Friday, April 15, 2011

Music of Holy Week


Be Thou Welcome, King of Heaven
Bach composed this cantata for Palm Sunday. The first performance was in 1714.



J.S. Bach's Saint John Passion - The Suffering
video excerpt from Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ



Easter song by Keith Green


Jesus who?

For me, Easter is the most important day of the Christian calendar.

Without it Christmas would have little meaning. It would be reduced to a secular winter holiday, that for many it already is. At best it would be a note on a calendar that marks December 25th as a day to remember a man named Jesus. Some curious kid might ask, "Hey, Mom, who is this Jesus on my calendar?" Mom might say, "Uh, I don't remember. Look him up." Upon researching one might find that Jesus was considered to be a nice guy, a little different but very nice. Typically, some people liked him and others did not. What made him remembered was that he offered a new attitude towards life, how to live and how to treat all people. He wanted everyone to feel closer to God. He might have been a little delusional - he did offer eternal life. These ideas intrigued many, but the government thought that he was dangerous and that he might want to usurp their power; after all he said that he was the Son of God. Even some religious people felt threatened by his authority. He was crucified and that was that.

But for those of us that believe in the man that called himself the Christ, God in the personage as his own son. His story did not end with his crucifixion, for Easter represents the promise. The promise of eternal life in a world that is beyond our imagination, so incredibly wonderful and beautiful - a place where life is fair, where everyone respects others and treats them accordingly; a place where all is well, no suffering, a perfect place where God's love will be the atmosphere that we live in.

To some extent I can experience Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday. We all have felt sorrow, loss, regrets, betrayal, pain, unfairness. But Easter is beyond my grasp of truly understanding. With the exception of Christ, I do not know of anyone that has risen from the dead. I am glad that I do not have to take a test explaining it. All I have to do is believe, and believe I do.

Neither the best sermon nor the most glorious music can fully express the wonder, the grandeur, the holiness of the Easter experience and promise. Perhaps Handel's Hallelujah Chorus comes the closest to giving me the feeling that I want to have on Easter morning, on every morning - that our God, our Messiah can over come all, that our God is forever and ever.

A Happy Easter to you.


Andre Rieu singers and orchestra with the Harlem Gospel Choir -
performed in the Radio City Music Hall


from post of March 2010








picture credit:
http://anthonydoes.wordpress.com/
posted by Anthony & Sonja Does

19 comments:

  1. thanks Mya for this post...hope your weekend is the best.

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  2. Well said!!! I agree, without Easter, Christmas wouldn't mean a thing. I love the music you chose! One of my favorite Cantatas that I have ever sung is the Easter Cantata by Haydn - the Last 7 Words of Christ. It is spectacular. It is so moving and wonderful. Do you know you are one of the few people who actually know that the Messiah was written for Easter, not Christmas? Most people think it was for Christmas. They should listen to the words and they would clearly know it is an Easter piece. I hope you are having a good day!!!!

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  3. Wonderful devotional thoughts to start the Easter week! I've always loved the Easter Song and enjoyed hearing it this morning on your blog? One of my favorite Easter songs is Was It A Morning Like This?

    He is Risen!

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  4. That was beautiful Mya. The promise was fulfilled on Easter morning.

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  5. Ahh if only my connection in France was a bit faster and I could play these :-( Diane

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  6. Wonderful post! I can't wait to come back and listen some more but I've got to shut down, as storms are brewing outside! Blessings, Nan

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  7. Wonderfully Insightful. From the heart... and Very well written. Festival greetings Mya.

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  8. Thank-you for this devotional for Easter,thank-you.
    Blessings,
    Ginger

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  9. Outstanding videos. I especially like Andre Rieu. He is one of my favorites. I agree. Easter is most important.
    Thank you for sharing.
    Blessings,
    Charlotte

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  10. Beautifully expressed and inspiring. It was so nice to come home to visit you and read this. Thank you sweet friend. (())

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  11. Thankyou for an inspiring post and some beautiful music Mya. Happy Easter.

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  12. Happy Easter Mya! Thank you for your inspirational thoughts. Wonderful post! :)

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  13. HI Mya..I like what you wrote about Easter. I grew up Jewish and I find it so interesting that Passover coicides with Easter. Easter makes so much sense to me now. Hope you have a wonderful Easter.

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  14. Amen!

    God bless you Mya and have a wonderful Easter Sunday

    ~Ron

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  15. Wonderful music and a lovely post! I hope you're having a peaceful weekend too. Happy Easter to you and your family. ;-)

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  16. Estupendos videos de Semana Santa, buen trabajo todo lo que presentas, gracias.

    Saludos.

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  17. Hi my fabulous friend,,,, ^^
    Have nice weekend !
    cheers ;)

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  18. Does anyone know where Mya is? Haven't heard from her since this post.

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