Final Thoughts on Composers

 As we wrap up Composer Month, I'll admit, I learned some interesting things that I didn't know before. 

   Today's not a recap on anything. Winners will be announced next week. And I'm not giving you any particularly deep thoughts. But there was one moment, one heart-touching moment, in the month that I'd like to share with you -- and I might give you some other random thoughts, too.

   A student who struggles with stage fright was assigned to the Tchaikovsky team. One week, her facts included the following two: Tchaikovsky struggled with stage fright, and Tchaikovsky conducted one of his own pieces on the opening night of -- get this -- Carnegie Hall.

   We then went on to talk about the upcoming Christmas recital, a conversation that brought a frown to her face. I saw a teaching opportunity here, and I reminded her of her own facts she'd brought in: that Tchaikovsky was also afraid. But he didn't let that stop him. He still conducted at this big, important event at this big, important hall back in 1891. "So," I told her, "you can be brave too, like Tchaikovsky!"

   When it comes to Romantic era composers, there's a lot of things that I would say, "Yes, this famous musician lived this way, but that doesn't mean you should do it." (They had colourful and bizarre romantic lives in most cases -- definitely neither Biblical nor healthy! That's putting it politely.) However, here was something that I could point to and say, "This part was actually a good example. You can use this in your music and in your life." Chopin was known for a sensitive nature. Brahms had a generous heart. All three of them contributed beauty to our world. 

   What should a Christian's take on all this be?

       "Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ." 1 Corinthians 11:1. When we look for role models, consciously or subconsciously, we always have to remember that Christ is, first and foremost, our Perfect Example as well as our Saviour. Which means, any behaviour that is not Christ-like, we should not be copying. But the same goes in reverse as well! Which means, whether we're studying history or watching a movie, we always have to be holding everything up to the Light for examination. 



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