Music to Feed the Soul - Part 1, Sacred Music

Hello friends,

I realized this morning during breakfast how much comfort I'm gaining from our extensive collection of music.  As I've mentioned before, I'm coming up on forty years of marriage to a classically trained cellist, whose career consisted of 42 years as a professor.  There are few financial benefits to life as a music professor, but we can legally deduct LP's, CD's, travel to concerts, etc. on our taxes!  I've greatly enjoyed my easy access to musical expertise, and an idea came to me for sharing.

I follow some blogs that include excellent references to books that fit the interests of the typical reader.  I'd like to offer a similar list of musical favorites.  If you find that you like this kind of post, you can let me know in the comments.  I'm starting with sacred music, since this blog focuses on the life of the spirit.  But deeply moving music exists in many categories:  symphonic music, chamber music, solo piano, vocal music, etc.  I can run this by again in the future if you like it.

We have clung to our luddite roots regarding music.  We listen to LPs and CDs, with the occasional classical music radio (NPR or Symphony Hall on XM). You can still order many of the CDs we own (do your part to make Amazon the only company that survives covid-19!).  Those of you who stream your music will also find numerous options for the suggestions below.

This list is organized roughly chronologically.  Some composers overlap, so it isn't exact.  Dates are approximate and subject to interpretation. Also, this is not intended as an exhaustive list.  These are just favorites of mine.  Add your own in the comments if you'd like.

Sacred Music for the Soul

• Gregorian chant (pre-1450):  Some of the earliest sacred music was sung during worship in monasteries by monks and nuns.  It is monophonic music, meaning there is a single line of music and no instrumental accompaniment.  Chant tunes borrowed from Jewish and Medieval sources. Chants have been recorded by numerous groups, including Anonymous 4 and the Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo. 

• Renaissance (to 1600):  Music saw the beginnings of polyphony, meaning multiple musical lines for various singing voices, along with possible accompaniment by keyboard or ensemble. Composers include Palestrina and Tallis, among others.  

• The Baroque Period (to 1750):   Of course, the most prolific Baroque composer was J.S. Bach, who's employment involved writing worship pieces for the court at Weimar.  A short-list of 'Greatest Hits' includes: The Magnificat, The St. John Passion, numerous Cantatas featuring soprano voice (look for collections by Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, Kathleen Battle, and Kiri Te Kanawa), along with scads of organ works, many of which we hear in church today as preludes and postludes.

          Vivaldi (Gloria) preceded Bach, and Handel (The Messiah) followed him.

• The Classical Period (to 1825) saw music become increasingly 'complex' with intricate, identifiable structure reflecting the development of musical instruments and larger ensembles. While some musicians still worked under the employment of a benefactor, others wrote for the public.  Composers of the time include Haydn (Creation) and Mozart (Solemn Vespers, Exultate, Ave Verum Corpus, Requiem). 

• The Early 19th Century includes many of the most widely recognized classical composers, including Beethoven (Missa Solemnis), Schubert (Mass in D plus other beautiful masses) and Mendelssohn (Elijah).

• The Late 19th Century includes Brahms (Requiem) and Faure (Requiem).

I get teased at home for ending my classical music tastes about the time of Brahms.  I love the Leonard Bernstein Mass, but am kind of ignorant of other 20th century classical music.

Performance can matter significantly when choosing classical music to enjoy.  Some reliable options are The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Robert Shaw and the Atlanta Symphony, and The Choir of King's College.  If I'm taking a leap of faith, I try to stay with known ensembles and conductors (Bernstein, Solti, The NY Phil., The Boston Sym., The Chicago Sym., and the Vienna Phil.)

A couple of outliers I enjoy are The Psalms of David (King's College Choir), collections by the Harvard Glee Club (which tend to include some sacred), and a solo piano CD by Leon Fleisher called  Two Hands (gorgeous playing of Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring and Sheep May Safely Graze, both by Bach).

Hope this hits a sweet spot for you!  I've intentionally made it short and sweet.  Forgive me if I've omitted your favorite.  Feel free to enlighten me!  You will find much fodder for a Lenten state of mind in the many Masses and Requiems on the list.  I cleanse my palate with James Taylor or jazz when I get too serious.  Happy listening.