|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Wednesday, 23 October 2002 |
 |
|
 |
Features | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
The trumpeter Arturo Toscani, the great symphony conductor who recently retired, says this is one of his favourite stories. An orchestra was playing one of Beethoven's Leonore overture, the two climaxes of which are followed by a trumpet passage offstage. The first climax arrived but not a sound came from the trumpet. The conductor annoyed went on to the second climax. Again - no trumpet. This time the conductor rushed into the wings. There he found the trumpet player struggling with the watchman. "I tell you, you can't play the trumpet here," the watchman was insisting, "There's a concert going on". After the last concert I took part in, I don't blame the watchman, for what he thought of the trumpeter. The trumpet players of today are not those of yesteryears: I was part of a choir last month which sang Carl Orffs "Carmina Burana" and since there were no trumpet players in the orchestra, the navy kindly lent us two of their chaps. I still remember the look of absolute amazement on the face of the Austrian conductor when the trumpets came in. The pathetic and apologetic sounds that came out of the two shining brass instruments made each one of us in that hall, wince with shame. "If you chaps were leading your country into battle," he shouted, "there would have been a retreat rather than an attack with the sounds you just made". Have you ever heard the trumpeting of elephants in a jungle? It is one of the most chilling sounds to hear, because brother, they mean business. They are not cries of warning or empty rhetoric. Behind that call is an impending stampede and a fearless attack. But behind the trumpet calls of today are useless, meaningless, empty sounds. Our leaders have become adept at the art of creating a cacophony of silly noise that really means nothing. Unfortunately these sounds that they make inspire and motivate those that do not know the difference and galvanise them into unnecessary acts of violence and bloodshed. What about becoming a trumpeter today? Yes a real trumpet player who will stand tall and firm and lead his people into a righteous battle. Who will not play poor bleating notes of communal disharmony. Or create dischords of racial differences. Who will lead his people from the front instead of pushing them into violence from behind. A trumpeter who will dare to stand alone even when the tide of battle flows against him, knowing that if he continues playing he will eventually inspire those that have retreated to venture out with him again. Who will not play the popular tune, but play melodies that will dig deep into the conscience of men, churn their sentiments, galvanise their goodness, and cause a change of heart. Become a trumpeter today. The world needs you. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
