This year I resumed singing in the choir I sang in at University. It has changed its name and conductor and now includes people my age!
I have found great joy in returning to sing musical genres that I’ve scarcely done since that time.
Recently we performed the Verdi requiem with the Auckland Choral Society in the town hall. Someone was asking me about this and said … “Does the conductor actually make a difference? Is there a pattern or are they just randomly waving their arms?” This is a valid question because from the back (and even from the front sometimes) a conductor’s arm movements can seem very random.
It got me thinking of how critical the conductor is in the production of music. In a performance the conductor communicates solely by gesture and facial expression. There is of course a pattern related to the beat of the music and the conductors left hand will mark expression, entrances and cut offs and in rehearsal these are practised so that they happen smoothly in performance. However, the conductor makes no sound and touches no one physically, but the sound literally starts and stops when those arms are raised and lowered.
Musicians know that in order to turn notes on a page into glorious music they must watch and obey the conductor’s gestures. They will still be a musician if they do their own thing and follow their own tune, but they will not be a part of the symphony or a greater work.
How great is God the master conductor who can take our tunes and turn them into glorious music for himself. How good is it when we keep our eyes on Him and are able to live in harmony with each other and be formed into something even more beautiful than any one of us can be on our own. How incredible that he holds the tune not just of our lives but that of the whole cosmos in his hands.
Romans 15:5-6
May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.