>> Kevin: THIS PAST SUNDAY I GOT TO PERFORM WITH THE AMAZING METROPOLITAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, AND I’M AGAIN FEELING ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE ASTONISHING MUSICAL OFFERINGS IN OUR STATE.

AWHILE BACK I ATTENDED A REHEARSAL OF THE GIVING VOICES FOR MUSIC.

THE CHOIR IS COMPOSED OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH VARIOUS STAGES OF DEMENTIA, WHO ARE JOINED BY A SPOUSE, A FRIEND, A SIBLING.

THE MUSIC PROVIDES NOT ONLY A SENSE OF WELL-BEING, BUT SOMETIMES THE ADDED GIFT OF REKINDLING MEMORY.

ONE WOMAN TOLD ME, “EVERY TUESDAY I HAVE MY HUSBAND BACK FOR TWO HOURS.” AS I WATCH THE REHEARSAL, I AM REMINDED OF THE NORSE GOD ODIN.

HE HAD TWO RAVENS, ONE PERCHED ON EACH SHOULDER, ONE CALLED THOUGHT AND THE OTHER MEMORY.

AND WHENEVER MEMORY FLEW OFF, ODIN WORRIED IT WOULD NEVER RETURN.

I THINK OF HOW MUSIC SPANS DISTANCE AND TIME.

THE BUSHMEN OF THE KALAHARI GO OUT AT NIGHT AND DO NOT LOOK AT THE STARS, THEY LISTEN TO THE STARS, LISTEN TO THE SONGS OF THEIR ANCESTORS.

PYTHAGORAS, THE GREEK MATHEMATICIAN, BELIEVED IN THE MUSIC OF THE SPHERES: THAT THE PLANETS, THE TREES, THE ROCKS, THE WATER ALL HELD MUSIC.

WHEN WE SING OUR SONG, WE ARE IN HARMONY WITH OUR WORLD.

THE ANCIENT GREEKS BELIEVED SPIRIT LIVED ON THE BREATH; TO PRAY WAS TO SING.

EVERY PRAYER WAS SUNG ALOUD AND BEGAN WITH THE WORDS I SING, OFFERING, SPIRIT, TO THE GODS.

THE IRISH CALLED HARP PLAYERS HEDGE PRIESTS, BECAUSE LIKE HEDGES THEY BROUGHT TWO WORLDS TOGETHER.

MUSIC CONNECTS US TO EACH OTHER, TO OURSELVES, TO THE COSMOS.

THE STARS ABOVE HOUSE THE SONGS OF THE ANCESTORS.

AS INNER CONSTELLATIONS MAP OUR DESTINIES.

HEROES USHER US THROUGH THRESHOLDS.

DREAMS ARE WOVEN INTO CONSCIOUSNESS.

AND THIS GARDEN THAT PROVIDES FOR US IS ALIVE WITH RELATIVES.

ORACLES ARE EVERYWHERE, WAITING TO BE RECOGNIZED.

IT IS A WORLD OF COMMUNAL LOVE, AND GRIEF, CARE, AND AS WE DANCE OUR BRIEF DANCE ON THIS CLAY AND BEFORE IT RECLAIMS US.

WE SING.

WE SING OURSELVES INTO EXISTENCE.

AT MACPHAIL, AS THE SONGS FILLS THE ROOM, FACES BEAM, AND TOGETHER WE WITNESS RAVEN AFTER RAVEN OF MEMORY RETURNING TO THE CONCERT HALL.