Mass in Music - The Mission

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I am sitting in a café, clutching my corporate cup of coffee thinking, reading, listening, looking, and hoping that I do not end up like the woman sitting at the table next to mine. Her cell phone rings. I also have a cell phone. I am ashamed. I might as well purchase a Starbucks T-shirt at this point. They own me, and they own you as well. Yet, I do notice a distinct difference between this woman and myself. The ring of her "cell" is no ordinary electronic mock ring, but a horrific beeped rendition of Beethoven's 9th Symphony. This is not a tribute by any means, but pure sin. It is as if she walked into the Museum of Modern Art, admired a Monét, and then lit a match to it. I silently pray into my coffee that the other end of the line is the Devil himself, letting her know that her "minutes" are up. While I do believe that Sprint PCS does deal with the Devil, I became frustrated at the thought of such a crime going unpunished. What have we done to music? Where has it gone? Unfortunately, the presence of music in our lives is slowly becoming extinct. Music is softly 'rocking' the background of our lives, and I believe it is time to bring it to the forefront, where it belongs. I think I know how we can do it.
We have all forged a relationship with Music in some way throughout our lives, but this relationship is kept in secret. I believe it is time to share it with others, or I should say, time to bring this significant other to Thanksgiving table, to meet the rest of your nice, yet strange families. Sorry, my family is strange; I am not sure about yours. Sharing our musical interests will, expose each other to new musical ideas while promoting musical diversity, preserve music of integrity, help us all become better listeners, and re-establish it's position at the forefront of our lives. Trust me people, this stuff is saving lives, I have seen it and felt it. Keeping music in secret is like hanging our personal Picassos in the closet, for only moths to see. Thus, I propose an open space and time to share these works of art with others. The members of Mass in Music will hold services around the Massachusetts area and pray to the following bible...

1. Meet every other Tuesday at 7pm at a different Mass in Music Members place of residence, refuge, and sin.
2. Share 2 or 3 pieces of music (vinyl, cd's, tapes) which you are particularly moved by. Diversity is encouraged!
3. Talk about what it is you enjoy about this music, translate the conversation it has with you. Discussion is encouraged.
4. If you are a musician and would like to perform, I strongly encourage thee.
5. Take field trips and see live music around town
6. Hang out, but I must warn that our time should be spent on the music, not what happened on Friends last week. Does anyone know by the way?
7. The host of each meeting will also act as the scribe, documenting song titles, and artists to be distributed to other members via email

The first meeting will take place this Tuesday, March 19, at 7pm in Medford. I would like this to be as organic, and non-hierarchical as possible. So, bring some ideas, and bring some music and I will be sure to strike them all down with an iron fist. If you would like to bring some beer/wine/food that would be great! Aside from the previous banter, this whole thing is just a great excuse to hang out. I look forward to seeing you all. Email me back if you are interested, and I will send you some incredibly confusing directions. I ride a bike and just don't understand your motorized system of travel. Oh...and please, no "cell phone symphonies!"

Sincerely,
Christopher James Mulé

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