mtcodex

I have a few things to say this Saturday and I think I’ll work in reverse chronological order. First off, for James. Fujitsu Siemens are the devil. With that out of the way lets move on to some other things. I’ve been a bit depressed lately. For one thing the future Mrs Turner went home over a week ago. I’ve also been pondering my faith lately and the correspondence between the reality of God and the results in the life of a ‘true believer’.

I still find the existence of God an inescapable reality, but the Bible says that Christians are in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit. Fair enough, but then I have issues with phrases such as I’ve heard lately as “prove we’re in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit”. Think about it, if you have God inside you, how could it be possible to even pretend you don’t? More specifically, speaking of the ministry of the Holy Spirit as it’s described in the Bible – to bear witness to the Truth and Jesus. As a Christian how could my mind be so far away from Jesus and the things which would please him?

As I’m sure anyone that knows me will attest to, I don’t have a lot of time for mysticism or blind faith. Yes, I know faith is trusting in what you can’t see, but it’s not trusting in what you don’t know! Lately I’ve been enjoying modern french composers. Yes, of course I still think J.S. Bach is the greatest composer to have lived but he’s not the only composer. In particular I’ve been listening to Duruflé’s organ works. At first I thought, “it’s okay” but now I’m totally drawn to it. In some ways, it’s like Bach, in as much as when you listen to it unless you’re paying close attention you get an impression. But whereas counterpoint turns out as an expression of interwoven melodies this is designed more from the outside to leave an impression. Lots more registrations are used, true of French organ music in general. But with so much choice it takes discipline to write something worthy. That’s what’s so great about Bach’s organ music. He had serious constraints on him – the number of stops that could play at one time (there was a limit to the air they could generate for the pipes), no pistons for changing multiple stops at a time. It was with those constraints that he composed some phenomenal music. But back to Duruflé, in a way it’s less mathematical and more, dare I say it, colourful. There is still however, lots to draw you in. Lots that demands repeated listening. Themes and notes that you don’t pick up on until you’re listening for them.

So, imagine the great aspects of both these styles – the beauty, intrigue and complexity of Counterpoint, the expression and variety of Expressionism, and then listen to Fugue sur le nom d’Alain. Lets put it this way. I could hum you the theme, but I could not for the life of me remember how the music as a whole goes. It’s less like a mirror and more like kaleidoscope. Like all great music, there are phrases where I am obliged to feel uplifted and transported.

Maybe it’s just me, but I often wonder which would be worse. To lose your sight or your hearing. In some ways I feel sight would be more difficult in terms of getting by. I can’t imagine how one does the shopping if you can’t see, for example. But your hearing. To hear the timbre of a loved one saying ‘I love you’, to be transported by a work of music. I know some people feel that way for paintings, but it’s music for me. Paintings are simply there, once and for all. Music is created freshly every time, it resonates with your being. You can’t switch it off, you can’t close your eyes, it’s inside you exciting every emotion – joy, sadness, awe, happiness, love, fear and so on. Music is alive.

I think it’s interesting that we are told there will be music in Heaven, but not paintings, poetry or sculptures (or art installations!). And I’m sure that Heaven’s high arches reflect the richest echos and most transcendental reverberation as the praise to God melds into the purest and most beautiful outwards expression of worship.

Great and marvelous are Your works,
Lord God Almighty!
Just and true are Your ways,
O King of the saints!
Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy.
For all nations shall come and worship before You,
For Your judgments have been manifested.