Crescendos and Diminuendos Quotes

“Restraint infers less with the presence of great control. Less of us is sometimes required by the Lord Jesus Christ. We have a tendency to project our personal plans and wishes into our lives, but he asks us to walk with less of ourselves and all of himself...Less of ourselves and all of Christ will ensure this, and we will discover his control as the greatest blessing of all.”
― Jack Coleman, Crescendos and Diminuendos: Meditations for Musicians and Music Lovers

“The key to Christian success is adherence and obedience to him, his Word, and his purposes for life.”
― Jack Coleman, Crescendos and Diminuendos: Meditations for Musicians and Music Lovers

“In this instance, strength with control will bring about the desired result. One can describe forte piano as the sudden application of pressure and then release. It is the surprising occurrence of tension followed by immediate relaxation. It is like the blow of a rubber-headed hammer and the resultant bounce-off from the object hit. We are dealing with techniques and skill in this musical framework, and as directors we should be able to demonstrate vocally for our singers or instrumentally for our players. One can verbalize in an extended and elaborate procedure as to how a forte piano should be executed, but the skillful musical demonstration will accomplish the purpose immediately. I think of the fireworks at Disneyland on a summer evening. Always at the end of the show will be the beautiful starbursts—a sudden explosion of the missile high in the air, the immediate quiet spread of a colorful star-flower expanding in all its beauty. This is forte piano. There will be a coming again in the skies by the Lord Jesus Christ for his church. It will be sudden. Sudden, as revealed in Scripture. The prophets predicted it, Christ promised it, apostles proclaimed it, heaven preached it, and Christians continue to expect it. As he announced his death, so he prophetically told of his return. Three times, in the last chapter of Revelation, he affirms this. Surely I am coming quickly. Revelation 22:20 It will be a sudden time with the beginning of an immediate release from the tensions and pressures of life. Yes, that will be the final victory, because of Jesus Christ.”
― Jack Coleman, Crescendos and Diminuendos: Meditations for Musicians and Music Lovers