"On the First Day what was first made? Not Light. It was not Light. But Sound – God speaking."
"What at first is good, is not good, then good again."
I loved the section where Aile is playing the psaltery:
"And her tune, rising and falling, so much to heart..How it pierced and betrayed. No soul-fortress could bear its assault. No conceit of self could stay. They could weep. Was it memory? No wonder God and lovers come to us in music."
I LOVE in Tim Osner's writing how there are so many fascinating references. I will be engaged in the exciting story and then will come across an object/historical person/song/event I have to look up because I have NEVER heard about it. The references always relate beautifully to the story and have some incredible lesson to teach. It always feels like I am opening a gift.
Today - the wonderful gift was Saint Cecilia.
I learned about her influence on music. I never knew about all of the amazing music written with her in mind. Of all of the Saint Cecelia influenced songs I was exploring today - this was my favorite:
From Mahler's Symphony No. 4 (Text from Des Knaben Wunderhorn)
So many lines in this chapter resonated with me:
"Not to believe is belief itself."
"On the First Day what was first made? Not Light. It was not Light. But Sound – God speaking."
"What at first is good, is not good, then good again."
I loved the section where Aile is playing the psaltery:
"And her tune, rising and falling, so much to heart..How it pierced and betrayed. No soul-fortress could bear its assault. No conceit of self could stay. They could weep. Was it memory? No wonder God and lovers come to us in music."
I LOVE in Tim Osner's writing how there are so many fascinating references. I will be engaged in the exciting story and then will come across an object/historical person/song/event I have to look up because I have NEVER heard about it. The references always relate beautifully to the story and have some incredible lesson to teach. It always feels like I am opening a gift.
Today - the wonderful gift was Saint Cecilia.
I learned about her influence on music. I never knew about all of the amazing music written with her in mind. Of all of the Saint Cecelia influenced songs I was exploring today - this was my favorite:
From Mahler's Symphony No. 4 (Text from Des Knaben Wunderhorn)
Das himmlische Leben
*It's a child's version of heaven
"No music on earth
can compare with ours.
Cecilia with her relatives
are excellent court musicians!
The angelic voices
delight the senses!
So that everything for joy awakens."