Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Musical moment

Just wanted to share a small moment that stayed with me a long time, a tribute to something positive from the negative - in the spirit of Spread the Love Week from Melissa @ Oh, My Darling...
Some years ago, while gigging at a radio station and searching for something to play on-air, I spotted an album of songs for voice and piano...then realized they were composed in a WWII concentration camp & the composer did not survive the war.

I almost put the record back -- it seemed too heart-rending -- but decided to go ahead & give it airplay, telling the backstory too. As the music played, an older woman called in.

She remembered the day the music premiered in the camp, long ago. She was just a teen, another prisoner of the Nazis. She thanked me, crying a bit.

As you can imagine...
I could barely hold it together when I had to go back live on-air...
It seemed incredible that out of horror, poignant moments could linger a half-century later...the sound of a piano, an older woman reaching a younger one, music born in war now played in peace...
If nothing else, my young, naive self began glimpsing something in how the smallest action can affect someone more than you know, and even resonate back with compassion...

"Every action of our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity."
--Edwin Hubbel Chapin (anti-war, anti-slavery, pro-women's rights activist, 1814-1880)

~ Wishing you a day that resonates with positive moments and compassion. ~

(The composer was Viktor Ullmann; the music was Die Weise der Liebe und des Todes (The Manner of Love and Death), 12 pieces for voice and piano or orchestra (from Rilke)--composed and premiered in Terezin, 1944. Images via Wikipedia Commons, Mylla and My Opera.)

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

I like that story. If only I could hear the music.

Oh, My Darling said...

Thank you so much for sharing this gem of a story! I completely love and agree with the Chapin quote.

Jess said...

My goodness this post made me a bit teary. I have no idea how you held it together going on air after hearing that ladies story. Beautiful, I would love to hear the music as well.

Rowena said...

I've always been a firm believer of the words "it's the little things that count!"

Unknown said...

Beautiful post, Have a sweet day!

Jude said...

Hi Ashley - thanks so much, wish I could put music on this blog :)

Hi Melissa - thanks for all your inspiration! And for sharing so much also. The Chapin quote expressed better what I tried to say :)

Hi Jess - aw, thanks so much. I'll never know who that woman was, but I guess I'll always remember her. I need to figure out how to put music on this blog :)

Hi Rowena - totally agree, it's the little moments that you remember and that make a difference.

Hi Torie Jayne - thanks so much! :)

Signe said...

Wow, what an amazing story. Don't think I'd be able to go back on air after that!

Have a great Wednesday :)

Julia, the Thanksgiving Girl said...

Love this story, touching! Incredible to see how moments and music travel in time connecting people, feelings, stories...

RD said...

A very moving story... (And very cool that you were gigging as a DJ!) In this connection, I heard once a song by Sophie Auster based on a translation done by her father (Paul) of Desnos's "The Last Poem". Such haunting words (and music)... bb

J’ai rêvé tellement fort de toi,
J’ai tellement marché, tellement parlé,
Tellement aimé ton ombre,
Qu’il ne me reste plus rien de toi.

Il me reste d’être l’ombre parmi les ombres
D’être cent fois plus ombre que l’ombre
D’être l’ombre qui viendra et reviendra
dans ta vie ensoleillée.

Robert Desnos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTL-_SS506c

ori said...

Very emotional story, indeed. Thanks for sharing and everything.

Nicki said...

Oh my goodness, thanks so much for sharing!

Annie said...

Wow, that is such an incredible and touching story. Thank you for sharing.

Unknown said...

thanks so much for sharing xxxx

Unknown said...

own, cute....




xoxo

Anonymous said...

very powerful post!, loved reading this short story ;)

THE ALTERNATIVE WIFE said...

Oh Jude that is an amazing story! I literally have goosebumps reading this! Thank you so much for sharing.

Happy Wednesday and September! xoxo

Tiffany Kadani said...

How chilling and sad. I am completely inspired by this post and would love to hear the piece.

Jude said...

HI Signe - thanks so much - it was a bit hard to go on air again :) Have a wonderful Wednesday too!

Hi Julia - that was a lovely way to put it :) Music can be such a powerful thing.

Hi Bombay Beauty - oh wow, thanks for sharing. My French isn't so good (never was :)), but I've enjoyed Auster's work (and his wife's too, and this will be cool to see.

Hi Ori - thanks so much! :)

Hi Nicole - thank you!

Hi Annie - thank you for reading :)

Thanks so much, Kirsty! :)

Thank you, Fabiola :)

Hi Sohdalex - thanks so much! I wasn't as sure about posting it at first but glad I did :)

Hi Alternative Wife - aw, thank you so much for reading. I'm glad I put it out now :) Have a wonderful Wednesday and September too!! :)

Jude said...

Hi Dancing Branflakes - it was definitely a bittersweet moment. Music really is such a powerful thing. Thanks for reading :)

Diana Mieczan said...

I am so emotional right now...What a inspiring post, my dear:) Thank you for that:)
Kisses and enjoy your day:)

ps: I am hosting a lovely GIVEAWAY, so please join in:) …I bet you will love it!!!

Pearl said...

Wow. This gave me chills. Well said.

Pearl

Krysten @ Why Girls Are Weird said...

I have chills from that story. Thank you so much for sharing!

Ren- Lady Of The Arts said...

Wow Jude-

You almost made me cry.

what a lovely story-

I will for sure check out more info and listen to the music.

VERY inspirational post.

Music and beauty can grow in the most horrible and opressive conditions.

LenoreNeverM♡re said...

I got a nice goosebumps Jude!
'music born in war now played in peace...' I luv that very much!

xo

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad you shared this with us, thank you! It's a sad but wonderful story. I love the way music brings people together... it is an international language.

Jude said...

Hi Diana - thanks so much for reading! :) I'm so glad you enjoyed it. It's amazing what music can do. (And thanks for the sweet giveaway tip! :))

Hi Pearl - thank you so much! :)

Hi Krysten - aw, thank you! Hope moving goes well :)

Hi Ren - thanks so much! :) I'm so glad you enjoyed reading the tale, I couldn't agree more about the power of music and any art to create beauty from the most horrible things.

Hi LenoreNeverMore - aw, thanks so much! That's so sweet. I'm glad you enjoyed the tale - thank you for reading :)

Hi Cafe Bellini - thank you for reading :) It's so true, music is so powerful that way. I hesitated before posting this because it seemed sad, but glad you enjoyed it.

Lisa Gordon said...

What a beautiful post Jude.
Teary for me, but loved it all the same.

Stacey said...

I won't even hide it. This had me crying(not out loud) but with tears running down my face. I think it was especially touching for me too being a military spouse. Thanks for sharing this Jude. I loved how you told this story too. xoxo

Isa said...

What a powerful, powerful post, Jude! My grandmother died in a concentration camp. I hope somebody played beautiful music for her.

Style, She Wrote said...

Beautiful story and images. xo

Jude said...

Hi Lisa - thanks so much!! And thank you for reading - I know things must be busier now with August over, and hope all's going smoothly :)

Hi Stacey - oh gosh, that makes it even more touching! Thanks so much for reading, despite that, and sharing. I know military families and I'm in awe of what they do and go through. And grateful. ((Big hug))

Hi Isa - I was so very touched to read your comment. Thank you for sharing. I also hope she heard beautiful, beautiful music.

Hi Style, She Wrote - thank you so much, and thanks for reading :)

Becca. said...

such a lovely story!


and yes it's a great way to store jewellery!


thankyou for the comment on my blog :)
XOXO, BECCA
www.fashion-train.co.uk

Jude said...

Thanks so much, Becca!

shopgirl said...

What an incredibly poignant story....life always throws surprises along the way and isn't it lovely when we can take something and learn from it.

Thanks for sharing sweetie. Hope you have a lovely weekend.

Jude said...

Hi Reese - thanks so much for reading! I was a little nervous about sharing since it was a bittersweet moment, but glad now I did.

Hope you had a lovely weekend yourself!

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