Posted on 05/06/2005 4:50:01 PM PDT by ELS
ope Benedict XVI is a pianist with a penchant for Mozart, which he is said to find more manageable than Brahms, given the limited amount of time he has to practice. (Until his election, he was one of the busiest cardinals in his role as chief interpreter and enforcer of doctrine.) His brother, a priest, was a church Kapellmeister. The Ratzinger boys were born in the part of Bavaria long under the influence of Salzburg, Mozart's birthplace.
As a theologian, he has occasionally revealed some of his thinking about music. When it comes to popular forms, he can be harsh. In his 2001 book "Introduction to the Spirit of the Liturgy," he called rock 'n' roll "an expression of base passions which, in large musical gatherings, has assumed cultlike characteristics or even becomes a counter-cult that is opposed to the Christian" worship. Pop music was a "cult of banality."
On the classical side, he played music critic in a message to Pope John Paul II on the 25th anniversary of John Paul's pontificate in 2003, when a concert in his honor by the Mitteldeutscher Rundfunkorchester included Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Addressing the 83-year-old pope, Cardinal Ratzinger described the symphony as echoing "the inner strife of the great maestro in the midst of the darkness of life, his passage, as it were, through dark nights in which none of the promised stars seemed any longer to shine in the heavens." But in the end, he said, "the clouds lift. The great drama of human existence that unfolds in the music is transformed into a hymn of joy."
Then he took a knock at Schiller, the poet of the "Ode to Joy," saying that his "true greatness blossomed" thanks only to Beethoven's music. Unlike Bach's "Christmas Oratorio" or the Passions, which contain "the intact presence of the faith," Schiller's ode is characterized by the era's humanism, "which places man at the center," he said with some disapproval. But Beethoven was a believer, he said, so the "good Father" of the ode is not just a supposition but an "ultimate certainty." After all, he pointed out, Beethoven composed the "Missa Solemnis."
Bach lovers will also be pleased by the new pope's taste. In the message, he called Bach "perhaps the greatest musical genius of all time." And in fact, as he was driven around St. Peter's Square after his installation last weekend, loudspeakers played Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor for organ. When he received dignitaries later in St. Peter's Basilica, the Hallelujah chorus filled the air. It was not known whether he had made the program choices.
Indeed. That would really be something. Thanks for the ping!
Joanie, see especially response #11.
LOL!
You said a mouthful there, DL!
:-D
Ping.
Repent and be saved!
Right. The "human" principle.
Ignoring all of Western (and Hebrew) philosophy on the subject of art does not make you credible.
...the 4th movement of Mahler's 2nd--the In Paradisum of Faure's Requiem...the entire Durufle Requiem...the Sanctus from Mozart's Coronation Mass...the Gloria of Beethoven's Missa Solemnis...and every single note of each JSB Passion...
Not to mention all Gregorian Chant propers.
Uh huh. He has strong opinions on music, is the Supreme Pontiff and doesn't have any input on the music for his installation ceremonies. Yeah, right.
Of course, the Pope is correct in his assessment of rock-n-roll. It is the result of, and cause of, mental disorder.
Yup; has to do with syncopated rhythms having a deleterious effect on the brain.
Actually, it's the backbeat having a deleterious effect beneath the bellybutton.
Solar plexus disharmony?
No.
Rock is like the Little Blue Pill of Sen. Dole fame--but it works the same way on both sexes.
That's BEFORE any "lyrics" enter the picture.
" Harrumph. All true Germans love Wagner."
And even some Greek/Irishmen!
"For that comment, you get to spend a few thousand years sleeping on a rock, surrounded by magical fire, until a beautiful blonde woman in a suit of armor awakens you with a kiss"
When I was a kid my Dad always listened to the Metropolitan Opera on the radio on Saturday afternoons; I still do occasionally. I remember those parts of the "season" when the Met did the whole Ring Cycle. I developed a great love for Wagner by the time I was 9 or 10, much to the horror of the Greek side of the family who manitained that nothing good ever came from the "Huns"!
I'll second that, in spades!
"(Minister of Membership, TomasTorquemadaGentlemen'sClub)"
Is there an Eastern Orthodox chapter of the club and is that where we were going to have that dinner with the B&B?
Not have the least idea what you are talking about undermines your credibilty a bit as well. A good deal of western philosophy on art is in quite good agreement with my position. It merely has the advanage of not being 2500 years old.
If you intend to represent that rock'n'roll is "art," you have a hell of a long proof to write, sonny.
The TTGC knows no bounds--our interest is in maintaining orthodoxy (Roman or Eastern, whatever.)
The TTGC, as a club, approaches ideal. There are no meetings; there are no formal, written agendas. There are no dues. There is only one requirement: the willingness to assist at TTGC gatherings (should there ever be one) for the purpose of conducting an auto-da-fe.
We already have a Grand Inquisitor, a Chief Equipment Engineer (and a good deal of equipment, modernized and refurbished) not to mention several full cords of wood.
TTGC also has the pleasure of having a dedicated Ladies' Auxiliary (they must wear hats); and the gentle Ladies will provide cucumber sandwiches, navigation, and Chace-related goods/services.
If you wish to start an (Eastern) Orthodox section, feel free.
Remember, though, that the TTGC, at some point in time, will begin formally petitioning Rome to elevate Tomas deTorquemada to the altar. We expect that ALL members in any Branch will not only concur with the thought, but actively support such elevation.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.