Last night I attended the Gay Mens Chorus and BCPA concert at the Miller Outdoor theatre. I have an unfettered admiration for the brave selection of music made by the Artistic Director Kenneth Clayborne. By aspiring to a more ambitious quality of music we were able to see and hear the men and women’s choruses strive for beauty. It reminded me of when Jerry and I arrived in Houston and sang with them –below my reflections at the time. It reminds me of why I fell in love with America and Houston. AMERICAN BEAUTY AND THE GALVESTON RETREAT As the first concert of the season approaches the chorus spent a whole Saturday rehearsing in a charming hotel (Rebuilt after the hurricane of 1900) in the seaside town of Galveston. Galveston is to Houston what Brighton is to London, or Sitges is to Barcelona. It was a solid day of musical rehearsal interspersed with socializing, eating, coffee drinking, smiles and laughter. It was about mid afternoon when time and motion suddenly stopped. I unexpectedly found that I had stopped singing and was crying. Here I was, standing in the midst of 150 singing men crying…I felt at first a feeling of embarrassment mixed with the ensuing realization that gradually creeps up on you – that you have lost control – that now its your emotions that have, without asking for permission or waiting for a more suitable private moment or space, have decided that this is the time that they will express themselves. Here I was, transported to that exquisite bitter-sweet realm of tears, aching heart, lump in back of throat, eyes puffed up and watery, avoiding eye contact with those around me. Was it the lyrics of a particularly poignant song that led to my having to stop singing and start crying? I was surrounded by 150 warm, gentle, men striving to achieve musical excellence; All around me I could feel and hear the vibrations of their harmonious chords, some like Jerry well versed in music, some like me eager to do their best; Jerry was standing next to me gentle and steadfast, his musical ability always comforting; As I looked behind the conductor I could see past the classical columns and pilasters with golden Corinthian capitals that adorned the wonderful room where we sang, through the open doors across the veranda to the open sea and blue skies of Texas and the Gulf Coast. Sometimes when hearing the stunning beauty of the soloists or in a moment of awareness of someone’s voice near you, the magic of music transforms an ordinary human being into a person expressing beauty. Whilst practicing our dance routines (‘choralography’…) the observance of a colleagues graceful gesture, elegant movement, or humorous flaw; After the rehearsal we adjourned to a local bar – Budweisers, pool, chatting, joking, laughter. Americans in general are so good at socializing… with ease, enthusiasm and a generosity of spirit. The evening ended with the chorus descending upon a delightful local restaurant where the stresses of the day were transformed into a combination of gentle camaraderie and riotous laughter. It is when I bear witness to, and am able to be a part of events like those of today that I am able to see beauty, I am able to feel humbled, I am able to feel lucky and privileged, that I am able to feel more alive. It is whilst reflecting on those moments of tears that I recall the young man in the film ‘American Beauty’ whose obsession with videoing all he sees because he sees such beauty all around him. It may not be in the nature of man to behold so much beauty around him as a commonplace. However today I was able to capture a moment of beauty and like the boy in the film, add to my list of beautiful moments.
Posted on: Sat, 21 Sep 2013 21:49:42 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015