This week we begin a new series entitled Musical Meditations. Every other week, while Merideth works on the book, she’ll share an episode that puts the music front and center, featuring a piece or pieces that go along with a theme. This week you’ll hear Bach’s Prelude in C Major, BWV 846 and Chopin’s Prelude No 4 in E Minor, both performed by pianist Gabriel Benton.

While you listen consider: 

• What small changes feel possible today? 

• Where could you be more gentle with yourself as you change? 

• What else do you need to feel supported now?

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More about today’s performer:

Gabriel Benton enjoys a multifaceted career in music as an early music specialist, accompanist, and church musician. Deeply passionate about music of the baroque and earlier eras, he studied harpsichord performance at Oberlin Conservatory and The Juilliard School. As a harpsichordist, he frequently performs with his group Corda Nova Baroque as well as with ensembles across the country, including American Baroque Orchestra (New England) and American Bach Soloists (San Francisco.) With the latter, he has recorded two CD’s. Past performances include concerts with Venice Opera Project, Juilliard415, Yale Baroque Opera Project, York Symphony Orchestra, and New World Symphony. Gabe has been accompanying worship services since he was a teenager, but after a life-changing experience working as director of music at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Yonkers, NY, he felt called to devote his time more deeply to church music. He went on to study organ performance at Yale University’s Institute of Sacred Music, where he served as organist at the University Church and received the Charles Ives Award for outstanding work as an organ major.