Alive Through Music and Praise

 

                                                  Medieval Plague Doctor or 21st Century Choir Member

All Lands Summoned to Praise God -- A Psalm of thanksgiving.

1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.

    Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come into his presence with singing.

Psalm 100 NRSV 

“We are a music-making species — always have been, always will be — and music’s capacity to explore, express and address what it is to be human remains one of our greatest communal gifts.” Clemency Burton-Hill 

This past week I had an exchange of emails with a friend in Colorado whose marriage I performed in Halifax twenty years ago -- it's quite a story. She mentioned that her church choir was resuming practices with special masks to allow for singing. She wasn't looking forward to the masks but glad to be singing with others again. Our congregation has been singing with masks since the resumption of in-person worship at the end of May. 

It's curious that I've had a number of music-related nudges in recent days. We received a little video of our 15-month-old grandson who took a long time to get walking yet there he was, twirling like a dervish to a funky song. He teeters precariously at one point but makes a nice recovery to continue moving to the music. 

In the novel I mentioned recently to which we're listening as we travel about, a musicologist examines previously unknown four hundred year old musical scores which she surmises will prove to be very valuable. She shares her view with a co-worker that in her opinion these documents are not music in themselves and probably shouldn't be revered. It is the expression of the notes through instruments and voice which are the true treasure. 

I also came across a brainpickings blog called Music and the Mystery of Aliveness which had the header quote you see above.  Rather than attempting to explain its thoughtful content I'll encourage you to read it.

Congregations will be expressing themselves in music today as an aspect of worship, whether in person or virtually. It is essential to our praise because we are a music-making species, a reflection of God's image.Sing on!

https://www.brainpickings.org/2021/08/21/clemency-burton-hill-pablo-casals-albert-schweitzer-bach/