I played piano for church yesterday. It was the First Sunday of Advent, so I was excited. I needed three pieces of incidental music (prelude, voluntary, and postlude), and could now use Advent tunes! Yay!
For the postlude, I decided I would look through my choir music samples to see if I could find something suitable. I did, but along the way I stumbled across a choral arrangement of “Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love”. The song is in the CPH children’s hymnal, but this music pre-dates that.
The music had this note on it:
It says: “This was accompanied on an electric keyboard with a ‘bongo-sound’ setting at Trinity. Enchanting! Keep the music.” It’s my dad’s handwriting
The last sentence obviously just meant I should keep this copy of music, but I was struck with a metaphorical meaning.
Since I left my first Baltimore school, I’ve struggled a little with music. Back then, directing music groups seemed easy. Kids could learn parts, adult groups were well-established and motivated… Now, I sometimes wonder if I should just leave the music stuff and do other things.
But when I read “Keep the music”, it seemed like an encouragement. I remembered that my dad stayed involved with music through all the life changes he experienced. Maybe I’ll keep with it too.
I would’ve taken that literally…like Save the Music. Missing him too Brad. Love you!
“Right in the feels.” Your dad was an awesome musician and teacher, just like his son. Fight the good fight! <3
Jesu, Jesu – fill us with your love, teach us how to serve the neighbors we have in you…..”