M
MikaelYosef
Guest
This post could possibly fit in to the Religion section, however it contains a couple of different elements which I thought might fit better into this category.
A little under a year ago I started listening to music by the Italian renaissance composer 'Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina'. I have always enjoyed the sacred music as I find it quite peaceful and good for meditation. Specifically though I began listening to one of his settings of the 'Lamentations of Jeremiah'. These settings have been composed by a number of individuals throughout history for the purpose of providing a musical setting for Christians observing Holy Week ceremonies. It's based upon the poems contained within the Book of Lamentations from the Old Testament composed by Jerermiah about the destruction of Jerusalem in 6th Century BC. As a side note - the Jews also observe the Tisha B'Av and recite these poems.
When I began listening to it - I really listened to it. I think it was even on loop for many hours at a time particularly when using my PC, and then wherever I went also had it on the headphones for a few months initially, then periodically over the year. Specifically I remember first listening to it after the earthquake in Christchurch and thought it was appropriate musically. However, I had no idea what the latin lyrics meant or even what the music was about or where it had come from - just a 'co-incidence' I guess.
With the destruction, death and change that swept the world in 2011 I think it was probably an appropriate kind of music to listen to - even though initially I had no idea what the music represented. Although the poems describe an the actual demise of Jerusalem, with the destruction of the temples, plundering, etc from a musical perspective, it's played through the Christian Holy Week.
Although it's symbolic of death and destruction and the new life being reborn from it - I can't help but see parallels to the present. We are witnessing the physical, social and spiritual the destruction of the world. Yet I still have hope and will continue with the music listening. It may be a somber setting, but it always offers an element of hope and there is always resolution in the melody.
A little under a year ago I started listening to music by the Italian renaissance composer 'Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina'. I have always enjoyed the sacred music as I find it quite peaceful and good for meditation. Specifically though I began listening to one of his settings of the 'Lamentations of Jeremiah'. These settings have been composed by a number of individuals throughout history for the purpose of providing a musical setting for Christians observing Holy Week ceremonies. It's based upon the poems contained within the Book of Lamentations from the Old Testament composed by Jerermiah about the destruction of Jerusalem in 6th Century BC. As a side note - the Jews also observe the Tisha B'Av and recite these poems.
When I began listening to it - I really listened to it. I think it was even on loop for many hours at a time particularly when using my PC, and then wherever I went also had it on the headphones for a few months initially, then periodically over the year. Specifically I remember first listening to it after the earthquake in Christchurch and thought it was appropriate musically. However, I had no idea what the latin lyrics meant or even what the music was about or where it had come from - just a 'co-incidence' I guess.
With the destruction, death and change that swept the world in 2011 I think it was probably an appropriate kind of music to listen to - even though initially I had no idea what the music represented. Although the poems describe an the actual demise of Jerusalem, with the destruction of the temples, plundering, etc from a musical perspective, it's played through the Christian Holy Week.
Although it's symbolic of death and destruction and the new life being reborn from it - I can't help but see parallels to the present. We are witnessing the physical, social and spiritual the destruction of the world. Yet I still have hope and will continue with the music listening. It may be a somber setting, but it always offers an element of hope and there is always resolution in the melody.
) be a little slow. 
