(no subject)

[dchenes]

Anybody with nothing better to do on the afternoon of Sunday, December 11, should come listen to the Cambridge Community Chorus (including me) sing the Messiah at 3:00 in the Kresge Auditorium at MIT.

Aside: It amuses me somewhat that I, being the irreligious person I am, seek out a chorus to sing the Messiah with every other winter or so. I can do without the extant forms of Christianity, but I appreciate what it drove people to create, particularly music and architecture.

Comments

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

My mom and I periodically have these discussions about the religiousness of the music we sing in chorus, since we are both basically atheist/agnostic. The Christianness of the music bothers her a lot more than it does me.

For me, when I get into the fervor/rapture of the music, I can appreciate it for the passion the composer felt about the subject, even though I don't feel the same way. I think of it kind of like acting; you might not actually be in love with the guy playing your love interest, but for the duration of your time onstage you put yourself into a mental place where you *are* in love with him, so to speak. Don't know how much sense that makes, but that's how I sort of think about it.

[dchenes.livejournal.com]

The way you think about it is pretty much the way I think about it. The words don't matter; the "joyful noise" aspect (to borrow yet another religious metaphor) is what matters, and that's how I can sing "for the lord god omnipotent reigneth" without choking on it.

[enochs-fable.livejournal.com]

hmm. I must think on this in context of my own enjoyment of singing prayers at temple, since I'm also fairly agnostic about it all. I mean, nice sentiments in the prayers and all, but oddly singing in the group is oddly... comforting? thrilling? not sure what the word is.

[melopoeia.livejournal.com]

ooh! A chorus!

Hmm. Maybe I want to do it too, later, when i can. Sunday I'll see if I can do it.