Fri., July 6, 2018

Psalm 57:9 – I will give thanks to you, my Lord, among all the peoples; I will make music to you among the nations.

Music. Pie. Ice Cream. Friends.

Sounds like a good combination, right?

Thursday evening, we took in the community band concert in the neighboring community of Pardeeville. During June and July, the band offers free concerts in a park next to the library on Thursday evenings. Hubby Rick and I decided to attend the concert this week; our first. Local friends, the Reineckes and their two sons, Rocky and Dakota, joined us. After enjoying pie and/or ice cream and as the sun dipped behind nearby trees, we settled back for a near-perfect evening of music orchestrated by 40 local musicians.

The evening’s musical selections all included a patriotic theme. Included were several John Philips Sousa marches and a musical tribute to all branches of the U.S. military. The band played a beautiful arrangement that combined “Eternal Father” with “Taps.” This video’s arrangement is different but captures much of the same interpretation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBvtrlnAQdQ. It’s worth the couple of minutes to listen to.

Rocky and Dakota had flags left-over from a July 4^th parade. While Rocky finished his ice cream, Hubby Rick and Dakota pretended to be conductors. Later, Rocky and Dakota proudly waved their flags to the beat of the bass drum.

The evening’s star was a little girl named Harriet. During one of the Sousa marches, the band director stepped away from the conducting podium to play tuba along with the band. With a tree stick in hand, Harriet approached the podium and “directed” the band. After the song concluded, we discovered several of Harriet’s family play in the band. Her father played the bass drum during the last song. With more songs to play, the band director stood back on the podium. Little Harriet wasn’t sure she wanted to hand back the directing responsibilities and stood along-side him. After this song concluded, Harriet to return to her chair but only after a little coaxing from Mom.

Through the art of music, I often find my heart spoken to in ways that I find deeply meaningful and profound. Music is a universal language. It bridges languages and ages and often is a common thread that unites people. It was this offering of music that brought together a group of people on a library lawn. A simple community event that spoke to us in each of our own ways.

For a couple hours one evening, we enjoyed wonderful local music, extended the 4^th of July celebration another day and were entertained by little people all around us. It was a good night. All because of a music concert.

For this, I am grateful.

Lord God – thank you for the gift of music. Yes, there are so many different genres. Yes, some may speak more to one person than another. Thank you for this universal language which often reaches into our inner-most beings and touches us in unique ways. May we hear a song today which helps us connect with you, Almighty God. Amen.

Blessings –

Dianne

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