Good gymnastics, it seems, is a bit like baroque music.
I was always impressed with the "spinning out" of the melodic themes in the work of composers like Bach, Handel, Vivaldi and their contemporaries. A strong gymnast, it seems, is equally capable of producing a never ending routine...
This afternoon, while watching my boys at their Sunday afternoon gymnastics program, I was privileged to be able to watch as a more seasoned gymnast practiced his routine for an upcoming competition. His series of well-executed flips was just about to end, I thought, when he rolled out into another position, which led him to move into another series of flips and other movements before finally coming to a complete stop.
I couldn't help but be reminded of the third movement of Bach's violin concerto in A minor, and other pieces like it, which seem as though they could come to a stop at any point, but which instead continue on to yet another arpeggio, key change, melodic continuation and variation!
Like the baroque music I so enjoy, this young man's ongoing routine brought me joy. As Bach offers a pleasure to the ears, gymnastics offers a visual delight.
I was always impressed with the "spinning out" of the melodic themes in the work of composers like Bach, Handel, Vivaldi and their contemporaries. A strong gymnast, it seems, is equally capable of producing a never ending routine...
This afternoon, while watching my boys at their Sunday afternoon gymnastics program, I was privileged to be able to watch as a more seasoned gymnast practiced his routine for an upcoming competition. His series of well-executed flips was just about to end, I thought, when he rolled out into another position, which led him to move into another series of flips and other movements before finally coming to a complete stop.
I couldn't help but be reminded of the third movement of Bach's violin concerto in A minor, and other pieces like it, which seem as though they could come to a stop at any point, but which instead continue on to yet another arpeggio, key change, melodic continuation and variation!
Like the baroque music I so enjoy, this young man's ongoing routine brought me joy. As Bach offers a pleasure to the ears, gymnastics offers a visual delight.
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