When the music becomes part of the musician

I went to an incredible concert/recital tonight. The newest member of the UWEC piano faculty (Alexandre Dossin) was playing. I had heard good things about his playing but had not yet experienced it for myself. It was a wonderful event.

I guess there are two things I noted about his playing. One, the melody was always sparkling above the rest of the music. Every note was under complete control in volume, timing, and length. The keys were his to command and the melody always soared.

Secondly, it was as if these pieces had never happened before. He played as though the thought of this music had just occurred to him. The music was in the moment, happening as we listened. I thought about this and wondered if that can only happen when the performer has so absorbed the music that it becomes part of him. He is not repeating another's ideas. They have become his ideas. Then he can state them with all the freshness of originality.

And I also thought about the difference between learning in such a way that you can recite your teacher's ideas. Whether you have memorized a catechism or just spent a long time studying someone's ideas, the result is often the same. You sound like you are puppeting another's work and teaching. But when you absorb the teaching into your thinking, analyze and accept or reject each tenet, it becomes your own. You speak it in your words, your personality--and from your heart. The ideas become fresh and gain power. There is life in your words.

And then there is the ultimate Teacher with the perfect Textbook. What better way to fill our minds than with the Scripture itself. But we don't want to recite verses in a preachy way or flippantly. Have you ever known someone who was so steeped in the Bible that the words flowed naturally from his mouth? Someone who has spent so much time in God's Word that he has begun to actually think like God? I have met those who are growing in this way. (We won't "get there" in this life.) And when I do, my heart is immediately connected to these brothers because we share intimate and personal.

Enough of my contemplating. I have been meaning to get on here to add a couple good brothers to my list. I debated how to handle this since both are named Andrew. I was introduced to both as Andy, but one does use Andrew at times. So Andy is Paul's roommate and Andrew is the one I've attended church with for the last 3 years. Got that? lol

Go visit Andrew's blog now. He's got a good entry about vision. I get on that topic from time to time. And "Be Thou My Vision" has long been a favorite song. Thanks, brother.

Then you can check out Andy's blog. He hasn't written in the last week and a half, but he's also in school. Now what is my excuse for not writing since I'm not in school?

Enough for now. Maybe I'll blog about Scottish whistle music next time, but I'd need to put in the cd and listen while I wrote.