Mozart and a Quiet Moment Without a Moment of Drowsiness

Last updated on: November 27, 2016 at 8:41 pm by John Mark N. Reynolds

Mozart and a Quiet Moment Without a Moment of Drowsiness 2016-11-27T20:41:39-04:00 John Mark N. Reynolds

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The moment Mozart attended and was at rest.

Listening to Mozart live is one of the few musical experiences where I am made calm, yet not sleepy. I was lucky enough to hear Jeffery Kahane conduct and play piano for a packed house in Houston. We have had a wonderful, but busy holiday with much to do later to get ready for the work week. In such situations, almost all television would have failed to distract me from the five hundred and fifty three details that need attention, but if it did, I would have fallen asleep.

Modernity has two modes: sleeping and busy. Mozart will have neither, at least in Piano Concertos 21 and 24. There is a blend of pastoral calm, Salzburg and the mountains, with an imperial call to action. The oboes and bassoons in Concerto 24 sooth without drowsiness.

If Wagner makes a man wish to fight, these concertos made me want to reflect.

Mozart made me calm and did not bid me carry on. Instead, the concertos took time, for an untrained ear like mine, this was a lot of music. Mozart wrote to show his skills as a composer and a performer, a pianist, and he had a great many skills to show off. It works, even for poor me.

I could close my eyes to focus on the music without the slightest chance of falling asleep, because sometimes the trumpets would sound, but always the piano was insisting that I attend. More than anything, I was reminded of the moment in the Orthodox service, when the priest says: “Wisdom! Let us attend!” so that we know to focus on the reading of the Gospel.

Mozart’s piano forced me to attend, while the orchestra soothed me. I was brought to attention, but at ease. He seemed to be saying: “Think, be calm, but be enlightened.” Meditate, don’t become drowsy. Come out of this concert sharpened, rested, and ready.

Too many times we are called to action. Click now. Buy now. Act now. Commit now. The alternative is the soporific sounds of that we can buy to put us to sleep: rain on the roof, waves on the shore, wind sounds. We are either driving forward or dozing and this is dangerous. New ideas come from silence, reflection, but alertness.

This is how sleep is different from death. Sleep does not allow thought. Death is perfect clarity. In death, a human moves from the half-awake state of this life to full alertness in the life to come. We are aware, standing fully before the Uncreated Light of God. At that moment there is nothing to do, but see. Whatever the defects of his philosophy, the music of Mozart calls us to a similar moment while yet alive: waking rest.

We need more Mozart just now.

Culture

Spiritual Reflections

Previous Post

November 27, 2016

The Glass Bauble Was Beautiful . . . God, so Beautiful

Next Post

November 28, 2016 Advent: Between Thanksgiving and Christmas

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Apologetics Art Culture Education On Books On Education Philosophy Politics Pop Culture Spiritual Reflections Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 July 2025 June 2025 September 2024 July 2024 June 2024 December 2023 June 2023 September 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who saw the "writing on the wall"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Nebuchadnezzar Darius Amos Belshazzar

Books by This Author John Mark Reynolds

See All Titles »