Celebrate!

“If you haven’t found something to celebrate in a piece of music you are practicing, performing, listening to, or teaching during the day, it hasn’t been much of a day.”

Last weekend, twelve of my organ students performed on my annual Jordan Organ Studio Spring Recital.  It was indeed an afternoon to celebrate music.  The compositions performed ranged from an introspective piece by Herbert Howells to an energetic organ duet by Robert Cundick;  a sublime chorale prelude by JS Bach to a setting of peasant melodies by Guy Morancon;  a joyful toccata by Diane Bish to a lively trumpet duo by Clerambault;  and introspective and awe-inspiring hymn settings by Baroque to contemporary composers including one of my students.

It was an afternoon to celebrate great organ music;  an afternoon to celebrate creativity;  and an afternoon to celebrate the accomplishments of my students.  It was quite a day!

An Intriguing Quote

Our May 2012 Pro-Motion Music E-Newsletter was inspired by the thought-provoking quote, “If you haven’t found something strange during the day, it hasn’t been much of a day”.  By replacing the word “strange” with other a myriad of other words, the idea has influenced by practice, my writing, my teaching, and life in general on a daily basis.  It’s been an interesting month.

To read my 7 Keys to Experience Music  article in its entirety, please click here.  While there enjoy our Pro-Motion Music website in its entirety.  Read the articles, click on the links, watch the videos, share your comments, sign up to have our newsletter sent to you Inbox on a monthly basis. Enjoy!

Have You Found Something Amazing Today?

“If you haven’t found something amazing in music you experience during the day, it hasn’t been much of a day.”

How did you play the piece for the hundredth time and still feel amazed by its power?    For me, that piece is Johann Sebastian Bach’s Fugue in E-flat Major (The St. Anne).  I am and always will be in awe of this profound and amazing music expressing so completely the mysterious and awesome power of the Holy Trinity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJmxQ7zYcow&feature=related

The implication here is that we must pay attention to the everything in each piece of music being practiced, performed, listened to, or taught.  We must actively engage in the work of making music as a participant, not as a spectator. We must bring all our senses into play in each encounter and every circumstance.

Jeannine Jordan, concert organist

Did You Discover Something Wondrous Today?

“If you haven’t found something strange during the day, it hasn’t been much of a day.” —J.A. Wheeler, Physicist

Expanding Wheeler’s thought, I’ve now taken the liberty to delve into this quote from a musical perspective.  It has yielded some interesting thoughts.

“If you haven’t found something wondrous in music you experience during the day, it hasn’t been much of a day.”

Where is that soaring progression leading?

The Sanctus of Maurice Durufle’s Requiem nearly escapes the bounds of this earth; its wonder is so great!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgMx1Ne4eXM

The implication here is that we must pay attention to the everything in each piece of music we practice, perform, listen to, or teach every day.  We must actively engage in the work of making music as a participant, not as a spectator. We must bring all our senses into play in each encounter and every circumstance.

Jeannine Jordan, concert organist