This is old school now but news to me. I could call it a real “Wynn-er” because he is the semi anonymous friend who posted it to Facebook. The video clip begins with a uniformed cellist taking a chair and beginning to play music from Handel in the great room of the National Air and Space Museum. As he continues to play the diverse crowd stops milling and gather with smiles and amazed looks as the cellist is joined one by one by more and more musicians. As the conductor points skyward two singers are heard, soon to be joined by a full choir, supported by a horn section, reaching a crescendo as they sing Joy to the World from the towering mezzanine. The United States Air Force Band was performing in 2013 in Washington D.C. The crowd was mesmerized, all of their differences and troubles gone for a few brief minutes as they enjoyed a stirring and memorable performance. The ovation was spontaneous and included tears of joy and obvious heartfelt appreciation.
Often misquoted,16th century poet William Congreve penned, “Music has charms to soothe a savage breast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.” Perhaps it can be the catalyst for human progress. Shakespeare wrote, “if music be the food of love, play on.” A few years earlier, Plato stated, “music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” And to emphasize a most subtle point, Mozart believed “the music is not in the notes, but in the silence in between.”
Those polar bears from Coca Cola, have it right, “we’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony.” I wish you a peaceful healthy, and prosperous holiday season and New Year. Mike