2021.12.05 The Arts. Music.

I have always believed, and said many times, that the Arts would and could save the world from extinction, or from itself. I think this because the Arts—music, painting, photography, medicine, literature, oratory, journalism, iconography, and Nature herself—are creative and desire to explore and express the depth dimension of life itself. By this I refer to that curious place inside each one of us all in which Mystery informs us of things we cannot understand that we know to be true and life-giving. Some call this internal meeting ground Soul.   

Hector Mendoza is the campus minister for liturgical music—music for public worship—at the University of Portland, Oregon. First of all, I think it is unusual to have a campus ministry for liturgical music, sacred music. But then this university, founded in 1901 as a private Roman Catholic university affiliated with the Congregation of the Holy Cross, with a sister school at Notre Dame, honors the spiritual needs of its students and faculty. You know there has to be a robust worship component. There is a chapel in every residence hall and their main chapel is the Chapel of Christ the Teacher where “people come together to evoke God’s harmony.” Here are its doors, carved from walnut local to the area, showing a sunburst. 

Some might say this is overdone religiosity. I quite disagree. It merely acknowledges that every student has a soul that also needs an education. 

Mendoza started his musical journey when he was a child. At seven he was already performing percussion in the Venezuelan ensemble, “El Sistema,” a publicly funded music education program, founded in Venezuela in 1975 by musician and activist José Antonio Abreu. His vision was to offer young people a free education in classical music that promotes human opportunity and development for impoverished children. He called his system (sistema) Music for Social Change. Students receive instruction and free use of an instrument. Today, El Sistema is thriving with over 400 music centers in Venezuela and also many in the U.S. An education in music is spiritually formative, encouraging creativity as well as discipline. What could be more “gospel” than this? 

Mendoza followed his music to the University of Vienna, where he taught about contemporary Venezuelan music and its influence on Europe. After his wife died, he moved to the US with his son. He was very angry at God and confused. He said: “I wanted nothing but to forget my past. I wanted to quit being a musician.”  This is often a pained grief response, to run away to forget. But, quite against his plan to escape, Mendoza got a job playing an organ in a church orchestra. Most of us learn that we just can’t run away from our passion, our natural gift—inwardly energizing God-given.

I do not believe that God ever manipulates for the sake of control. I do believe that the Holy Spirit of God entrances us, beguiling us to follow what we love and care deeply about for the sake of Love itself—and bids us look up when everything’s going downhill.  

Mendoza learned to conduct, a different approach to the same love: music in a classical mode. “When I conduct my mission is more about perfection; it’s about getting the best result possible.” He keeps three main goals in mind: Beauty. Holiness and Connection. Holiness is the most important one to him, yet he works hard to make sure a congregation is connecting  with the emotion and spirituality of a moment. Like any pilgrim, Mendoza is “always searching” not just for perfection but for the many expressions of music—jazz, classical, reggaeton, salsa, and more eccentric forms. Here is the masked conductor. 

All these varieties he discerns and follows within the context of a Mass. Is this not what the God of Creation desires and why we worship at all? It forces us to remember that we are but a blip in this cosmic universe, all of which reflects the Holy. 

What beckons you?  For me, it is the image and vision of a larger-than-religions Divinity that surpasses confinement and explodes like a sunburst inside me. I follow without knowing where I’m going.  

2012.01.08 Music is a Human Right, Also a Divine Right

Last night we listened to a Los Angeles Philharmonic (La Phil) concert conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, the latest sensation on the classical music scene and a young charming spirit from Venezuela—famous for saying with a shrug and a chuckle, "If it can be done in Venezuela it can be done anywhere."

Dudamel believes and passionately embodies his creed: Music is a human right.

In the beginning Godde said, Let there be light—and music. Birds made up the first orchestras.

Dudamel, inspired by his mentor José Antonio Abreu, educates children of all ages to play classical music in orchestras and in classrooms. Even tiny nursery school children are banging out rhythms in sync with each other. They are an orchestra! Their glee is unrivaled.

The program is called El Sistema. It’s a system, a saturation. Music is central to human development not an elective easily eliminated from school budgets. El Sistema is now being implemented at the New England Conservatory in Boston.

“Put a musical instrument in a child’s hand and s/he will never pick up a gun,” said Dudamel with a grin of surety.

A 12 year old African American boy said, “When I play music I enter heaven.”

This effort is an important way to take the elitist label off classical music and I think realize that all music is classical. The results of this effort are, frankly, happier children. Everyone plans and no one is left out or singled out. Unlike sports, there’s no “bench” in orchestral music. There is no grade either. Fail-safe joy.

It is also a way to instrumentalize the biblical idea that everything on earth is sacred and beloved the same. Music knows no gender, race, religion, etc.

One parent also labeled this program “safe” because it keeps children off the streets.

Dudamel said “We have to have the notes but each time we play it is different, sounds different. We have to interpret re-interpret and re-interpret to keep it alive.”

This creativity is also what keeps the biblical word of scripture alive for every generation, group, and individual. Everyone interprets it, makes it chime in their own souls, and creates, yes, music.