Music Appreciation
The only thing angels bring to earth; the one thing we carry up to heaven
At the Shamrock a few weeks ago I noticed this poster for a free concert. The Pan-European Choir meets somewhere in Europe twice a year for a week, then puts on a concert to the locals. Music Director Candy Verney is exceptionally talented at arranging familiar songs for choirs and training anyone to sing them.
St. Anne’s church in Killult has no electrical service. The light in the windows in that picture is produced by a noxious generator. Before the concert starts, the priest lights the candles in four candelabra, then shuts off the machine.
It’s a perfect atmosphere for singing, though everyone is wearing coats.
As promised, the choir sang songs from Ireland, Iceland, Georgia, France, and even America: “King of the Road” by Roger Miller. They ended with “The Parting Glass.”
I recorded this locally popular Irish-language song.
An early writing teacher told me if I wanted to be a writer, I should listen to live music, especially jazz or folk with their familiar tunes. The creative invention and expression I notice would enliven my own imagination.
He was right, but if I have one regret as I lay dying it will be that I didn’t listen to live music often enough.