As the World Passes By...

The Long Call from Wagner's opera Siegfried

part of the massive Ring Cycle

Without going into all the details of the storyline (which by the way is quite a good read....no REALLY, it is), the main character Siegfried at this moment (Act 2, scene 2) plays a silver horn in communication with an enchanted bird in the forest.

[Ok, you can stop laughing now.]

What do I like about this video?

The hustle of the world passing by and the apparent look of the hornplayer being out of place and perhaps feeling awkward. The simplicity as she walks across the lobby of the opera house, pauses, and proceeds to play the 'long call' with such power and oneness with her horn. The world has retreated from view and her presence expands to fill every corner of the hall.

I conjur this image to remind me what it is like when one is completely lost in the moment and allows his soul to fly.

Now being a musician, I know all too well that this is NOT exactly what automatically happens when one is performing. Instead, you become very aware of your intent and actions demanded of such heightened concentration. But in that, maybe you do lose a little bit of your self-consciousness and find a flow existing beyond yourself.

So here's my question to you today:

What activity in your life most causes the world to retreat and allows you to spread your wings and fly, if even for a moment?