I have found a song that is a “Capriccio”. If you go to the left of the page and activate the MP3 flashplayer you can hear this tune. It is from the soundtrack of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The name is “Desert Capriccio“, and it is the most wonderful symphonic chamber piece that I have heard. The famous Cellist, Yo-Yo Ma, is the lead performer and is conducted by Tan Dun.
I was so intrigued by the music that it spurred me to know what capriccio means. I know…, I know…, everyone knows what a capriccio is. But, I didn’t.
Well it turns out that a capriccio is an artistic design that is free form.
Yea, that fits this piece by Tan Dun.
It is also described as a random harmony.
There again, this is the piece of music “Desert Capriccio”.
Capriccio is whimsical.
You are getting the picture and if you are listening to the music, you are also getting spirit of the word capriccio.
Capriccio is also unexpected.
Okay, these are all expressions of the same general flow of thought, spirit, mind, heart, and soul.
The word capricious comes from the same root as capriccio.
However, I have always thought of capricious as a bad thing. I don’t want to work for a boss who is capricious.
I could never trust such an employer.
And, I have always known that our God is not a capricious God. He, after all, doesn’t just change the rules in the middle of the game. That’s no fair.
So, why is it that this piece of music appeals to me so much?
Why do I enjoy the unexpected twists and turns that flow from this master cellist’s bow?
How is it that such a random mixture of sounds thrills me so much?
I do not enjoy much of the music that came from the 20th century. I did as a younger man, but as I’ve grown older, I began to despise the discordant sounds that came from all quarters of the 20th century. I will not cite all of the music but suffice it to say that it is not just the “Quiet Riot” heavy metal.
The music was only a small portion of the hateful discord that grew from that era. Paintings by Jackson Pollack are not my ‘cup of tea’ either.
But, with all of this in perspective, why is capriccio so fantastic? How is it that, it just works?
There is a philosophical principle at work in this.
God is not a capricious God, but he is most certainly, whimsical.
He is quite free form.
Yahweh is nothing, if not unexpected.
Our God is a randomly beautiful whimsy of unexpectedly free form harmony.
I love God for many reasons, but I just realized today that I loved Him for this reason. God bless, and have a capriccio day.
Thank God for his surprising Love.
Thank God for the randomly mixed bouquet of flowers that He gives us for no apparent reason. It’s not our birthday, our anniversary, or Valentines Day.
Yet, our Lord has amazed us with one incredible gift after another.
He’s fun.
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