This month, “embodiment” is our theme. What does that even mean—and what does it mean to me, the music director? So, I looked up what “embodiment” means: “a tangible or visible form of an idea, quality, or feeling.” It could mean a realization of what matters and how we live our values. Well, music is rather central to my life, but that is because of you. Sharing music is a path that embodies and demands bringing people together. Making music together, whether we are singing a hymn, listening to Guy and others play for us, means that we are not alone. When the world would have us feel separate, we stay together when we have music around us.
Music fulfills a sense of love through difficult times. Music can lighten your day when you hum or dance or hear something beautiful. When we share in music-making, we are connecting with the humanity we honor in each other. Pushing back against what is happening in our country right now, we can embody peace through community; music is central to our collective resilience. When the world would make us think that we are powerless, remember that you powerful when you sing. Even if you choose not to sing, your spirit is singing. And others are singing with you. I am sure of it.
February is a busy month at First Parish!
February 1st: The First Parish band is playing two songs.
February 8th: The First Parish choir is singing two songs.
February 24th is Vespers that will feature Petr Kuzmic singing two Russian songs, Guy Urban playing “Summerland” by William Grant Still, and two improvisations by John Buchanan.
There will likely be more, but this is what I know of right now. Given all the musicians among us, anything is possible. Stay tuned.
Charlyn Bethell
Charlyn’s professional training has followed two paths: as a professional oboist and as a music teacher and conductor. As Music Director at First Parish, she joins these two paths of her musical life, conducting the choir, coordinating guest musicians, and performing on oboe.