Strength to LIVE another day

For anyone who reads my blogs and wants God’s help for living another day, this is my prayer for you. (by Phillips Brook)

O God:

Give me strength to live another day. Let me not turn coward before its difficulties or prove recreant to its duties. Let me not lose faith in other people. Keep me sweet and sound of heart, in spite of ingratitude, treachery or meanness. Preserve me from minding little stings or giving them. Help me to keep my heart clean and to live so honestly and fearlessly that no outward failure can dishearten me or take away the joy of conscious integrity. Open wide the eyes of my soul that I may see good in all things. Grant me this day some new vision of Your truth. Inspire me with the spirit of joy and gladness and make me the cup of strength to suffering souls.

In the name of the strong Deliverer, our only Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen

_______

Let me introduce you to one of the world’s greatest pianists…

Vladimir Horowitz.

Despite his great talent, Vladimir suffered from insecurities. Let his story be an inspiration to you, the reader.

Sometimes life gets rough along the way. We are not certain what the future will bring or if we have the courage to face it. Yet God knows and all He wants is the best for us. He wants for us to use the talents that He gave us. We were never promised life would be easy, but did promise that his Holy Spirit would lead, guide and comfort us. He gives courage to continue on.

“Ukrainian-born, American classical pianist, Vladimir Horowitz, was born on October 1, 1903. Known for his expert technique and ability to create excitement through his music, Horowitz gained fame and performed internationally. He is considered one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century. ..His mother, a pianist herself, provided him with piano lessons at an early age—marking the start of his lifelong love of piano.Showing a knack for this instrument, Horowitz enrolled at the Kiev Conservatory in 1912. He studied there until 1919, and upon graduation, performed Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30 by famous pianist, Rachmaninov . Horowitz’s father respected his son’s talent, so much so that he changed his son’s age by listing his birth year as 1904 to avoid military service, thus protecting the prodigy’s hands…

Horowitz soon began performing throughout Russia to much fanfare. Known for his expert technique and ability to create excitement through his music, he performed internationally in cities such as Berlin, London and New York City…In 1928, Horowitz made his debut in America at the famed Carnegie Hall in New York City…

LIFE DIFFICULTIES:

Despite his success, Horowitz began doubting his abilities. His insecurities prevented him from performing, refusing to play in public for long periods of time from 1936 to 1985. (Horowitz suffered from extreme mood swings, which ranged from extreme elation to profound despair. Though there is no evidence to support the rumors that Horowitz was ever institutionalized, the pianist sought Electroshock treatment in the early 1960s and early 1970s. During the early 1980s, Horowitz, on the advice of a psychiatrist, began using antidepressant medications which severely impaired his performances. Use of medication was discontinued in 1984.) from Horowitz website

During these years, he continued to record his music, which sustained him during his withdrawal periods.

In 1933, Horowitz married Wanda Toscanini. His wife did not speak Russian and Horowitz didn’t know much Italian, so they communicated in French. Wanda’s Catholic upbringing and Horowitz’s Jewish background did not cause strife, as both were inactive in practicing their religion. A year after the couple married, their daughter, Sonia Toscanini Horowitz (1934-1975), was born.

The family moved to New York City in 1940, and four years later, he gained U.S. citizenship. Horowitz completed his last recording for Sony Classical four days prior to passing away. He died of a heart attack on November 5, 1989, in his adopted city. His body resides in the Toscanini family tomb in Cimitero Monumentale, Milan, Italy.” Shown below (info taken from Bio)

jewishsectioncimiteromonunentalemilano-horowitz-burial

Jewish section in Milan where Horowitz is buried.

One of his most memorable performances took place in Moscow in 1986. Horowitz had overcome so much and lived another day to be his best. He played a full concert to a packed house, but one of the pieces he played, Schumann’s Traumerei , struck a cord with the audience. One can see on the faces memories of the suffering that so many had endured during WWII. Being a Jew, Horowitz knew only too well the horrors of the Jews who lived and died during this time. He tenderly plays…perhaps for them.

Notice, on the following video of the Moscow concert, a man in the audience with tears running down his face. One comment about the performance and the Russian’s tears speaks of the history of what the audience may have been thinking:

“This piece of music was played on the radio at the end of WWII. The studio didn’t know what to play…it was over. Millions were dead. The guns were silent. So they played this piece. I’d guess from the date of this performance, and the white hair of that gentleman, that he might have been one of the young soldiers or just kids, who heard that silence, then this piece on the radio. I’m old enough to remember the silence in the US, and we were LUCKY, just 250,000…so I know why he was in tears.”