A pianist friend confided that what she sees in musical composition changes over time—when she looks at  sheet music, especially ones she has loved and played over the years.  What she saw in the score  at age 18 changed when she was 35 in the exact same sheet music. Fast forward another few decades, and she confirms that she can see in the same composition fresh dimensions.  

I can’t repeat the music terminology she used, save that she saw new ways of playing old favorites. 

Do you see fresh dimensions in many old favorites — musical compositions —as you  “mature?” 

The times since March 2020 are adjusting how I see– hear– old favorites, including musical compositions! 

Remember I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing? 

That ad for CocaCola came out around Christmas in 1971 . . .   Its lyrics   have never seemed more . . . wistful.  Such a gentle hope it expressed in a time when we were adjusting to the times after 1968.

When I came to  believe in a God who is love, shelter, and kindness — and would restore me from all the insanity that came with the 1960’s, I heard hymns and carols with new understanding. I had hope maybe we could teach the world to sing! (Joel 2:25 )

Now, Not So Much

This Christmas, 2021, listening to hymns and carols is a wee bit more bittersweet than 1971. As I digest the news that a new variant of COVID is reordering the Holidays, what I hear is things are still broken . . . . Especially when some in the church still see following or not following simple health protocols as a political stand.

Masking is a choice — but it’s a common-sense and kind one!  (A link to an old article: Why Christians Should Be Wearing Masks.)

Here’s hoping not only our hearts are open, but our ears attuned to better refrains than “Masking is my decision.”

Alexander Solzhenitsyn wrote, “You can resolve to live your life with integrity. Let your credo be this: Let the lie come into the world, let it even triumph. But not through me.”

In all the musical compositions that surround us this Holiday season, what fresh dimensions of old favorites do you hear,  dear reader ?  Are you hear anything different in these various compositions as you listen?

 Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above
While mortals sleep the angels keep their watch of wondering love
Oh morning stars together, proclaim thy holy birth.
And praises sing to God the king, and peace to men on earth.

Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

You Might like Christmas Carols and Coffee

 I hope you don’t need this WSJ link: What to do if I test positive for Covid.

And the strongest emotion was that life was as precious as it was puzzling. It was an ecstasy because it was an adventure; it was an adventure because it was an opportunity. ~G. K. Chesterton