A Great City is Like a Beautiful Piece of Music

I love Chicago.  And I am happy to say that it is a relationship of mutual admiration—Chicago loves art. You cannot move through Chicago and be unaware of Chicago’s dedication to art, whether through the city’s stunning architecture, Millennium Park’s public space sculpture and landscape design, the world class Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago Symphony Chorus and Orchestra, or Anima-Young Singers of Greater Chicago (see them featured on the video link above and featured at the 2011 ACDA National Conference). When in Chicago, you know you have come to an artistic sanctuary.

 

A fellow traveler to Chicago was theologian Paul Tillich. Tillich moved to the University of Chicago in 1962, where he was a Professor of Theology until his death in Chicago in 1965. Tillich was one of the most eloquent theologians to speak and write about art and culture. In his book Theology of Culture, Tillich speaks to music:  “And in music, levels of reality are opened up which can be opened up in no other way.” He continues, “So every symbol is two-edged. It opens up reality and it opens up the soul.”

 

Two weeks from today, over 4000 choral conductors and students from over 20 countries and 5 continents will be in Chicago, or on their way, making the biennial pilgrimmage to hear performances, study, replenish literature and programming ideas, network and connect with our profession, but I believe for more than anything else, in Tillich-ese, to open up the soul. I hope to see you or meet you there.