Some pieces

[Godislove94]

Hello,

I really hate to have to put a "downer" post on this forum, but I have a dilemma that has been stuck in my mind for a while.

I'm majoring in music with the hope of one day playing in an orchestra somewhere and having a music professorship. Scripture says to avoid all appearance of evil, and lately I've been thinking about how this would work considering I'll more likely than not have to play music for things like "Don Giovanni" and "Symphonie Fantastique". The latter has been troubling me quite a bit lately and I feel convicted about playing it given its rather dark plotline, especially since I plan on auditioning for university orchestra next year. How do I deal with this, and has this issue sort of derailed the calling God has placed on my life?

 

[faroukfarouk]

Hello,

I really hate to have to put a "downer" post on this forum, but I have a dilemma that has been stuck in my mind for a while.

I'm majoring in music with the hope of one day playing in an orchestra somewhere and having a music professorship. Scripture says to avoid all appearance of evil, and lately I've been thinking about how this would work considering I'll more likely than not have to play music for things like "Don Giovanni" and "Symphonie Fantastique". The latter has been troubling me quite a bit lately and I feel convicted about playing it given its rather dark plotline, especially since I plan on auditioning for university orchestra next year. How do I deal with this, and has this issue sort of derailed the calling God has placed on my life?

You must of course follow your conscience, and figure whether you feel you yourself are identifying yourself with what you call the dark plotline.

Another issue is that while many Christian young people support church services on a Sunday, often many musicians are expected to spend Sundays at secular concerts and practice sessions instead: at the very least, one can usefully enter the music scene with one's eyes open.

Regarding dark plotlines, Genesis has some, too: Dinah being violated, her brothers wreaking terrible vengeance, etc.

 

[Godislove94]

Thank You for your reply! . It baffles and upsets me that God would put this calling on my life and confirm it many times, only to limit me in what I can do. Very discouraging. Yet at the same time I'm still what you could consider a "new" Christian (just 10 days shy of the one year mark) so I'm not sure if it's just my conscience overreacting out of fear of who I sometimes still see as a judgmental, angry God. Will be praying about this in the coming days for certain.