My fondest memories of Christmas are of the music. Despite the overdoing of Christmas songs on some radio stations, and in the malls, and in almost every other public place you might find yourself, I still find that when I want to sink myself into the mood of the season, I look for the music. There is a deep resonance within as I quiet myself and allow the music to fill me. Something deeply familiar in the music recalls the innocence of childhood, and it's eager anticipation of what just might be offered. A time in life when the surprises of gifts and the mystery of Santa Claus filled childish fantasies, sometimes bringing wonderful gifts equal to the anticipation, sometimes offering disappointment. At that time in life however, disappointments in general were minor and easily recovered from.
So now as I find myself all grown up, and the Holiday approaching, the childish eagerness is replaced with, "Will I be able to do enough?", “Why do we have to do this every year?”, or “What can I do or offer to somehow bring meaning into this unavoidable event?” That childishness and eager fantasy seems, oh so far away. Yet, I know I can stir a sentimental place inside of me if I pull out of the most commercial and consumer driven venues and into either the quiet of my own home and my music, or find a holiday concert that will offer a public reassurance that the holiday can be more than spending money and driving the economy with unrealistic, unhealthy materialistic desires.
This weekend there were a couple of nice offerings….. the Gay and Lesbian Chorus held it’s holiday concert, as did the Syracuse Vocal Ensemble. Too late to attend those now. However… Next weekend:
The Syracuse Community Chorus, under the direction of Karen Mihalyi, will be offering their annual concert:
“A Call for Peace.”
Saturday the 16th of December at 7:30 PM
Plymouth Congregational Church, 232 E. Onondaga St., downtown Syracuse.
Also, a very beautiful musical discovery I made a couple of weeks ago, is a CD available from the Syracuse Cultural Worker’s: Lullabies from the Axis of Evil. A deeply moving CD with 15 lullaby selections from the various countries that our President targeted as “The Axis of Evil” shortly after 9-11-01. This will be a hot item on my list of gifts to give this year. A good choice for those on your list who have trouble finding their tears.
Where ever you find it, I hope the season offers an occasion for the joy and remembrance that music stirs inside of you.
Peace of the Season to All.
Donna
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