Sunday, February 11, 2018

TToT: Holding onto Hope


We had tickets to the symphony last night.  I was tired, and not in the least enthusiastic about leaving the house on a bitterly cold night that was promising to become icy.  In the end I was glad I did.
The program was a celebration of Black History Month.  It opened with pieces from Porgy and Bess; Gershwin is consistently good for my soul. Another set featured pieces by William Grant Sills, the first African-American to compose an opera.
Hands down my favorite part of the night was a powerful delivery of Martin Luther King Jr.'s I Have a Dream speech.  As the poetry of the words spoken in the rich tones of Richard Todd Payne's voice filled the auditorium, the symphony played Precious Lord, Take My Hand and We Shall Overcome in the background. The effect was incredibly moving.  Any residual hesitation about leaving the comfort of my home I might have still clung to melted away as Payne spoke of the symphony of brotherhood and my heart felt a sense of hope for our country that it hadn't felt in a long time.



Ten Things of Thankful
Gershwin
Music that soothes the savage soul
The wise and lovely words of Martin Luther King Jr
A reminder that this country has faced difficult times filled with hate and anger in the past, and has managed to weather the storm
A closely related reminder that this too shall pass
Strong voices who lead in peace through example
Winter
The arts
The company of my husband
My community



18 comments:

  1. Sounds like a beautiful, moving, powerful event! Glad you were able to go.

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    1. Glad I have a husband who urges my introverted self out of the house from time to time!

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  2. The art you included in your post adds to its effect. Kristi said it - beautiful, moving and powerful. And Hope. We need hope.

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    1. The fun of phone cameras and filter apps! Two of the great things about the times we live in.

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  3. I get that same feeling about leaving my house when I am off to go somewhere, but that part where the words of the speech were said with the music as backdrop does sound like a special thing to get to experience. Wow. I do hope for better times ahead, in the US and in the rest of the world at large.

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    1. Yes! I second that. Better times for us all!

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  4. What a fabulous program, i’m glad you got to go!

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    1. It was great. For a small city in the middle of the country, our symphony is quite good. And the director always puts together very entertaining performances.

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  5. (imo) there's a bonus in enjoyment when the decision made (despite all good reasons to the contrary) results in a better time than expected.
    I'm with Val, the artwork (in this post) ...very striking

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    1. I am such a homebody. I can always find reasons not to go, but my hubby gives me a push in the right direction from time to time. So, I am not a total hermit!
      The pics are cell phone plus my prisma app. It is lots of fun.

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  6. Good for you setting aside the elements, feeling tired and venturing out on a winter's night. Sounds like you had an incredible evening. While I've never attended a live symphony I can only imagine the intensity and energy of the music live.
    Very cool photos!

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    1. It is wonderful. We have season tickets this year. Without fail the performances fall on nights that I just want to veg out at home. Yet, I am never sorry we have gone once the music starts.

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  7. Sounds like a nice way to spend the evening. Great list of thankfuls. Have a wonderful week!

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  8. That symphony sounds wonderful! What a lovely, cozy and warm evening (inside) for you and your husband listening to such a beautiful program performed by the symphony.

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    1. It was! (Very nearly as good as hunkering down inside my own home by the fire with a cup of tea!)

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  9. Let's hope this all passes and soon! Glad you had a lovely night! It would have been hard for me to get out, too, because once I'm home, I don't like to leave again.

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    1. I know! That resistance to going out again has only gotten stronger with age...and I can pinpoint its beginnings to the first semester I taught following college graduation. So, you know it has had time to develop!

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Penny for your thoughts.