Category Archives: Music
Music brought us together
My wife and I met on this day, years ago, through the musical connections we had at the time. It was a powerful moment, because we each had a preconceived notion of what the other would be like – she the “group president” … I the “organist” – and were shocked by the immediate connection.
We were talking last evening about how sharing music is something we have often taken for granted, and how important it is (and what a gift it is) that we share such similar tastes in the music we make and listen to. We listened to several songs by Sting, who has woven through much of our life together. We talked about some of the great choral music experiences we have had and the dreams of music to be made in the future.
I often put music and God in the same category, calling music a gift from God. But, in truth, I think they are one in the same. Music is miraculous in its creation, and has caused powerful connections and brought love to many. It can only be divine.
Celebrating Dads
Yesterday, of course, was Father’s Day, and I found myself caught in between being a Dad and being a son. It wasn’t a bad thing: I got a wonderful card from my wife and sons, and yes, I did partake in the classic Father’s Day avoidance of most responsibilities. I also took our youngest to visit my Dad and take him and my Mom out to lunch. As we talked and enjoyed each other’s company, I considered briefly how powerful it was to have three generations sit together.
In the end, though, I thought: Should there really be a “day” for Dads? I almost feel funny celebrating it, because it is just part of who I am. Not every moment of fatherhoood is pretty, not every moment is easy, and sometimes it doesn’t feel like there has been a pretty or easy moment for a good while. But, these young people watch everything I do, listen to everything I say (even if they don’t show it occasionally!), and learn to be adults by my example. It is awesome! Tough, complicated, yes – but I would not trade a second of it for something less fulfilling.
Weekend miscellania
Saturday listing of ongoing events… Some fall into the “Shameless Self-promotion” category, for which I apologize, but may be enjoyable for weekend web surfing nonetheless.
- Auditions for adults and children can be scheduled at any time for December Lessons and Carols and Spring 2011 Concert: www.musicatfirst.org
- Sunday Worship at First Congregational, Bristol, CT is our first Sunday in “summer mode,” featuring our Summer Singers. Are you a frustrated choral singer and would like to join in? Join us in the choir loft at 9:00 to sing a simple anthem!
Gratitude
As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, this is the first of my weekly posts that will include downloads of my piano music.
Gratitude is the first piano piece that I wrote, on Columbus Day weekend in 2008. We were at Cape Cod, and the family had gone out for a walk and I stayed behind to play the piano. As with all of my writing, I just started improvising, and suddenly realized that something special was going on. Finally, after a mad scramble for some sort of manuscript paper (in this case, the last page of a piano book actually had some!), a piece of music was born.
As all of my piano pieces, Gratitude is brief, simple, and comforting. There is a small amount of ornamentation in the repeated theme, a very brief diversion, then a return to the main theme. I played this piece in worship at First Congregational, Bristol, on a Sunday that we celebrated giving — hence the title. However (and this part continues to be amazing to me), there is no question in my mind that the piece was about gratitude, or quiet thankfulness, even before the opportunity to use it and title it came into being.
This piece is very important to me, not just because it was the first, but because it sums up how I feel about this still-new drive to write music. God continues to plant in me ideas, then confirm them by titling them in a strange, roundabout way. I do my best to stay open to the “happening” of it, and am grateful to be the conduit.
Here it is: Gratitude Audio Mp3 – Gratitude Sheet Music PDF (right-click, Save As will allow you to save the file to your computer)
The gift
My initial thinking in starting this website (and then this blog) was one of promotion – to promote my work at church, my concert work, and to sell my CDs and piano music. All of those except the latter happen on other sites (as linked above), so www.scottlamlein.com was to be the home of my recent piano compositions and their recordings.
All that changed when I started writing this blog. One of the things I feel constantly conflicted about is the struggle between music as art and music as business. It is expected, for survival in this world, that at least 1/3 of our time is used to make the money needed to sleep 1/3 of the time and “live” during the remaining 1/3. When music is part of your vocation as well as your primary passion, these lines become very blurry.
When I began my concert work in earnest six years ago, so began what felt like a never-ending quest to “turn music into cash.” Strangely, the concerts that are the most rewarding and enjoyable and “real” are the ones that either did not pay or paid very little.
What’s the lesson in all this? Still not sure! However, I have learned recently that sharing my gift as a musician, both directly through the music, and indirectly through this writing, is at the center of why I do it. And so, I have decided to begin releasing several of my piano compositions and recordings without charge. A sample of my first piano composition, “Gratitude,” is below, and tomorrow I will post the full recording and sheet music for download. I’ll continue doing this weekly. Additionally, if interested parties contact me looking to own what I affectionately call “the whole pile,” I’ll be glad to make that available for free.
From the start of my composing, I’ve been very aware that it is well beyond my control, something I am clearly a vessel for, so I am excited and grateful to share it.
[audio:http://www.scottlamlein.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/gratitude-18s.mp3|titles=Gratitude (from Peace)]Preparing for a new season
(Yes, this is a bit of a commercial.) Auditions are underway for one of my very favorite things: the First Choristers are a growing group of auditioned singers, from grade 4 through grade 8, who commit to a weekly rehearsal, and then sing alongside adults in concert. The music they sing is not “children’s choir” music, but full-blown choral music – providing the soprano part for the great works of music we prepare for the December Lessons and Carols Festival at church and, next year, a new Spring concert event. The benefits of this rehearsal and performance time are huge: Along with the music itself, kids get the opportunity to learn how to work together as a team, basics of choral singing and music reading, and how music is such a critical part of our spiritual self. I’m excited that we already have a number of new children auditioning for this fall season.
In addition to the children’s aspect of our programs, we have offered adults an opportunity to sing with the choir for these special events. Over the past two years, we have built a core of singers from outside the church membership that have joined with us for Lessons and Carols. Once again, our upcoming events are open to anyone Grade 9 through adults, by audition. Teamwork, commitment, and glorious music sung in praise are all hallmarks of singing for these concerts, and any choir member can tell you that the fun and community we share in our rehearsal time is something you’ll find you can’t live without! Detailed info can be found at www.musicatfirst.org.
The right combination
I’m just putting the finishing touches on a new website that has been particularly rewarding to design. Along with www.czelusniakdugal.com and www.wanamakerorgan.com (the largest playing pipe organ in the world!), the new site for Lawless & Associates Pipe Organ Co. falls right into that category of several of my own passions colliding – pipe organs, music, photography, web design.
Each of these sites has been a collaboration, which is also very rewarding for me. The bringing together of one person’s vision, another’s photos, yet another’s technical ideas, and finally the “pulling together” of all the concepts into something cohesive… all of these puzzle pieces snap together to make a remarkable piece of web real estate!
Celebrating our musical family
Yesterday we celebrated the end of a truly great choir season at church with a party at the home of two beloved choir members. The choir is “family” in so many different ways. In fact, in some cases we see each other more than our “real” extended family, and share in more of life’s ups and downs than even the closest in our lives. We get to make music together, which requires great trust in each other. Music is not just a technical thing, but emotional as well, so we also need to feel safe in sharing that in a group setting. When it works (and in this choir it does!), the result is an amazing group of people, first, and the secondary benefit of awesome music-making.
So, it is with some sadness that we take a break for the summer. It’s like we’re taking an extended vacation: Yes, it’s fun and necessary, but I’ll sure be glad to be back “home” in the fall!
Weekend miscellania
Saturday listing of ongoing events… Some fall into the “Shameless Self-promotion” category, for which I apologize, but may be enjoyable for weekend web surfing nonetheless.
- Auditions for adults and children can be scheduled at any time for December Lessons and Carols and Spring 2011 Concert: www.musicatfirst.org
- Sunday Worship at First Congregational, Bristol, CT is the final Sunday of the choir year, and will feature our Bell Choir, and Adult Choir singing “With a Voice of Singing.”