April 29, 2011
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I Was Glad
“I was Glad” by Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry was played in Westminster Abbey. I was stunned and touched when I heard the music from the TV during news report.
Prince William and Catherine Middleton finally got married. As the left-behind citizens of a past-tense colony, many Hongkongers still feel emotionally attached. I watched the news report instead of the live broadcast. During the procession of Catherine Middleton, the bride, the music of “I was Glad” was played in the air. This piece of music was the also played at the end of the funeral of Princess Diana, William’s mother.
For a man, there are different women in his life. Each woman is a chapter of his life book. Each chapter contributes to some development of his life story. We may not know where our stories lead us to and where we will end our stories. If we are lucky (or unlucky as some may consider and I have to be open-minded), there may be just a few chapters in our life stories. However, no matter the number of chapters, we have the same characters in our first chapter; these characters are our mothers.
Choosing a closing theme of Princess Diana’s funeral in the wedding ceremony is meaningful. It is meaningful because this piece of music symbolises the end of the first chapter of Prince William. Her mother must be in a very important position on his mind. She shaped him as the present upright person. But now the same piece of music introduced another chapter of Prince William. This woman as her lifelong companion (at least the two of them believed so when they stepped in front of the alter) strengthens his will of his life and makes his life colourful.
Choosing this piece of music is also risky but brave. As a royal member, one has to be presentably strong. You cannot show any weakness either physically or emotionally. To show people or your subjects you are a sensational person is somehow to show your nude self in front of the people. Prince William and Princess Catherine chose to show their sensational selves to the people is risky. But in this modern age, who needs an iron-faced cold-blooded leader or figure-head? What we need is a human, one who has warm blood and flesh. (This is also a problem of China. No matter how many times the Prime Minister or the Chief Secretary visit the people, the scenes do not contain any warm blood and flesh!) Hurray to Prince William and Princess Catherine.
I did not know that a royal marriage could be so iconic not only visually. After all, it is not a fairy tale. It is only a story of a boy loving a girl and wishing there will be a happy ending. But the story of Prince William, we must read it from the very first chapter.
