As I climb the stairs to the organ loft I anticipate the coming hours of music, encouragement and a spiritual cleansing of sorts. I wish I could describe what happens sometimes as I sit there working through the music. Today I opened a book I've had since I first began organ study - it's called "The Treasury of Early Organ Music". I've learned a few of the pieces, but I have struggled in the past to connect with it's music. It's old...very old. Some of it is chant-like and most of it is in minor keys. I wanted to learn them, I wanted to love them, but I couldn't seem to claim them as mine...until today.
My teacher came up as I was playing through one and he was thrilled I had chosen to work on them. He encouraged me to keep at them and I asked him - how do I make them relevant and real for today. He told me to love them...then he left.
I began with his first suggestion...a beautiful piece that I've heard him play many times - it makes a lovely wedding march. It looked daunting, but he had told me to take it slow. I did. It wasn't nearly as scary as I had made it out to be for the last 20 years! I made it through...it isn't pretty yet, but it's do-able.
I turned the pages to one of the chants. I had learned it before, but stopped playing it because I couldn't make it applicable to today's worship. I played it through and remembered why I liked it before. I changed the registration to strings - which didn't really make sense if I stopped to think about it - and...amazing...I loved it. The entire piece changed character; as my fingers pressed one note and then the next...it was growing and evolving and together the instrument and I were creating something brand new out of something old...breathing in new life...It's an amazing experience. I'm so excited to spend the summer focusing my practice efforts out of this one book...a "treasure" to be sure.
I'm blogging tonight because I want to try very hard to discipline myself to not get on here in the morning - or if I do, make my time very brief - for cursory reading purposes only. I want to hit the floor running - I have much cleaning and organizing to do and I want to get it done so the rest of the summer can be mine to focus on my weight loss, music and scrapbooking. I don't know what the future holds for us, but I want to be as ready as I can be for whatever God brings our way.
Psalm 98:4
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth; make a loud noise, and rejoice and sing praise.
I have always wanted to play the organ....long ago my husband (then) bought me a small organ and I tried and tried but never succeeded. I believe that music is the gateway to our souls.
ReplyDeleteThat's too bad that you weren't successful. Despite what we are led to believe in the beginning, it is so different from the piano that I think it's difficult to learn on your own. I believe when it comes to the organ it is best done with a good teacher and a good instrument - otherwise it doesn't make a lot of sense.
DeleteJulie, I dont play any instrument, and my voice is certainly not good, but I have your love of music and it speaks to my very soul. Sometimes at church I get more peace through the music than the message. I applaud you for working on that book this summer. Wish you could make a 'you tube' of you playing so that we might enjoy it too!
ReplyDeleteI second Linda's wish...I would love to hear you play. At the funeral I attended yesterday, the opening song was "The Old Rugged Cross", which takes me back to my childhood days in church! An old hymn that I love, and it was played on the pipe organ. I was so beautiful, my insides were vibrating!! How wonderful that you got that connection while playing from your "Treasury" book. Awesome.
ReplyDeleteThat's wonderful.... how your music experience changed. I can only imagine the thrill you felt. I'm jealous. hahaha
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about the computer in the morning. I have to stop this too. The whole morning is gone and I have nothing accomplished.