The feeling of conclusion of the year started a couple of weeks ago when I watched there-opening ceremony of the Notre Dame in Paris. On the 8th of December the magnificent “Cavaille-Coll” organ of the Notre Dame in Paris was blessed. And this was a unique occasion for the organists and the Catholic Church to showcase their unique approach to improvisation and Liturgy. I have been watching the entire ceremony, and particularly the organ blessing, several times. It has left a deep-seated feeling of admiration that I would like to cherish as life lessons and inspiration for 2025.
The 18minutes covered a conversation between the Archbishop and the Organ over 8parts. The organ of Notre Dame has 4 “titular” organists that cover all the masses and the maintenance of the instrument. Each part of the conversation was followed by a brief improvisation of about 2 minutes. Almost everything about this performance was remarkable and unique, and brought valuable lessons.
1. Tradition matters
Most modern societies are often devoid of tradition and any rooted culture. In my lifetime,I’ve seen traditions only detoriate more and more into commercial vehicles orotherwise versions so mild or unrecognizable that they are just not interesting. Move over to the Notre Dame in 2024. Still, everything is kept intune with traditions that go back a very long time. It’s such a dissonant withthe modern world that it stands out once again. And within this conservative environment, the organ music has always evolved. After Bach, everyone hasalways complained that people played different music then Bach. But there’s so much more to music, and the 8 improvisations by the 4 organists are just atestament to that. These 8 short pieces were so diverse in registration, colorand technique and delivered with an intensity you don’t hear on much “composed”music.
2. Skill allows for intuition to flourish
Watching these four organists play to the sayings of the archbishop was jaw-dropping.Just imagine the mastery over an instrument to hear liturgical words being spoken, and subsequently improvise on that. That’s pure intuition, which can only manifest itself when you know your instrument inside out and are able to maintain technique amid the unknown. The striking polarity between the 3rdand 4th piece by Vincent Dubois ranges from full-swell energy resembling the heights of Romanticism to a reincarnation of Bach. I rarely meet people that combine skills and character to play their role in the world insuch an amazing way. It’s perhaps a similar energy that Volodymyr Zelensky brings. It’s something to aspire to!
3. Humans are irreplaceable
In our technology driven world there is a lot of talk about the relevance of humans going forward and how we have lost craftsman skills. Obviously, technology has always been highlighting where humans are superior– and that’s when they use their critical faculties. Moving away from pure cognitive strength, intuition and spiritual depth do come to the surface as the frontier that simply can’t be touched by technology. Muscles have been replaced to some extent with heavy machinery, and brains are being replaced by some extent by computing power of all sorts.But what always has remained is refined motory skills, real creative intelligence, and now even more so – intuition and spiritual depth. All trades that are only part of the human experience.
4. 5years is only as long as the weight you attach to it
The architect of the Notre Dame back in the 13th century most likely did not see the cathedral finished, as was usual at the time. Today, even with the use of traditional craftsmanship – it only took 5 years to complete the rebuild. I was impressed with the philosophical leadership by Emmanuel Macron who said that 5 years was an ambitious target that could unite the people ofFrance, create hope to see the Icon of Paris restored, and achieve this at a human scale. Everyone involved succeeded, and this ceremony was a worthy tribute to the wide variety of humans involved in the endeavor.
What it’s taught me – is that 5 years is a short time when you set a bold and ambitious target, but it’s not so long when you are sleepwalking through life. It’s true that high concentration makes the experience of time subjective and by dent of that create a more fulfilling life.
Reflection
Over the past 5 years of running Van Kleef / Andersson I rarely had boring days – and I often crave them. Let’s assume I will live to the age of 80, I will have roughly 9 sets of 5 years left to do something meaningful with. 9 is a small number. I will have to be careful not to waste it – like you tend to do in school when you’re young. On the contrary – 5 years is a long time with many great experiences and journeys to be had, it’s not useful either to dwell on maximum utility of every day either. Overall, vision matters and creates meaning.
Moving forward into 2025 I would like to bring forward more of this mysterious marvel and humanity that I’ve witnessed and bring more presence and creativity forward.The risk the organ players took by playing nonconformist, but high-quality music is exemplary and inspires. I hope to find my color and play it more strongly – especially when the stakes are high.
>>>Listen and Watch the Performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8gJEgpSTLI&pp=ygUhbm90cmUgZGFtZSBvcmdhbiBibGVzc2VkIGF3YWtlbmVk
