Article January 9, 1995 Issue

Inspiration with power to heal

Evelyn M. S. Duckett

Once at the closing performances of a musical festival, I heard four finalists of different nationalities, ages, and backgrounds play the same concerto on the same piano. They also worked with the same orchestra and the same conductor. But the result sounded quite different each time.

What made the difference? Each competitor brought his or her own individual inspiration to the effort. A great deal of detailed study and practice undoubtedly preceded these performances. They all had to get the notes and phrasing right, but on the night of the concert itself, the melodies seemed to flow quite effortlessly.

Inspiration can seem to be a difficult quality to grasp and express individually, but it feels rather like a breath of fresh air, blowing away the mental cobwebs of staleness, dullness, and repetitiveness. We are often told that a smiling face helps everyone we meet. A smiling, or inspired, thought can do even more.

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