In the ‘Glad Tidings’ November/ December 2008 we can find a sort of service called: ‘Worship: Christmas Gifts’ by Rosemary Doran. Based on Luke 2, 1-7 and Matthew 2, 1-12. This service involves the story of the wise men from East who brought gifts to Jesus who was born in Bethlehem, reflecting on what man can offer as a gift to others. One was the gift of music:
Reader: Music
I bring the gift of music:
music to sing to, music to dance to,
fast music, slow music,
jazz and rock,
Bach and Beethoven;
music for great choirs and solo voices,
Christmas carols and Easter anthems,
hymns of praise and songs of joy,
from organ, flute and drum
a whistle, a hum, a song of the heart,
I bring the gift of music.
Such a gift was offered to the listeners who joined us for the concert held at the Protestant Theological Institute on 5th December 2008. There was music for ‘great choirs and solo voices’, ‘songs of joy’, all together making such a wonderful present for our hearts and souls in this season of Advent and Christmas.
In this concert I was a participant but also a listener too. I sang in the girls’ choir and I was happy to do that, even though my voice is not so strong. I was actually thinking of my weak voice as a gift for God through joyfully praising Him, and in this way giving thanks for His great gift to the world, His only begotten Son.
It was also a wonderful experience when I listened to the solos. I could see but also feel how much the singers enjoy their singing. They not just sang but also acted, being involved so much in their roles, that I almost felt I was taken into another world, where the barber of Seville lived, or the nice cats were playing in the night, or frustrated lovers were expressing a multitude of feelings.
It was great to feel how in music all the boundaries of the different language and nationality vanish. There was no more Hungarian-Romanian conflict, there was no ‘me’ and ‘the other’. There was just ‘us’ and the melody which connected in a beautiful harmony throughout the evening.
Which was the best moment? I guess when all the singers sang together with the choirs ‘O, Canada…’. I don’t know what the others might have thought but I felt this song deep inside which was dedicated to Brian, and through him was a Christmas gift to his beloved home, to the people of Canada, to those who support one of their sons through their continued prayers.
After the concert the audience could see some of Brian’s photos of Romania which were exhibited in the reception area.
