Comments for The Sound of Faith at http://www.thecatholicthing.org , comment 1 to 7 out of 7 comments http://www.thecatholicthing.org Tue, 21 May 2013 15:00:53 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/the-sound-of-faith.html#comment-10238 Prof. Esolen: The Ralph Vaughan Williams' piece has been one of my favorites for years. Another piece that I found spiritually moving is Gorecki's Symphony No. 3. That it was an "international hit" in the 1980s was cause for hope. But it is an enduring piece. I recommend it to you. Yes, an extraordinary piece Mr. Reilly. I am recommending it to the music director at my parish. - Graham Combs Sun, 04 Mar 2012 16:07:26 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/the-sound-of-faith.html#comment-10234 Bravo! I love Pope Benedict's ode to the beauty of Christ. It calls to mind one of the most poignant lyrics I have ever heard in song, from the hymn 'Jesus Christ The Apple Tree' - "His beauty doth all things excel..." I commend to all music lovers the sublime setting to music by Eliz. Poston - and recoomend the recording by The Theatre of voices, or the you-tube of Choir of King's College, Cambridge. - Chris in Maryland Sun, 04 Mar 2012 08:53:32 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/the-sound-of-faith.html#comment-10230 Was it St Augustine who said, "Singing is praying twice"? - Randall Peaslee Sat, 03 Mar 2012 21:16:31 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/the-sound-of-faith.html#comment-10228 On Friday, I went to Stations of the Cross set to Pergolesi's Stabat Mater. This was in an old Polish church in Chicago, St. John Cantius, which had fallen into disrepair during the 20th century. The Canons Regular of St. John Cantius are working on what they call "Restoration of the Sacred." I've been delving deeper into the work of Olivier Messiaen. Although it is quite modern, Messiaen's music conveys a powerful sense of the glory and transcendence of the Faith, as well as of the beauty of the natural world. There's a performance of his Oiseaux Exotiques conducted by Pierre Boulez you can search for on YouTube. - Patrick K Sat, 03 Mar 2012 18:13:07 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/the-sound-of-faith.html#comment-10226 I just recently stumbled upon Ralph Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis (Tallis' Third Mode Melody). I think that if I can set a series of sacred paintings to this music, my students will learn more about the faith than they have in all the lectures they've heard from us all year long ... - Tony Esolen Sat, 03 Mar 2012 06:16:15 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/the-sound-of-faith.html#comment-10224 Well done, Mr. Reilly. In addition to the composers you listed, I also would add Signore Verdi, whose composed many operas that are spiritually uplifting including my favorite, La Forza del Destino. Listen to Pace, Pace mio dio, in which Leonora prays that she may find peace in death. It is a much beloved aria among the many Verdi composed made famous by such great sopranos s as Callas, Price and Tebaldi, and sums up the yearning we all share for peace. Verdi's requiem rivals Mozart's masterpiece as well in sublime beauty. And although Mozart's The Magic Flute has many elements of freemasonry the vocals by the three priests and Sarastro are stirring. Lastly, Beethoven's 9th Symphony and the final Ode to Joy movement that longs for the brotherhood of all is incomparable and considered by many to be the greatest music every written. My favorite stanza: Be embraced, millions! This kiss for the whole world! Brothers, above the starry canopy Must a loving Father dwell. Do you bow down, millions? Do you sense the Creator, world? Seek Him beyond the starry canopy! Beyond the stars must He dwell. One can only imagine the music that will be sung and heard in heaven. - Grump Sat, 03 Mar 2012 04:05:23 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/the-sound-of-faith.html#comment-10222 Terrific food for thought. - Carol O. Sat, 03 Mar 2012 02:09:25 +0100