The Music

Bill Kuhn

Video: The Lady of Medjugorje trumpet version (7)

Author's Explanation

THE LADY of Medjugorje, TRUMPET VERSION, is indeed a very special addition to the TO the WORLD music collection. We were completing the To the World collection, when our music engineer remarked that we had enough time for one more song to finish out the master. It was suggested that I close the collection with a simple instrumental of THE LADY OF MEDJUGORJE. You see, for many years after college, I was a performer in a show band, singing and playing various musical instruments, including the trumpet! During the Big Band era of the 1940's my father had been a professional trumpet player. When he died, it was a devastating personal loss. Now, here I was, being prompted to play the instrumental on the trumpet. Even more interesting, I was being prompted to play it on my father's trumpet!It made no sense to want to play my father's trumpet! I was concerned as to whether I could play at all, as it had been over 15 years since I had played. Should I use my own horn? I followed the prompting and called my mother and told her what I wanted to do. She was very surprised, as I hadn't been able to even look at Dad's trumpet since he died. Mom promised to send the trumpet immediately.

I can remember the morning that Dad's trumpet arrived as clearly as if it was today! Oh, the emotions that ran through me as I slowly picked it up! I gently carried it to the kitchen, handling the instrument as if it were a fine piece of china. My mother had shared stories of how my father had loved his music. I knew he would be so proud to hear the To the World collection, especially this song for Our Lady.

As a tribute to my father, I decided to record a trumpet solo over the haunting instrumentals of the song. I had less than 24 hours to become a trumpet player again! Each hour that went by, I would try to play for about 10 minutes until my lip would give out! I remember going to bed that night thinking that it was a noble idea but just not realistic to think I could play the trumpet after 15 years! The following day was Ash Wednesday. I arrived at the recording studio with ashes still on my forehead. I had taken my father's trumpet into the studio just to see, if by chance, I could play it. I tried warming up by playing a few scales. It sounded pretty rough! I stepped up to the microphone and asked the engineer if he would play the background track to the song  just one more time and I would play along for a test. The music started and I closed my eyes and began to play. A few seconds into the song, I opened my eyes and realized I was playing effortlessly, the notes flowing from my lips and my heart. I felt as though my father was right there with me! The tears started streaming down my face as I was playing. I thought, "Just a little more and I am done." The song finished and I was driven to my knees. I knew I was experiencing another healing. I knew my dad was with me in this calling. Regina had hurried into the sound room and said that what had just happened was the most incredible thing she had seen yet! Unbelievably, she said," your father must have been there beside you."

I walked into the mixing room and told the engineer that I didn't think I would be able to play it again. He said that it wouldn't be necessary to do again as he felt the first take was flawless. He had pushed the record button and with the first take, the instrumental had been completed and the last song of the collection was in place.

The mysticism continued that night when I went home. I was praying at the small altar in my bedroom and listening to the finished trumpet version. As I sat quietly on my bed, I again heard the soft voice."THIS SONG, WITH THE TRUMPET WILL ONE DAY BE HEARD THROUGHOUT RUSSIA AND WILL BE A SOURCE OF CONVERSION FOR MANY."

With the To the World collection complete, the first person I sent it to was my mother. Soon after receiving it, she called to ask who was playing the trumpet on that last song. When I told her it was me, she couldn't believe it! "That wasn't you, I know your tone. That sounds exactly like your father." My brother also commented that it sounded exactly like my father playing. The entire family was in tears listening to the collection. Yes, perhaps my father was playing that night. It certainly felt as though he was with me. THANKS DAD!

It is my prayer that the love and inspiration from THE LADY of MEDJUGORJE TRUMPET VERSION will penetrate deeply within your heart and soul as you listen. I thank you for the opportunity to share this story.

PEACE-

Jerry Morin- a servant to the world