Thank You For the Music
The needles fall from the Christmas tree, giant jolly Santas deflate on the front lawns, holiday candles sputter, the tang of smoke spirals into the future. No more “ho, ho, ho”, no more jingling holiday ditties in the stores (at least until next July). Yet, all the same, with the old Abba hit, I say, “Thank you for the Music!”
Living with a musician, this has been a busy season. Chris sings with a large Chamber Music group, is a frequent soloist at church, a regular guest singer with other groups, and directs his own men’s ensemble. I play my part. Every performer needs an audience, and I am thrilled to applaud. After the service of Nine Lessons and Carols held in a large local church, I was haunted by the complexity of the harmonies, the inspiration of the ringing crescendos, and the poignancy of the blend of lyrics, instrumentals, and subtle voices.
The ”Hallmark” idealized version of the holidays is all about forced jollity and sentimentality. I suspect it helps many to travel through the monochrome days of winter in the hopes of a technicolored spring. It’s a nice illusion that often fails to deliver. As the years pass, many of us realize that there’s rarely laughter without tears, rarely joy without sorrow. Indeed, we sometimes grasp that the experience of pain actually heightens the wonder of joy.
I have the 70s pop and disco group Abba to thank for showing me it’s actually far more nuanced than that! Abba exploded onto the scene (at least in Europe) when they won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 with the sensational single “Waterloo.” They dazzled in blue and silver, the men played with exuberant energy, and the women sang like angels (even if it was a song about the slaughter of thousands on the battlefield).
I recently strayed across a retrospective of Abba’s career. Although, as I‘ve said, I’m no musician, I had previously understood that, despite the fact that only one member of the group reads music, they were an incredibly talented bunch, often composing songs of great complexity and artistic and technical genius. But it seems I hadn’t listened closely enough. There is a theme that runs through many Abba songs, even the blockbuster hits, a theme that music critic Bob Morley comments, “there’s something real going on,” a theme of loneliness, isolation, regret, and hope — piercing tragedy. A sense of sadness often percolates the euphoria. Some of this comes from the interplay of minor and major keys and other musical devices beyond my reach. Yet, it’s there in the lyrics too. “Knowing You Knowing Me” speaks of empty rooms and the echo of children’s voices, “The Name of the Game” is a song addressed to a therapist, “Voulez Vous” is suffused with wanting and desiring, and even the ebullient “Super Trooper” tells of loneliness behind the bright lights.
Apart from the merry-go-round of rehearsals and concerts, we had a quiet Christmas, having hosted family and friends at Thanksgiving, and even so, we noticed the wisdom of Abba’s wistfulness. To our shock, an acquaintance collapsed during the warmth and cheerfulness of a musical gathering (thankfully, she recovered quickly). A man we met during a beach walk was unexpectedly celebrating Christmas alone since his fiancé was delayed by a family crisis. And for us, it was the first time to celebrate without some loved ones who passed away during the year.
As the strains of Abba fade into the background, I think they are right; it’s not quite enough to say we experience the duality of extreme hurt and joyous transcendence, our lives are multifaceted, shot through with the gamut of human experience. And so, with Abba, I do not hesitate to say,
“Thank you for the Music!”
News Flash!
Happy New Year!
A Glass Darkly is doing well, and an author event is coming up (see below).
If you enjoyed the book, rate or review A Glass Darkly on Amazon – even if you purchased it elsewhere.
I will be having minor surgery in January. Salt Spray and Aspens February post will be delayed.
AUTHOR EVENT!
Thursday, January 16
3:30 – 4:30 pm
Story & Song Center for Arts & Culture
No reservations are required for this free event.
Author-signed copies of A Glass Darkly will be available.
Cheese and wine will be served.
End Notes
Reading
Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant
Ann Tyler
Listening
Latin Train
Arturo Sandoval
Fernando
Abba
Viewing
Eurovision Song Contest
Netflix
x
Poetry
Seafever
by John Masefield
Read bu Tom Burleigh
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