Air
My father is passionate about the composer, Bach.
There were many afternoons he would call me into the living room to play me one piece or another. He would dust off the cover, and take the record from the sleeve.
As the music played, his eyes would light up as he told me all about it. All about this incredible composer he so loves, Johann Sebastian Bach.
At Christmas time, before any presents could be lifted from beneath the tree, he would ask my brothers and me to sit with him, and see the beauty of the atmosphere around us. The candles lit up on the tree, and in the advent wreath, the plate of stollen and lebkuchen and pffernusse. The gifts so beautifully wrapped and laid. And all the while, a piece from Bach would play.
As I grew older, he would take me with him to concerts. I remember one. It was Good Friday and we sat in the pew of the most exquisite of Catholic churches, while an orchestra, choir and soloists performed Bach’s St Matthew Passion. Chapters 26 and 27 of the Gospel of Matthew set to music. It’s so beautiful. It intrigues me about composers like Bach and Vivaldi, that from what I have read of them, they were men of faith. I like to think of the extraordinary beauty that they have created through their music as somehow reflecting the beauty they experienced of God Himself. Inspired by His extraordinary beauty.
And so after all these years, I have inherited Dad’s love of Bach. Although compared with him, I really know so little. But I do know which pieces of Bach’s I love, pieces that minister such incredible beauty to me.
This is one. It’s called, Air on a G String.
I hope you feel blessed by it in some way too …
That is beautiful Birgit – I LOVE it – Thank you, I will get some onto my ipod and play it to my patients.
I love this music, I’ve heard it so many times as your auntie is so into classical music! I need to get more classical music on my ipod.
Great – I don’t know if you ever listened to my Jacques Loussier (wrong spelling) jazz version of Bach’s music, one of my favourites.
I love this piece too Birgit! And it’s always wonderful to hear people speak lovingly and positively about their parents. Have a great weekend.
One can also see that you had some great memories with your Dad – a treasure :)
Oh, that is just wonderful!
This is beautiful. Whenever I listen to a beautiful piece of music I am kind of amazed by the thought that it comes out of the creative Being of God. There is so much creativity and beauty in God and how wonderful that He has given us the abilities to express and appreciate it.
[...] Audience of One A few interesting emails have gone between my father and me since writing the post below, and so these are a few follow up [...]
An Audience of One « said this on October 7, 2009 at 10:25 am
Annie, that’s lovely, I hope it blesses them. Lovely to hear from you, I miss our walks and our coffees :). Look forward to catching up when we’re next home in NZ, lots of love xo
***
That’s part of the reason I love spending Christmases with Aunty Margret :), she and Dad are so alike with their traditions and love for music. I can’t wait ’til you can join us in Munich one year, Susanne. Love you xo
***
Hi Aunty Lorraine, yeah that does sound familiar. But the LP I always went for at your place was The Piano Man – remember? :) Lots of love xo
***
That’s so lovely, Carol, I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Yeah, I’m very thankful for my parents, and for the happy and special memories like this one. Love to you ox
***
That’s the perfect word Des, these memories are treasured :) xo
***
So lovely you enjoyed it @ngie xo
***
I know exactly what you mean, Rain. The ultimate Creator has gifted us with the ability to create in His image, and it’s such a beautiful thing to me, artists who entrust their gift back to God, and who use it to try and capture something of His beauty.
Lots of love to you Rain, I’ll be emailing soon :) xo
What a great memory to have of your father. Mine taught us all about barbershop quartets and crooning” Bing Crosby style…haha!
I do love this piece. It soothes me.
I once again felt the urge, Birgit, to return to your blog-communication on your childhood-memories revolving around Johann Sebastian Bach and myself, your father.
It was exactly 4 years ago, that – in the dead of night – I ended up in Intensive Care at Wellington Hospital.
It is for some strange reason, that I feel compelled to draw a connection between my down-and-out situation in late Oct. 2005 and my situation now, 4 years later, according to which I am in perfect health, in excellent spirit and in the position to fully appreciate, embrace and enjoy your wonderful gift.
Could it be, that an inner relationship to such beautiful music amongst other factors can – sub-consciously – also generate some ferocious healing-power ?
And i still remember your and Michael’s beautiful lilac flowers, arriving at the Hospital in a dark cane basket. – At the time, I had the most powerful support. I am so grateful !
Love, Dad
Ha, ha, that sounds great Michelle! I remember you saying that you learnt a lot about art and painting from your Dad too.
They are lovely memories aren’t they? :)
Lots of love xo
***
Dad, it’s hard to believe that that terrible night was four years ago! The fact that you ever survived that is so unlikely. I remember the number of people from NZ to the UK who prayed for you that night, and in the time after. The amount of blood that was lost alone meant that you should not have survived. There is no doubt in my mind that it was God’s intervention that preserved your life. What also seemed to confirm God’s involvement for me was the relative strangers who talked with you in the months afterwards – the old Maori lady who said that your Maker had a purpose for your life, the business acquaintance in Auckland who said that he had been led to pray for you.
What a gift that you can look back from a place of perfect health, and excellent spirit, as you mention here, and what a gift to us, that we still have you with us :)
Lots of love to you ox