Music

Music… the sweet melody of spirit! 

The last couple of days, I have been enjoying a journey down memory lane with songs that I loved from high school and college.  Back then and more recently now, this has been a way for me to let go, enjoy myself,  feel happy, good and so alive!  Good feelings flow constantly and I am in the groove! 

Somewhere at the back of it all, I must have had a limiting belief that for music to be spiritual and linked to the Divine, it must be soft, sweet, peaceful, beautiful, angelic… words of that nature.  But, the Divine wears all types of clothing does It not?  Spirit is everywhere and in everything.  Can reach us through any medium if we are open and willing.

I let go of everything when I listen to music and so, it makes sense that my vibration easily goes up.  Nothing in the way, I am more open to connection with others and my spirit (especially this weekend!) feels very playful and frisky!  Oh happy day!

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Music stirs me this morning, filling me up and reminding me of my capacity for brotherhood and love.  There is a depth that goes beyond sadness, yet the tears do fall.  They are the tears of compassion, my heart beating in response to another.  Feelings of love for others who I do not know by name, but who I do know with my heart and soul. 

This grey morning with the rain gently falling, I give thanks to the Creator for my ability to feel.  Feelings that always steer me and guide me back home.  Home to my heart… home to my resting place.

Blessed morning everyone.  May your day be filled with amazing grace.

Love,

Nicola

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Music always inspires me deeply, Nicola. I love that video of Amazing Grace in Cherokee.

Here is a piece of music that almost always brings tears of joy and gratitude to my eyes (I'm already crying just thinking about it this morning!)

Ralph Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis.

Love,

Nicole

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I saw that this was a long piece, so trusting your feeling about it Nicola, I just sat back to enjoy myself.  Incredibly relaxing and soothing with a rising tender sweetness at the end.  Lovely.  Thank you for posting it!

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I'm glad you enjoyed it. The ending is very special, isn't it?

Another piece I really love by Ralph is the Lark Ascending. It was how I first fell in love with his music actually.

There are so many, many lovely versions, but this one is by Hilary Hahn.

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The ending is exquisite.  Lark Ascending is a slice of heaven!  Enchanting really… There’s one point where the music gets so soft and almost disappears and I am just left with my heart beat.  Beautiful gift this morning, thank you again my friend.

Hugs,

Nicola

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You're very, very welcome, Nicola.

It's a joy,

Love,

Nicole

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Nicola and Nicole,

I simply love The Lark Ascending…always lifts me up.  There is another which I simply adore, but it doesnt seem to be on UTube.  It's the last movement of Messiaen's Turangila Symphony, and its entitled The Ascent of Christ to the Father, and it brings you up very slowly bit by bit, note by note, moving a semi tone at a time, and by the time is has ended you soul will have expanded, and your heart opened.  I hope you get to hear it some time.

Clare

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Clare, thank you. Is it this movement? 

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No Nicole,

Its not on Utube.   And My CD is downstairs…..The movement is just so sacred, so slow, so definitely not this movement.   I love anything by Messiaen.  He was quite a mystic, and composed most of his music out of his dance with the divine.

C

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Hi Clare,

Is it the solo organ version, or orchestral, that you have on your CD? This is his L'Ascension, solo organ by George Hagel. Mesmerising and reverential.

Messiaen is amazing. I am grateful for knowing of this beautiful work. Thank you! I found this version on emusic to download and enjoy.

Hugs,

Nicole

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Wow, you are really opening up some new windows in my world!

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Hi Nicole,

Yes, this is the piece, but I have now found my CD, and the recording is just perfect; not on organ, but with full orchestra.   I highly recommend this CD .  It's called Mystic, The Musical Visions of Olivier Messiaen. and its on Deutsche Grammophon.  The L'Ascension consists of The Majesty of Christ asking glory of his Father, Serene alleluias of a soul seeking heaven.  Alleluia on the trumpet, alleluia on the cymbal and finally the one I love best Cjhrist's Prayer as He ascents to His Father.  It the Orchestre de L'Opera Bastille, with Myung-Whun Chung.

I have found down through the years, that I no longer like to hear 'words' when I am using music as a contemplative tool.   The 'words' are belonging to others, and when I am in such a wordless place I find them distracting.

Thank you for your research - I finally found the CD under a pile which my husband has been listening to while he is studying.

Enjoy enjoy, and in the meantime I will dig out Vaughan Williams and listen to the beautiful Lark……

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Yes, Clare, I was listening to part of the orchestral version (though having trouble with the download) and it is so rich.

Another beautiful song for meditation is Barber's Adagio for Strings,

Love,

Nicole

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I adore this piece, Barber's Adagio for Strings, thank you for posting it!  I had no idea the name of the composer or even the name of the music.  I remember it from a movie that I saw many years ago (Platoon, I think)… Has a lovely, yet haunting / poignant feeling to it.