BEETHOVEN & MUSIC
It really does’t seem like a year since I was asked to last speak here at St. Martin’s on Pentecost Sunday; and the previous year at All Souls. So that’s 3 consecutive years. But as a consolation for you Revd.Stephen said “can you keep it short, we have a tight schedule today”!
So, it’s Pentecost;
We need MUSIC. (JohnMiles1978) This is the day that the Spirit came (LesGarrett), Happy Birthday (Stevie Wonder), Oh,Happy Day (Edwin Hawkin Singers) AMEN!
Well, now, that’s what I call short…..!!
When I was thinking and praying about what I might say today words from a poem written in 1785 by Johann Christoph Frederick Schiller kept repeating in my mind. Schiller was from a devout Christian protestant family and this no doubt influenced his writings. The words I heard were ‘Freude, Freude’ Alle Menschem werden Bruder; ‘Joy, Joy!’ “All men shall become brothers.” The poem was called An die Freude or as we know it, Ode to Joy.
The poem came to prominence in 1824 when Ludwig van Beethoven broke the mould for symphonic works by adding a choral finale to his 9th Symphony. The conductor, Louis Duport was appointed to lead but the composer insisted that he should conduct his own music. By this time Beethoven was totally deaf and the music he wrote was imagined in his head and when performed for the first time in Vienna Beethoven stood to the side of Louis Duport, waving his baton to the music playing inside his head.
Can you imagine the multilayered tones that Beethoven imagined in his brain? What a beautiful noise, A cacophonous wall of sound! Close your eyes, just imagine it….. Breves, semi-breves, minims, crotchets, quavers, semi quavers, jumping about on the pages; Strings; viola, violin, cello, bass, Woodwind & Horns; French, English, trumpets, flugelhorns, clarinets, bassoons, oboes, euphonium, flutes, piccolo, Percussion: Drums, Quora, kettle, timpani, cymbals, triangles - all finding their place and all speaking in their own language of time and chord.
Beethoven’s 9th.symphony starts with small rumblings of awakening strings, clarinets, horns and fluted chords each winding tentatively, teasing, to nudge and to find space. As the 1st movement progresses they each seek voice. There is drama as string, wind, brass, percussion speak their own language and are heard as one as they gain confidence. The movement ends in a magnificent coming together. The symphony grows with twists and turns as it winds through the 2nd and 3rd movements, gradually taking fullness of shape. And then to the choral for the finale. The completed article is this cavernous and splendid finale of the Ode to Joy poem instruments and voice; an explosion in a complete melodic harmony and rhythm inviting us into the mystery of God’s creation; The Choir; Sopranos, mezzo-sopranos, contralto, tenors, counter-tenors, bass baritones; all in pitch perfect speak to their own and each heard in harmony. An explosion of sound now fully engaged, singing and playing in melodic harmony, a song of praise in kindness for all humanity to hear.
When the orchestra and choir had finished playing it is said that Beethoven was still thrashing his baton around conducting with tears in his eyes because he could not hear the orchestra in front of him, unaware that the concert had reached its climax. A musician approached the maestro, and, turning him around to audience Beethoven met the sight of the adoring rapturous applause of the audience.
So what does this have to do with the Holy Spirit and Pentecost? It has been said that Beethoven didn’t consider himself as a religious person but more a Spiritual person. He viewed music as a gift for ALL people to enjoy, not just the titled and wealthy but for the common man. A modern orchestra today will consist of musicians from many different nations and with many different faiths and of no faith at all.
Our Acts reading tells us that followers of Jesus are visited and empowered by the Holy Spirit, and their joy is completed by God’s Amazing Grace (JohnNewton/CatStevens). They break out of their hiding and spill out into the public areas of Concrete and Clay (TommyMoeller,/BrianParker). The crowds gathering accuse them of being drunk. We are told the streets are swelled by visitors to Jerusalem (Parry/Elgar). And Peter, once timid and afraid at Jesus’ crucifixion Wants to Breaks Free (Queen). He is no Longer Born to Follow (Gerry Goffin and Carol King). Now, freshly empowered by the Spirit, he leads the group. Peter preaches to the crowd A Little Good News (Charlie Black /Rory Bourke) that Jesus has been raised from the dead, and later in verses 41-42 it says many believed and were baptised.
Listen to the words in one of many varying English translations of the final verse:
Be embraced all ye millions!
With a kiss for all the world!
Brothers, beyond the stars
Surely dwells a loving Father.
Do you kneel before Him, oh millions?
Do you feel the creator’s presence?
Seek Him beyond the stars!
He must dwell beyond the stars!
In this piece of music we see and read and feel the transformation of ordinary people, of no particular significance to the world they live in emblazoned by the Holy Spirit. Their lives from here onwards will be changed forever. They have received a new, transformed life in Christ and they’re Never Going Back Again (Lindsay Buckingham). There is for everyone, this extraordinary gift from God for all who believe, to receive a new life with Jesus. So, on this Pentecost Sunday may we be ablaze with the Holy Spirit renewed and strengthened by the love of Jesus.
