Miserere Mei, Deus

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Jason Bandura

The above title is Latin for “Have mercy on me, O God,” a phrase from Psalm 51.

It is also the title of a stunningly beautiful piece of music composed by Gregorio Allegri sometime around the 1630’s. It was intended for exclusive use in the Sistine Chapel during the morning services of Holy Week. These services typically began around 3:00 AM, and during the rituals, candles would be extinguished until only one remained.

At some point, it became forbidden to transcribe this music and was allowed to be performed only at the services described above, adding to the mystery surrounding it. However, in 1770, a fourteen-year-old Mozart was visiting Rome. Hearing the piece for the first time during the Wednesday morning service, he left the chapel to write it down from memory. It is said that he returned on Friday for a second listen to make some minor revisions. He published the piece a year later, effectively ending the “ban” and earning him surprising praise from the Pope, who was understandably astounded at the musical genius before him.

When your schedule today will fifteen minutes of listening, press “play” on the video below and be blessed by this once mysterious, ever-majestic creation, dedicated to the Creator and Redeemer of all.

Do You Know Josh Garrels?

Posted on June 23, 2011 by Jason Bandura

A name unknown to me prior to this week, I downloaded Josh Garrels’ latest album “Love & War & The Sea In Between”. (You can get it there too for free. And if you haven’t already bookmarked Noisetrade on your computer, you’re falling behind, my friend.) While I’ve had barely any chance to listen to it yet, the reviews I’ve read have me waiting eagerly for some quiet time to simply sit with it.

One quote I’ve come across, attributed to Garrels, is especially telling of where this artist is coming from:

“In a media-saturated pop culture society where ‘stars’ are the royalty to be worshiped or fawned over, I believe the true role of artists is to serve others with their creations. That means to draw people to fullness of life through revelation, longing, breakthroughs, simple beauty, and unpretentious truths. Artists help people see the obvious, the heart of the matter, and from this regained perspective people become more fully human. So much art these days has people focusing on an unattainable fantasy, lusting over what they’ll never have unless they take it by force or by way of money or libido. This is all candy, and candy can’t make a man healthy.”

Now THERE is an artist worthy of some increased attention. Josh, thank you just for being among us and for striving to be THAT kind of creator. I’ll be tuning in, as will many others.