auditory irritation

flute playing what would be

an alto line of repeated note

breaks through my concentration

and bids me turn off the radio – now!

mri = music rendered inhospitable

mri = music rendered inhospitable

magnetic resonance imaging

must require a percussion band

on steroids to make that much—

i shall say sound rather than noise

in deference to scientific endeavor—

in such a confined space

but it did help to listen closely to

the quality of each sound so the half

hour went by with me being

musically no more understanding

than when i was slid into that machine

engaging sould and body

music engages soul and body

connecting by rhythm

and movement

with non-self

bringing something and many

someones i would never

know otherwise

within what i feel

and who i am

awakening a joyful noise

handbells uncased, set in line

on cushioned tables ready

to be lifted again in easter joy

(after a lot of practice)

nielsen

john nielsen hunches over the piano keys, caresses a single note, sways

with its reverberations, lifts and allows

each hand to find the music message to bring forth and share

with our congregation with tinkling patterns, runs, bursts

of loud and soft, healing and stirring joy so deep within it fosters memories

of moments of peace with beloveds now long gone from us

sermon without words

high impact concert

high impact concert

Bells of the Cascades

intense individual musicians side by side, playing only

their own few notes as though D through F# on the piano

but creating a musical whole, ensemble

rapid runs, trills, intricate rhythms, varying techniques requiring skill

practiced change from mallet to ring to damping sound on padded table

to switching to chime rung or bowed

dedicated to difficult, complex, ethereal or passionate expression

rapt audience watching, listening

rising to their feet to acknowledge these incredible players made one

by genius young director Matthew Compton