Playing with J.S.Bach
by Elouise
One, two, three
Maybe four
Rarely five
Notes move in and out
Baby steps
Interrupted by
Sudden runs
And breathtaking leaps
Up and down the
Keyboard they come
Close
R a c e a p a r t
Echo
Transition
Resolve
Trill and turn
Tumble over each other
Children at play
A galaxy of possibilities–
Mystery and high adventure
For the young at heart
* * *
Of all the composers I love, none loves my fingers so much as J. S. Bach. A few simple notes and I’m off in another world. Following J. S. Bach is always an adventure. Pleasing to the ear and to my hands when I keep it simple and follow his lead.
Last night I pulled out a J. S. Bach collection for an end-of-the-day read and play. Good practice not just for my hands, but for my heart. Just when I think I understand the pattern he’s developing, he revises it slightly or leaps to another key.
This morning I got thinking about Bach and yesterday’s post on winning and losing. The adventure isn’t about knowing where this composition is going next. It’s about following Bach’s lead, and being delighted and challenged along the way. Sometimes messing up bigtime, other times sailing through what seems strange and complex.
Hence the poem above.
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 3 June 2015
Telling the Truth 
Oh, Elouise, in my mind I could hear you playing and see your hands interacting with music, piano, and heart, and felt lifted up over here in my office. Thank you for your poem and the sharing of your constantly unfolding, but always deep relationship with music. Your delight delighted me, as I took a quick break from reading and assigning grades… 🙂
Thank you also for the comment about following another’s lead. That leads me down another path of thought that remains for another time – that of trust. I am happy to follow another’s lead if I trust the person(s) to lead… but I must take up my glasses, pen and Exegesis papers! Bye for now, and thanks again!
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You’re welcome, Debbie. I’m glad to provide a bit of delight and relief from grading exegesis papers!!! The leader, indeed, must be trustworthy. Like J.S.Bach as a musician, and Jesus as our Guide to God and all things beautiful (that don’t always look beautiful on first glance). Have a happy afternoon!
Elouise
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