Service music

Prima la musica, poi le parole, whose wonderful blog I read and enjoy daily, and who has kindly linked to me, has provided extensive information about the music at the Blessing ceremony of Charles and Camilla.

I was quite taken with the Grentchaninov piece that was sung by the wonderful Ekaterina Semenchuk. Apparently I've seen her at the Met in War and Peace. If you look at the size of the cast list, you might understand why I didn't remember, but I really want to hear her again. I was quite moved by her singing in the blessing service.

All of the music for the service was well-chosen, something for which I'm particularly grateful. As a professional church musician for over 25 years, I'm particularly sensitive to this and do continually worry about it. A pastor friend of mine referred to music as the pillow on which the diamond of the word sits. My analogy would be slightly different. I view music as the light that shines on the diamond. It further illuminates the word and lets you see it in different ways.

I don't think of sacred music as entertainment, although much of it can be entertaining. I think good sacred music should cause the listener to reflect, to meditate and to consider. The text is important, but so is the inspiration behind the music. I also think, that like a good sermon, sacred music should challenge and disturb. Sometimes it is not easy, but neither are the questions that faith and religion pose. Above all, it should cause us to think.

And that ends our sermon for today.