Me and Prince Leopold

Our local classical music radio station is having its fall fund drive. A bit of money comes out of my account every month to pay for the music I enjoy so much. As I put on my period clothing to do my bit with the mill and the flock, I realize that the people I represent, while they lived at the time much of this music was written, probably never heard a note of it. If my stove, hot water heater and refrigerator were taken away from me I could survive. I might not be comfortable and you can bet I’d make a great fuss, but I’d survive. Take away my access to music, and I might not. Besides the music itself, it gives me great joy to consider myself a patron, like the well-to-do supported it in the 18th and 19th centuries.