What is in Kelvin's Head?

  • Who guessed the Pope would turn out to be Mrs Beamish?

    It has been wonderful seeing the enthusiasm of Roman Catholic friends for the refreshing breeze that Pope Francis has been bringing to their church over the last few months.

    Lots of Anglicans are hugely admiring of what he has managed to achieve.

    But what’s this coming from the Vatican now?

    No less than an injunction to calm it down during the Peace in the mass.

    A document has emerged which suggests several different ways in which to ensure that things don’t get over exuberant. As well as discouraging people from moving from their place, it also suggests:

    “changing the way in which the exchange of peace is made.” In particular it notes that “familiar and worldly gestures of greeting” should be substituted with “other, more appropriate gestures.”

    Well, there’s a whole load of other Anglicans are going to be impressed by this developement, I guess.

    But who guessed that the Pope would turn out to be Mrs Beamish?

     

    , ,

4 responses to “Sunday's Lament”

  1. chris Avatar
    chris

    As I read that lament on Sunday, I was singing inside my head the wonderful Tomkins’ setting of the lament. As an alto, I could be accused of bias – the suspensions between the two alto parts are hair-raising in their beauty – but to me nothing can match it. You can hear it here

    Reply
  2. RosemaryHannah Avatar
    RosemaryHannah

    Oh dear me, yes. Let’s all wear pink and have a celebration.

    Your video camera however does not let one get anything like the quality of the voice in space experience of last Sunday. And I write as one not musical.

    Reply
  3. RosemaryHannah Avatar
    RosemaryHannah

    I think, too, it always would work best for a single male voice, because it is so heavily tied to a single male figure. It is superb writing, superbly put to music.

    I don’t want to ‘dis’ your only-too-correct comments on the space between our understanding and that of the Iron age. But I think that two things may offer a little light on how and why we read the succession narrative.

    The first is that it is an outstanding piece of writing by any standards at all. The terrible attempt by the lectionary to cut it on Sunday just pointed that up (not the first time I’ve wondered what the editors of it thought they were doing). Good story has its own power.

    Secondly, one has to ask who commissioned this account and why. I think the answer has to be Solomon’s court, as ’twere – thus not only does one have to explain why Solomon succeeded one also has to paint a very flawed but still in some ways great David. A man one might be glad to have as a father, and a man who it would be possible to offer a better alternative to. The last King, if a relative, should neither be too good or too bad. QED.

    Reply
  4. revruth Avatar
    revruth

    Oh my word! Why have I never heard this before? It is glorious and I am in love with it. There is absolutely nothing like a good lament. Dido’s Lament had better look out.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Previous Posts

  • Maundy Thursday

    Maundy Thursday today, a day which has both one of my favourite services in the year and also one of those which I dislike most. Tonight we have the glories of the Maundy Thursday liturgy. Lush music, procession, Garden of Repose, stripping of the church. Its the start of the Triduum – the three-day celebration…

  • sh(OUT) – Glasgow's Gallery of Modern Art

    The opening of the new exhibition sh(OUT) opened tonight. I made it to the opening bash, it being my day off. (I still take a day off in Holy Week lest I make it not unto the end). I’m pleased that GoMA and Glasgow City Countil run these social justice themed exhibitions every couple of…

  • Trumpet Call

    Do you play the trumpet, or do you know anyone who does? Having resolved the timpani drum transport crisis, we are now in need of a couple of trumpet players for Sunday morning. The music is Schubert in G and the Hallelujah Chorus (to be sung by the whole congregation). There is no fee attached…

  • A spine tingling start

    We had a great start to Holy Week yesterday. A very full church in the morning with an excellent procession outside and back into church. All glory, laud and honour! At night, my spine was tingled more than once by the choir. In particular, the repeated phrase “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, turn to the Lord your God”…