This weeks ‘song’ of ‘hope and future’ is one of the oldest in the book…literally. When a teenage Mary heard the news that she was to conceive and give birth to a child, despite being a single woman and as yet unmarried, tradition has it that she responds by bursting into a song. We know it as the Magnificat, which means simply ‘magnifies’. To magnify something is to make something appear bigger.
Mary feels that God’s promise of hope and future, focussed in the child she will bring into this world, far outweighs the inconvenience and problems that accompany such a promise. The reality will be tough (it’s just as well she doesn’t know the whole story at the moment) but for now the promise is more about what is needed rather than what she wants. This song has fuelled the response of hope and trust for countless numbers of people throughout the past 2000 years.
Sunday 8 December
We begin this second Advent week with a version of Mary’s song which blends it with the Wexford Carol. This traditional Irish carol speaks of Christ’s birth and, when placed alongside Mary’s song, reminds us that the promise made to Mary was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Christ. A simple ‘yes’ to the call of love can have an impact far beyond our present moments. Trust is not easy and can be misplaced, but more often than not is simply the right way to go.
Monday 9 December
Magnificat has been part of church worship and liturgy for more than 2000 years. Today’s version is by Hildegard of Bingen. I’ve been a fan of Hildegard for some time and I’m not alone in that. Popes, poets, philosophers, theologians, feminists, environmentalists, musicians, people of faith and none all love her.
Hildegard was a 12th century German Benedictine abbess, writer, composer, poet, philosopher, Christian mystic, visionary, and all-round knowledge gatherer. She has been considered by many to be a founder of scientific natural history in Europe. Her music is described as monophonic or single line though, unlike the usual chants of the day, it soars up and down with melody and is closely related both to the text and who she was as a spiritual person. Her Magnificat is no exception. So sit back, close your eyes and savour its simple, soaring beauty and remember that God comes and meets us in the world we live in. Hildegard loved life, loved exploring the beauty and wonder of humanity and creation plus, of course, she loved the One who she believed made it all happen. Just like Mary: Magnificat indeed.
Tuesday 10 December
Most of us have come across the Rock Band U2. It would be hard not to, when they are one of the most successful and innovative bands in the world ever. However, not everyone knows that they have consistently put their Christian faith and spiritual themes into much of their music, though they have never branded themselves as a religious band. Their version of Mary’s song, which they called ‘Magnificent’, highlights this. This song inspired by the Magnificat is for them about surrender and devotion and their understanding of music as being about worship ‘in one kind or another’. Bono, a member of the group, attributes their version musically to that composed by Bach which he says is simply ‘Magnificent’. We will listen to that on Thursday.
Just listen to this music and the words echoing Mary’s song, and realise afresh the Love that reaches out to you as you do so.
“Magnificent, Magnificent, I was born, I was born to be with you in this space and time. I was born, I was born to sing for you. I didn’t have a choice but to lift you up and sing whatever song you wanted me to. I give you back my voice from the womb my first cry, it was a joyful noise … Only love, only love can leave such a mark, but only love, only love can heal such a scar.”
Wednesday 11 December
A break from Mary’s song and a guest contribution from Advent 2018. My friend Paul Canon Harris (priest, poet, author and broadcaster) focuses our attention on Joseph. He writes:
Michael Card’s gentle song resonates with me. In it, Joseph the earthly “step-father” of Jesus asks where he fits into God’s plan. It all seems too much for him – a familiar feeling for many of us. Joseph always seems to be just out of the limelight. He fascinates me as a character: he played such an important role in caring for Jesus and yet he disappears so quickly from the Biblical record.
Thursday 12 December
Bono described Bach’s Magnificat as simply magnificent. Today’s piece of music is not the gentle soaring music of Hildegard, but a 12 movement work for soloists, choir and orchestra. Certainly the opening is one of the brightest and most festive of anything Bach wrote … and he wrote a lot! For me the music and text highlight the awesomeness and boldness of the words and the event. This is for all humanity and indeed the whole of creation in every generation.
The attention Bach gave to the words is seen in various aspects of the musical composition: majestic in its opening sequence but, later on, Bach’s rising and descending musical phrasing emphasises God’s lifting up of the poor and his putting down of the rich, the proud and self sufficient. Be uplifted, yes, but also be encouraged to love and to seek justice for all. I’ve linked to the whole of the piece which lasts 25 minutes. Feel free to listen to as much or as little as you like.
Friday 13 December
My soul sings in gratitude.
I’m dancing in the mystery of God.
The light of the Holy One is within me
and I am blessed, so truly blessed.
This goes deeper than human thinking.
I am filled with awe
at Love whose only condition
is to be received.
The gift is not for the proud,
for they have no room for it.
The strong and self-sufficient ones
don’t have this awareness.
But those who know their emptiness
can rejoice in Love’s fullness.
It’s the Love that we are made for,
the reason for our being.
It fills our inmost heart space
and brings to birth in us, the Holy One.
Joy Cowley
Saturday 14 December
No Advent or Christmas would be the same without a John Rutter piece. Rutter’s setting of the Magnificat is both vibrant and tender. If it sounds vaguely Spanish and South American in the use of instruments, musical phrases and dance rhythms, that is deliberate.
In those countries there is a tradition which focuses on the Virgin Mary and exuberant celebrations are often held on her feast days. The sheer vitality of this music underlines for me the fact that Mary shows a deep inner strength, courage and resolve. To counterbalance this Rutter incorporates a gentle medieval carol to tap into the gentleness and peace we see in Mary’s response to the Angel’s message. Just enjoy and be … joyful.
As with the Bach, I have linked to the whole piece. Feel free to listen to as much or as little as you like.