Loosely associated with Sicily, a sicilienne is supposed to evoke the natural wonder of the landscape. It’s a generic term applied to music that sounds pastoral with its lilting rhythms, arching melodic shapes, and supple harmony. Today’s prelude is a piece that I’ve played for a long time. It made me feel good to have in my repertoire, something written by a female. You may recall that a few weeks ago, I played a toccata by a Parisian, female composer, Michelle Leclerc. Comparatively speaking, organ repertoire composed by females is limited.

Blind from the age of 3, Maria Theresia Paradis was an Austrian composer and musician. She was the daughter of Joseph Anton von Paradis, Imperial Secretary of Commerce and Court Councilor to the Empress Maria Theresa, for whom she was named. She gave concerts all over Europe, was good friends with Mozart and studied composition and singing from Antonio Salieri. I learned something in my research this week. This beautiful sicilienne, which for years I touted as an homage to the female composer, was in fact, a musical hoax! Composed by American violinist, Samuel Dushkin (1891 –1976), it is based on the Larghetto movement from Carl Maria von Weber’s Violin Sonata in F major. I have no idea why he wrote this and ascribed it to Maria Theresia. But since Halloween is upon us, I just got my first trick. I’ve been had!

Have you ever experienced this – being certain about something, only to discover that the certainty upon which you stand so proudly, is nothing but a soap bubble? If so, might I recommend Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error by Kathryn Schultz. It’s one of the most compelling books I’ve ever read. Her premise is fascinating. Being wrong can never be known to the wrongdoer because in the moment, they feel right, until truth is pointed out. Being wrong only exists in hindsight. Jesus understood this. Remember when he forgave his accusers, “For they know not what they do?”

I often wonder how many things I assume, or feel rightly justified about, but that are just plain wrong. There are times I am certain that the GPS directions on my phone are taking me the wrong way. But the GPS is “always” right! In flight training, they tell you to trust the instruments. I’m sure John F. Kennedy Jr. felt “right,” like he was flying parallel to the water, that dark night in 1999 when he crashed right into it. I’d bet that the altimeter and the attitude indicator were spot on.

Politicians are the worst. They swear by everything they stand for. I wish they would stand up for integrity. Be careful when you swear up and down about being right because the truth has a funny way of putting you in your place. The state of openness is a better posture, I think. If you think you have all the answers, just wait! God keeps us guessing, that’s the trick and the treat.

Samuel Dushkin you scallywag, you got me! Serves me right for feeling like I was being inclusive, although I still love this little piece. I guess I should do my fact-checking before I start tooting my own horn. Better yet, maybe I should put the horn down, altogether. I know not what I do. But I’ve come to a point in my life where I want to be shown where I am wrong. When I’m blind to the truth, it is divine love that keeps me on my toes. For that, I humbly and gratefully, stand corrected.  Soli deo Gloria!