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Daily Jot: Having a Work Worth Doing
I WENT TO A MIDDLE SCHOOL RECITAL several years ago and had the good fortune of sitting center-way, 17 rows back. It was an excellent place from which to hear the full acoustic resonance of the student orchestra. I could feel the depth of the tuba in the air around me; I could hear, ever so clearly, the melodic continuity of the violins, and the occasional off-key note of a nervous flute player.
Toward the end of the performance, a violin soloist prepared to take center stage. A petite young girl with curly blond hair that didn’t quite reach her shoulders, wearing a yellow crepe dress, walked forward with her instrument. The room went nearly quiet for several seconds. The only sounds were of her shoes walking across the wooden stage, and a few throats being cleared in the back of the room. The orchestra sat restfully behind her, while the audience sat rapt in front of her. The house lights dimmed, and a spotlight enveloped her in a soft amber glow. Then, for a few moments, before her bow touched the strings, the anticipation became palpable; a silence so pure I could hear breathing around me. She played very well, a beautiful piece from Beethoven, and afterward, the audience exploded in applause.
The performance crystallized in my mind. I looked at this young musician and admired her courage. She was solitary, yet not alone. She was without a guiding baton, yet confident in her ability. She was free to play according to the dictates of her heart, but she was well aware of her obligation to her audience.
And so it is for those of us who have chosen a work worth doing.
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