The Music of Heaven

‘Day and night without ceasing they sing “Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty,

who was and is and is to come”...

Revelation 4: 8

Over these coming weeks, as Christmas approaches, there will be a great deal of music in my life. Not only the incessant Christmas muzak in shops or the carols sung by groups on our streets or played by brass bands, nor even the many carol services in which Ministers tend to get involved at this time. In addition to all of that, I choose to listen to (and sometimes participate in) a good deal more music and singing during this season.

It somehow seems appropriate and fitting, after all, are the Biblical accounts we read in this season not full of song? From the canticles of Mary and Zechariah and Simeon to the choirs of angels greeting Christ’s birth, there seems to be a lot of singing! (although closer reading of the passages will reveal that they do not actually mention any singing as such!)

Then again, perhaps it is simply that for me music is so very important. Music speaks to me. Music expresses my feelings. Music is woven through my life. Perhaps I might even suggest (and I certainly feel) that for me music is like an echo of heaven, and I do not necessarily mean simply ‘sacred’ music.

As you may have already noted in some of these Advent posts, I have referenced music in some of my posts. I appreciate all kinds of music; rock, jazz, classical, musicals, folk and so on (although I have to admit I am not generally too fond of Country and Western!).

I was brought up surrounded by music. Church music, classical music, stage musicals, Frank Sinatra and opera were all a big part of my parents’ life and I absorbed much of that. Discovering the Beatles as a child and rock music as a teenager opened the door onto an entirely new appreciation of music and – from there – to jazz, folk and back to classical music.

One of the things that interests me is the extent to which music ‘speaks’ to me. Words and lyrics may be significant, but when set to music they come alive. Music without words can ‘speak’ even more to me, and move me very deeply.

I have so very often been moved to tears by music; Tchaikovsky’s ‘Pathetique’, Bach’s ‘St Matthew Passion’, the Beatles’ ‘In my Life’, Bernstein’s ‘West Side Story’, Yes’ ‘Awaken’, Paul Simon’s ‘Sound of Silence’ and on and on and on.

But music has also been a powerful means of expression for people facing difficult situations or struggling for justice or seeking to affirm hope. My friend Ian Gilmour is currently blogging on the theme of music and his blog (which I recommend) can be found here: https://counter-point.blog/?fbclid=IwAR1WX0MKMXK051TpXPDIa90fzQwzLdwThfv2iF68pQk5-G5muodMuzIVs1w

Ian’s particular interest is in the spirituals which emerged in the context of slavery. In that music, there was not only an expression of faith (although there was that) but also of the hope of freedom, and the struggle for justice.

In so many ways, music expresses our deepest longings, our hopes, our faith, our love, our desire for liberation or justice.... and in so many ways, music touches us, speaks to us, connects with us.

And in all of this, I so often sense a touch of heaven that comforts and challenges and speaks of God.