Music, tonight and (more urgently) tomorrow

We enjoyed a BYU concert tonight by Wu Man, one of the world’s leading players of the pipa.  The pipa is a stringed instrument that originally came to China from Persia and that is akin to the Arabic ‘ud — which is perhaps why I felt so completely at home with the evening’s music — as well as to the lute (which derives its name from the Arabic for “the ‘ud” [al-‘ud]) and, more distantly, to the guitar, and, very much more distantly, to the banjo.

She was not only remarkably good but very personable.

(It being St. Patrick’s Day, I was tempted to make a crack about “Celtic Wu Man.”  But I won’t.  I’m blessed with powerful self-restraint.)

Tomorrow night, we’re headed up to Idaho Falls for a Muslim-Mormon dialogue sponsored by the J. Reuben Clark Society chapter that’s based there.

So, unfortunately, we’re going to miss the performance of our dear friend Robert Cundick’s choral work The Redeemer that will take place tomorrow (Friday) night in the Salt Lake Tabernacle.  If you’re able, however, I strongly recommend that you make an effort to be there.  It’s one of the great achievements of Mormon musical composition to date.

Tickets are required, but they’re free.  Here’s the place to go for more information:

https://www.lds.org/church/events/temple-square-events/2016-byu-idaho-music?lang=eng

I’m happy, though, that, after the event in Idaho Falls tomorrow, we’re continuing on up to Rexburg for a Saturday night performance of The Redeemer there, on the campus of Brigham Young University-Idaho.

For a video of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing a portion of The Redeemer, see here:

Or, alternatively, here’s a recording of the BYU choirs doing it.  A bit clearer, I think, but with less visual interest:

The text of the selection above is taken from Revelation 22:16-17, 20:

I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. . . .

He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.