The kingdom of this world...

Last night I attended an event that would prove to draw an interesting crowd.  Ok don't laugh when I say it, because it was actually very good.

I went with my mom and dad to a sing-a-long of Handel's "Messiah".

A what?

A sing-a-long.  You heard me.   So what it is, is there's a choir and orchestra, and soloists- the whole 7 octaves.  (that's a nerdy music joke...translated less nerdily- The whole 9 yards).   And as you enter, they'll hand you a choral score, and then you get to sing along with the chorus through Handel's "Messiah."

Now those of you that don't know my mom, shame on you.  Everyone should.  But she is very musically gifted, and grew up playing the piano and organ and singing.  And therefore passed along (and slightly forced) her 2 children to grow up with music as well.  I've spent my whole life in bands and orchestras and choirs and I can't tell you what a gift it is to be in a room with any number of people, and to come together as one group singing or playing music.  It's powerful to say the least.  So last night, we went up to Boulder and sat in a room with hundreds of strangers and just made music together. 

Unfortunately I think choral music in general is not as appreciated as it should be by the general population.  But it really did lift my spirits to see people from all different backgrounds and all different musical abilities coming to this event.  I love watching music lovers listen to music.  See them absorb it with their eyes closed and just let it really sink in.  If I'm ever sick in the hospital,  all I'll want is someone to hire a string quartet to come play for me.

That was probably a little over the top.  But seriously.  If you want me to get better, music is the way to do it.  If you don't want me to get better...we might need to have a chat.

In the meantime, check out this video of the Knight Foundation's "Random Acts of Culture" at Macy's in Center City Philadelphia.  And check out the initiative while you're at it! http://www.knightarts.org/random-acts-of-culture