Poetry, Hymns, and Moonlight Sonata

Today (December 17) marks the birthdays of both John Greenleaf Whittier and Ludwig van Beethoven. Both the Fireside poet and the composer have been favourites of mine through the years.  One of Whittier's most well known lines is taken from the poem "Maud Miller." These lines have always hit home with me. Perhaps you can see why:

"For of all sad words of tongue or pen

the saddest are these: 'it might have been.'" 

As 2016 approaches, we could all do well to keep those words in mind. I am resolved to say "yes" to more adventures, within reason of course, and to circumspectly avoid "it might have been" to the best of my frail abilities.

Whittier wrote hymns (almost one-hundred of them) that I have only recently discovered. Though his theology is not spot on, nor one with which I will ever align myself, they are lovely nonetheless. Here are the links to a few that I have enjoyed and a few lines to sample:

Immortal Love, Forever Free:

"Immortal love, forever full,

Forever flowing free, Forever shared, forever whole, A never ebbing sea!

All other names above;

Love only knoweth whence it came,

And comprehendeth love.

The mists of earth away:

Shine out, O Light divine, and show

How wide and far we stray.

To bring the Lord Christ down;

In vain we search the lowest deeps,

For Him no depths can drown.

A present help is He;

And faith still has its Olivet,

And love its Galilee."

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/m/immortal.htm

Shall We Grow Weary in Our Walk:

"Enough that blessings undeserved

That more and more a providence

That death seems but a covered way

Our outward lips confess the name

Blow, winds of God, awake and blow

We may not climb the heavenly steeps

But warm, sweet, tender, even yet,

 Easier to smite with Peter's sword

Than to watch one hour in humbling prayer;

Life's great things, like the Syrian lord,

Our hearts can do and dare"

http://www.hymnary.org/text/shall_we_grow_weary_in_our_watch

All as God Wills, Who Wisely Heeds:

"All as God wills, who wisely heeds

To give or to withhold,

And knoweth more of all my needs,

Than all my prayers have told!

Have marked my erring track;

That wheresoe'er my feet have swerved,

His chastening turned me back

Of love is understood

Making the Springs of time and sense

Sweet with eternal good

Which opens into light

Wherein no blinded child can stray

Beyond the Father's sight"

http://www.hymnary.org/text/all_as_god_wills_who_wisely_heeds

On Beethoven:

One of my goals I determined to accomplish in 2015 was to be able to play the first movement of Moonlight Sonata. After starting it in January, the months of work that followed (and the constant reminders that an f double-sharp is actually just a g natural) were not for naught. Though there is still much work and improvement to be accomplished in the piece's execution, two simple facts remain: I will never tire of working on Moonlight Sonata and I will never be completely finished working on Moonlight Sonata. I realize that never is a strong word, but I am using it in earnest. That is the timeless beauty of finding a piece of music that resonates with you and plays your heartstrings just as much as striking your piano's strings. The hours of work and continued improvement of one's execution of the piece is pure joy. Beethoven was a master of his craft and his work yet transcends time and culture.  It's hard to find the words to express the power of excellent music, so I shan't attempt to do so. However, I will close with a quote from a dear friend of mine: "God spoke through [Beethoven] and his music even if he wasn't on God's side (but I hope he changed his mind before he died)."- Kate Hardie