 |
 |
 Back to Archive Menu
September 24, 2001
The events of September 11 have left us all shocked, stunned, dazed and
confused, scared and reluctant to venture forth. In all the
church/synagogue services however, the prevalence of music has proven to be a
healing power of the most instinctive primitive order. The sight and sound
of hundreds of people standing to sing all six verses of "A Mighty Fortress
Is Our God" at Washington's National Cathedral was very moving indeed. The
softest rendering of America, the Beautiful, or the cathartic outpouring of a
Battle Hymn of the Republic can address the human soul in a way little else
can.
It is to that order that many of us as musicians, are called to the fore.
We are not firefighters or rescue workers or doctors or investigators, but
what we have can minister to the souls of the living. Symphony orchestras,
choruses, dancers, instrumentalists, vocalists and theatre artists are
joining forces across the country to speak to the cultural soul of our nation
in the only way we can: by offering what we are in an effort to help give
voice to the pain, and speed the recovery. The blessing of music which we
are all given, speaks to us on a level that no words can reach, and likewise,
allows us to reach out to console, comfort, connect with our fellow sufferers
in that same blessed, privileged place.
I was honored to be included in a Memorial Service at the Riverside Church
which featured speakers from Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths, and musical
artists Josh Bell, Thomas Hampson, Dawn Upshaw and myself, an Alvin Ailey
dancer, Mandy Patinkin, Lillias White, among others. Beforehand, I
was very moved by the service on TV from National Cathedral, and we all found
the Riverside Service to be very cathartic. In this moment where many
different kinds of artists and religious leaders came together to speak from
the very depths of our own sorrow and hope and faith, we began to heal, and
we prayed that those in the church that day, and those who saw the telecast
on PBS or heard it on National Public Radio, found some solace and remembered
beauty. I hope that you were able to experience something positive by sharing this time with all of us.
Now as we try to begin to rediscover our optimism, and to go forth in our
work, our enjoyment of life, our gratefulness, and our steadfastness, I wish
for all of you a time of peace and healing.
top of page
|
|
 |
