Be not afraid!

Last year the St. Peter's Chorale (my daughter's school choir) performed Mendelssohn's Elijah. In preparation I bought a CD which I came to really love. Just like the oratorios of Handel, Bach, and Haydn it is a masterpiece of synthesis of the Biblical text and theological reflection.

When I woke at 4am this morning I put on my headphones and listened to the prelude to Elijah's confrontation of Ahab and Jezebel:

Hear ye, Israel, hear what the Lord speaketh:'Oh, hadst thou heeded my commandments'Who hath believed our report! To whom is the arm of the Lord revealed!
Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, and His Holy One to him oppressed by tyrants, thus saith the Lord:
'I am He that comforteth. Be not afraid, for I am thy God! I will strengthen thee! Say, who art thou, that thou art afraid of a man that shall die; and forgettest the Lord thy Maker, who hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the earth's foundations? Say, who art thou!'
'Be not afraid,' saith God the Lord,'be not afraid, thy help is near!' God, the Lord, thy God, saith unto thee:'Be not afraid!' Though thousands languish and fall beside thee, and tens of thousands around thee perish, yet still it shall not come nigh thee.

The full libretto is here.

J.S. Bach: soli deo gloria

One of the things that inspired the name of this blog was reading a beautiful series of articles about Johan Sebastian Bach in Christian History & Biography magazine. In one article, Calvin R. Stapert writes that Bach was

"arguably the greatest composer in the history of Western music and a man whose staunch Lutheran faith informed his life, his career, and his view of music. He believed that music was a "refreshment of spirit," as some of the title pages of his works stated. He believed that music was a powerful tool for the proclamation of the gospel, as his cantatas, Passions, organ chorales, and other compositions clearly show. And ultimately, he believed that music brought glory to God, as the initials SDG (Soli Deo Gloria, "To God alone be glory") at the end of most of his scores bear witness."

The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul. —J.S. Bach

Good holiday listening

I am looking foward to hearing a live performance of
St. John's Passion, composed by J.S. Bach, this coming friday.
This week I am on holidays with my family at Bribie Island (this is where the photo in my blogger profile was taken! The dog is the family pet, Elsie). I am enjoying
listening to a CD recording of the English translation. Bach had such a rich and profound theological and Biblical knowledge that he was able to illuminate in such an emotionally engaging way by setting it to music. The narrative of Jesus arrest, trial, and crucifixion alternates with chorus describing our response to these events. It begins:

Sire, Lord and Master, unto thee be praise
and glory evermore. Ah, by thy loving sacfific, thou, Lord, the only Son of God, are risen on high from deepest woe and bittter pain, triumphant over death.

A great testimony to human creativity and expression. But as Bach, signed the score SDG (soli deo gloria).

One of my favourite pieces of church music

A couple of years ago I was introduced to the wonderful world of classical church choral music. I bought a CD of St. John's Passion, composed by J.S. Bach (the inspiration for the name of this blog!). The rich interplay of theology, melody, Biblical text, harmony, intensity, creativity, and personal reflection embodies an incredible creative work. I was delighted my daughter has invited me to a forthcoming performance by the Brisbane Chamber Choir.
The work tells the story of Jesus’ capture, interrogation and the events leading up to his crucifixion and burial. The complete words are available here.

Appropriately, Good Friday (April 10) is the performance date.
St John’s Cathedral, Ann Street, Brisbane is the location.
Time is 7pm. Cost is FREE!