Is Sacred Music a Way to Find God?

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Miserere (Allegri) is another of my favourites.

youtube.com/watch?v=x71jgMx0Mxc&feature=PlayList&p=78263183DBFDADE7&index=0&playnext=1

The comments from the many atheists and agnostics who responded to this Youtube video are interesting. While they repeat the refrain that art, architecture and music appreciation have nothing to do with religion, the description they give for this particular piece is “haunting”. In other words, it sticks in their minds. I know it does mine. Maybe I’m just a sucker for High C (Soprano) notes.
 
Charlemagne_II said:
Here are two moving versions of Webber’s Pie Jesu.

youtube.com/watch?v=OhOstwxcwWs

youtube.com/watch?v=Krs7PqhcZX8&feature=fvw
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Gosh, you know, Sarah Brightman may be a little strange (saw her concert a few years back and was a little weirded out and couldn’t stand her version of “O Mio Babbino Caro”) but with this kind of stuff, her voice was beautiful, especially back in the 80s. She just sounded so perfect in that Pie Jesu. In my opinion, she was the only “Christine”, too.
 
redhen said:
Miserere (Allegri) is another of my favourites.

youtube.com/watch?v=x71jgMx0Mxc&feature=PlayList&p=78263183DBFDADE7&index=0&playnext=1

The comments from the many atheists and agnostics who responded to this Youtube video are interesting. While they repeat the refrain that art, architecture and music appreciation have nothing to do with religion, the description they give for this particular piece is “haunting”. In other words, it sticks in their minds. I know it does mine. Maybe I’m just a sucker for High C (Soprano) notes.
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It is one of my favorites!!! I attended a Vespers at an Anglican Church a year after 9/11 because I wanted to hear the choir. The choir did this and Faure’s Requiem. They were magnificent and that soprano hit that high C perfectly each time. It brought me to tears. It just touches the soul.

It’s interesting that you mention that about agnostics and atheists. I’m obviously not either one, but I have a few family members who are, and when it comes to music they also have the same kind of reactions. I remember at my wedding, my agnostic uncle was actually extremely touched by the gregorian Latin chant and the Palestrina which we had the choir do for the mass parts. He said it touched his soul - haunted him.
 
nancy_dalrymple said:
She was OK but not as soft,as the one we were talking about. her voice was to loud and to direct I think Celtic woman are the very best. Have you viewed the one above your post? It is supurbe. Love of Christ Nancy Sarabande’s on You Tube!
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HI I’m sorry it was Charlmange’s You Tube version:eek::eek: Love of Christ Nancy
 
The first time I heard this part of Vivaldi’s sacred motet, I was blown away and had to learn it. The words are so beautiful too:

youtube.com/watch?v=eItTyiykdiI

“In this world there is no honest peace
free from bitterness. True, pure peace
lies in Thee, sweet Jesus.
Amidst punishment and torment
The soul is contented only when spotless love
alights on it like a bee.”
 
And how can we leave out the spiritual jubilance of Mozart’s sacred motet “Exsultate Jubilate”? I love Arleen Auger and Bernstein’s conducting. Listen to the second movement in the second link “Tu virginum corona”. It is pure, sublime bliss. (It’s before the “Alleluia” movement). You probably wouldn’t want to do this for mass, but as a sacred piece of music, it touches my soul.

youtube.com/watch?v=J_1_feNFX0Q

youtube.com/watch?v=d67jpC5YlA0&feature=related

Rejoice, be glad,
O you blessed souls,
Rejoice, be glad,
Singing sweet songs;
In response to your singing
Let the heavens sing forth with me.

Recitative:
The friendly day shines forth,
both clouds and storms have fled now;
for the righteous there has arisen an unexpected calm.
Dark night reigned everywhere [before];
you who feared till now,
and joyful for this lucky dawn
give garlands and lilies with full right hand.

You, o crown of virgins,
grant us peace,
console our feelings,
from which our hearts sigh.

Alleluja
 
Charlemagne_II said:
Two questions for atheists:
If there is no God, why is sacred music so uplifting? Why is it the most uplifting music in the world?
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Music is very subjective; of taste, there is no accounting.
If there is no God, what type of music would be most uplifting to atheists other than sacred music? :harp:
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Hmm? maybe Ritt Der Walküren youtube.com/watch?v=3mmpcdNNMos

Seriously though, there is much profane music that tugs at the heart strings.

I find Dvořák’s Goin’ Home both uplifting and soothing. youtube.com/watch?v=wEZp_vvZyKE&feature=related

I tried to find John Mcdermott’s version of Danny Boy, but have not had any luck so far. I wouldn’t call it uplifting, but it’s very emotional.

In lieu of John’s version, may I submit this one youtube.com/watch?v=OCbuRA_D3KU 😉
 
redhen

As an agnostic, if you do find sacred music uplifting (for example, do you like “Amazing Grace”?) how would you account for that? What would be the reason for the appeal of it if not the call to God?
 
Charlemagne_II said:
redhen

As an agnostic, if you do find sacred music uplifting (for example, do you like “Amazing Grace”?) how would you account for that? What would be the reason for the appeal of it if not the call to God?
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Like I said, it’s all a matter of taste, personal preference. Some people like Country/Western, some like Heavy Metal.

Anyways, I’m not a big fan of Amazing Grace. I tend to lump this in the category of Gospel music. The Latin chants/hymns have an otherworldly quality, due to the foreign language and ancient rhythms. I could say the same for some Buddhist Sutra chants. I like this version of the Great Compassion Mantra youtube.com/watch?v=FxUcN-nMngA
 
I just found the Salzburg version of Mozart’s Exsultate Jubilate. Here is the translation. It is so beautiful and matches so well with the music. You just want to exult and be jubilant when you hear these words and the music. I’m not a huge fan of Emma Kirkby. She leaves me cold with a lot of what she does because it all sounds the same with no depth, but some things I do like her doing though I can only take so much of her voice. Her coloratura is beautiful here.

youtube.com/watch?v=x31bOFmBUxY
  1. Aria:
Exsultate, jubilate,
o vos animae beatae,
exsultate, jubilate,
Summa Trinitas revelatur
et ubique adoratur,
date gloriam, date illi gloriam.
Summa Trias adoratur,
date illi gloriam.
  1. Aria:
Rejoice, resound with joy,
o you blessed souls,
rejoice, resound with joy,
the Great Trinity is revealed
and everywhere adored;
give glory, give It glory.
The Great Triad is adored, give It glory.
 
Listening to sacred Music always makes me feel closer to God, I also think that sacred Music had to be inspired by God to the people who composed it, cause it is so Beautiful!
 
NoWhereMan

Welcome to Catholic Answers.

Do you have a favorite hymn?
 
NoWhereMan said:
Listening to sacred Music always makes me feel closer to God, I also think that sacred Music had to be inspired by God to the people who composed it, cause it is so Beautiful!
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WOW NoWhereMan, you are a newbie, Welcome! I pray you have a wonderful and knowledgable time here. This is a real cool thread, and If you like music you will find alot of variations here. Love of Christ Nancy:)
 
Sarabande said:
Ha! Ha! Yes, my user name is actually taken from the dance in triple meter. I just always loved the word, so decided to use it when trying to come up with a name. My favorite sarabande is the Handel one with all the variations, although I enjoy other Sarabandes as well. Here is a sarabande that is actually set to baroque dance movement.

youtube.com/watch?v=GuhheFyXiaQ

And here is a reconstruction of a 1706 choreographed dance for the solo female. I know I would have had to be upper class to have enjoyed these kinds of dance lessons so that I could join in on the balls, but when I see these, I would have loved to have lived back then just to be able to experience it (minus the lack of modern medicine and dealing with infant mortality and fear of dying during childbirth. 😛 ) If I had the time, I’d take period dancing lessons because I’m an 18th c. reenactor and we sometimes have outside dances in the evenings by firelight after the battle events and all the “modern” people and things go away. I’d really love to learn a sarabande.

youtube.com/watch?v=nAnzbIOCjwo&feature=related

Anyway, back to your question:

I enjoy Stravinsky’s “Firebird Suite”, although I like it more when I get to see it choreographed with the ballet. I admit I’m not a big Stravinsky or Shostakovitch fan. I like their music, but not to the point where I go out and by recordings. My husband, on the other hand, loves them both. He has a number of cds with recordings of their works. He is actually working on some Shostakovitch’s keyboard works, which are nice, although our puppy could care less for him.
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Thanks for the links. I enjoyed watching the staely dancing of the sarabande. It’s so quaint (in the positive sense) that our young people just wouldn’t get it. The music of the Baroque period is so stately and refined. How interesting to participate in reinactments of the 18th century!

Although I enjoy Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite, I did not appreciate his Symphony of the Psalms. It sounded too brash for my ear. I’ll have to sample Shostakovitch. I’ve always enjoyed choral works having been a member of various choral ensembles. What do you think of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana?

anthea2.freeuk.com/carminaburana/
 
Carmina Burana?

I’m sorry to have to say that “Carmina Burana” is about the kind of music I would expect to hear in hell. No wonder it was so popular in Nazi Germany.
 
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