Consider this an addendum to what I posted this morning. Today was a full day. We spent three hours at a gathering of Old Members of Univ - University College Oxford, where my beloved spouse got an M. Litt while on a Marshall. From there we went to a concert at the Kennedy Center.
It was the initial concert of what will be Norman Scribner's final year of directing the Choral Arts Society, a large orchestral chorus here in DC. This concert was dedicated to 4 works by 20th Century Masters.
The four works were
Stravinsky - Symphony of Psalms
Lauridsen - Lux Aeterna
Bernstein - Chichester Psalms
Prokofiev - the Cantata from Alexander Nevsky (minus the Battle on the Ice, which is purely orchestral).
All four are works I know.
It has been a while since I have been in a concert hall. I listen mainly to recorded music.
The experience was of course very different. Very moving.
Thomas Jefferson said he could not live without books. I sympathize as I look at the thousands upon thousands in this house.
But I also cannot live without music. Perhaps I will infrequently play. After throat surgery several decades ago, I gave up singing in choirs.
I realized this afternoon that sitting at a performance and having the sound surround me is something that has been missing in my life.
Somehow, whatever I decide for how I spend my time and earn the money I need to survive, I must budget both time and money for attending concerts.
Music.
It is as much a part of who I am as is teaching or writing.
Glad I got to remember that today.
Thank you to Leaves on the Current, beloved spouse, who insisted we attend this concert and purchased the tickets.
Peace.