This afternoon Jerad and I attended his very first organ recital at the Abbey. The series is put on by an endowment from the late Canon John O. Bruce. The organist is British performer Christopher Herrick and this is his third time playing at the Abbey. The concert was splendid aside from a few small technical difficulties. The final encore was Ueber Fantastisch. He played 'Festival Musik,' well at least I think that is how it is spelled. The piece was composed by a Norwiegen. If any one knows who, I certainaly would appreciate it as I lost the name. Anyway, the experience was just what I needed and Jerad is still spinning from the excitment.
Yesterday evening we also went to Lynn Griebling's receital at St. Norbert. Lynn is formerly my voice professor and currently is organist at St Anne's, where Jerad and I go to church. The recital was entitled 'Songs my Teachers Taught Me.' The program was a wonderful collection of songs that she has learned from her various teachers through the years and even around the world. What facinates me is that you wouldn't think that Lynn is so well versed simply in meeting her. Her natural charm stems from the loving and caring attitude that she greets you with. Her recital had much the same character. The attendants were most all people that she knew. A huge crowd of us had gathered from church and as is usually the case it was more of a family event than a prim and proper affair. I think it is wonderful how almost everyone we are in choir with at church was there to support Lynn. We have such a wonderful connection. What I enjoyed most this evening was getting to know my teacher a little bit better. There is something to be said about her program notes. She divided the recital up into phases of her life. And I do mean phases more than periods. There is in Lynn's life a reliaztion that music and singing is who she is and where she should be. Obviously there were side paths that took her away from music at some points notably right before she came to St Norbert. I was one of her first students at SNC, we were freshmen together. She had a way of welcoming me to SNC that I now know is unusual for someone who is also new. There have been more difficult times in our "relationship." Lynn has a very strong sense of will. As most people will tell you, so do I. The few confrontations we've had are perhaps the most life changing for me. Lynn has taught me the value of being yourself. The value of being yourself is so much different than "being yourself." While many people have tried to teach me that it is ok to be yourself, no one has lived it out like my dear friend Lynn.
Many Congratulations!
Lastmanout
