The beauty of the half note

When he was young, he loved to fill his musical compositions with all sorts of notes: sixteenth notes, thirty-second notes, trills, arpeggios.

The whole nine yards -- to borrow a non-musical turn of phrase.

But in his sunset years, they say that the composer Johannes Brahms discovered the beauty of the half note.

He discovered the beauty of the half note.

I think about Brahms' discovery whenever there is clutter all around -- like this time of the year: gifts and festivities and too many things that sparkle; food and parties and too many things that are sweet; 34 bowl games amidst a storm of wrapping paper.

The whole nine yards.

Through it all, may the Lord reveal to us the beauty of the half note.

Logos2Go

Luke 10.39-42 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

Hebrews 11.21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.