I have been complacent

This thought bubbled to the surface as I flipped through the Feb. 2020 American Organist issue. This magazine is “professional reading” for me and usually can be read cover to cover in a few minutes. Frequently, I stop the skimming and read thoroughly. What caught my eye this month? The article originally written in 1944 by E. Power Biggs “Modern Renaissance of the Organ” reprinted with an introduction by Rollin Smith. For the organists who automatically do a small trill with their feet whenever E. Power Biggs is mentioned, this article came from The Etude magazine secured expressly for them by Myles Fellowes from A Conference. Yes, those people! 

For the non-organists, E. Power Biggs was heard each week playing all manner of organ music. (The 1940’s was the heyday of organ concerts. One could hear local performers each month along with nationally broadcast shows on the new technology of the time: the radio.)The excerpt from his talk is a bit of a call to action. 

Here’s what caught my eye:

It’s very easy just to react to the demands we perceive. Change the crying baby’s diaper. Feed the hungry teenager. Dust the shelf, vacuum the rug, scrub the bathtub, bag the groceries, answer the email…. Create the birthday/Christmas gift. Replace a worn pair of earrings.

It’s a whole different thing to make sure the important things are done. What’s important? 

Well:

Learn the recital piece you really love to hear and play it! (Sacred and secular)

Tat the design you see in your mind and share it! (Tatted pieces and the pattern)

Fix the worn out window weatherstrip (save on the energy bill too)

The article ends with an admonition to make sure we remember to fit in “further exploration of the astonishingly rich organ library.” I would add to explore the astonishingly rich creativity we have in each of us. So, I'm off to get those chores done and make sure the important things get some time and energy.