Music That Moves Me

Massenet's Meditation from Thais

I've heard my mother plays this all my life. It's quite possibly her favorite, and mine as well. It will forever belong to her in my mind. I know exactly how she plays every note, although I didn't realize that I did until i went looking for a version to share. You guys have NO IDEA how many versions of this there are on the net and so very few of them have the bittersweet emotion that it does when she plays it. I could hear in the first six notes if it was what I was looking for. Thankfully, the choices I had from playlist.com included one that is just about as close as I could find, even if this one is still a little rushed. There is a sense that every note is being held onto. Their sweetness being savored. Anytime I hear this piece, I close my eyes, take in a slow, deep breath and fight back tears. If you know my mother, maybe you'll understand. I sure can't find the words.... maybe that's why the music says it all.

Puccini's Nessum Dorma from Turandot- Pavarotti

I remember sitting on the floor of my Grandfather's front room, watching a special on PBS with the Three Tenors and hearing this piece. While I got goosebumps when I heard Paul Potts belt this one out, there will never be anyone who can rival the power it has when it was sung by Luciano Pavarotti.

Ooo, bit of a side note. I believe the particular concert we were watching was in 1994 and I remember watching this moment (which I know they repeated a couple times). Something about watching these amazing men ham it up and try to outdo each other made me love them all the more.

Bach's/Gounod's Ave Maria

This is another piece from my mother, but it's one that she and I have played together many times, and still play at least once every time I make it home for a visit. Ohhh the memories that I'd never trade for anything!

The Man You Love - Il Divo

Ok yeah I really went back and forth about even admitting to this one. Here's my sappy side at it's worst. I don't know why I feel so embarrassed every time I have a typically girly moment, but I always do. SO, I'm counting this as a step toward embracing the girly girl in me. I, Honski hereby admit that I melt when I hear this song.

MOVING ON!

Michael Nyman's Impromptu for 12 fingers

AKA Schubert's Impromptu in G flat major Op. 90 No.3 + a few notes

Mr. Nyman's version was arranged for the movie Gattaca - a science fiction drama from the 90's with it's story based around a futuristic society caught up in the ability to manipulate the genetics of children before they are born. This piece is played by a man with 12 fingers. The notes that Nyman added supposedly made it impossible to play with 10.

Hey, did you know that Gattaca was filmed at the Marin County Civic Center in California? Did you also know that the building was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright?

If you've driven past it with ANYBODY from the area you'll hear it again!

(or maybe that's just me, I think I tell everyone)

Samuel Medley's I Know That My Redeemer Lives - Arranged by Michael R. Hicks

Yeah I know this is changing pace a little bit, but I couldn't leave this one out. It is the most beautiful arrangement of this hymn that I've ever heard. I was introduced to the music of Michael Hicks (as so many of us were) when I sang the EFY Medley at my 1998 session. Soon after I returned home, I found the sheet music for it and also bought any of his other arrangements that were available. This one happened to be the 2nd. I've played it 100's of times and never tire of it's beauty. I had the great experience of meeting Brother Hicks in 2002 when he came to give a fireside at the University of Utah at which my ward choir was singing a few of his songs. He and his wife happened to be walking in the building at the same time as I was and we started talking. I found out that he'd served in the mission that I grew up in. A few days later I joined the mailing list from his website and over the next few years received updates about his music. In early 2007, (as he has done for a few years) he sent out an email letting people know of areas of the country he'd be visiting in the months to come just in case anybody would like a musical fireside or presentation without having to pay for his travel costs. I was, at the time, living in Las Vegas and noticed that he'd be heading our way the following April. I talked to my ward Relief Society President to see if we wanted to have an Enrichment Activity where he would speak. She referred me to the Stake Relief Society President, saying that it should be on a grander scale. The Stake RS President then referred me to the Stake Music Chairman who thought that we should turn the event into a Stake Youth Fireside. By the time I called Brother Hicks, I had a Stake Youth Fireside all lined up and just needed to know what date would work. He was so kind in being willing to take the time for us and it worked out perfectly. We picked him up from his hotel and he had dinner with our small family before the fireside. He even recognized me from when we met before which totally blew my mind. He played on our floor with Grant and told us about his own son who was about Grant's age, jokingly calling himself "Uncle Mike".

All around great guy and his music... AMAZING! Check out his website.

And lastly

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot - performed by Richard Elliot

This performance was the 2009 Pioneer Day Commemorative Concert given by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square. I was there. I got tickets and a friend was going to go with me, but then weren't able to at the last minute so I went alone. Check me out, being all brave and stuff, I know. It was a thrilling experience. EVERY piece of music was incredible and I kept wishing that my mother was there with enjoying it as well. I know she would have been getting goosebumps right along with me. Now, if you'd told me that my favorite part of the entire concert would Swing Low, Sweet Chariot performed on the organ, I would have laughed. HOWEVER, having been called to serve as my ward organist two months earlier without any prior experience, I had a newly found respect for ANYONE with talent as an organist. This one completely caught me off guard.

I was speechless! I wanted to jump up and grab the stranger next to me and say, "DO YOU REALIZE HOW CRAZY THAT IS?!" But instead of convincing them of my OWN insanity, I was the first on my feet, cheering as loudly as I could. One of those moments where I didn't care if I was calling attention to myself or who was watching. I just knew that I was even more awestruck by Richard Elliot than I was before.

Not even taking into account all the times these pieces have done the trick before, tonight especially, they filled my jar.

Marin Civic Center Photo / CC BY 2.0