Uplifted

Today was clear and sunny, warm even, so I walked to Taco Time and had lunch at a table outside, admiring the autumn leaves and the fresh air. Tonight the nearly-full moon has a halo, and it followed me home after a good choir rehearsal. I haven't been to one for two weeks, since I was sick, so it sure felt good to be back and singing high Es and Gs again. I even got to try a quartet/solo part, which went reasonably well; I would like the chance to do a small group solo like this, but there is one other person who is also wanting to try the part. I guess we'll see what happens. I was even happier when we got through all of our pieces in time to practice "O Magnum Mysterium," right before the rehearsal ended. This is a piece we performed two years ago, and is back in the program, to my great delight. It is a beautiful work by Morten Lauritsen, and it never fails to uplift my spirits, not to mention it is a joy to sing. The reverent hush when the piece has come to an end is tangible, and both singer and audience feel that they have just taken part in something beautiful. It's almost as if we have been transported for a moment, back in time to the Nativity of Christ, and we are creating a halo for the King of Heaven whose humble beginnings among the animals is such a wondrous mystery...

[Listen to a sample of the piece here: http://acappella.colormaria.com/HAC98272/HAC98272%5EO_Magnum_Mysterium.mp3 ]

I have found that, being a musician, I get much more time to enjoy the Christmas season, because choirs begin preparing months in advance. Then when other folks have gotten their tree, the lights are up, and they are ready for music to get them "in the mood," we singers provide it. Music traditions of Christmastime have formed some of my strongest memories, and create a link to centuries of music-makers who have also told of the long-ago Nativity.
It may not yet be December, but I confess that I have already sat by the fire with a hot drink, and listened to the unforgettable Mannheim Steamroller arrangement of "O Come O come Emmanuel."
There are so many meaningful Christmas songs that people are no longer familiar with, that are getting forgotten as PC holiday or Santa songs take over and every pop star has their hyper-embellished version of a traditional carol. I just wish that the average person could have the chance/be persuaded to hear a good choir, leave behind the commercialized holiday cheer for awhile, and be uplifted by something that more genuinely feels like Christmas.