People usually complain that music is so ambiguous…, while words are understood by everyone. But for me it is exactly the opposite...what the music I love expresses to me are thoughts not too indefinite for words, but rather too definite.
–Felix Mendelssohn
If we agree with Mendelssohn’s quote that music conveys meaning better than words, would it be too audacious to imagine that our liturgical music doesn’t merely helps to articulate the prayer, but in fact has the power to cross over into the divine? So much of the organ and oratorio music of Bach, Handel, and others, the uplifting and heartfelt Gospel music, the sacred chants found all over the world – all seem to have the power to directly communicate a human prayer to a higher being.
Oftentimes, consulting a couple on the kind of music can be used for their upcoming ceremony, I’ve used a rule of thumb I learned years ago from another music director – “Sacred music is the kind where either God is talking to His people, or the people are praying to God. All else is secular.” However, this refers to the lyrics of the hymns/songs, not to the music itself. It really doesn’t get to the heart of the issue. Every once in a while, we sing a hymn setting that leaves us cold and emotionally unengaged – despite the meaningful text. Then we listen to Beethoven’s Finale from the Ninth Symphony (Ode to Joy), intended as a secular piece, and it completely overwhelms us with tears, and joy, and humility in the face of our Creator and the glory of His creation. While it is difficult to pinpoint how exactly this great music affects us so, these are the moments that prove that it could only be inspired by God.
Today, I would like to share a piece of music you may never have heard before, the Hymn of the Cherubim, by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Listen to this achingly beautiful piece, watch a beautiful video – and try not to cry while reading the comments. One listener wrote “THE most incredible piece of music I've ever heard in my 65 years here on Earth. Tell me there is no God.....I will laugh in your face.” WATCH HERE
In the coming weeks, I am planning to continue this dialogue with many examples of great musicians and pieces of sacred music. I would like to hear back from you, about what piece of music inspired you and you felt was “sacred.” Please share your experiences by sending me an email at music.director@stc-sta.org.
