Music to sooth the savage beast.....

There are many religious sound worlds to be explored, each with a particular language and defining, emotional context--some intensely spiritual. For example, there is the Spanish cathedral culture, with clerics dedicated to the liturgical worship of our Lord, their apostolate the musical celebration of Beauty 'ever ancient, ever new'. Names such as Cabezon, Victoria (from the same town as St. Teresa), Lobo and Guerrero of Sevilla, Romero.... The mail today just brought me a mass Morales composed for the cathedral in Toledo. It is a world created for the acoustics of the Spanish soul.

There are the three of the five masses Palestrina composed for a chapel in Mantua to celebrate the Blessed Virgin Mary (part of the musical legacy of the St. Barbara Chapel), As the painters adapted their palettes and spatial concepts to the vast enclosures of consecrated space, so musicians tailored their litanies and masses to the unique sound chambers of the great basilicas of Europe and the New World. It is worship that requires the echoes and diffused light of other eras.

There is the German baroque world culminating in Bach and the gorgeous cantatas of the Christmas Oratorio and in the Passions. Where else is the uniqueness of French piety revealed to the world, but in the Requiem, for example, of the immortal Jean Gilles?

There are musical worlds to be explored. And composer saints. As a pope once remarked, when Fra Angelico's beatification was being questioned: his painting was the required miracle.

After all, prayer is a state of mind. And what evokes the awe and pained delight that is a proper response to the Good and Beauty Itself than the beautiful? What did Teresa hear when she danced with her nuns on the Feast of the Presentation? It surely belonged to Victoria's sound world. Music and all the arts are proof of the Spirit's presence, guiding our hands and voices. Art is prayer. We participate in the spirituality of the masters when we open ourselves to their gift of perception.

What richness and reassurance our cultural heritage offers us, the echoes that join us to the continuity of our Christian awareness!

Hi,I'm Vtah,and I have a question-currently I'm not a catholic,but I'm considering becoming Catholic(I'm in the process of learning more about the faith).I'm coming from a non-demonational background,and have played gospel/sacred music in mostly Baptist churches,and at dinners where I was minister of music for a rescue mission.

Recently,a position has came up where a Baptist church is interested in me playing for some of their services.They want me to send them a CD of my playing.So the question is-do I go ahead and audition for them ?What do I do if they want my services?Also,does one have to be baptised as a Catholic to play in a Catholic Church?I miss playing in worship services,but I want to not go against what God wants me to do.

Hi,my name is ray and i love beautiful music which helps to bring us closer to GOD and be at peace more.some of my favorites are john michael talbot-hillsong-taize-maranatha-monks of the weston priory-etc,etc.hopefully someone can suggest somemore especially worship music.god bless

I have a CD of DIVO performing the "Stations of the Cross" which I listen to frequently during Lent (sometimes bad weather prevents me from attending Stations at Church).I also like some secular music that I grew up with (before the Beatles and Stones) but I love Christmas religious music. I also have a CD of "The Priests" and the Vatican Sistine Choir.

Hi everyone,
I have joined this group because I agree music soothes the savage beast. I love music, I love to sing, ( not too good a voice,but I am just glad to be able to sing) I love hymns, gospel songs too and traditional music as well. I love to dance to music a lot.
Now whenever I am distressed i sing and the words calm me down. Music does a lot for me.

Peace and Love odopa

Does anyone listen to rosary or station of the cross CD's? do they have them for I-pod? What is your favorite?

What other music out there helps you in your journey with God??

Several years ago I was the music teacher at a Catholic School. I asked the Sr.'s to bring in music THEY found as inspirational for the Ash Wednesday and Good Friday Masses. I was Blown way by the stuff they found!! Kyrie Eleison from an 80's rock group... Dust In The Wind by Kansas,... You Light Up My Life... etc. If you have kids... Ask them... " What's inspiring you today that's on the radio?" If the answer is all rap and such... Challenge them to listen to some of the "good stuff" for them. See what they come up with.

WOW! I am THRILL with you generousity to help me find good music. I am making a list. Next month I will be able to start buying music. I can't wait! I need a stereo too so I will be looking for one of those too.
I can not wait to listen to this music. I try and find each piece online to listen to,even if in part so I know what it is like.
Thanks SUPER MUCH!! I wish I could make a note symbol!!!

These are all GREAT suggestions! I did find a very good CD of chant from Mystic Monk Coffee Co. The coffee is wonderful as is the chant. If you like the chant style of music try some of the slightly younger composers. Palestrina, or Victoria. Some of the best "early" polyphonic" choral music out there. I personally love praying the rosary especially to "Clare du lune" and The Barber adagio for strings as well.

WHat else do people like to pray, meditate, or just sit still with?

Spiritualunity, I thought of another piece of music. It is wonderful. It was used, strangely enough, in the film Platoon, but it is great for meditation on the Passion. It is Barber's Adagio for Strings. It begins slowly, and quietly, and works to a cressendo. Personally, I find it very moving. I'll keep thinking.