A “Symphony of Your Life” blog with Mark Hardcastle

I love flying jets. I’m so grateful to have the privilege of connecting my passengers with their moments that matter most. But that’s not all I do. In another life I am a musical conductor. And in that arena several years ago I had the great privilege of working with Maestro Travis Branam on a project he called “The 303 Choir.” (I wrote about that here.)

The choir was made up of enthusiastic middle and high school kids who have had very little choral training, but who love to sing. As part of that experience we organized an opportunity for them to “meet” internationally acclaimed composer and conductor, Randall Stroope, via Skype. We encouraged the kids to show up with questions, and right out of the chute one of the kids asked, “Why do you write music the way you do?” Not bad. Not bad at all.

Dr. Stroope didn’t miss a beat. He explained that it’s always about enhancing the text. The text always dictates how the music is written. Every aspect of the music – notes, rhythm, meter, harmonies – should be about bringing out the message that the poet is trying to convey. The music should always bring the words to life.

Which brings me to the question of the day: Why do you do what you do?

The art of writing music can certainly stand on its own. Choral music on the other hand, at least as imagined by Randall Stroope, is an endeavor that exists to support others. For example, one of Stroope’s pieces that 303 was learning was his setting of Robert Frost’s poem, “The Pasture.” And the second question they asked that day was, “What inspired you to set that piece to music?

Randall said, “I wanted the music to convey the reality that Frost wasn’t talking literally about cleaning out a pasture spring. He was talking about building a relationship. So I built the notes around that idea.”

As Randall worked to bring that piece to life, his efforts were in complete service to the prior efforts of Robert Frost. He was determined to bring additional clarity and deeper meaning to the poem. In being “of service” over time Stroope was able to create an entire catalogue of music that would be heard and loved by millions and would become a remarkable legacy in its own right.

Can you do that?

Everyone around us is writing a text, a story – the story of his or her life. What are we, you and I, doing about it? How are we supporting those around us? How are we “enhancing the text” of their stories? Are we working to help them bring their words to life? Are we being “of service?”

Or are you so busy writing your own story that you don’t see those around you writing theirs? Yes, creating our own legacy is a worthy objective. We should all be about it. But should it be all about us? Or could you weave their stories into yours? What might that look like?

How about this: Is there something you can do today, tomorrow, next week, next month to enhance the self-esteem of a colleague? Can you add tangible value to a friend’s life? Is there a way for you to ease someone else’s burden? What notes, rhythm, meter and harmonies can you bring to their stories?

Think of someone around you who is facing a challenge right now. Is there something you can do to make it easier for him or her to win that hard battle?

Randall Stroope is able to make powerful poems even more impactful by adding a musical dimension to the text. You, as a composer of life can do it, too. Let’s pick a text today and write a composition that will magnify the writer’s meaning for the world.

Thanks for reading!

The  Symphony of Your Life

#stayintheprocess #symphonyofyourlife