Focus on Education A Night at the Concert

Tonight I treated myself to an unusual treat — one that I hadn’t done for a long time. I turned off the television and instead spent several hours listening to musical compositions by favorite composers. To create the mood of a concert hall, I turned down the lights, sat in a comfortable chair, leaned back and closed my eyes letting myself drift into the music. The conductor stepped on the podium, raised his baton and the concert began.

As the music lilted into the room from Frede Grofe’s “Grand Canyon Suite,” performed by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, I was instantly transported to the natural Colorado wonderland. Grofe’s suite with its bright primary colors, romantic lyrical melodies and frankly realistic pictorialism painted in my mind’s eye this magnificent creation of God. My favorite part is “On the Trail” with its hee-haws of the donkeys and cowboy sound. The “Cloudburst” reminded me of cloudbursts I had witnessed shrouded by a beautiful Indian summer moon.

As the suite faded, I put on several Gregorian Chants which I have always enjoyed. Gregorian Chants are ancient monophonic melodies, preserved and widely performed within the Roman Catholic Church. My soul felt serene as I listened to the group of monks singing the glory of Christ’s Last Supper. I sat in a pensive and reflective mood.

In Gregorian Chants, all the monks sing in unison in praise of God. Each monk blends his voice in harmonious expression of his love for the Church. The chants are perhaps the most pure form of man’s lyrical expression for his love of God.

Wanting to hear something lighter, I asked Nana Mouskouri , the winsome and lovely Greek singer, to sing several of my favorites. she complied by singing “Only Time will Tell” about how love changed our lonely lives. Then she followed with the stirring and patriotic “Song for Liberty” written by Verdi for one of his operas. But I was really pleased when she looked at me and smiled and began to softly sing “Ave Maria.” Only an angel sings as lovely as she does.

Again I needed a change of mood. What could be more different and exciting but to listen to “Amazing Grace” played by the Pipes and Drums and Military Band of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. Picture these masculine men in Scottish quilts marching in precision as they play their bagpipes and other instruments. Thrill to “Scotland the Brave” and then sit in a meditative mood as they play the slow but soulful “Going Home.”

For the finale, I selected Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 6 ‘Pathetique’” as performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra. In the words of the composer, “ The theme is full of