Every year I go to a Christmas concert together with my children. Christmas, this means for me above all, to spend time with the family, time for music, time for being together. Consumption and presents are losing importance for me.

Together with my three children I visited the Christmas concert at the Tonhalle on Sunday. I don’t take it for granted that my grown-up daughters are coming with me. But they were there and it was great. As young adults they usually have their own programme. It was obvious that one of my daughters had gone out the night before and only came home very late. 

We were singing and listening and enjoyed it very much. About halfway I noticed that the oldest one had fallen asleep. The night before must have been rather intense. I looked at her and only felt thankful. It was great that she was with us despite being so tired. The fact that she was silently sleeping in these musical surroundings did not disturb me at all. 

However I had a déjà-vu: 18 years ago I went to an organ Christmas concert with my daughters. It was on a Sunday afternoon. In the morning we had been tobogganing and both were very tired. The church was dark and warm. For the first half both were listening carefully. During the second half the younger one fell asleep. However not SILENTLY!! She was snoring for all one’s worth and with a remarkable sound volume for such a small and cute person. As long as the organ was playing, it was not disturbing, as the instrument drowned everything else. But when it stopped and the church was completely quiet, it was audible in the entire room. I put my hand over her mouth. I had to be very careful: no sound should elapse and at the same time she obviously should not suffocate. Nobody noticed anything.

There is nothing better than falling asleep accompanied by heavenly music!