DownloadFeb. 9, 2009 issue
A simple gift lives on
By James LoneyPage:
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“Let’s listen in now to the Marine Corps Band,” the CNN commentator says. The camera pans across the Washington Mall.
Tom Fox
People, as far as the eye can see, wait for the historic moment, the inauguration of the 44th president of the United States, the first African-American to hold this high office. The music ennobles, solemnizes, projects a holy canopy of sound over these august proceedings of state — “democracy’s most sacred moment” the CNN commentator calls it.
President Bush appears through an arch of velvet curtains, waving, smiling, his last presidential appearance. The signal is given. The Marine Corps Band bursts into vigorous play: “Hail to the Chief.” They’ve played it a thousand times before, but this time is momentous.
It strikes me: Tom, you used to play “Hail to the Chief” all the time. You were a member of the Marine Corps Band. This was your job, for 20 years, through four administrations, to play your clarinet, wherever and whenever required, in herald of the nation’s Commander-in-Chief, making glorious and smooth the presidential way. Hail to the chief! Make way for Grenada and Panama! Make way for Afghanistan and Iraq! Make way for Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo! Make way, make way!
You never talked about it much. You were too modest for that. Or maybe because it just wasn’t that important. It was something you did for a while, when you were young and wanted to be a professional musician, a way to serve your country without going to Vietnam.
So you played at the inaugurations of Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and George H. Bush, each a day just like today. Might you be here now?
“It is my pleasure to introduce a unique musical performance,” Sen. Dianne Feinstein announces. “Mr. Itzhak Perlman, violinist; Anthony McGill, clarinetist; Yo-Yo Ma, cellist; Gabriela Montero, pianist; performing ‘Air and Simple Gifts,’ a composition arranged for this occasion by John Williams.”
“Simple Gifts”? Could it be?
Piano and cello begin it: a soft breeze. Then violin: high, piercing, sad, for a moment alone. Piano and violin joining: a slow irresistible force gathers, doors of the heart opening. Clarinet reveals the melody — yes, clarinet! — the first notes hinting, then mournful, then dancing, lifting, melodic wings soaring.
’Tis a gift to be simple, ’tis a gift to be free.
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