Saturday, November 05, 2005

Program Note, and Autobiographical Note Too

SWNID recommends that all gentle readers make time Sunday to listen to St. Paul Sunday on their local NPR classical music affiliate (FM 90.9 WGUC in Cincinnati, airing at 6 p.m.). Yes, even gentle readers who don't care for classical music should hear this program.

Why? Because clarinetist Anthony McGill, formerly of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and now of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, is performing Brahms Second Clarinet Sonata. McGill is an enormous talent, and ridiculously young. He plays with a luminous tone and tremendous feeling for the music. And the Brahms clarinet works are the great composer's valedictory works, pieces that he "came out of retirement" to compose. They are beautiful, delicate, mature, emotionally rich.

Even people who don't like classical music will enjoy this classical music.

For SWNID, programs like this one confirm that we made the right career choice. Back in the mid-70s, as we practiced many hours under the tutelage of master teacher Achille Rossi, we seriously contemplated a career as a classical clarinetist. Life took another turn--we believe under the direction of divine providence. And we have no regrets.

Now we listen to artists like McGill playing the instrument that we still play and love, and we rejoice in their talent and in the beauty of their art. This for us is a blessed outcome.

There are no wasted days or efforts when we follow the Nazarene.

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