Sorry I've been quiet for the last couple of days. I can't emphasize enough how my recent theological epiphany has caused me to re-evaluate my outlook on basically everything. I'll probably have more to say about that later.
Suddenly familiar phrases have new meanings. The Beatles' "Let it Be" has always been one of my favorite, cherished songs...a real comfort in times of stress and doubt. But I have always interpreted "let it be" to mean, "leave it alone" -- trust that God will take care of it. And I still think that's valid, but I see now that it can also just as easily mean, "allow it to be." Imagine what you want, and simply let it be.
arise, shine, for your light has come
About Me
- Andy
- City of Roses, Cascadia, United States
- Meditations on life and scripture, based on the daily lectionary of the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.
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8 comments:
*grin* Interesting timing on this... I was just giving advice to a friend this morning who has been perpetually deaing with bouts of depression - it's difficult to find a way out of depression once you are in it, and something I've always found helpful is to meditate and let go of the worry - rather than try and seek out a specific direction, just put aside the stress/worry/depression and let it go for a while.
My original inspiration for this method came from hearing "Let It Be" back in high school - my interpretation of "let it be" was as you phrased it, "allow it to be". Yes, it's there, but take a moment or two and don't try to fix it or solve the problem, allow it to be what it is - just put it off to the side and concentrate on yourself for a bit. (Consider it a non-religious person's form of prayer.) Sometimes the best way to find an answer is to take a break, and come back to it with fresh eyes and a refreshed mind.
You're listening to Let It Be? I listened last night to (among other things) People Get Ready, Many Rivers to Cross, and By My Side.
BTW, do you know as much about art songs as about opera? I've been listening to Elgar's Sea Pictures, and now I'm ready to dive into Delius, Warlock, and more. Any recommendations about what I should seek/avoid?
I know a bit about art song, but, to be honest, the song repertoire never captured my passion the way opera did. I wasn't really fantasizing about Carnegie Hall like I was about doing Amfortas at Bayreuth, you know? I really only know the art-song hit parade: Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Mahler, Richard Strauss, Duparc, Faure, etc. British song? Tends to be a little limpdick for me. But, having said that, Holst wrote some cool songs, and of course there are the classics by Finzi, Butterworth and Vaughn Williams. Would I recommend anything to listen to? Hrmmm...Dmitri Hvorostovsky singing Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov; Andreas Schmidt singing anything. And, I know, it's like My First Song Recital, but Bryn Terfel's recording of the Songs of Travel is just incredible.
Andy, are you taking testosterone? LOL. Using the word limpdick, and employing turgidity as a criterion of excellence in music composition, is so like a sports commentator's way of making sense of the world, and I respect that!!! It reminds me of those Man Laws but what the world needs more of are Man Laws on important topics so I have a great idea for your blog! Add a series - or Q&A - about what's hot and what's not in classical music and opera. Your first Man Law should be, "British art songs are limpdick!" Fun!
No...not taking any artificial hormones. I just agree with Anna Russell that art song tends to be for singers with more "artistry" than voice. British song, in particular. Sorry if that offends anyone. But I would rather hear "Nicht mehr zu dir zu gehen" or "Heimliche Aufforderung" than "The Lands in their Hundreds" any day.
*lads*, not lands...under influence of much vodka at present...sue me
can we talk about music i can relate to?
this stuff bores me. :)
and i always though coldplay was limpdick.
I cherish "Let it Be" because it is the accurate Aramaic translation of "Amen". We often forget what "Amen" means when we sing it sevenfold or stamp it at the end of a prayer, but that is what it means. It's like saying to God "That's what I think of it all, but I'm just Your infinitesimal creation- don't mind me. Do what You've got to do. You know what's best. So be it. Let it be."
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