Sunday, May 31, 2009

Gradus ad Parnassum

Sometimes it takes music to bring out emotion. I am a very uptight right-brained person... I hear music and see pictures, I relate the pictures to my life. Today is was the Tocatta from Widor's 5th Organ Symphony. Religious ecstasy contained in two hands, four manuals, foot pedals and a lot of technique... Thank you Church organist.

Also, Messian is in my head a lot. Once in a theory class a teacher related the final movement of The Quartet for the End of Time to the Steps of Parnassus. Messian, with the piano and violin traces the steps of Christ to cruscifixion and the work of our own salvation. The piece is stunning and painful at the same time. I have never been able to listen without crying (the good kind of tears.) Perfection through pain is an odd concept, yet one inextricably bound to all walks of faith. If only we all could express it so elegantly as Messian.

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