Mar 05 2009
A Bit More Appropriate
“The Orthodox are the only Christians who write basso profundo church music, or need to.”
–Leon Podles, The Church Impotent: The Feminization of Christianity
From Rachmaninoff’s Vespers:
O Gladsome Light of the holy glory of the Immortal Father, heavenly, holy;
Blessed Jesus Christ, now that we have come to the setting of sun, and see the light of evening,
we praise God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit!
For meet it is at all times, to worship Thee with voices of praise, O Son of God and Giver of Life,
therefore all the world doth glorify Thee!
One response so far
Podle is mostly right, though I do like traditional Western chant. Still, it doesn’t compare to the Greek or Russian traditions.
The “Prayer of Saint Symeon” from Rachmaninoff’s Vespers is perhaps my favorite composition of all time in either liturgical or secular music. It’s awesome.
Thanks for the blog, about which I am decidedly conflicted. On the one hand, you’re right wing and your’re Orthodox . . . all well and good. However, that Steelers patch on the left that haunts me as I click on each page . . . it’s a bit much to take for a Cincinnatian like myself!
Cheers!