It’s peculiar. Not for a moment then, nor when re-reading it during the following five years, did I detect any endorsement of a religious viewpoint.

Quite the reverse. While the article marvels at the as yet unknown secret nature of music, it clearly hints at a glorious future when religions are no more.

His touching parable involving the music of (the gay communist and atheist) Aaron Copland might have tipped off some of your more erudite readers.

It is a shame that acoustic music playing and the writing of music has dwindled with the advent of guitar hero and the ‘everyone gets a medal’ attitude of scholastic equality. Music can be written and played by everyone. It not only is fun to play but it makes you feel good. There is a euphoria that is not obtained any other way. You may feel the bass in a rock concert, but that pales in comparison to sitting in a section doing your part in the majesty that is a large ensemble.

I recommend this book to anyone wanting to get out and play music again or for the first time: http://www.keepingthebeat.com/main.html

Thanks for posting this.

Kristen Abaquin, an Abilenian, is entering the Boston Conservatory as a grad student. That’s one of the best music schools. proud of her.

The Brahms Requiem was just done here by a large interdenominational chorus and orchestra on Palm Sunday. It is the caliber of music that befits the occasion of memorializing 9/11/01. I was completely beyond words when we finished. Performing it (including the intense rehearsals) was an emotionally, mentally and physically strenuous endeavor. Especially emotionally. “Blessed are the dead, who in the Lord shall die” “How lovely are thy dwelling, O Lord most high” You can say the words, but if you sing them the way Brahms wrote them, and know someone in the audience who needs to hear them, it is so far beyond the mere words….

As I was leaving a performance of Beethoven’s 9th symphony with my neice a couple of weeks ago we were discussing creativity, how God is THE creator, and we were created in His image. Not only did he create music–the stars sing!–but any creativity is God-designed. My neice is a writer and can feel God’s power at work in her when she creats her characters.

I’m not a professional singer, but sang in a little Valentine’s Day banquet once, and can still remember the couple who exchanged “the look” and an arm around shoulders when I sang “their song” How could I have evoked that kind of reaction only saying the words?

God is so good. Music is something that really comes from the core of our being, which He created.

I agree with markemo: “in His image” does become a little clearer as I contemplate this.