April's Life Adventures

Thursday, November 10, 2005

Euphoria

I am always surprised by the feelings of euphoria that come after playing in a good concert. I find that I am completely happy no matter what is going on in my life. I had another concert last night and it was fabulous!

We performed that 20th century piece by Samuel Barber that I told you all about a few weeks ago. We were all pretty nervous about it because we botched it completely at the dress rehearsal. Last night however, it was almost perfect! We also played the Nutcracker Suite which includes the ever popular Trepak or Russian Dance. My personal favorite, it is a great show stealer, and even though you are not supposed to clap after it because it is only a movement of a large piece, there were a couple of whoops that the audience could not contain.

There is something magical about being up on stage and knowing that the audience is there to hear you. It transforms a few musicians into something magical. Makes me feel that I am more than just me, if that makes sense. I am part of a greater whole, I am one of many and although my part is important, the entire group is what really matters.

I never realized just how much I missed being part of a good orchestra. When I was married, we lived in a college town where the orchestra really wasn't very good. I found myself growing frustrated with the group, and the conductor in particular, so I quit. I decided that my time would be better spent with my new husband. Now that I am back in an area with the option of a good orchestra, I find that giving up one night a week is no sacrifice at all. It is addictive, it is amazing, and most of all it is part of who I am. May I always live in a place where music is an option.

As Oliver Wendell Holmes once said "Take a music bath once or twice a week for a few seasons, and you will find that it is to the soul what the water bath is to the body."

Posted by April_Mommy :: 10:03 AM :: 5 comments