Pratt pianist presented a musical charism
By David Myers
Pratt pianist
Patrice Egging rarely performs the same song twice, which she attributes to the
Holy Spirit and a unique charism given her more than
25 years ago.
Egging, who recently released her first CD,
entitled, “Cross His Heart,” said she had been playing piano for more than 20
years when, in 1980, she “sat down at that old $50 upright piano and prayed.”
What came of her prayer, she said, can only
be described as a “gift of the Holy Spirit.” Suddenly she no longer needed song
books or sheet music. In fact, she could play beautiful music as she created
it -- just by sitting down and letting the Spirit work through her.
“Whenever I play, it’s
always new and then it’s gone,” she explained. “Many times the songs are just
so pretty; I thought if this is a gift from God, then I’m getting a real
blessing.
“When I sit down and start to play, I never
quite know what’s going to come out,” she added. “I’ve had piano lessons and
have played for years. But this is different. They are not known songs, but it
is music. Sometimes it is a definite song that has a melody line that repeats.
Because I’ve had some training, I can determine if I will play slowly or
loudly. Sometimes before I start I have an idea, such as if it will be joyful,
or quiet and meditative.”
Like all charisms,
she said that her gift was meant to be shared. Yet, for nearly 25 years after
receiving the charism, she was reluctant to do so.
“I’ve been reluctant to share it, because I
don’t want people to think I’m showing off,” she said. “I didn’t think I could
ever go play in a piano bar. I don’t think that’s what God had in mind for this
music.”
Then one day her cousin, who at the age of
three could play the piano by ear, recorded some hymns for Egging’s
ill father, whose reaction to the music she’ll never forget. She became
determined that she would share her gift with others while being an example of
God’s love, and a few years ago began playing at church prior to Mass.
“The way it comes now sounds differently,”
Egging said. For her the music has become a “different way of praying.”
“My father died several years ago, and
sometimes I play for him,” she said. “Once in a while, I’ll sit there and cry
because it was so beautiful. It just blows me over sometimes.”
On one occasion, she wished to play
something with the Rosary in mind, so as she played she recited the Hail Mary.
Another song, which became one of 14 tracks on the CD, focused on the words,
“We are the Body of Christ.”
“The rest is all new,” Egging explained.
“When I heard the CD, it was like I was listening to the songs for the first
time. Now, just to be able to sit down and play those same songs, I would have
to really work at it.”
Egging and her husband have six children,
the youngest of whom is preparing to graduate high school. She is a co-founder
and director of the
While speaking with the Register,
Egging performed a piece she is writing for a contest in which the song must
focus on the prayer to St. Michael. For this, she displayed both her piano and
her vocal skills. The song was recorded through a friend’s computer recording
system so that it can be submitted to the contest. She said it took her all of
two minutes to create the melody.
Despite her skills, Egging remains humble:
“I know I can’t do it on my own -- only with God’s help. I prayed to get that
gift and it was there. I’m hoping that this music can be a gift and blessing to
other people, because I don’t know what else it’s for.”
Proceeds from sales of the CD will benefit
the