Songs for the Spirit?

Gimpy

The Living Force
Jesse Norman sings a German version of Ave Maria that I really love, but its this translation that 'speaks' to me most:


Walter Scott's Original
from "The Lady of the Lake"

Ave Maria! maiden mild!
Listen to a maiden's prayer!
Thou canst hear though from the wild,
Thou canst save amid despair.
Safe may we sleep beneath thy care,
Though banish'd, outcast and reviled -
Maiden! hear a maiden's prayer;
Mother, hear a suppliant child!
Ave Maria!

Ave Maria! undefiled!
The flinty couch we now must share
Shall seem this down of eider piled,
If thy protection hover there.
The murky cavern's heavy air
Shall breathe of balm if thou hast smiled;
Then, Maiden! hear a maiden's prayer;
Mother, list a suppliant child!
Ave Maria!

Ave Maria! stainless styled!
Foul demons of the earth and air,
From this their wonted haunt exiled,
Shall flee before thy presence fair.
We bow us to our lot of care,
Beneath thy guidance reconciled;
Hear for a maid a maiden's prayer,
And for a father hear a child!
Ave Maria!


Are there any other translations or versions of songs that also encourage hope that folks would like to share? :flowers:
 
I love that song. I've heard several versions of it. Regarding translations in general -- I'm always amazed at how the person who does these translations cleverly retains the rhyme. It must be a real feat coming up with the same meaning and yet keeping the rhyming intact!

I'd love the Cs to suggest some bands or specific songs which really speak to the soul, and hint at which songs to avoid. I imagine that a lot of classical music would be considered "spiritually uplifting".
 
Thank you Gimpy to start this thread! :)

I love Jessie Norman's voice and love to listen her singing.

I love this too:
Dido's lament from Purcell: Dido and Aeneas

_http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOIAi2XwuWo

At least we don't have to translate! ;)
 
I was reading the Cassiopaea experiment one time and they mentioned
an artist who is a Indian musician. His name is Ravi Shankar. I looked
his name up on playlist and listen to his sounds. His music not only
calmed me but it was like a meditation for my soul. I enjoyed
listening to it. Here is some of his songs I hope you enjoy.

http://www.playlist.com/searchbeta/tracks#ravi%20shankar
 
I would like to add Dead Can Dance, with it's two vocalists Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry. They have very distinctive voices and ways of singing, Lisa Gerrard normally sings "in tongues" and Brendan Perry sings lyrics that i think touch a lot of problems discussed in this forum. Well, but besides that their music is really beautiful and ethereal and it always uplifts my spirit.
If someone wants to discover Ravi Shankar a good album is his first, Three Ragas which has the beautiful Raga Jog.
 
Green_Manalishi said:
I would like to add Dead Can Dance, with it's two vocalists Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry. They have very distinctive voices and ways of singing, Lisa Gerrard normally sings "in tongues" and Brendan Perry sings lyrics that i think touch a lot of problems discussed in this forum. Well, but besides that their music is really beautiful and ethereal and it always uplifts my spirit.

2 awesome songs by Brendan Perry:
Dream letter (Tim Buckley song)

Stretched on your grave (adapted from an old Irish poem)
 
I really love Sigur Ros as "songs for the spirit". I have never heard another band sound like they do - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigur_ros. Great sounds, here's one from their acclaimed album Agaetis Byrjun:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ5Grncdjlc
 
Great songs posted, I really liked the Sigur Ros one and I have Ravi Shankar on my Ipod, I really enjoy his sitar playing.

Here are a few songs from two really good pianists/composers that I like, Tori Amos and Joe Hisaishi. Hopefully you enjoy!

Joe Hisaishi
Totoro Tunnel of Wind - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmVqslsmV0M&feature=related
Ashitaka Sekki - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtPm5GiJ_iM&feature=related

Tori Amos
Winter - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWmETxWM0h0
Precious Things - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLL6ON18vGI
 
Very refreshing hearing the angels sing through Sigur ros

One of my recent musical spiritual awakenings has been enjoying Latcho Drom, a documentary of gypsy music worldwide:

Romani troubadours
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS-_W-dOYeo

amazing Rajasthani performance at 3:51
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FV8trqxz2t0

beautiful dancing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCunGo798_c

The Family soothes a broken heart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLnZhJxAyoo
 
Our local choir had a privilege and an honor to sing Mahler's 2nd Symphony (The Resurrection Symphony) this weekend.

Here is a video of the choral finale, with English subtitles for the lyrics:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HpWDQsNJ3k

I am still having major shakes and teary-ness, hours later. This is Spirit singing.
 
DanielS said:

Bluestar said:
[quote author=Wikipedia]
During a London concert ten days before the 2003 invasion of Iraq, lead vocalist Maines said, "we don't want this war, this violence, and we're ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas" (the Dixie Chicks' home state).[2] The statement offended people who thought it rude and unpatriotic, and the ensuing controversy cost the group half of their concert audience attendance in the United States and led to accusations of the three women being un-American, as well as hate mail, a death threat, and the destruction of their albums in protest.[3]

I admired her and the group for standing up to the Bush administration, when not many others were. They went on to win 13 grammy awards for their music. Loved their version of Stevie Nicks "Landslide"
[/quote]


A landslide of Landslides:

Tori Amos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdP-Vx9pAKM (mentioning her brother who died in a car accident)

Dixie Chicks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6KC4ML0LdQ

Stevie Nicks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f46rv5EWbAU

Venice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5welxxnH0S4

Smashing Pumpkins: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnzoF2ZlQw0

Stacey Kent: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNSMInNPzuM
 
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