Lenten thoughts...

[Guest]

Clearly, one only has to open a newspaper or watch television to see what a state the world is in..... but I wonder what pieces colleagues might offer as examples of comfort as choral music for Lent?

[Simon]

I rarely bother with the papers and have no TV, though of course I spot things on the web and have some idea of what's happening as regards major stuff!

But of course none of this reflects "the world" at all. It only reflects a part of the world that the media thinks important at the time.

By far the majority of people are getting on with their lives, of course with varying degrees of comfort, and living at peace with their neighbours in their communities.

So I'd perhaps choose a simple hymn - maybe "I lift my eyes to the quiet hills". It fits for where I live and the tune is rather good, I think. And it reminds us that, in the end, after this life, we have no need to fear. All will be well in the great scheme of things, though we can't see it all yet.

bws S-S!

[ardcarp]

An agnostic should not perhaps be expected to choose sacred music...or even I suppose to accept the premise of the question! Bot for Bullock I'd answer Jesu Meine Freude; and if I sought Simon's sense of repose it would have to be VW's Mass in G minor.

[DracoM]

To reflect a suffering world, it would have to be the Byrd or Tallis Lamentations, or the Tomas de Victoria Reproaches. But RVW Mass in G would do for me too.

[decantor]

I'm not sure that Lent is the time to look for 'comfort' - rather for a clearer understanding of life's vicissitudes and purpose. And that thought fixes my choral choice.

I'd go for Purcell's 8-part Hear My Prayer. It's basic theme accepts life's tribulations, and its polyphony life's complexities. Its repeated switchback chromaticisms reflect the zig-zag path of human life. Its false climaxes reflect expectations that meet with disappointment, and its true climax gives a sort of hope, however anguished. And its final tortuous resolution into an open fifth refuses an unequivocal answer to the big question: in the end, we must all be captains of our own souls.

No, I don't think Purcell was writing programme music. But I do think he provided a partial template for catharsis during the Forty Days - lasting a little over two minutes!

[Triforium]

There is so much wonderful Lenten music. To the Purcell, Byrd, RVW, Tallis, Victoria works already mentioned I would add -

Byrd: Ne irascaris Domine - Civitas sancti tui

I also find many Gibbons hymns very moving.

[marthe]

Don't forget Heinrich Schutz. Although this piece is for Passiontide, I find his Historia der Auferstehung Jesu Christ quite moving.

[Don Basilio]

I'm not sure that Lent is the time to look for 'comfort' - rather for a clearer understanding of life's vicissitudes and purpose.

That's why it's a penitential season. As Samuel Johnson said regarding religious poetry, "penitence is not at leisure for cadences and epithets."

If you want comfort, I can't think of better than Guys and Dolls.

[Magnificat]

Psalm 41 to a chant by Stainer.

[Don Basilio]

Psalm 41 to a chant by Stainer.

Surely you mean Psalm 51, the Miserere? I don't know any Lenten associations of Psalm 41.

[Finzi4ever]

Greene: 'Lord let me know mine end'
either of the Elizabethan 'When David heard's, but if I had to choose then it has to be Tomkins.
Save Lotti for Passiontide
yes, yes to Tallis Lamentations, but leave room for Bairstow's exceptional chants for same.
Brahms' Geistliches Lied
On an increasingly large scale: Pergolesi Stab. and of course Ruht Wohl from the St John and start of the Matthew, Kyrie from the B minor, I could go on for ever, but will stop now!

[Magnificat]

Surely you mean Psalm 51, the Miserere? I don't know any Lenten associations of Psalm 41.

Psalm 41 is definitely a lenten psalm often sung during Holy Week. I suppose verse 4 alone is enough to make it so.

There are also several lovely settings of "Blessed is he that considereth the poor and needy" that are also sung during Lent.

VCC

[Nick Armstrong]

I rarely bother with the papers and have no TV, though of course I spot things on the web and have some idea of what's happening as regards major stuff!

But of course none of this reflects "the world" at all. It only reflects a part of the world that the media thinks important at the time.

By far the majority of people are getting on with their lives, of course with varying degrees of comfort, and living at peace with their neighbours in their communities.

So I'd perhaps choose a simple hymn - maybe "I lift my eyes to the quiet hills". It fits for where I live and the tune is rather good, I think. And it reminds us that, in the end, after this life, we have no need to fear. All will be well in the great scheme of things, though we can't see it all yet.

bws S-S!

S-S your post reminded me of the post I just read on the BBC 'have your say' board about the Japan earthquake/tsunami emergency:

1341: James Walsh, in Tokyo, writes: "It is quite clear reading these posts that people inside Japan are trying to remain calm and take each day as it comes. Sensationalist and, at times, voyeuristic foreign media coverage (including that of the BBC) just adds to our anxiety and stokes the fear of family and friends back at home. More sensitivity please."

[Simon]

I'm sure he's right - and he's there, too, so he should know. Similar views were expressed yesterday on one of R4's programmes.

[french frank]

I have moved a series of posts, innocent and not so innocent, to the 'Diversions' forum (search on Diversions and you'll find the forum). This is so that further comments here can proceed peacefully.