Alleluia!
This is the week of Easter, the time that those of us who are Christians rejoice in the news of new life given to us through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Needless to say there is a great deal of sacred music written over the centuries for this feast. There will be more than enough space in this blog to fill in at least some of that rich tapestry. For now, I would like to reflect on the human experience of joy and its expression in music.
As with other human emotions joy can be a surface experience or it can be a deep and transformative one. If conditioning was the measure, then the more superficial expressions of joy can be found everywhere. We are told by advertising that joy will be found by buying one thing or another. Deep joy is something that has a dimension of fulfillment but also leaves us open to life. It is not the last word.
In the classical music realm there certainly is raucously joyful music. The "Alleluia" chorus from Handel's oratorio, "Messiah", certainly comes to mind as does the final movement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, the famous "Ode to Joy". But there are equally joyful pieces that are placid and beautiful. Mozart's, "Ave Verum Corpus", the "Pie Jeusu" of Gabriel Faure's Requiem, much of Resphigi's music based on folk tunes, especiall his "Ancient Airs and Dances", and Beethoven's Triple Concerto and his Fantasy for Chorus and orchestra, are but a few examples.
Whatever music it is that evokes joy in you, it is a good thing to tear ourselves away for a short time from the stresses and the many unresolved issues we meet each day to bask in a moment of deep joy that puts in touch with really living.
As with other human emotions joy can be a surface experience or it can be a deep and transformative one. If conditioning was the measure, then the more superficial expressions of joy can be found everywhere. We are told by advertising that joy will be found by buying one thing or another. Deep joy is something that has a dimension of fulfillment but also leaves us open to life. It is not the last word.
In the classical music realm there certainly is raucously joyful music. The "Alleluia" chorus from Handel's oratorio, "Messiah", certainly comes to mind as does the final movement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, the famous "Ode to Joy". But there are equally joyful pieces that are placid and beautiful. Mozart's, "Ave Verum Corpus", the "Pie Jeusu" of Gabriel Faure's Requiem, much of Resphigi's music based on folk tunes, especiall his "Ancient Airs and Dances", and Beethoven's Triple Concerto and his Fantasy for Chorus and orchestra, are but a few examples. 