“Show Mercy”

posted in: Blog 6

Title/Theme: “Show Mercy”; Key/Structure: G Minor (with “mercy” motif in C Major)

Comment about this piece:  Between Covid-19 and the unrest resulting from George Floyd’s death – it has been a difficult week. For all of us. Personally, I’m having a hard time. I feel angry and concerned. But also pensive and sad. I think about my childhood best-friend “Paul” who grew up in a mixed-race family. It’s in retrospect I see how much more difficult things were for him than for me. I’m not going to share more here, but I want you to know the background and emotions going through my mind as I was playing and writing this piece of music.

I admit to being a pacifist so I can’t condone the looting or harmful intentions of some of the protesters we see on video. They diminish the vast majority of other protesters who have been peaceful and non-violent. Still, I can’t help but feel a divisive and unsettled nature which has been building – like a powder keg, about to explode. And this is where Mercy steps in…

“Mercy” is a powerful word with strong spiritual overtones (see James 2:13-18). As I often do when trying to understand the power of words – it helps to use a dictionary:

mer·cy/ˈmərsē/ noun

  1. compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.

Why didn’t one of the four officers show mercy to George Floyd? That is the core issue in my mind. If we could truly be color blind and strip away all physical characteristics – what we’d have left is our humanity. And as humans, each and every one of us has an obligation to act – to protect one another. I help you. You help me.

We are all equals in God’s eye. When we show mercy to one, we show it to all. And we can build on that…

Simply unzip the folder, then drag and drop the files into iTunes or wherever you store music files (the file may auto-play on some systems).

Or if you prefer, you can stream the track here:

STREAM LINK:  GG_Piano_Meditations_Show_Mercy

Enjoy. & feel free to share…

6 Responses

  1. Lorraine Nielsen
    | Reply

    I feel just like you Gary. I’m angry, frustrated and saddened. It’s not about George Floyd anymore, these ANTIFA people are set on destroying our country. It’s their main goal, to cause anarchy. Your song demonstrates the severity of the situation. These people are not showing mercy because they don’t know God. We are being persecuted as Jesus said we would be. If you’re a Catholic pray the Rosary for our Lady to intervene for us.

    • pianoxcape
      | Reply

      Thanks Lorraine, Let us hope and pray for peaceful days ahead.

  2. dmbucher104
    | Reply

    Gary, this is a beautiful piece filled with emotion. Like you, I wonder why no mercy was shown to George Floyd and countless others? This is not political, it’s about human life, these souls were created in the image of God, they are so precious to him that He shed His own blood to redeem them-all of them not just the “white” ones. I am appalled at the cowardice of such men that fear equality so much they abuse their positions of power to accomplish petty personal agendas of hatred. Thank you for using your talent to express the emotion that is inside many of us.

    • pianoxcape
      | Reply

      Thanks Donna, blessings to you and your loved ones.

  3. Chris Yates
    | Reply

    Hi Gary,
    Mercy is rich in deep base tones throughout this piece. That’s somewhat hard to compose throughout a piece . And, yet keep an uplifting sound in the melody. As always you compose some of the most meaningful songs that when played again and again, give strength and inter piece.
    I too struggle with the senseless aggression these officers used on George Floyd.

    • pianoxcape
      | Reply

      Thanks Chris!

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