Song of ‘Almah - Rose of Sharon

“As a recently incarcerated doctor once said, nothing worth having in life comes easy”

• John Dorian, M.D.

Andrew Beall drew directly from the Old Testament for his inspiration in writing this piece. Originally written for the marimba and soprano voice, Beall uses the words of the Song of Solomon as the lyrics for this piece. 

In Hebrew, ‘Almah means young, maiden, or damsel. In the story of Solomon, we learn about a Shulamite, from the city of Shunem, originally located southwest of the Sea of Galilee in Israel. This young girl grew up amidst many brothers, and as such, she lived a life of hardships and physically demanding tasks. 

This story is one of endurance in the face of adversity, and persistence at the cost of comfort. In the ultimate pursuit of human activity, we must learn to not always follow the path of least resistance, but to understand that what may be difficult now will ultimately lead us to a greater result in the end. It is the ultimate balance of the thinking versus feeling minds: What will be good for us in this moment compared to what will ultimately be better for us over time? Yes, that donut looks good, but will that ultimately benefit me in the long run, and will it work with the goals that I have set for myself?

There are some kinds of music that are academically challenging, and some that are technically demanding. Music like Beall’s Rose of Sharon is the kind of music that, while there are some technical and academic demands, challenges the performer on a more emotional and artistic level. The pursuit of happiness and comfort is the ultimate goal of music such as this, and when played correctly, can warm the soul, and calm the mind.