"If music be the food of love, play on." These words, penned by the legendary playwright William Shakespeare, (Twelfth Night ACT I SCENE I) capture the essence of the transformative power of music. In a straightforward sense, the quote suggests that music can nourish and sustain our love, like food sustains our physical well-being. It speaks to the profound impact music can have on our emotions and relationships.
And music in various guises has been something I have been
bumping into a lot in this past week. Of course, it is the time for music, when
there is so much of it around. Whether that is carols sung or heard, or Noddy Holder
belting out as he does every Christmass.
And we will have our favourites both sacred and secular,
some of which will evoke powerful memories of sometimes extreme emotion, such
is the power of music. ‘This was my dad’s
favourite song.’
And this is the one time of the year when it is not very hard
to get people to come to Church, Carol Services up and down the country are nearly
always very well attended.
Let me highlight what music I have been engaging with.
‘Into my arms’ – Nick Cave https://youtu.be/LnHoqHscTKE?si=4iBcjYZoTPQzR3zH
Then my second song is from a Facebook post about the French entry for the Eurovision Song Contest.
https://youtu.be/4551zHeumdc?si=SHsAnkZnWcQTCkXT
Without understanding the words this song spoke deep into my
soul as a beautiful melody and I posted this comment. Gordon
Banks Now this is what we
humans should be doing - not dropping bombs on people...more music, more art,
more love and more recognizing that 'I am because we are!' So far, that comment has received nearly 100
likes and several comments in agreement. In response to one of those comments I
replied with a further reflection, ‘indeed - with the Eifel Tower as a
backdrop I couldn't help but see it with Hitler - and other dictators we have
with us now. Scary times but let the music and the dance play on bringing hope
and joy...’
Several other comments also speak about the power of the
music sung by young people in such an iconic setting.
Then my third piece of music is really a collection as last night (Saturday) some friends took myself and Jane out to Warwick to see Green Matthews, a very talented husband and wife team who play and sing mainly songs of the folk genre accompanied by historical instruments, shawms and the like. The evening was a ‘Midwinter Revels’ and we were wonderfully entertained with story and songs from across the world and from down the ages from the 13th century onwards.
And we learned that "While shepherds watched their flocks" is a traditional Christmas carol describing the Annunciation to the Shepherds,
with words attributed to Irish hymnist, lyricist and England's Poet Laureate
Nahum Tate.
It was the only Christmas hymn authorised to be sung by the Anglican Church; before 1700 only the Psalms of David were permitted to be sung. The carol is sung to a wide variety of tunes, the two most common ones being Winchester Old in the United Kingdom and a variation on a Handel aria arranged by Lowell Mason in the United States. It is the fact that it was the only one allowed and that gave rise to various tunes throughout the country to try and bring some variety into singing it repeatedly, year on year.
Yet, note that music can also be divisive and used abusively and with a
strong political motive.
I have also been listening to several podcasts this week,
some political analysts trying to make sense of our crazy world at the moment
that appears to be going through convulsions as the tectonic plates of culture
shift and morph and move around us. These
are dark and dangerous times, full of uncertainty.
However, when I see 100 people concur with my comment about
music making, along with the other comments, when I see stories of people out
in all weathers picking up litter. When I hear stories of people paying for someone’s
groceries because an elderly person had forgotten their purse, then I am
cheered and I am hopeful.
Of course, I am not daft and know that there are some very nasty
people around, and some of them are in charge of countries! However, I want to
say amid all that is happening around us today let us sing, and dance, let us
make and celebrate art in all its form. Let our creative spirit bubble up and
be enjoyed. If we get it right AI can
help here, but we need a massive paradigm shift in our thinking. Not everyone
will find work as we have traditionally known it, and they should be provided
for, and they should be encouraged to be creative in other ways.
In the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewes and in The Magician’s Nephew, songs and singing symbolize the creative force that forges new life out of nothing. When Narnia is founded, Aslan creates life by singing: his wordless, beautiful song summons the stars, the first sunrise, the sprouting of grasses and trees, and even the appearance of animals. While Digory, Polly, the Cabby, and even Strawberry the horse respond with joy to Aslan’s song, others—like frightened Uncle Andrew and the hateful Witch—are repelled by it, suggesting that the attitude of a person’s heart conditions their response to the beauty of creation.
And should you be in need of a ‘heart transplant’ here is where to go.
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you;
I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36.26
And here I am reminded of the Grinch who had his heart
warmed and another Christmass song by Wizard, ‘I wish it could be Christmas
every day. ‘If Christmass helps to warm people’s hearts and helps them seek
love, caring and forgiveness, then I say yes, bring it on, let it be Christmass
every day. And the wonder is that it can be. However, like John the Baptist, whom we are
invited to reflect upon on this Third Sunday in Advent, it is down to you and to
me to point to Jesus as the one who is able to offer a heart transformation and
to enable people to hear the song of creation in all its beauty and wonder. As we say, ‘O
hush the noise, ye men of strife, and hear the angels sing.’
https://youtu.be/EfwCm7TsqwE?si=AFkErlRkQ0rANhUG
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