Theology in Music

A blog considering theology as illustrated by Western Art Music

plainchant

  • Fugue for the Mother

    My post in the week of Mothering Sunday takes as a starting point the mother of Christ: it is a work for organ, but closely associated with the Magnificat, the song of Mary. Bach’s BWV 733 is sometimes called a chorale prelude and sometimes a fugue on the Magnificat. The German text, Meine Seele erhebt… Read more

  • Soon I will be

    Beginning on 17 December the church by tradition begins to chant the Great Advent Antiphons, known as the O Antiphons, at the beginning and end of the Magnificat in liturgical offices using Gregorian plainchant. There are such antiphons for each liturgical feast, season and Sunday of the year. In the seven days from the 17th… Read more

  • The Mystery of Faith in Sound

    In 2003 the French and Lebanese organist and composer Naji Hakim wrote, to a commission of Leo Abbott of Boston, a former student of his, a piece in memoriam Theodore Marier, noted teacher and advocate for Gregorian plainchant. That inspiration, together with Hakim’s extensive practice as a liturgical improviser, leads to no surprise that the… Read more

  • Alleluia: we see a star

    If last week’s initial instalment of this blog focussed on a famous chorus from a Baroque oratorio, it may be taken as a statement of intent as to the diversity of musics expected to be discussed here that this second entry concerns a solo work by a contemporary composer. Former BBC Young Composer Kristina Arakelyan’s… Read more