A friend introduced me to OC Remix quite a while ago, and I recently rediscovered one of the songs I liked. I also downloaded a few others and have been thoroughly enjoying them. I thought I’d post the links for any of you who are fans of remixed video game music. I’ve never actually played any of these games, but the music is pretty sweet. Enjoy!
The piece I enjoyed the most was titled “Gabriel’s Oboe,” a song written by Ennio Morricone for the film The Mission. The arrangement they performed featured Brenden McQuay on the tuba, playing a transcription of the oboe part. The song was beautifully arranged and featured well the lovely, full brass sound for which UPB is so well-known.
In researching the origin of the song after leaving the concert I discovered a vocal version entitled “Nella Fantasia“. It features a beautiful Italian text which conveys a longing for a world of peace and mutual understanding. The lyrics are so intriguing, both in the Italian and in the English transcription, that I find it fitting to reproduce it here in both languages:
Nella fantasia io vedo un mondo giusto,
Li tutti vivono in pace e in onestà.
Io sogno d’anime che sono sempre libere,
Come le nuvole che volano,
Pien’ d’umanità in fondo l’anima.
Nella fantasia io vedo un mondo chiaro,
Li anche la notte è meno oscura.
Io sogno d’anime che sono sempre libere,
Come le nuvole che volano,
Pien’ d’umanità.
Nella fantasia esiste un vento caldo,
Che soffia sulle città, come amico.
Io sogno d’anime che sono sempre libere,
Come le nuvole che volano,
Pien’ d’umanità in fondo l’anima.
In my fantasy I see a just world,
Where everyone lives in peace and in honesty.
I dream of spirits that are always free,
Like the clouds that fly,
Full of humanity in the depths of the spirit.
In my fantasy I see a bright world,
Where each night there is less darkness.
I dream of spirits that are always free,
Like the clouds that fly,
Full of humanity.
In my fantasy exists a warm wind,
That breathes into the city, like a friend.
I dream of spirits that are always free,
Like the clouds that fly,
Full of humanity in the depths of the spirit.
Below is a recording of Paul Potts singing Nella Fantasia:
This hymn text by Theodore E. Curtis from the 1985 LDS hymnal has grown in significance for me over the last few days, as I have personally witnessed the “ample arm” of the Lord extended to me.
Lean on My Ample Arm
Lean on my ample arm,
O thou depressed!
And I will bid the storm
Cease in thy breast.
Whate’er thy lot may be
On life’s complaining sea,
If thou wilt come to me,
Thou shalt have rest.
Lift up thy tearful eyes,
Sad heart, to me;
I am the sacrifice
Offered for thee.
In me thy pain shall cease,
In me is thy release,
In me thou shalt have peace
Eternally.
–Theodore E. Curtis
The storm in the breast, the depression, the difficulties of one’s lot on life’s complaining sea–all these can be soothed by the Savior’s rest as we come to Him in humility. After all, Christ is the One who could and did take upon Himself our sins and infirmities (see Alma 7:11-13).
In Christ we can have peace, both in the storms of this life and in the eternities.
I’m back! Returned from the two-year mission for the LDS Church. Still getting back into the swing of things, and I’ve finally found time to write a few things here.
A friend mentioned a text to me the other day. It comes from a country song by Tanya Tucker. Although I’m generally not a big fan of country, I found these lyrics particularly striking:
There’s a tree out in the backyard
That never has been broken by the wind
And the reason it’s still standing
It was strong enough to bend.
Over the last two years as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I have learned the implications of this principle. Missionaries work intensively with people (especially with their companions, or full-time colleagues, who stay together 24 hours a day). One key I had to discover for myself is that my companion was not the same as I was, and that his way of doing things wasn’t necessarily bad just because I didn’t choose to do it that way myself. I had my own ways of doing things, which I felt were correct. But as long as I persisted in believing that everyone needed to do it my way, I had a hard time getting along with people. Once I finally learned how to let my companion be himself and do things his way, workable relationships became much easier to create and maintain. Of course, if he did need correction, I still had to give it to him. But I could now draw the line between what was truly necessary (by doctrine or rules or whatever) and what was simply my own opinion. I had to be “strong enough to bend,” as Tucker so aptly phrases it, and accept his way of doing things, modifying my own habits and idiosyncrasies as necessary.
I believe this is a crucial principle in all human relationships. If we are not willing to yield appropriately to one another, to make concessions, to strive to understand one another’s viewpoint, we will have difficulty building workable relationships in any capacity. This is true in the business world, in families (especially in marriage), even among roommates or classmates.
Now the question is, how do we develop that strength to bend and adapt within ourselves? We can’t force it on others–the only person over whom we have control is ourselves. And how do we begin there?
Last night I attended Seussical the Musical at Spanish Fork Community Theater. It is based on many famous Dr. Seuss books, with quite a complicated plot. It was an excellent production. I have never seen a more intricate or elaborate set; themusic was very well written; the actors performed wonderfully. However, it was a little too suggestive for my liking. Some of the actors in the Jungle of Nool and a few other scenes made me, shall we say, uncomfortable. UPDATE: I should qualify this. It wasn’t the musical itself that was suggestive, just the way some of the actors behaved on stage.
But on the whole, it was good. I am surprised but very impressed a company like SFCT was able to pull off a production of this scale and do it so well. Great work!
Has anyone else seen this musical or have any opinions to share about it?
Posted by Steven 
Posted by Steven 
Posted by Steven 
