Theology in Music

A blog considering theology as illustrated by Western Art Music

Oratorio

  • Bread or flowers?

    In the 1860s Franz Liszt, best known as piano virtuoso but actually with a more restrained sense to himself when appropriate, composed an oratorio based on frescos at the Wartburg Castle in Eisenach depicting the life of St Elizabeth of Hungary. The Wartburg is an interesting location in its own right, and between the times Read more

  • Creation: out of chaos, out of nothing?

    Cycling across town yesterday I saw my first crocuses of the year. These together with the sunshine and other signs of early spring had me reflecting on the doctrine of Creation, and have led me a little predictably to this blog’s first repeat composer: I want to reflect a range of music, but Haydn’s oratorio Read more