Remembering Jack Lyons

The 'valley of the shadow of death' is ' an ancient but probably fanciful' rendering from the fourth line of the 23rd Psalm.

The 'darkest valley' is the phrase justified and preferred in modern versions.

In Leonard Bernstein's notoriously challenging Chichester Psalms, commissioned in 1965 and using early themes from West Side Story, all the words are sung in Hebrew.

So those in York Minster in June 2006, who were concentrating hard at the 90th birthday concert for my friend, Jack Lyons,  did not need to concern themselves for death, shadow or darkness.

Today Jack is dead - and the newspapers this morning tell the stories of his business skill, his personal charm, his generosity to musicians all over the world and to the court cases which overhung his later years.

Jack was a great philanthropist for the arts, a rare man of a rare kind, never more needed than today.

The Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall at York will be one of many enduring legacies.

His personal qualities were etched out, enhanced for all his friends to see, by the difficulties of his last years.

And eventually, though the fight was long, the unfairnesses of the Guinness case became understood by more than just his friends.

To listen to music with Jack was always to see it on his face, the Chichester Psalms in his beloved York most clearly so.

To listen to music with Jack was always to listen to music with his beloved Roslyn too, the singer who had long brought so much music and more into their shared lives

Bernstein never wrote a happier sacred song - and Jack's face was full of happiness that 90th birthday night in the Minster, surrounded by music students, listening to music students whose work, especially this most difficult work, he had helped to come alive.

That is how I remember him now.

Comments

[Psalm 23 Jewelry .com]

The 23rd Psalm is probably the most recognized chapter in the Bible.

For those not familiar with it's complete comforting words.

Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, [a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

[Roger Marsh]

Thankyou Peter for this honest and moving memorial to Jack Lyons. It has been depressing to read obituaries which hone straight in on Guinness. Jack was generous and courteous to a fault, and thought constantly about how to use his wealth to improve life for others, and not only in music and the arts. It was a privilege to know him. Countless musicians who have passed through the music department at York have reason to be grateful to fim, and many more will do so in the future. We will miss him enormously, his kindness, his warmth and humour, and his gift for bringing people together for the common good.

[Dion Per Sona]

FYI: Psalm 23 is a leftie/Fabian (19th C) favorite. My French-side grannie insisted that we all be able to read it to her at six and recite it at seven. That's all she asked of us, when assigning us our names.

[Mariana]

I would like to show my work, please take a look on www.culturaemusica.mus.br

[David Nordell]

You're dead wrong about the 'probably fanciful' translation. The Hebrew original "ge tzalmavet" translates exactly as "valley of the shadow of death." The modern translation, like much modern translation of the Bible (well, I can only talk for the Hebrew Bible) not only distorts the poetry of the original but also its meaning.

[John Penrith]

Jack Lyons gave me an opportunity to join UDS in 1966. he was a wonderful man and an inspirational mentor to me I have only learned today, as I minister the gospel in India as a missionary, of his death having lost touch many years ago with UDS etc.
I only know him for all the good he did and I will always celebrate the times I knew him and the wonderful opportunity in life he gave to me. I am here for the same reason to give people a hope and opportunity in Life, we can all make a difference Jack Lyons certainly did for me maybe something of him rubbed off on me. Shalom!