Religious and Non-Religious: Favorite piece (if you have one) or religious music?

[nemo137]

I remember reading about Dr. Dawkins' fondness for the St. Matthew Passion, and even though I'm not sure I can call myself a Christian anymore, I'm sitting here listen to Faure's Requiem, which is one of my favorite artistic accomplishments of all time.

I'm not putting this out here as a "art justifies religion" kind of thing, but looking for suggestions on what to listen to next, and to see if anyone has stories, or memories of performances, or anything of that nature.

[PADemD]

1. Non-Classical Favorites

"Lullaby for Grownups" from Chuck Wild's "Liquid Mind III Balance"
"Feather on the Breath of God" by Erin Jacobsen
"Welcome to Earthaven" by Laurel Emryss

[nemo137]

2. I'm not familar with any of those.

Granted, my background's basically classical. I'll see if any of those have made it onto Youtube or the like. Thank you.

[PADemD]

3. They would probably be classified as "New Age"

[momster]

4. Amazing Grace

Trite, I know...*everybody* likes that one. But it's one of the few human works that can bring me to any kind of understanding as to why so many people yearn desperately for religious truth.

[nemo137]

8. There are some killer settings of it.

The songs that does that for me, though, is "Give Me Jesus." Partially it's because that's the song my choir always sang at the funerals of former members, and partially because of the pure yearning in the text.

[trotsky]

21. Totally opposite here.

I can't stand that song, hated it even as a believer. And now as a non-believer I study the lyrics and I think the song really conveys an anti-human message. So I like it even less.

[billiefan2000]

37. amazing grace is a good song as is

He's Alive by Don Francisco


http://youtube.com/watch?v=VbSnk1R31vg


Charlotte Church - Amazing Grace


http://youtube.com/watch?v=jGV7aD5tPkc

[edhopper]

5. "Jesus is just alright with me."

By the Doobie Brothers.
And especially "Presence of the Lord"
by Blind Faith.

[nemo137]

9. I'll be sure to look those two up.

Thank you.

[dmallind]

6. St Matthew Passion by Bach for me too - and I'm not a believer

Actually even I have to admit that some of the greatest contributions to art were religious in nature - and that's many of the arts. The fallacy of course comes in when we assume that works just as great would not (and indeed have not) have been made without any religious influence. But certainly many specific ones, like the Masses of Bach and Bruckner as well as Michaelangelo's Pieta or Raphael's murals in the Vatican, would have been lost without it.

I like the St John passion too, but the Matthew seems to have more "spirit".

It's not a fashionable admission amongst cognoscenti either but as merely an interested layman I'm a big fan of Beethoven's Missa Solemnis too. The reasons why it is generally considered not of the highest level are beyond my ability to understand, although I'm sure they are very valid to the experts.

[nemo137]

7. I've never listened to the Missa Solemnis.

I'd add to your list of religious visual arts the sculpture of Donatello, especially his Jeremiah. Actually, I'd say most art based on Jeremiah from the 15th and 16th Century probably qualifies. I'm thinking of Tomas Luis de Victoria's setting of the O Vos Omnes from Lamentations here.

[dmallind]

Plenty more but yes that's a good one too!

Heck given the massive influence of the church as a patron of the arts for centuries it's probably harder for a fan of mostly 15th-19th century art like me to come up with great works that wreen't in some way influenced by religion - if not outright commissioned and paid for by it in many cases.

You should listen to the Missa Solemnis though if you enjoy the big sung masses - it's pretty much what you'd expect given a Beethoven treatment of a sung Latin mass. Lots of passion and a bit on the dark side, with very full orchestration compared to the traditional rather sparse arrangements. Again it's not a favorite of many of the experts but it's a very engaging and powerful piece for the interested amateur. Has a lot more in common with Mozart's Requiem than the Bach Passions as you'd imagine.

And of course I should not forget to add that Requiem as a must-have to the "religious music" list!

[nemo137]

11. I'm actually listening to it now.

I was also wondering what your take would be on someone like Vaughn Williams, who was apparently a "cheerful agnostic" who composed things like "For all the Saints" and "A Pilgrims Progress." Religious music, music that used religion as a springboard, or something else entirely?

[dmallind]

12. Must confess not a major VW fan to date but will give them a listen and report back

Not that I'm technically informed enough to have a particularly valid musicological opinion, but hey. It's certain of course that many less than religious people have created works of art dealing with religion. I would imagine it's just like a writer who uses biblical allegory and imagery in a secular work. The influence of religion is obviously much bigger than religion itself, and I'm far from immune to it myself.

Funnily enough one of my favorite works of modern literature is pretty much a retelling of the story of King David, done with characteristic irreverence but still a deep feeling for faith by Joseph Heller. It's called "God Knows" and well worth a read regardless of your religious position.

[nemo137]

13. Might be worth a look.

I wasn't looking for a serious musicological opinion, just any thoughts you'd had if you'd heard them. I think I'm going to end up having to tackle Pilgrim's Progress (Bunyan's book) either this semester or next, so the opera's been a bit on my mind.

[dmallind]

10. delete dupe

[cosmik debris]

14. Catholic Girls by Frank Zappa. n/t

[nemo137]

15. I would have never been able to guess from your avatar.

Please forgive the sarcasm, 10 hours straight writing about Luther's 3 solas does bad things to a young history student's brain.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

16. It's hard to name one--I've been singing in choirs since I was eight

But as a body of work, I love the English choral music of the 16th and 17th centuries, composers like Byrd, Tallis, Purcell, and Gibbons. Examples include Byrd's "Laetentur Caeli" and "Haec Dies," Tallis' "Spem in Allium" and "O Nata Lux de Lumine," Purcell's "Te Deum," and Gibbons' "O Clap Your Hands."

The English choral composers of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries are worth knowing, too: Bairstow's "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence," Stanford's "Beati Quorum Via Integra Est," Elgar's "Dream of Gerontius," Harris, "Bring Us O Lord God," Britten, "Hymn to the Virgin," and Howells "Like as a Hart."

One of the nicest things about singing at an Episcopal cathedral is that all these anthems are part of our repertoire. :7

[nemo137]

17. I've been singing in choirs since about that age, too.

"Beati Quorum Via" is also an old favorite of mine.

[pingzing58]

18. Te Deum, St. John's Choir Elora, "Faire is the Heaven."

The lyrics to the Te Deum have been around since the late fourth century. Feel good music, Handle's "Messiah," any time of the year. Feeling sad, "Pie Jesu," Andrew Lloyd Weber - 1985 earthquake in Mexico City hundred died but some of my sisters students were killed when their classroom collapsed on them. The Mexican T.V. station created a montage at the end of the day of people injured and others attempting rescues to the music of the pie jesu. It was powerful.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

19. One of my former choir directors on Weber's "Pie Jesu":

"Anyone can experience a moment of genius."

[More Than A Feeling]

20. Iris Dement's treatment of "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms"

Twila Paris' "How Beautiful", or Amy Grant's "Be still my soul"

Guess I'm not as classy as Dr. Dawkins, or the rest of you. :shrug:

[Uncle Sinister]

22. This might sound silly and low-brow, but "Jesus Christ, Superstar" still rocks me.

30 years after I first saw JC, and it has never lost it's appeal. In my opinion, one of the most spiritual pieces of popular music ever written.

[varkam]

23. Ave Maria

The Hans Schubert version, not the Beethoven one.

[rug]

24. Panis Angelicus

http://youtube.com/watch?v=nzTjY79nGRE&feature=related

Have a listen.

[nemo137]

30. thanks!

That was beautiful.

[Dorian Gray]

25. Handel's Messiah

It just gets me in the mood for Christmas time!

[Random_Australian]

26. The Hallelujah Chorus is great.

Especially that bit about "the kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our lord" - it's a great piece of music.

Since it is probably of interest to people in R/T, I'm an atheist by the way.

Ooooh, "Jesu, Joy of Man('s Desiring)" is also very nice.

[TechBear_Seattle]

27. Fauré's Requiem

I'm partial to the Libera Me section and the dramatic Dies Irae.

[nemo137]

29. I'm a big fan of that one myself.

Although I'm more partial to the Sanctus.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

28. Carmina Burana.

Especially Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi, the opening bit.

[knitter4democracy]

31. "Jesu, Son of Man's Desiring," Handel's "Messiah," and some Orthodox hymns

Eastern Orthodox Easter liturgy is the prettiest for music of the entire year. Then again, it is the highlight of the Orthodox year, so that would explain it. :) "The angel cried" is my personal favorite. There's a Russian version that is a true joy to sing. I look forward to it every year.

[Bad Thoughts]

32. Bill Monroe, "You're drifting away"

Let me say first this is a great question.

It seems that you are more oriented toward classical music. Personally, I'm not a big fan of choral music; not being Christian makes it difficult to identify with the texts. However, I love organ music, particularly the compositions of Messiaen and Eben.

But I would recommend a few eclectic choice. There's lots of great stuff on Kronos Quartet's Night Prayers, which features the ensemble performing with various vocal groups from around the globe. The Abuyudayah marry African church harmonies with Jewish texts.

However, something unusual that really moves me, is Bill Monroe's "You're drifting away," as performed by the Nashville Bluegrass Band. It's definitely a revival number, very direct, very affecting.

I hope you find some interesting stuff in this query.

[nemo137]

33. There's a lot of great bluegrass and roots religious music.

The next time I talk to my friend with the bluegrass collection, I'll see about getting a listen of that track you mentioned. Thank you.

[RebelOne]

34. Spirit In The Sky, by Norman Greenbaum.

I'm an atheist, but I just love that song.

[plantwomyn]

35. This little light of mine.

nt

[SidDithers]

36. Oh Happy Day - Edwin Hawkins...

People Get Ready - Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions.

Sid