For Harry, Whose Song Ended Too Soon
"Harry Detwiler. 1998-2017. Rest in Peace, my beautiful son. I will love you forever." I saw this post by Isabella Detwiler on Facebook and that’s how I learned of Harry’s death.
Harry.
I taught violin to Harry when he was eight to eleven years old. I haven’t seen him since then, and he recently died at age 19. We are accustomed to seeing the deaths of people older than we are, but the death of someone much younger is entirely different. This is especially true when the younger person died because of something other than natural causes, as was Harry’s case. I’ve heard that teachers live on in their students. What happens when the student is the first to go?
Harry was one of my very favorite students. I really loved that little boy, and he loved me, too. He was smart, very talented, imaginative, spontaneous, and very much his own person. He was inventive and surprising. I didn’t love him because of these traits. Love is not, or should not be, dependent on talents and accomplishments. These are simply traits that made him lovable to me.
Harry once told me, "One of the reasons I love playing the violin is that it’s something I can do well even though I’m a kid." He certainly did play well. Sometimes he would show me a piece he had been practicing and say, "I don’t like the way this piece ends." I’d answer, "OK. Write your own ending," and he’d do it right on the spot. He always did it well. I’d use his creation to teach him some of the basics of music structure and composition. One day his father, who played guitar, joined us for a lesson and the three of us played together. His father and I, both Beatles fans, played a lot of Beatles songs and talked about them. At his next lesson, Harry marched over to my music stand, picked up my Beatles songbook, flipped through it found what he wanted, and told me, "I want to learn to play this one." It was Yesterday. This is one of the first Beatles songs I usually teach to my students. It is relatively easy, for a Beatles song, and very pretty. Harry picked it up quickly and did it justice. Over all he was a joy to teach.
Harry was last seen in May of this year. In late November a dog walker found a collection of human bones in a shallow grave about 15 miles from Harry’s home. The police examined the bones and concluded that they were Harry’s. I shudder to think of how Harry was abused before he died.
I really don’t know how to deal with my emotions regarding Harry and his death. The obvious thing to do would be to play my violin, but I recently injured my left arm, and it will be weeks before I can play again. I have been lighting candles for him and now I’m writing this.
Good night, sweet prince. May hosts of angels sing you to sleep.
Replies
Thank you so much, Krista.
What a sad story. Thank you for lovingly sharing his memory with us. Blessings to you and to his family and friends. I hope there can be justice for him in this world or another.
Thank you, Karen. You are very kind.
What a wonderful experience you had working with Harry. I'm sure it was one of the most meaningful things for each of you. I'm so sorry for his family's loss.
I am so sorry for your loss. He will now live in our memories as he does in yours. When I hear of a young person's death then I know the earth is a little dimmer but The heavens a little brighter and love transcends them both.
Thank you, Paul.
Oh, Pauline, my heart breaks for this young man and his family. But what a wonderful tribute to remember him and the joy he got from playing his violin. When your arm is healed, you will play"Yesterday" and it will make a difference.
Pauline, you had me in tears (really) and then in anger. Karen, the forces of law and order are not able to do justice for Harry, and even if they were able to do all that is humanly possible, it still would not be full justice. However, full justice for him certainly either will be done in and for eternity, or, in the unlikely event of his killer ever coming to a genuine repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (something you are almost certain to hear about if it ever happens), was done at the cross.
Pauline, this is heartbreaking. I can imagine that as teacher you often wonder what will become of the little person making their first steps on the violin. This is not how it is supposed to be, not for his poor family not for you as his teacher. And yet, that loveable boy of once seemed to have grown into a fine young man whose life had meaning and who continues to touch peoples' lives. Thank you for sharing your memories with us.
Words cannot express the loss of someone taken from us. You wrote a beautiful tribute. Warm, loving thoughts to you and my deepest condolences for you and Harry's family.
I am deeply touched. Everyone has already said the rest. Thank you Pauline.
Thank you all so much. Sharing and understanding my grief has helped me a lot. Thanks also for reminding of the joy I helped bring into Harry’s life by teaching him to play the violin.
Thank you for sharing this story. I knew Harry in his later teenage years; it was nice to read about your experience with him when he was a bit younger. He was one whip-smart kid!
"One of the reasons I love playing the violin is that it’s something I can do well even though I’m a kid."
Very poignant, Pauline. As a teacher, I understand how you feel. I'll light a candle in church.
Bill Weitzel
Thanks, Bill.
Dear Pauline ~
Deeply saddened and shocked at this news of your adored violin student, Harry, please accept my sympathies and sincere condolences to Harry's beloved Family and to you, his Forever fidel and loving teacher ...
Your beautiful Tribute to Harry is testament to an unspoken 'Oath' we, as teachers of Music and 4 stringed instruments (& including all instruments) silently take when answering our 'calling' ~
You have lifted Harry 'Up' in writing so touchingly about him & sharing 'Harry's Story' with all of us - many of whom have been going through Kleenex in reading your gently penned words regarding an unthinkable End ~
On this Christmas Eve, 2017, may All light a candle in memory of violin pupil, Harry, which in so doing, draws us all together lending support to the grieving hearts of Harry's Family & the heart of Ms. Lerner, his favourite violin teacher, who taught him when he would say he didn't like the way a piece ended, 'then write your own ending, Harry!'
Never having experienced the beauty of your teaching in my over 50 year teaching journey, I'm deeply moved by your extra special talents as Harry's violin teacher, and greatly encourage you to submit your resplendent Tribute to Harry to ASTA for publication in the next AST Journal, 2018 ~ Please ring the National ASTA Headquarter's and request speaking to Monica Schultz, new CFO of National ASTA, using my name, "I.D.", (daughter of late National ASTA President, Ralph Matesky ~ Violinist, Elisabeth Matesky), when making that call to: 1-703-279-2113, located in Fairfax, VA.
Your beautiful Testimonial about and to Harry is what string teaching is all about, and also belongs on the pages of an AST Journal, 2018, and including parts much further ...
Thank you, dear Pauline, for your abundant goodness and heartfelt Tribute to your Harry ~ His life must be known about by All and that of yours, his violin teacher ... Now you must write an "Ending" you like rather than the one which brought young Harry's to a tragic never meant to be sudden demise ... I'm sure Harry would and shall like that! His Life was & never shall have been in vain ~
With tears and profound sympathy to you and Harry's Family, write an ending Harry would like!
Elisabeth Matesky on Christmas Eve, 2017 ~*
*Much thanks to Laurie Niles for featuring 'For Harry, Whose
Song Ended Too Soon', by Pauline Lerner on Violinist.com ...
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December 19, 2017 at 08:13 PM · What a poignant memory. I am so sorry for those who must suffer Harry's loss. My heart goes out to you and to his family and friends.