God's Grandeur: Joshua Bell at Cal Performances

One of the last shows that I saw in Berkeley prior to my relocation was a performance by Joshua Bell (on Feb. 21, 2010). He appeared as part of UC Berkeley Cal Performances' 2009-2010 spring season, and he performed with Jeremy Denk on piano. They were amazing. Hearing the music, witnessing their musicianship, being a part of that night of un-rivaled art and magic -- I will never forget it. How is it that we as small human beings could carry so much energy, talent, vitality, beauty? Thomas Merton once wrote, "there is no way of telling people that they are all walking around shining like the sun." I believe that on that rainy February afternoon, each person left Zellerbach Hall with their ears ringing, each person's heart swelling and glowing like the sun. If Gerard Manley Hopkins is right, then that performance was a way for each of us to catch a glimpse of God's grandeur. It was, for me, a reminder that in the midst of the work and toil, between the frenetic activities of packing, boxing, cleaning, and preparing to relocate, I should and could still pause to hear the music. And, in hearing the music, remember to focus and center myself. It was a wonderful gift in those crazy last days in Berkeley.

The program was as follows:

Johann Sebastian Bach
Sonata No. 4 for Violin and Piano in C minor, BWV 1017 (ca. 1723)
-Siciliano: Largo
-Allegro
-Adagio
-Allegro

Edvard Grieg
Sonata No. 3 for Violin and Piano in C minor, Op. 45 (1886-1887)
-Allegro molto ed appassionato
-Allegretto espressive alla Romanza - Allegro molto - Tempo I
-Allegro animato

Intermission

Robert Schumann
Sonata No. 1 for Violin and Piano in A minor, Op. 105 (1851)
Mit leidenschaftlichem Ausdruck
Allegretto
Lebhaft

Maurice Ravel
Sonata for Violin and Piano (1923-1927)
Allegretto
Blues: Moderato
Perpetuum mobile: Allegro

God's Grandeur

The world is charged with the grandeur of God.
It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;
It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil
Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?
Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;
And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;
And wears man's smudge & shares man's smell: the soil
Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.

And for all this, nature is never spent;
There lives the dearest freshness deep down things;
And though the last lights off the black West went
Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs --
Because the Holy Ghost over the bent
World broods with warm breast & with ah! bright wings.

Gerard Manley Hopkins