Preface:
I listen to many podcasts during the week. One of the ones I greatly enjoy is “Stuff I Learned Yesterday” it is produced by Golden Spiral Media. It comes out sever times a week with several different hosts. Each short podcast shares a fun fact and an encouraging story. There is a Facebook group where the community around the podcast can share and encourage each other. Each Friday people in the community take part by sharing via audio or written feedback. One of my goals for this year is to share more using this blog and via audio. I even bought a good quality mic to aid in this. So the post you see below started out as the written notes for an audio feedback for SILY on Good Friday 2015. But it was hard to limit it, I felt the Spirit leading me to expand it into a blog post. So a came over to my favorite local coffee shop (The Blend & Co.) and allowed the Spirit to speak.
The Power of Music
Did you know one of Mozart’s powerful works, Requiem, had to be finished by others after his death?
Art is powerful! The best art provokes emotions, discussions, and action. Art in its’ truest form reflects the nature and person of God out into a cold and dark world, that is longing for the love and satisfaction only He can provide.
For me one of the most powerful forms of art is music. I’ve loved music and many different styles of music all my life. I deeply admire those who are gifted to play music and even more so those who are gifted to write music and lyrics. I admire them because my experiences with music.
I grew up singing in the children’s choir at church. Later I started playing in band. I played a Baritone/Euphonium from 6th grade through my junior year in college. In the year between college and moving back to Burlington, I sang in the choir of the church I grew up in. Thanks to these experiences and others I developed a deep love of music. I also learned that the Lord gave me the ability to match tones and anticipate lyrics for songs. What does this mean? It means, if you give me some on pitch I can sing right along in tune. It also means I can run lyrics software at church while singing along. But most of all it means I deeply appreciate those with perfect pitch and the gift playing an instrument well.
Music is powerful! It means so much to me. I find albums and eat them up and savor them. I have albums that I go to in times of stress, times of joy and more. Music is powerful and it helps me adjust my mind, spirit, and emotions. I have become more careful in what I take in and when. I also advocate for and support artists and bands who are producing quality music and lyrics.
This is a special day for me and for many people. Like most things music plays a big part in it. You see it is Good Friday, a day that is extremely good for those who have faith in Jesus, because it was extremely bad for Him. Today I celebrate His death on the cross for me, and the salvation He alone brings.
Two pieces of art in music help me celebrate this day. One was written in 1791 and one was written with in the last year. Mozart’s Requiem (more info found here) is the first. As, I said earlier, I’m not a great singer, but I did sing in the choir for a while. We sang this composition and it was challenging musically and hard because it is in Latin. Drake Flynt, the director explained the lyrics then the music became even more powerful to me. The composition conveys the suffering and death of Christ for us. One of the most moving pieces, for me, is “Lacrimosa.” Here are the lyrics translated into English.
Full of tears shall be that day
On which from ashes shall arise
The guilty man to be judged;
Therefore, O God, have mercy on him.
Gentle Lord Jesus,
grant them eternal rest. Amen. (translation found on Wikipedia.com)
The second piece is the album We Will Not Be Shaken by Bethel Music. While not as musically complex as Requiem, its’ power still lies in the message. The lyrics convey truth. The album reminds me of the freedom I have because of and through Christ. It also helps me to walk out that new life in Christ daily. Here are some of the lyrics from a song “No Longer Slaves” on that album:
I’m no longer a slave to sin
I am a child of God
You split the sea, so I could walk right through it
All my fears were drowned in perfect love
You rescued me, so I could stand and sing
I am a child of God
(Written by Jonathan David Helser & Melissa Helser ©2014 Bethel Music Publishing (ASCAP). All Rights Reserved)
So you see while they are vastly different both pieces they both provoke me to the emotion of gratitude, cause me to discuss them with people like you, and call me to the action of living a changed life.
So what have I learned? Our words, music, drawing, photos, dance, and acting are powerful. Regardless if we call ourselves artists or not, we are creating works of art for people to take in. So I’m learning to be purposeful in what I take in and even more purposeful in what I give out. But most of all to live out the passage from scripture, “whatever you do, do all to the Glory of God.” (I Cor. 10:31,The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.)
