In the Rogers and Hammerstein musical, “Cinderella,” the leading lady sings a song about how wonderful the ball was. Of course, she can’t let her stepmother and sisters know that she really went, so she sings as if she were imagining what happened. How clever of her.
I had a lovely night of my own. Unlike Cinderella, it did not involve meeting Prince Charming, but I can live with that. This evening I had the pleasure of good music. I still live near my Alma Mater, and the choir that I was a part of for 2 years performed Dan Forrest’s Requiem for the Living. Dan Forrest is a genius, and I was privileged to study theory under him a few years ago. To hear his music come alive was an uplifting experience. I love requiems. The last few years have seen a lot of deaths in my family, and it can be so hard to grieve and to let go. A requiem lets you do that: “Grant them peace, Lord, and may eternal light shine on them.” But so many requiems focus only on the pain of loss. Forrest’s acknowledges the misery of separation, but focuses on the fact that we do not need to despair. God is a good God who in the end does give rest. But to be attain this rest you have to admit that you cannot find it yourself. Only God can give true peace.
Dramatic Lyric 