The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of emotions and experiences. I feel that I have been busier than normal at work, and the fact that I now have three private lessons a week (one of them being quite demanding) probably adds to this feeling of hussle-and-bussle during the week. Its better to be busy than have nothing to do at least. However, every now and then I like to take it easy and unwind a little bit. Music helps me do that.
Ever since January I have been singing with the Complutense University Choir (Coro de La Universidad Complutense) every tuesday (surprise!)....... it has been a great way to recharge my batteries after a hectic week, or weekend. The practices have been a little rough lately but thats because we have been practicing for our major concert tomorrow. Its going to be awesome. First of all, let me say that what I like about this choir is that its like no other choir that I have been a part of before. We are a singing version of the United Nations; the first time in the choir´s existence according to the diretcor. There are three Americans including me, two Germans, two Venezuelans, two Brits, one Pole, and one Icelander. The rest, of course, are Spaniards. And we are singing severals songs from each country, and in their respective languages! No lie. If you think Spanish is a hard language, try Polish. I didn´t even know that many consonants could fit in one word!! Icelandic, which I had always assumed to be an ugly language is actually one of the most beautiful-sounding languages I have ever heard. Fortunately, German comes to me somewhat easily because I had studied it briefly at UNCW and during my time with the UNCW Chamber Singers we would often sing in German. My favorite song is Afton Water, a Scottish folksong that sounds like a cross between Ralph Vaugh Williams and Simon and Garfunkel. Speaking about them, we are also singing Scarborough Fair. From America, interestingly enough, we are singing the classic and perhaps over-sung folksong Shenandoah, and the African-American spiritual I Want Jesus. I´ve been helping them with pronunciation although many sing English quite well. Singing tends to hide accents anyway.
Another thing I love about the group is that its a mix of all ages and walks of life. Students, teachers, professors, airline employees, metro maintenance workers, and the unemployed are among those who make up the group. Its given me a chance to meet and interact with Madrileños away from work and in another setting. Also, since many university students are among the members I´ve gotten to hear stories about university life here.
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-Switching gears a little bit, but still related, about two weeks ago I went to Granada again. I just can´t seem to get away from that city. The reason this time was mostly to do some reflecting about someone I cared about in the UNCW community who passed away on May 17th: Father Al Dash. I did some praying while I was there for his family and friends and the UNCW Catholic Campus Ministry together with my friend Erika who I mentioned in the last post.
I was giving an English lesson that Thursday when Erika called me and I felt inclined to answer. Then I found out that Father Al had passed away. I was in shock because even though I knew that he had been ill and in and out of the hospital for sometime it never registered with me that he would go so soon. Instinct and impulse told me to take a bus to Granada the next day and after talking with Erika about it I did. I wanted to be with someone that had known him, and perhaps us talking about him might help us deal with his passing. Now that I think about this, it reminds me of that bible verse: Matthew 18:20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.
To be honest, I feel like I never knew him well -that everyone else knew him better than I did. But at the same time I feel like I did know him. He did many things for us at the CCM that didn´t require talking much. He invited us to break bread with him at mass and at community nights. And I was always amazed by how he would get up so early just to make breakfast for us whiny college students on Tuesday mornings. When I did hear him talk it was usually during mass when he would give really thought-provoking sermons about faith while addressing important current events concerning racial prejudice, immigration, environmentalism, etc. They were always more interesting than the sermons I heard at local Catholic churches and they were always delivered eloquently and with a sense of urgency; I loved that. Now, his musical taste was no doubt something to reckon with. Before mass he would always come and talk with the choir and comment on what song needed to be thrown out or left in. The Lord of the Dance was one of his favorites I remember.
Maybe he was there in Granada with us? Who knows. While we were eating lunch a flamenco band started to play in the square right next to us. The music was captivating as flamenco usually is, but the scene became incredibly intense when all of a sudden one of the waiters, unable to hold out any longer, joined the band and start singing lead with a tray still in his hands. He had a harsh, vibrating voice that was filled with so much passion and emotion that it was overwhelming. And as I wasn´t seated close by, I only caught bits and pieces of what he was singing about, but it was without a doubt about the joys and sorrows of life.
R.I.P. Father Al
Hasta luego.
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