Random thoughts on God and Music

So I was thinking the other day about music and how I compare music to God...


"God is Love."
"Music is the food of Love."
"You are what you eat."
Ergo, God is Music. Dumb, I know, but still...I'm a geek, what can I say?

During times of trial people tend to turn to God more than during times of joy. Only when they need something do they approach Him. (I'm guilty of this as well.)  In my observations, people treat music the same. 

Renee Fleming was asked to sing at a ceremony at Ground Zero shortly after 9/11.  She mentions in her book how she thought it was odd...having a singer who is not neccessarliy "mainstream" (like say Mariah Carey) sing.  She contemplated several reasons...I'm not going to delve into them here, you'll have to read her book, but I will say people turned to music (God) as a source of comfort and solace from the tragedies that came before.

A female friend of mine was recently (okay, "recently" meaning several months ago...) frustrated about a guy (men are dumb, but than so are women).  She listened to the loudest song she could get her hands on.  (For some loud, fast songs work.) 

Another time, I pulled into the drive through window at the bank.  The first window, where the teller has to stick the box thing out so you can provide the information for the transaction you wish to make.  The teller was puttering around inside (I could see her quite easily) and another vehicle pulled up to the second window...The other person was helped first.  I was mad!  At the exact moment the teller began to help me ("how can I help you today?") a very relaxing piece began.  Rachmaninoff's Vocalise with Dame Kira te Kanawa.  It instantly calmed me down.  Thankfully for the teller.  I was just about to say something, but how could I? 

When I need to concentrate and my ADD is making that next to impossible, I put on the score to Mr. Holland's Opus, Handel's Water Music, Beethoven's 5th Symphony, or something like that. 

Music also helps out with our physical needs.  Several years ago, when I has getting over the stomach flu (I've had it since than...) and still not feeling up to par, but had to go do something, I sang the entire way there.  I don't remember what, but it helped. 

And now, schools are cutting their music budgets.  People are cutting the arts out of their lives.  The arts are important!  There seven styles/ways of learning/teaching (music being one) and music covers all of them.  Music is math.  (Did I mention I hated math in high school?)  For the sake of simplicity we'll say a single measure equals four beats.  Now in each measure you can have whole notes (4 beats), half notes (2 beats), quarter notes (1 beat), eighth notes (1/2 beat), sixteenth notes (1/4 beat) and so on and so forth.  you can also get really into it and have what are called triplets which would make three quarter notes (1 beat each) equal two beats (ergo, fitting three into two). 

I'd rather go back to trig than have to wrap my brain around all that goes on in a musical score!  (Okay, not really.)  In a recent production ("recent" meaning five months ago), in just one choral movement in this opera, the meaures went from 5 beats to 4 beats to 3 beats (and in all different time signatures 5/4, 4/4, 3/4, 6/8) and than the composer through in some triplets just to throw me off.  It's a conspriacy! 

Now, I'm ranting...the point I was (and still am) trying to make is that music is good for everyone.  It teaches math, it opens up parts of the brain (parts that some people should try to use more often...), in group settings it teaches how to get along with others, it helps with focus...Studies have shown that students who also partcipate in a music class, whether that be studying an instrument, sing in a choir, or study voice, do better on tests in their other subjects.

As a people, we are taking God out of our lives as well.  This will be to our destruction (physically, spirtually, emotionally...)  We need both God and music (for according to the above references, they are one in the same).  I'm assuming most of the people who will read this have some type of god in their lives, so have chosen not to go into too much "god-talk."  Besides the point of all these rantings as about music anyway.  This is my opinion, so take it for what it's worth.

My last vocal recital...

This is the "official" annoucement for my final vocal recital.  There will be two performances.  One in Utah and one in Idaho. 

The dates are:
August 12, 2010 @ 7pm
Community Presbyterian Church
75 North 100 East
American Fork, Utah

August 19, 2010 @ 7pm
First Presbyterian Church
400 Lake Lowell Ave (corner of Lake Lowell and Canyon)
Nampa, Idaho

Joey Calkins, Tenor

Sean Rogers, Piano
FREE ADMISSION
Reception to follow.

This event is sponsored in part by the Utah/Idaho Performing Arts Company.

After ten years of giving vocal recitals I have decided to "retire" as it were. So this will be my last annual vocal recital. The program will be chosen by the audience. I have gone through all of the music I have performed (in recital, stage, church meetings, etc.) within the last ten years and have selected 50 songs for you to choose from.

The way this will work is as follows: Audience members will have the opportunity to select as many songs as they would like from the list write them (individually) on a piece of paper (which will be provided). The next song on the program will be chosen from these. (Out of a hat or something.)

This is my most difficult recital to date as I will have no control as to what song is next. :)

Songs include:
Empty Chairs at Empty Tables
I, Don Quixote
The Quest (The Impossible Dream)
The Lord's Prayer (two different setting)
Agnus Dei (Beethoven/Calkins)
Pieta, Signore
Music of the Night
and many more.

(For the complete list visit, joeycalkins150.blogspot.com)
 
Links to the Facebook pages:
Utah
Idaho