ANCIENT& not so ancient WISDOM
offering a weekly positive perspective

April 1, 2004

Time is the greatest teacher. Unfortunately, it kills all of its pupils.

- Hector Berlioz (1803 - 1869)

Hector Berlioz was a 19th Century composer who’s original works still create strong polarized public opinion. Born December 11 in 1803 at La Côte-Saint-André, Isére, Berlioz had his first major success in 1830 by winning the Prix de Rome. His Symphonie Fantastique was very well received in Rome during the same year. With success in hand, he created Benvenuto Cellini for the Paris Opera. The exuberance and complexity of the music was not to the taste of the opera-going public, and he was forced to withdraw Benvenuto Cellini and found himself alienated him from the management of the Paris Opera and his operatic career brought to an end.

To support himself financially, Berlioz wrote symphonic, concert, and choral music, and newspaper reviews of other productions. Despite some small success, he was not accepted by the musical public of Paris until after his death. What is considered his greatest opera, The Trojans, was finally performed ten years after his death as a split performance because of its size.

Berlioz wrote music completely unlike any of his contemporaries. During his life, he had few pupils and founded no school of composers writing in his style because it was not easily assimilated. To the majority of his contemporaries, he lacked melody and created orchestration that was noisy and over-complex rhythmically. Today he is recognized as one of the greatest masters of orchestration and instrumentation – by some. His independent style is still scorned by many.

Why is this a positive perspective? Because it is dedication to your unique contribution that you believe contributes to others that is your greatest gift to the world. There will always be critics. There will always be supporters. There is only one you. May the following quotes support you in this journey that is your life.

Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing. - Theodore Roosevelt

There are no guarantees. From the viewpoint of fear, none are strong enough. From the viewpoint of love, none are necessary. - Emmanuel 

Friendship is a very beautiful gift to have, but unless a person is friends with himself, friends will be hard to find - yet harder to keep.- Meighan Seigel

Pain and suffering is inevitable, being miserable is optional. - Art Clanin

It is surprising what a man can do when he has to, and how little most men will do when they don't have to.- Walter Linn 

Anger is a very appropriate and necessary response to an injustice. But stand back now; the truth, clearly spoken, is always your best weapon. Calmly spoken, it can burn a hole through the hardest heart.- Bill Chickering, Healing an Angry Heart 

Past the seeker as he prayed came the crippled and the beggar and the beaten. And seeing them...he cried, "Great God, how is it that a loving creator can see such things and yet do nothing about them?"...God said, "I did do something. I made you. - Sufi Teaching

And if all of this is too heavy for you, on the lighter side, considering the season…

Taxes could be worse... Suppose we had to pay what we think we are worth? - Anonymous

Wishing you great and continued success!

Sincerely,