“The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before.” –Dieter F. Uchtdorf

As we create and share things that are “lovely…[and]…of good report” we can connect to our divine nature, and invite others to elevate their minds and hearts toward their own highest good.

Today, I wanted to share what one group of students, a percussion quartet called Tangents, is doing to add some good to the world, both through performance and through outreach at schools and doing clinics for students.

One of the group’s members, Peyton Ford, talks about her excitement to be able to “share the gospel of Jesus Christ in an unobtrusive way — we just play good music and serve others the best we can.”

The group was created by a professor at Brigham Young University in 2019 during his first year at the university. One of three pieces launched virtually in February 2021 was a performance of “Sevilla” from Suite Espanola by Isaac Albeniz, shown below. (You can see the other two videos on the BYU Percussion Quartet’s Tangents YouTube channel

The most recent video from Tangents includes a guest appearance by Daron Bradford, who owns and plays over 100 different types of wind instruments. Daron has been playing for the Tabernacle Orchestra at Temple Square for many years, and has performed on stage or in recordings with musicians such as Christian stars Jordan Smith, Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith; Broadway singers Sandra Turley, Dallyn Vale Bailes, and Dale Kristien; and many others.

The performance with Tangents and Daron Bradford below is of John Cage’s Living Room Music. (This piece was written in 1940 with instructions to use any kind of household objects. The Metropolitan Orchestra Percussion quartet performed this piece almost a decade ago, as have other groups. Each performance is different depending on the objects selected.)

Tangents plays wood instruments…as in using pieces of wood on a sand dune instead of in a living room. They also use rock and other natural objects. True to the composer’s intent, in one movement they use only their voices (apparently called a speech quartet).

You can watch their performance of Living Room Music below or at this YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuN5iXxk-aY

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About 5 years ago a good friend lost her dear baby just a few days after birth. Having recently moved across the country (USA), I could not be with her during those very difficult days. As I pondered over ways to possibly help from afar, I had the idea come that I could use my artistic talent to create healing and increased eternal perspective for their family.

The only pictures my friend had of her little baby were of her surrounded and covered by hospital equipment and tubes. My friend sent a favorite picture of her daughter and from that I painted a portrait so they could have a vision of their precious daughter without the incumbrences of medical treatment.

This was one of the most holy experiences I have had while creating. I felt that this was important to our Heavenly Father; He wanted comfort for my friend and an increased understanding about the true doctrine of eternal families. While I felt my abilities were beneath the importance of the goal, I knew that I was the only one available to do it and that the Lord would increase my talent for the best result.

The baby’s portrait was received with happiness and gratitude. When my friend’s family takes a picture they stand in front of the portrait, where it hangs in a place of honor in their home. I feel humbled and amazed to have been a part of the healing process for my friend and her family and I’m happy to know my talent could be a source of so much good. It might be the most God-like of service, to create unselfishly for another’s benefit.

The post First Person: Healing through Creative Service appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.