Ancient Faith meets Modern Life
As Holy Week begins, here is Anton Bruckner’s setting of “Christus Factus Est,” the text that serves as the Gradual for today’s feast. Christus factus est pro nobis obediens usque ad mortem, mortem autem crucis. Propter quod et Deus exaltavit illum et dedit illi nomen, quod est super omne nomen. Translation: Christ became obedient for [...]
This afternoon’s office insanity was set to the musical ramblings of Baroque master Thomas Arne, highlighted by Trevor Pinnock’s performance of this Presto movement from his Keyboard Sonata #6.”But who,” you ask, “is Thomas Arne?” “Who’s Thomas Arne?” I respond, shocked. “Thomas Augustine Arne? ‘Rule, Britannia!’ and ‘A-Hunting We Will Go?’ How could you possibly not know about [...]
I’ve got to admit that my life haven’t felt particularly Lenten of late. The anticipation, excitement, and joyful celebration of Papam Week 2013 has dominated the last few days, and I’ve been struggling to return to a more “liturgically-appropriate” frame of mind ever since. Ironically, today’s feast — traditionally a time of great/excessive celebration — [...]
Yes, I know it’s Lent. But come on, people. We have a pope! Bonus Celebratory Music: Palestrina’s “Tu es Petrus” — always beautiful, but particularly appropriate today. Tu es Petrus et super hanc petram ædificabo ecclesiam meam et portæ inferi non prævalebunt adversus eam. Et tibi dabo claves regni cælorum.
This afternoon, I’m calming my nerves (and ignoring the enormous Catholic elephant in the room) with a bit of Robert Johnson’s lute music, courtesy of my dad. It’s entirely possible that I’ve heard Johnson in the past, but I don’t think I’ve heard of him until I started to investigate this particular clip. The occasionally-reliable [...]
As I reflected on Andrei Tarkovsky’s “The Sacrifice” last week, I was reminded of the wonderfully Lenten aria that serves as its musical backbone: Erbarme Dich, mein Gott from J.S. Bach’s Matthäus-Passion. My recommendation? Don’t watch. Just listen. Erbarme dich, mein Gott, Um meiner Zähren Willen ! Shaue hier, Herz und Auge Weint vor dir bitterlich. Erbarme dich, [...]
Today, as I crunched my early morning way through the blinding, post-storm whiteness, Pavel Chesnokov’s “Salvation is Created” popped unbidden into my head. I did not complain. WARNING: I’m not entirely sure for which liturgical season this piece is most appropriate. My instinct – based on the lyrics — is that it was written for [...]
Wednesdays have always been the toughest workdays for me to handle. Mondays and Tuesdays are propelled forward by the left-over energy of the Weekend Past, while Thursdays and Fridays are pulled along by the gravity of the Weekend Future. But Wednesdays just sit there, obdurate. Which is why Brandon Vogt’s mention of Roger Miller’s beloved [...]
For those in search of a reason behind the posting of this clip, none shall be given. Other than the respectful suggestion that they watch it again. And again. And again, ’til the need for an explanation is washed gently away by the waves of pure awesomeness. Additional Bach and McFerrin links, however, are readily [...]
Yesterday, as I sailed blithely along to the harmonious strains of the complete cello concerti of Luigi Boccherini, a Peter Weir film broke out. …I love it when that happens. The piece in question is the Passa Calle from LB’s “La Musica Notturna delle Strade di Madrid.” And here it is: I recommend the entire [...]
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