threespires
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My last choice probably requires some explanation.
I suppose the human experience is circumscribed by many things not least of which is our mortality and our awareness of it; but many other things define us too, not least of which is the ability to hope. Along with love, it’s hope that keeps us going. Whether that’s hope that the right person for you is out there somewhere, or that tomorrow your meds will work better than they did today, or simply that one day the team will come good and you’ll not have to watch your own player execute a perfectly weighted lob over his own keeper. Martin Luther said “Everything that is done in the world, is done by hope”. In many ways there is nothing sadder than to see someone whose hope has been extinguished, because whilst it exists all things are possible.
The antiphon (a short chant/refrain within the context of an act of worship) called “In Paradisum” is sung at the end of a Requiem Mass, it’s not technically part of the mass (though some composers like Faure, included it within their settings of the Requiem mass); it’s sung after the final blessing of the body as it is taken to its place of burial or cremation. Translated from the Latin in which it is sung, it starts with “May the angels lead you into paradise…” and ends with “and with Lazarus, once poor, may you have eternal rest”. Reference to Lazarus will for a minority bring to mind the Gospel of John in which he appears, but these days a Lazarus moment is a term used beyond religion; like the fat lady who hasn’t yet sung it speaks to there always being a chance for things to come good. So what, if you’re 2-1 down and it’s injury time, keep on going and maybe a miracle will happen?
The “In Paradisum” serves many purposes including the circumscription of our mortal lives, but amongst other things it is a final act of hope offered by the living on behalf of the dead. I’m obviously aware that in this case a majority of people think this is nothing more than a delusion or at best an earthly comfort, but it nonetheless is an example that hope wheresoever you find it is an essential element of the human experience. The nature of the hope is charitable too, that someone else will be led into paradise where they can be at peace. You certainly don’t have to be religious to desire a little bit of paradise and peace in this life and people find it in many different ways. To hope for that for yourself is a very understandable human feeling, but when we hope for it for others too it speaks to both theirs and our own humanity.
Faure Requiem Op 48. VIII - In Paradisum – Laurence Equilbey, Orchestre National De France
B&W for simplicity here's a Spotify link….
(I was going to go for James Brown – I Feel Good as a decent example of unbridled human joy so apologies to anyone who would’ve preferred that)
I suppose the human experience is circumscribed by many things not least of which is our mortality and our awareness of it; but many other things define us too, not least of which is the ability to hope. Along with love, it’s hope that keeps us going. Whether that’s hope that the right person for you is out there somewhere, or that tomorrow your meds will work better than they did today, or simply that one day the team will come good and you’ll not have to watch your own player execute a perfectly weighted lob over his own keeper. Martin Luther said “Everything that is done in the world, is done by hope”. In many ways there is nothing sadder than to see someone whose hope has been extinguished, because whilst it exists all things are possible.
The antiphon (a short chant/refrain within the context of an act of worship) called “In Paradisum” is sung at the end of a Requiem Mass, it’s not technically part of the mass (though some composers like Faure, included it within their settings of the Requiem mass); it’s sung after the final blessing of the body as it is taken to its place of burial or cremation. Translated from the Latin in which it is sung, it starts with “May the angels lead you into paradise…” and ends with “and with Lazarus, once poor, may you have eternal rest”. Reference to Lazarus will for a minority bring to mind the Gospel of John in which he appears, but these days a Lazarus moment is a term used beyond religion; like the fat lady who hasn’t yet sung it speaks to there always being a chance for things to come good. So what, if you’re 2-1 down and it’s injury time, keep on going and maybe a miracle will happen?
The “In Paradisum” serves many purposes including the circumscription of our mortal lives, but amongst other things it is a final act of hope offered by the living on behalf of the dead. I’m obviously aware that in this case a majority of people think this is nothing more than a delusion or at best an earthly comfort, but it nonetheless is an example that hope wheresoever you find it is an essential element of the human experience. The nature of the hope is charitable too, that someone else will be led into paradise where they can be at peace. You certainly don’t have to be religious to desire a little bit of paradise and peace in this life and people find it in many different ways. To hope for that for yourself is a very understandable human feeling, but when we hope for it for others too it speaks to both theirs and our own humanity.
Faure Requiem Op 48. VIII - In Paradisum – Laurence Equilbey, Orchestre National De France
B&W for simplicity here's a Spotify link….
(I was going to go for James Brown – I Feel Good as a decent example of unbridled human joy so apologies to anyone who would’ve preferred that)