The Mystery School
By Ortrun Franklin
Ode to Spring
When I think of Spring, Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 or Pastoral Symphony runs through my mind. The composition was used in Walt Disney’s animated film Fantasia. One of my favorite memories is watching it over and over again with my grandchildren. Pastoral Beethoven’s Symphony musical seg-
ment takes place in a mythical pastoral garden. It begins with cupids pulling aside the night sky. Then, the sun rises. Birds begin to chirp, flowers are opening their petals, centaurs and centauresses (centaur ides), mermaids and mermen are joining to joyfully walk and dance together. When, suddenly, a thunderstorm causes them to take shelter underneath the trees.
This scene, along with its flowing music, takes my thoughts to the beginning of Spring. It reminds me of the dark nights of winter waning with daylight, starting to increase. Seedlings begin pushing through the soil reaching for the sun. The plantings flow back and forth in a rhythmic dance. Different than the mythical characters running for shelter at the eruption of the thunderstorm, the plantings cheerfully soak up the rain and dance with
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joy knowing that it will help them grow and become stronger and more vital. The segment continues with the thunder and lightning abruptly stopping. The sun comes up; everyone emerges from their safe shelters. They look to the sky and see the Sun God/Goddess in his/her chariot riding off beyond the clouds.
