Sunday, November 14, 2010

Heartstrings of the Week: Delightfully Dissonant



You might be upset that I've started to introduce Christmas tunes to you in November, but I can't help it. Christmas is my favorite holiday and it never stays long enough, so I like to "stretch" it out a bit. I don't want to get into the ethics of this topic too much, but let me just justify my reasoning real quick:

If Thanksgiving had a sibling, it'd be Christmas. Am I right? I can't think of a more relatable holiday. And so, because Thanksgiving doesn't have it's own music, what better kind of music to listen to than the Christmas kind. Besides, Christmas music is truly the most "thanksgiving" kind of music I know. There. I'm done now.

So, "Lux Aurumque" - I first heard this song performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in a past Christmas Concert with the talented Norwegian soprano Sissel Kyrkjebø (and no, I do not know how to pronounce her last name). You probably know her voice best from this (I apologize in advance for the corny captions).


Anyway, it was one of those songs that nearly pushed me off the edge of my seat, I was listening so intently. For some reason I am drawn to the complex beauty of these crazy dissonant chords and I love the tranquil resolved chords at the end. This dissonant-to-resolved kind of composition style just, GAH, kills me. Plus, seeing as the song is about the Savior's birth, I found it to be very symbolic...as this wonderful blessing resolves so much dissonance in my life every single day.

Ah. Yes, this is one of those "meditation" type songs... So, if you want the full effect, I recommend that you take a second, close your eyes, and just listen.

LUX AURUMQUE
Latin Translation ©2001 by Charles Anthony Silvestri
(English poem by Edward Esch)

Light,
warm and heavy,
as pure gold,
and the angels sing softly
to the newborn babe.




*sigh*
So beautiful.

Because our Savior, The Prince of Peace, was born to fulfill the plan of our Heavenly Father, we can enjoy peace and tranquility each day through His Atoning sacrifice.

That is what this song means to me.
Happy Holidays!



3 comments:

kristin brown said...

that is SO beautiful! i never think i'm going to like classical music as much as i do.

Sarah's Life 101 said...

I love this song Lindsay!!! I sang it in choir for two years in a row. Definitely one of the best Christmas songs ever! (however, Sissel does a much better job than my choir)

Kim said...

I was going to comment but now I'm so relaxed, I need a nap.......zzzzzzz