Ode to Joy

Music filled this last week for me. Twice in the past few days I attended concerts performed by the Minnesota Orchestra, Yo Yo Ma the principal artist at one of them.

At the same time, there exists a famous black and white photo taken in the 1950s of a young boy in Peru, playing a flute and walking down a road. The joy in that scene captures the delight experienced in any Orchestra Hall.



Ode to Joy
       (After Bischof's  Flute Player 
        on the Way to Cuzco, Peru, 1954)


Descendant of Incas

                        Classical heirs

In sandals and shorts

                         In tuxedos and ties

With stripes on his poncho

                         Wearing shiny black shoes

Played his flute

                         Commanded a hall

And the melody flowed

                         And Beethoven's Ninth

Eased distractions

                         Lifted spirits

Lightened the load

                         Erased distress

With a single instrument

                         With chorus and orchestra

As complete

                         As effective

As a symphony of musicians

                         As the stream of a flute



Marilyn Aschoff Mellor