Music for Lent

On Sunday evening, I spoke at an event which was part of Marshalswick, St Albans, Churches Together Lent series exploring the arts.  My task was 'Lent through the eyes of musicians'. Initially I was excited by the prospect, but when I came to realise that, historically, instrumental music is forbidden in many church traditions during Lent, it became more of a challenge. Intentionally I didn't encroach on Holy Week as this would have presented the opposite challenge of being spoiled by choice.

So, instead of limiting myself strictly to music composed for Lent, I treated the evening a bit more imaginatively and considered music that I associate with Lent. That is, with the exception of one piece with which I began.

My play-list for the evening was:

Allegri, Miserere

Mozart, Marriage of Figaro

John Cage, 4'33"

Arvo Pärt, Festina Lente

Stravinsky, Kyrie from Mass for chorus and wind instruments

Bach, Kyrie from B minor Mass

With each of these pieces I made some theological connections, so with the Allegri, Miserere, I explored penitence, the Marriage of Figaro, forgiveness, John Cage, the desert, Arvo Pärt, less is more, and the Stravinsky and Bach, mercy.

I played the pieces either in their entirety or as substantial extracts, including the Cage, which consists of silence, or rather creates the space to listen to silence, which is found to be surprisingly noisy! And whether or not people appreciated the music, or my reflections, they certainly appreciated my Bose Sound dock, through which I play my iPod. Frequently I encounter skepticism that that this small device will deliver, and always it does, very loudly and with amazing sound quality!