Let music live

Today's choir rehearsal began somberly. Our director, Mrs. Brumley, broached the subject of the passing of two of her friends, one being Barry Horn. She talked for a short while about how he loved not only the arts in general but the University Master Chorale. According to her, he helped raise funds so that the choir could make trips overseas to Ireland and Italy. While it is definitely a sad moment in the organization's history, we can only learn from it and move on with the passion people like Mr. Horn had for the arts and hope we can give back even half as much.

The next thing that happened seemed to be perfectly called for, so much so that it was hardly detectable at the moment. Mrs. Brumley quitely finished her speech on these losses and went on to the first song we were to go over, "The Awakening".

I can only wish that we had had an audience. While not all the notes were perfect and by no means am I claiming that we were simply worth someone else's time, I wish that an "outsider" could have witnessed and felt the meaning behind the music and lyrics of the song and how they somewhat coincidentally related to the news of these passings. The song starts off sadly and quietly- representing today, the news off the passings but then the arrangement gradually brightens in mood and in volume, lightening the feeling of the music to a happy, cheerful mood with the words "Awake! Awake!" and ending with the phrases "Let music never die in me...let music live!"

If we can learn anything from moments like these it's that, even if the world around you is crashing, the music of happier times will lift our spirits. This is most of all what I wish for people who have a very small understanding of the arts.

It's something you have to experience to understand but once you do, it's your lifeline.