On Saturday, November 5, 2011 Prana experienced something it’s never seen or heard before: a truly Traveler-themed classical music concert. John-Roger gave special permission to reveal publicly (for the first time ever), the names of certain classical composers who were Travelers and to perform a concert that featured their music. This beautiful and inspiring music was performed by classically-trained MSIA musicians, in the home of the Traveler, to an audience that could feel the spiritual vibration carried on the notes. Everyone present was uplifted and blessed!
The concert was broadcast world-wide over the internet, live from Prana in Los Angeles. We had almost 70 people attend in Los Angeles, 23 tuned-in online from across the country, and now the archive video is available to anyone who wants to view the entire concert. This marks the beginning of a new concert series, a musical ministry, to make the energy of the Traveler available – through music– to those looking for it. (NOTE: At bottom you will find the video archive of the concert, enjoy!)
Kevin McMillan, our MC for the concert, welcomed everyone to Prana and introduced this beautiful location as the headquarters of the Church of MSIA. He then led us in a short invocation. Kevin explained the theme of the concert: “Travelers Through Their Music” — that certain composers shared and manifested the Sound Current of God’s true love through their music and were the Travelers of their time. The featured composers were Bach, Beethoven, Mozart and Sibelius.
Kevin then introduced our three lovely performers, Merrill Collins on piano, Cheri Stark voice, and Alethea Lamb on clarinet. [see bios at end].
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The Concert:
#1 – Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, BWV – 147, by Johann Sebastian Bach.
This beautiful start of the concert featured all three performers and instantly their harmony and energy was filling the room as the music lifted us. Written during his first year in Leipzig, Germany, this movement is one of Bach’s most enduring Church hymns.
“Jesu, Joy of man’s desiring
Holy wisdom, love most bright
Drawn by Thee, our souls aspiring
Soar to uncreated Light.
Word of God, our flesh that fashioned,
With the fire of life impassioned,
Striving still to truth unknown.
Soaring, dying round thy throne.
Through the way where hope is guiding,
Hark what peaceful music rings;
Where the flock, in Thee confiding,
Drink of joy from deathless springs.
Theirs is beauty’s fairest pleasure,
Theirs is wisdom’s holy treasure.
Thou doest ever lead Thine own
In the love of joys unknown.”
We were all enraptured, loved and soaring from the beginning notes, unto the peaceful sweetness of the last notes.
#2. Ridente La Calma, KV 152 (210a) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Cheri Stark introduced this music and translated it for us as “Let there be peace in my soul.”
With Merrill’s finest accompaniment on the piano, Cheri sang in Italian with such sweetness and vibrancy. We were enveloped in peace.
#3. Sehnsucht, WoO 134 by Ludwig van Beethoven. Cheri explained this piece was all about the suffering of love, and did she sing it! Set in a mournful minor key, Merrill’s piano playing and Cheri’s lyric vocal line expressed the anguish Beethoven intended.
Young Beethoven and Mozart Meet:
The 19th century biographer Otto Jahn gives the following anecdote:
Beethoven made his appearance in Vienna as a youthful musician of promise in the spring of 1787, but was only able to remain there a short time. He was introduced to Mozart and played to him at his request. Mozart, considering the piece he performed to be a studied show-piece, was somewhat cold in his expressions of admiration. Beethoven, noticing this, begged for a theme for improvisation, and, inspired by the presence of the master he revered so highly, played in such a manner as gradually to engross Mozart’s whole attention. Turning quietly to the bystanders, Mozart said emphatically, “Mark that young man; he will make himself a name in the world!”
#4. Clarinet Quintet, Allegro, K. 581 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
This lively piece was a change of pace as Alethea Lamb stepped forth with Merrill as they played together. The bright, happy musical theme on the piano introduced the clarinet’s virtuoso line. Fast triplet notes ran up and down the keyboard and were mimicked by the clarinet. The brilliance of the music turned into a rhythm sounding like cascading running brooks of water just spilling musical sound notes and splashing all in the audience. The melody took a brief turn, almost like the song, “Daisy, Daisy”, and suddenly returned to the cascading triplets on both the piano and clarinet. The performers played these phrases with breathtaking speed and accuracy. It was astounding! Just as the music seemed to end, the tempo changed and slowed to adagio just for a bit, then the main musical theme returned. It felt like we were sailing, tacking into the wind in glorious sunshine! Brilliant!
#5. Moonlight Sonata – Op. 27, No. 2 – by Ludwig van Beethoven. This was a solo piano piece featuring Merrill Collins. If this song doesn’t open your heart, OMG! This is one of the most famous classical piano music of all times. The room became silent as everyone listened in rapt attention. Merrill played it with perfect rhythm and expression, throughout to the last note as only the best of professionals can do. Silence, and all I could hear was the Sound Current within me.
#6. Alleluia from Exultate, Jubilate, K. 165 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Cheri Stark joined Merrill Collins once again and they performed this piece with great joy. Cheri was grinning ear to ear as she sang the Alleluias. Her eyes sparkled and glowed! Her joy was teasing us all to share the joy too. Of course, the audience responded with gleeful applause and laughter!
Intermission: Kevin McMillan, our host and MC for the night, came forward to invite everyone to the dining room for refreshments during the intermission. Folks in the dining room were buzzing with excited delight, everyone raving about what we had just heard. Kevin introduced the performers once more to begin the second half.
#7. – Prelude, Fugue, and Allegro, BWV 998 by Johann Sebastian Bach.
“Bach’s theology informed his compositional structures. The practical relationship of each variation to the next (in preparing registration and the expected textural changes) seems to show an incredible capacity to preach through the music using the musical forms available at the time. Bach’s deep knowledge of and interest in the liturgy led to his developing intricate relationships between music and linguistic text.”
Merrill shared that Bach was born on the first day of spring, and had a lot of life force within him, humorously telling us that Bach fathered 20 children. Merrill then treated us to another solo performance at the piano.
The rhythms just flowed and flowed, the notes and harmonies rippled across the keyboard. Then a slight adagio, slowing down, and once again the rhythm picked up speed and starting splashing sound all over the room. Merrill plays with brilliance, sparkling notes and lightening speed.
I was aware inside me as the harmonies went up and down, up and down inside of me, it was as if I was getting a polarity balance. What a tune up! I looked around, as most of the audience sat in stillness with their eyes closed. Towards the end, the rhythmic precision was stirring and vibrant, with the melody moving from octave to octave, and ending on one chord. Another delight.
#8. – Clarinet Quintet, 2nd Movement K581, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Alethea Lamb came center stage again with Merrill accompanying her. The main theme was slow, then suddenly the triplets of notes on the clarinet were echoed by the triplets on the piano. These very fast moving sounds were reflected in perfect harmony between Alethea and Merrill as they seemed to race up the scales together. Soon the main melody appeared again, much like a waltz! It became such a joy to listen and watch and experience the sweetness that just emanated into the room.
#9. – Bester Jüngling, from Der Schauspieldirektor, K. 486 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
This piece was so hilarious! Cheri shared that this aria was about two divas vying for the attention of the casting director—her being one of the singers trying to catch his eye. As Cheri began singing, she exhibited outrageous flirting with the audience! She sang her heart out with such intensity, gave flirtatious winks, and her joyous expressions had the audience rapt and delighted.
#10. – Für Elise, WoO 59, by Ludwig van Beethoven.
Another solo by Merrill Collins on piano. I believe this is the very first real classical piano music every piano student learns to play, but in Merrill’s hands, this became a “Master Piece.” The magical lyrical sounds and the Traveler’s energies transported us upward. Merrill’s impeccable technique, her touch, her heart and her soul moved us all.
#11. – Be Still My Soul, Op. 113, Hymn from Finlandia, by Jean Sibelius.
“Jean Sibelius held fast to the belief that he was under the protection of an invisible power. In that Sibelius was a man of utmost kindness it may be said that he intuitively knew the substance of traditional teaching on brotherly love. In this fundamental sense, he was truly Christian, but formal expressions of religion had no meaning for him. He never went to church, for it went against his nature to make a public display of piety or devotion.” … Once when we spoke about the purpose of art, Sibelius quite spontaneously said: “The essence of man’s being is his striving after God.”
All three of our charming, extraordinarily gifted musicians came together to play once more; Alethea, Cheri and Merrill. As the music came forth, I burst into tears.
When I was a teenager, back in 1959 – 1963, in our orchestra we played Finlandia in concert. Sibelius had passed over in 1957, just two years earlier. I was introduced to the Traveler through Sound. This portion of Finlandia became a special hymn and churches around the world took it up to sing. It especially touches one’s heart.
“Be still, my Soul! The hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my Soul! when change and tears are past
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.”
#12. – Ode To Joy, Op. 125, by Ludwig van Beethoven.
“This is considered by critics to be one of Beethoven’s masterpieces and one of the greatest musical compositions ever written.”
To close the concert, all three of these beautiful souls– on voice, clarinet and piano expressed perfect harmony, perfect joy, and perfect love in this Hymn of Beethoven. The music flowed and moved in Joy, bringing forth the joy of loving in brilliance, clarity, and a glorious shout of music… the Sound Current of the Mystical Travelers showering blessings upon us all.
Instantly the audience jumped to their feet in a standing ovation. Everyone expressed their appreciation, their gratitude, and finally we were treated to one more joyous song– a special encore.
This was a “special rendition of the Alleluia” that was sung earlier in the program by Cheri Stark. Cheri stunned us all and proceeded to
“Meow” the entire song!! She stretched out her paws, limbs extended, claws upraised, and wowed us with her high notes and “kittenish wiles.”
To much laughter, Kevin our MC for the night requested someone give her a bowl of milk, and then thanked us all for coming to the concert.
Bios:
Pianist Merrill Collins started piano at age 4, and later received full scholarship to receive a Master’s of Music Degree from San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She is a minister in MSIA.
Soprano Cheri stark received her Bachelor of Music Degree from USC’s Thornton School of Music. She has a Master’s Degree in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica.
Clarinetist Alethea Lamb has a Bachelor’s Degree in Music at Huddersfield University in England and a Master’s Degree in Music Composition at Southampton University. She studied East Indian music in New York.
What an extraordinary evening! You can experience this “Traveler’s Through Their Music” concert too, through the video below!
To view individual video clips of each piece, please click on the link below, and then scroll down the page to where it says ‘Recent Highlights’ and click on ‘View All’. You can then select which piece you’d like to listen to. Link: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/travelers-through-their-music
