Single What? Female...

Who's NOT running for president?

We've got Hilary Clinton, Barack Obama, Christopher Dodd, Joe Biden, John Edwards, some guy from Indiana, I think George Kucinich is trying again, Rudy Guiliani, Sam Brownback, John McCain...the list keeps growing and growing...I do not envy them as the mess they have to clean up after Bush FINALLY leaves office-and office he never should have been allowed into-is already going to take a minimum of three terms to clean up.

You know...one reason I haven't been at this blog as nearly as often as I should is that there are days you just feel overwhelmed by current events. There is so much going on right now-and not nearly enough it positive-that it can just fry one's brain and drag one down.

But you know, last night was a moving and hopeful kick in the pants.

Last night at Carnegie Hall there was a benefit concert of Verdi's Requiem. The hall was possibly just over half full from what I could see which made me think three things:

1) there needed to be better marketing and publicity (heck, if my friend had not invited me, I wouldn't have known about it)

2) there are classical music fans and there are activists and not all classical music fans are activists; not all activists are classical music fans.

3) The people who want to take action, are more often than not, the people who can't afford to go to a benefit like this (I know I couldn't...very grateful for friend who knows conductor, has the money to go to such a thing and invited me).

But more events like this need to happen. Not just for the money, but for the inspiration. The conductor, George Mathews, said before he started the piece that, we would hear moments of "great terror, great fear..." and "explosions". We would also "hear silences where one can take action, as that is what the music asks us to do, to take action, and you can do the same."

And he wasn't kidding.

Photos were displayed above the orchestra and chorus (all volunteers), of women and children, a photo for each movement of the piece. When seeing those photos, along with that music...one could not help but be instantly moved.

They chose the right piece.

I don't know how many of you have heard the Verdi Requiem, save for the often used in commercials "Dies Irae", but it does have moments of great terror, anquish and fear, along with brief moments of respite from the storm. During the Dies Irae in particular, one could not get away from the "explosions" of not only the tympani, but the TWO bass drums...you could almost see the horses and camels charging through recently bombed villages and hear the pleas of surivivors in the soloists voices (well mainly the bass who was just unreal).

The power of music along with the photographic stills was truly stirring...folks were moved in that hall last night, my friends...and more need to be be moved to action and could be if such events were more readily marketed and made accessible.

It's a shame though, as I just don't see George gettin' it. ("this doesn't have to do with Iraq?")

Tonight, George gives the State of the Union...and what a horrible state we are in, despite his blindness. Let him know. Contact your Congressfolk. Take action.

posted by funkweee @ 7:51 AM