Perfect Pitch - a tribute

My Mom passed away nine days ago on September 5th, 2013.  It was a Thursday evening. It was expected.  And, for her, it was a blessed release from a body which had become a prison - slowly shutting down, bit by bit, over a prolonged period.  She kept her beauty and dignity till the end.

My Mom was a musician.  First an accomplished and award winning piano player, then an excellent piano teacher, and then a complex piano composer.  She was born with perfect pitch, which was both a joy and a heartache for her.  For it was a wonderful ability, except for the fact that anytime anyone within the sound of her hearing played or sang something out of tune, it was like nails scraping on a chalkboard - a sound uncomfortable for most, but excruciating for her.

Music was a constant source of wonder and enjoyment for her.  I remember listening to her practice a particular passage over and over until it met her satisfaction.  She was capable of pulling real power out of that instrument!  Both through loudness, and through quiet, even silent phrases.  And I know that power helped me to form my own musical identity - a gift for which I shall be forever grateful.

Mom used to ponder on the entire concept of music.  What is it, really?  It’s more than notes on a page, much more.  For nearly everyone can plunk out keys, but the true talent lies in something much more mysterious than the written notes.  She considered music to be ethereal.  Existing somewhere else - but impacting us here.  To her, music was the same as a story, for a story is something more than the written or spoken word.

And the role of a composer, or a real storyteller, is special.  It’s more personal because the story emanates from the person telling it.  Part of them is in that story.   And, through  talented telling of the musical story, the composer’s personality is shared, put on display.  And those listening can learn things about the creator of the story.  They can learn the very personality of the creator.  The same can be said concerning God.

Like I said, she has passed.  And I believe she is in a much happier place, and she is alive and working to support her family.  But that’s on the other side.  Right here, right now, she’s immortal in another way.  For her personality is infused within her musical creation. 

The song below is called Sunrise.  Out of all her compositions, this was her favorite.  More of her is in this song than any of her others.  Really listen to it.  Ponder on what she must have been feeling as she assigned each note with the blessing of perfect pitch - hearing every note and how it combined with all the others before it ever made it to the printed page.  

If you do this, though you may have never met her, you will know something about my mom.  And thus she will enrich your life as she has mine and the lives of thousands of students over a teaching course of 50 years.  It is her gift to you.

And in this way, she lives on.