I have spent the past ten years, filling my calendar with concert and performance dates. There have been performances of Beauty and the Beast and Anything Goes, Oliver and Once on This Island. I have sat in auditoriums watching my kids play their various instruments in PMEA bands and orchestras, WYSO and IP orchestras, and many chamber groups. But I've probably been to more choir concerts than anything else considering all four Kennedys sang at both Interlochen and in high school. I sat at the piano, helping all Kennedys practice for PMEA chorus auditions. I helped too with the music for Chamber singers. I accompanied some of the choirs one year at an adjudication festival in Washington DC, and who can forget me accompanying the choir as Craig Jessop conducted them in Bernstein's Chicester Psalms? Yes, for the last ten years, my calendar has been full.
Well last night was what I believe will be the final performance noted on my calendar. Johannah left behind viola performance a couple of years ago, Glo will probably get into the Animation program this year and no longer need music as a "back up", and Mark has completed his music degree with no plans to go any further with it. In fact, when we needed to play something last minute for a church fireside last week, Mark commented that he hadn't really played his horn (and definitely not practiced it) since his senior recital a full year before. And it showed.
Well John figured out sometime last year that if Mark continued to stretch out fulfilling the requirements for his music degree into this year, he could actually make quite a bit of money through scholarships and grants. However, Mark didn't want to play in the orchestras anymore, nor be part of the whole audition process, so he opted for choir. And he didn't even attempt to make it into a difficult, auditioned choir. He chose University Choir which has the requirement that you be able to sing. This means Mark has been incredibly bored over the past eight months, singing music that he could probably do on the spot with no practice and sound just fine. However, like many jobs, he did it because it was making him money.
I, however, have thoroughly enjoyed his concerts. They are easy to listen to, they never exceed an hour, and the music usually has an interesting theme.
April 3, 8:00. I guess that day will go down in the annals of my history, because it will be the last Kennedy scholastic performance I will attend (again, this is dependent on Glo's Animation application). John and I drove to Hill Auditorium, took one of the many available seats, and waited.
It was about two songs in that I realized that this was it. This was the last time I was going to see that boy up on stage, in his tuxedo, doing what I believe his spirit has been doing since before he was born. There were times when I could actually hear Mark's voice above the other tenors, and I hopped back on the sentimental journey train once more.
It's difficult for me, seeing my children all leaving music. It has definitely served a purpose throughout the years, paying for bits and pieces of college. But when the numbers are tabulated at the end, it's probably cost us more than any return we will get from it all. However, I would like to think that music has given them something more than money can buy. It has given them confidence in front of people (speaking and performing), it has taught them to set a goal and work towards it, it has helped them learn to prioritize (there's nothing like waiting until the last minute to practice), and I think it's taught them to be softer and gentler human beings. Too, they have met some amazing teachers along the way who have been more friends and mentors with life advice than drill sergeants with a bow or baton.
So with that, there was one more song until it was all over. The program had been about women: music dedicated to them, and music written by them (quite brilliant if you ask me). The final song was entitled Farewell Overture by Jean Belmont Ford. The program notes state "Her whimsical Farewell Overture was written for the Kansas City Chorale and their conductor Charles Bruffy. Though every phrase in this piece means farewell, the sentiment of each one varies from jaunty and heartfelt to dry and sly. Parting is such sweet sorrow, but we must end this concert program sometime. Goodbye!"
Here are the words:
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye. Arrivederci. Farewell. So long. See you later.
Adios, adios my dear ones.
Parting is such sweet sorrow, be here on the morrow.
Auf Wiedersehen. Au revoir. Get some rest. Hasta la vista. Shalom.
Cheerio, cheerio, my good friends.
Please don't take any wooden nickels, not a one.
It ain't over till the fat lady sings.
Here's your hat, what's your rush?
Amen. Gotta run now. Toodle-oo. Tata.
It's been good to know you. Godspeed. Here's lookin' atcha, kid. I'll check you later.
Be good. Sayonara. Peace. Ciao. Over and out. Se you 'round like a doughnut. Bye.
Bon voyage. After awhile, crocodile. Do svidania. Have a good one. Chin-chin. Take it easy.
Next time. See you soon. That's all. Come again. Let's make like a tree and leave.
Don't do anything I wouldn't do. See ya.
That's the news, and I am out of here. Vaya con Dios to you.
So, take care. Aloha. Adieu. We'll miss you. Don't be a stranger. Come back.
Thanks for the memory. Goodbye.
I was overcome with emotion. I could hardly believe that this part of my life was at an end. It has been such a joy to see my kids up on stage, unselfishly sharing a piece of themselves with the rest of the world for the majority of their lives. Mark has definitely given me the most pleasure, probably because he gave it his all for so many years, allowing me to ride the roller coaster with him. But as I was attempting to hold back the tears as we met him after the concert, he marched proudly into the lobby with his arms outstretched above him like a runner crossing the finish line, announcing, "Yeah baby, last concert of my undergraduate life!"
And with that, I can see that the time has indeed come to say goodbye.
Farewell Overture, Jean Belmont Ford (North Central Counterpoints)
Well last night was what I believe will be the final performance noted on my calendar. Johannah left behind viola performance a couple of years ago, Glo will probably get into the Animation program this year and no longer need music as a "back up", and Mark has completed his music degree with no plans to go any further with it. In fact, when we needed to play something last minute for a church fireside last week, Mark commented that he hadn't really played his horn (and definitely not practiced it) since his senior recital a full year before. And it showed.
Well John figured out sometime last year that if Mark continued to stretch out fulfilling the requirements for his music degree into this year, he could actually make quite a bit of money through scholarships and grants. However, Mark didn't want to play in the orchestras anymore, nor be part of the whole audition process, so he opted for choir. And he didn't even attempt to make it into a difficult, auditioned choir. He chose University Choir which has the requirement that you be able to sing. This means Mark has been incredibly bored over the past eight months, singing music that he could probably do on the spot with no practice and sound just fine. However, like many jobs, he did it because it was making him money.
I, however, have thoroughly enjoyed his concerts. They are easy to listen to, they never exceed an hour, and the music usually has an interesting theme.
It was about two songs in that I realized that this was it. This was the last time I was going to see that boy up on stage, in his tuxedo, doing what I believe his spirit has been doing since before he was born. There were times when I could actually hear Mark's voice above the other tenors, and I hopped back on the sentimental journey train once more.
It's difficult for me, seeing my children all leaving music. It has definitely served a purpose throughout the years, paying for bits and pieces of college. But when the numbers are tabulated at the end, it's probably cost us more than any return we will get from it all. However, I would like to think that music has given them something more than money can buy. It has given them confidence in front of people (speaking and performing), it has taught them to set a goal and work towards it, it has helped them learn to prioritize (there's nothing like waiting until the last minute to practice), and I think it's taught them to be softer and gentler human beings. Too, they have met some amazing teachers along the way who have been more friends and mentors with life advice than drill sergeants with a bow or baton.
So with that, there was one more song until it was all over. The program had been about women: music dedicated to them, and music written by them (quite brilliant if you ask me). The final song was entitled Farewell Overture by Jean Belmont Ford. The program notes state "Her whimsical Farewell Overture was written for the Kansas City Chorale and their conductor Charles Bruffy. Though every phrase in this piece means farewell, the sentiment of each one varies from jaunty and heartfelt to dry and sly. Parting is such sweet sorrow, but we must end this concert program sometime. Goodbye!"
Here are the words:
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye. Arrivederci. Farewell. So long. See you later.
Adios, adios my dear ones.
Parting is such sweet sorrow, be here on the morrow.
Auf Wiedersehen. Au revoir. Get some rest. Hasta la vista. Shalom.
Cheerio, cheerio, my good friends.
Please don't take any wooden nickels, not a one.
It ain't over till the fat lady sings.
Here's your hat, what's your rush?
Amen. Gotta run now. Toodle-oo. Tata.
It's been good to know you. Godspeed. Here's lookin' atcha, kid. I'll check you later.
Be good. Sayonara. Peace. Ciao. Over and out. Se you 'round like a doughnut. Bye.
Bon voyage. After awhile, crocodile. Do svidania. Have a good one. Chin-chin. Take it easy.
Next time. See you soon. That's all. Come again. Let's make like a tree and leave.
Don't do anything I wouldn't do. See ya.
That's the news, and I am out of here. Vaya con Dios to you.
So, take care. Aloha. Adieu. We'll miss you. Don't be a stranger. Come back.
Thanks for the memory. Goodbye.
I was overcome with emotion. I could hardly believe that this part of my life was at an end. It has been such a joy to see my kids up on stage, unselfishly sharing a piece of themselves with the rest of the world for the majority of their lives. Mark has definitely given me the most pleasure, probably because he gave it his all for so many years, allowing me to ride the roller coaster with him. But as I was attempting to hold back the tears as we met him after the concert, he marched proudly into the lobby with his arms outstretched above him like a runner crossing the finish line, announcing, "Yeah baby, last concert of my undergraduate life!"
And with that, I can see that the time has indeed come to say goodbye.
Farewell Overture, Jean Belmont Ford (North Central Counterpoints)
Awwwwwww mama I'm sorry its the last one scholastically! Seriously though, lets be honest, none of us, myself more than anybody, could have done it without being able to call you whenever and get your advice and encouragement. That's really been the most amazing thing for me(:
ReplyDeleteAnd lets be honest Mama, when will it actually ever end?(: #morelikejustanarrowinthequiver #waitingtobedrawn