“He rises and begins to round,
He drops the silver chain of sound,
Of many links without a break,
In chirrup, whistle, slur and shake.

For singing till his heaven fills,
‘Tis love of earth that he instils,
And ever winging up and up,
Our valley is his golden cup
And he the wine which overflows
to lift us with him as he goes.

Till lost on his aerial rings
In light, and then the fancy sings.”

(from The Lark Ascending, George Meredith, 1828-1909)

Chama River, near Monastery of Christ in the Desert

On Sunday mornings folks in these parts have a special and perhaps even somewhat uncommon opportunity to hear very special music in live performance. The venue is known as Chatter, and it happens in a warehouse-type space on the north side of downtown Albuquerque. Although I’ve been only a few times, I’m always happy to be there, regardless of how much I am drawn to the music on a given Sunday. The performance today of Ralph Vaughn Williams’ composition for piano and violin left me—and I think perhaps everyone—joy filled.

These days I’m more than a little sad and disturbed by the ugliness of this political year. Fear, and sadly hate, are virtually palpable. All one has to do is turn on the television, pick up a newspaper or news magazine, go out onto the internet, sometimes just head down the block to a neighborhood fast food restaurant, and now to the local theater. How have we come to this?

Today, I say thank you for Ralph Vaughan Williams and George Meredith, the glorious playing of violin and piano, and for a place like Chatter, where on any Sunday morning I can be reminded that something good and beautiful connects us all.