Hello!!! Welcome to Tuesday! It's a beautiful autumn day, so let's take a stroll down lyrical lanes and artistic avenues! Join us won't you, as we wander down the Tuesday's Musical Notes pathway to learn more about Music, The Master, and maybe just a little bit about ourselves along the way. Thanks for being here! You are a welcome friend!!!
If this is your first visit to Tuesday's Musical Noteland, we'd like to give you a few pointers to make the most of your time here. First, check out the archives. They are a resplendent array of songs from all over the musical spectrum. There is sure to be one of your favorites that has been given the Tuesday treatment! Next, be sure to click on all of the links. You never know what exactly might pop up! Finally, Stay as long as you like, come back as often as you can, share this page with other musicologists and enjoy, as we start our journey of discovery. Welcome to Tuesday and Tuesday's Musical Notes!!! (Trumpet Fanfare!!!)
Tuesday's Musical Notes takes pride in the myriad of musical styles that are our featured songs. We confess that the vast majority of our playlist consist of songs from the "Classic Rock" era. But from time to time our hearts yearn for some diversity in the mix. It is with this thought that we submit to you today, this classic from a different era. Today's song hails from 1945. Today's video of the song is 29 years later. From a 1974 Carnegie Hall performance, here is Benny Goodman:
Renowned clarinetist Benny Goodman began his professional career at the age of 12 in Chicago. For the next 65 years, he would entertain audiences around the world with his trademark "Swing" style of Jazz. He played and commissioned several "Classical" pieces as well during his career. He recorded with some of the pioneers of Big Band and Jazz and continued to perform until his death in 1986.
His orchestra is also attributed with bringing Jazz to the forefront of popularity with their 1938 performance at Carnegie Hall which included guest contributors from Count Basie's and Duke Ellington's bands. This concert is considered the performance which brought Jazz and Swing to mainstream audience attention. Recordings were made of the concert, but the recording gear at the time was poor even by standards of the day. The acetate recordings and aluminum masters that were made were not discovered until 1950. When brought to Goodman's attention the recordings were consequently released on LP making The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert the best selling Jazz record of all time. Due to its popularity, this album has never been out of print since its original release and is considered a must have for anyone who has an interest in collecting Jazz. Artists from ANY genre would be very excited to have this stat about one of their records.
Benny Goodman was considered a perfectionist which led to strained relationships with the members of his band. His standards were very high for himself and the musicians which surrounded him. His bandmates really had very little choice in how they were to perform. It was Benny's way or the highway. I guess in some ways, it was ironic that he had a song titled "Gotta Be This Or That".
Our lives are filled with choices. Recently, the term "Gray Area" has been popularized. (Mostly by those running for political office, but I digress). It is actually now found as a defined phrase at dictionary.com.
gray area
noun
an undefined situation or subj
topic that is not clearly def
Many times folks consider themselves in a "gray area" when they don't have enough information to form an opinion about a topic. There are however times when people use this as an excuse to not make a decision at all.
For those with a worldview that is based on the principles found in the Bible, there should rarely, if ever, be a "gray area". It's "Gotta be this or that" for people who are followers of Jesus.
The Bible is replete with story after story of those who were given the opportunity to make a decision. Some chose well some of the time, others chose poorly...a lot. In the first book of the Bible, Genesis, we see where the first "this or that" occured. Genesis 2 - New King James Version of the Bible/The Message Paraphrase of the Bible God provides Adam with 1 rule. Don't touch that tree. (this) If you do, you die (that). Unbelievably, he chose that!!! Let's face it. We stare rules in the face every day and for whatever reason, we choose the "that", which is usually the wrong choice. Adam chose disobedience. Disobedience has consequences. Adam's consequences were cataclysmic in nature because they affect every person born.
Let's look at another Biblical "this or that". Exodus 7-12 NKJV/The Message parallel The supreme ruler of ancient Egypt, Pharoah, was faced with a decision. He could let the Israelite slaves go ("this"), or his kingdom would be crushed ("that"). What seemed like a no-brainer, wound up being the worst "that" in ancient times as Egypt was destroyed economically and domestically, AND they still lost their slaves.
Finally, every person ever born will have their "this or that" moment. Every person that has ever existed or will exist, will come to a time where they will have an encounter with God, the Holy Spirit. With this encounter, a question will be posited that requires a response. "What do you believe about Jesus?" There is ABSOLUTELY NO "gray area" answer that is sufficient. There is only, "I believe He was the Son of God, who died a cruel death, as a penalty for my disobedience towards God. I also believe that He physically came back to life and in so doing restores my relationship with Creator God so I can go to be with Him when my physical body on this earth dies", or "I don't believe in Jesus".
As we stated before, there are consequences for the decisions we make, which include both of these scenarios. Belief ensures that you will be in heaven when you die where you will be with God forever. Unbelief ensures that you will be separated from God for the remainder of eternity in a place the Bible calls "everlasting punishment". ( The Gospel of Matthew 25:31-46 NKJV/The Message parallel) You see friend, when it comes to your "forever destination" there are no inbetweens. When it boils down to it, it's gotta be this or that. Which one will you choose?
'Til Tuesday,
Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy
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