Roots Music
The summer has passed quickly. Here in Ontario the summer is really two months of warmth and sunshine. This summer was quite hot by our standards. We had many days in the 30 degree Celsius zone. June and September are temperate months, with June being blessed for its very long days as we approach the summer solstice.
As a child those eight weeks seemed to stretch out far into the future. And then the Canadian National Exhibition would start somewhere just after the middle of August. Then, I knew school was just around the corner. In the evening down by Lake Ontario a T-shirt would certainly do during the day but by the evening something long-sleeved was in order.
This summer I travelled around visiting friends, but I did manage to get to the "Ex" on Labour Day and take in the Canadian International Air Show. Like many of you I have now firmly landed on the other side of Labour Day and the fall flurry of activity has begun.
In our parish we have been blessed over the summer to welcome a tenant. Catholic Biblical Canada is now headquartered at our offices here at the parish. A direct benefit has been having access to the extensive biblical library that is part of the resources of the association. Another benefit for me has been the opportunity to listen to some real "roots" music.
As you are probably aware the Psalms from the Hebrew Scriptures are in fact songs. I think I've also already mentioned that the roots of our chant tradition comes from the chant used in Jewish worship. I remember meeting a gentleman on the subway many years ago. I think was still a teenager. He was a cantor in a synagogue attending a cantors' convention in the city.
The role of the cantor is very important and the skill involved is highly developed. In our tradition too, music is very important. There is the old adage: To sing is to pray twice. Both in the East and West of Christianity singing and chant have been central to worship. The cantor, however, is someone who generally starts off the chant, leading others into song whether a designated choir or schola or in more recent years the whole of the gathered congregation. The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy from the Second Vatican Council emphasizes the pre-eminence of full participation in the rites of worship. That is why for Catholics getting familiar with our roots in chant is so important.
As I write this the Jewish people are celebrating Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of the New Year and on the 18th of September, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement the most solemn day of prayer in the year.
Recordings may be a bit difficult to obtain. You may want to go to Jewish cultural centres and search a bit. There are both new recordings and remasterings of old recordings in circulation. Perhaps not too surprisingly, though, some are available on ITunes, like the one I've shown here.
As a child those eight weeks seemed to stretch out far into the future. And then the Canadian National Exhibition would start somewhere just after the middle of August. Then, I knew school was just around the corner. In the evening down by Lake Ontario a T-shirt would certainly do during the day but by the evening something long-sleeved was in order.
This summer I travelled around visiting friends, but I did manage to get to the "Ex" on Labour Day and take in the Canadian International Air Show. Like many of you I have now firmly landed on the other side of Labour Day and the fall flurry of activity has begun.
In our parish we have been blessed over the summer to welcome a tenant. Catholic Biblical Canada is now headquartered at our offices here at the parish. A direct benefit has been having access to the extensive biblical library that is part of the resources of the association. Another benefit for me has been the opportunity to listen to some real "roots" music.
As you are probably aware the Psalms from the Hebrew Scriptures are in fact songs. I think I've also already mentioned that the roots of our chant tradition comes from the chant used in Jewish worship. I remember meeting a gentleman on the subway many years ago. I think was still a teenager. He was a cantor in a synagogue attending a cantors' convention in the city.
The role of the cantor is very important and the skill involved is highly developed. In our tradition too, music is very important. There is the old adage: To sing is to pray twice. Both in the East and West of Christianity singing and chant have been central to worship. The cantor, however, is someone who generally starts off the chant, leading others into song whether a designated choir or schola or in more recent years the whole of the gathered congregation. The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy from the Second Vatican Council emphasizes the pre-eminence of full participation in the rites of worship. That is why for Catholics getting familiar with our roots in chant is so important.
As I write this the Jewish people are celebrating Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of the New Year and on the 18th of September, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement the most solemn day of prayer in the year. Recordings may be a bit difficult to obtain. You may want to go to Jewish cultural centres and search a bit. There are both new recordings and remasterings of old recordings in circulation. Perhaps not too surprisingly, though, some are available on ITunes, like the one I've shown here.
