I am having a very hard time staying focused because the weather has been so nice. Yesterday, even though it was windy, I worked in the yard all day. Sometimes I find it necessary to readjust my thinking and take a break from my usual work. I bet you do too. Even with all the distractions, I have nine people who will play at the Greater southwest Music Festival on May4-6. Most of you are preparing your recital pieces and staying prepared as we all face a big case of Spring Fever.
Last week, I mentioned in the blog about how awful it would be to have no music in our lives. Today, I am adding an article written by a person whom I admire. It was shared in a magazine over 15 years ago, however, the subject is still interesting and timely. I hope you enjoy reading it.
24 HOURS WITHOUT MUSIC
WRITTEN BY DOYLE GAMMILL, former coordinator of instrumental music for Lubbock ISD
And so it was decreed by the high powers that there would be no music in the world for 24 hours. No bell, no chimes, no drummers drumming, no singers singing. None. Great symphonies would lay quiet. The world would be absolutely null and void of any sign of melodies. Its birds would be flying frantically in unorganized circles because their voices could not chirp.
If this dreaded day fell on Christmas Eve, there would be no carols; if on Easter, no anthems. If it was the day of the mammoth parade, no marching bands, no musical floats, no choruses, no dances. No whistling, please.
A grandfather passes away and his funeral fall on that day. No hymns. Church services completely void of any melodious sounds. And on the day of the daughter’s wedding, no wedding march. The triumphal trip up the aisle as husband and wife…dead silence, save for the “swish” of the bride’s train.
The football game of the year is tomorrow night but it falls on that night. The pep rally is strange/weird, the game’s halftime performances are nowhere to behold and the cheerleaders labor.(Were the athletes and spectators as fired up as usual?)
For weeks, yea months, the town’s high school students have been tirelessly giving of their time and efforts toward making their musical the one to be remembered. Please explain to them why, on opening night, the audience was forced to close its ears to music’s magic.
The evening of evenings is here and millions of our world’s citizens gather around their television for the presentation of the Oscars. We are sorry that we failed to inform you, but this is the night of no songs, no melodies, no dancers, but do enjoy the show.
When returning home from work, expect no relaxing music on your car radio, nor any in your home. Your television programs will turn bland with only the spoken word, while their continuous stream of commercials will now be unbearable!
And how was your trip to the carnival?
Did you enjoy the music-less circus? During their acts, did the animals respond well to this eerie tranquility? Was it all as thrilling as before?
Or maybe this was the evening that you had planned to propose to the love of your life over candlelight and soft music. How was the atmosphere with only the candles?
Tell me, is 24 hours long enough to prove music’s worth to our day-in, day-out lives? Doesn’t your family yearn to sing “Happy Birthday” to your 3-year old daughter? Would it not be a treat to hear your son practicing trombone in his room again, or your mother softly singing her granddaughter to sleep? Are you glad that this long 24 hours is behind you?
Thank you Mr. Gammill for sharing this.
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