Her voice is low and very resonant,
but now, with age, I often cannot hear
each word. She rightly takes offense at that
and thinks me inattentive. If my ear
is turned away, or if I do not see
her moving lips, the sounds are often lost.
For other women there is jealousy
since I can hear them fine. It is not lust
for at the string trio tonight, the sound
of violin was clear, cello was round,
but viola was lost in the background…
– Steve Shoemaker, Urbana, IL April 8, 2015
The CHOIR magnificently sang
Bach’s LOUD complex “Magnificat!”
The orchestra was small, but rang
Out BRASS and DRUMS and ORGEL that
Reverberated through the Hall.
That GOD was GREAT there was no doubt,
The fugue repeated that till all
Could not help but join in the SHOUT!
(but then the oboe d’ amour stood
and quietly began with D
a tune of slave and poverty…
the cello cello cello droned
as pure and sweet soprano voice
recalled the Virgin’s humble choice.)
– Steven R. Shoemaker & Margaret R. Grossman
Note: Peggy Grossman is a Biochemistry professor at the University of Illinois who plays oboe in the Champaign-Urbana Symphony. She and Steve shared the experience of the Bach Magnificat.
Views from the Edge 