I just spent a very intense week rehearsing for and performing two incredible masterpieces of music... Hayden's Mass in Time of War, and Vaughn-Williams' Dona Nobis Pacem. Both so fitting at this particular moment in history, and I would dare say fitting to nearly any time in history. The text to the Dona Nobis Pacem is a compilation of poetry and scripture and requires some pretty intense enunciation of words (for a full chorus) that are not often sung: such as "expostulation". If you have not heard this piece, I would strongly encourage you to spend a 1/2 hour of your time in listening.... especially following the text. Anyhow, why this plug for Vaughn-Williams? Well, yesterday during our Saturday matinée performance of the work, I experienced, over and over, what musicians and artists often refer to as "the aesthetic experience"... that moment when the meaning of the art and the art itself comes together and the beholder experiences... well, goosebumps, chills, tears... that feeling that you know exactly what it is when you have experienced it, but it is so difficult to explain. I mourn those of my generation... (I'm not very old), and the up and coming one whose artistic experiences (with music in particular) have been reduced to.... well, let's just say shallowness and in extreme cases, vulgarity and violence. I listen to "pop" music... I listen to all kinds of music, as long as it's lyrics are non-offensive... every kind of music has its place, but, I think it is so very sad that there are so many many people in this world who think "classical" music is anything that doesn't have words. I'm not meaning to sound elitist in any way whatsoever, I just had the reminder yesterday as I sang and experienced the "aesthetic" what I had been missing for a few years now (just getting back into singing after college). Branch out and experience it for yourself! Immerse yourself in the "unknown". Don't say you hate "opera" unless you've actually seen one for real! Don't deprive yourself of the "aesthetic experience"