In my writing and the comments lately, we've discussed how Lent is musically set aside. The penitential season purposely has a different feel and sound from the ordinary church year. For some reason, this season always brings the harpsichord to mind for me. (You might recall my series of Bach's Preludes and Fugues on the harpsichord last year.) This Sunday, the prelude will be a selection from Bach's French Suite in c minor. I hope you enjoy the change of pace from organ music. (For those of you who were at worship this past Wednesday will also be able to appreciate the radical shift from dissonant, modern music to the Baroque harpsichord sound this Sunday!)
Recently I've been rereading the books of Jasper Fforde, working my way through the Thursday Next books, which begins with the great "Eyre Affair." One of the quotes that caught my eye was this:
"It's like a big emotion magnifier. All feelings are exacerbated...You can find things out about yourself that you never knew...You can lose yourself in a book, but you find yourself in Poetry." Of course, music is basically poetry set to melody. Rhythm and meter and rhyme are key to both. And they both help us in our daily life, our prayer, and our worship.
We often see complaints that young people do not read anymore - they just watch and listen. This speaks to the loss they have, since it is hard to stop and contemplate the meaning of ideas during live performances - the next idea happens too quickly. It's a little like seeing the Gloria written vs. singing it. Both have their place, it seems
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