on us? Where does it come from? In the beginning, there was rhythm. In our mother’s womb we hear the beating of her heart and the rhythm of her breath. We feel the stillness and movement and the sleeping and waking of her days. We are born into
Related posts group mind I: like conversation group mind II: transcendence group mind III: the nature of music group mind IV: chemistry group mind V: connection to the audience Insight: For every ensemble, whether in rehearsal or in performance, there is always present, their audience. Always at issue in every rehearsal and every performance is
group mind V: connection to the audience Read More »
Related posts group mind I: like conversation group mind II: transcendence group mind III: the nature of music group mind IV: chemistry group mind V: connection to the audience Insight: When an ensemble really gels and their performance is organic and alive, you’ll hear “That band has great chemistry.” “Chemistry,” is so essential and is
group mind IV: chemistry Read More »
Related posts group mind I: like conversation group mind II: transcendence group mind III: the nature of music group mind IV: chemistry group mind V: connection to the audience Insight: The way “group mind” appears in performance is tied to the nature of music. Music is immersive: We are immersed in sound and by this
group mind III: the nature of music Read More »
Related posts group mind I: like conversation group mind II: transcendence group mind III: the nature of music group mind IV: chemistry group mind V: connection to the audience insight: We all want to be part of something larger than ourselves – something greater that gives our lives meaning. Call it the desire for transcendence.
group mind II: transcendence Read More »
Related posts group mind I: like conversation group mind II: transcendence group mind III: the nature of music group mind IV: chemistry group mind V: connection to the audience Insight: ensemble performance is like a conversation in which everyone can speak about the same topic at the same time and the result makes sense.
group mind I: like conversation Read More »
The phrase “group mind” in reference to ensemble musical performance is intended to gather the following below. These are developed in a series of reflections under “group mind.” (Links listed at bottom) That the collaborative process of ensemble performance results in music that is greater than the sum of its parts. The music takes on
