Ship of Fools: Music that helps us pray.

Thread: Music that helps us pray. Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by Twilight (# 2832) on :

I started to put this on the prayer thread, but then thought it might disrupt the flow. I just find that if there's someone I want to pray for, at more length than usual, certain music helps me spend a little time thinking of them in prayer. Like this song.

Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :

These days I say my rosary to the early morning chants at the Hindu temple, a few hundred feet from my open window.

Music is useful for some; but for deaf me, I find a candle flame acts as a focal point.

Posted by Lyda*Rose (# 4544) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Twilight:
I started to put this on the prayer thread, but then thought it might disrupt the flow. I just find that if there's someone I want to pray for, at more length than usual, certain music helps me spend a little time thinking of them in prayer. Like this song.

It's lovely, but I'm afraid that lyrics in English derail me. But Latin is another story. I bought this CD of Catholic chants at a Benedictine abbey with both ancient music and modern adaptations, and I find them very prayerful.

Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :

I prefer a candle flame too, but sometimes Hildegarde of Bingen's music helps.

Posted by L'organist (# 17338) on :

Either In ieunio et fletu or Audivi media nocte - both by Thomas Tallis.

For thanksgiving prayer God spake sometimes in visions by John Blow or Haydn The Heavens are telling.

Posted by Schroedinger's cat (# 64) on :

A really good chilled trance track.

Posted by blackbeard (# 10848) on :

Not so much listening, as singing.
Another vote for Tallis, of course, and a special mention for the Byrd Ave Verum. And Purcell Hear my Prayer, and ... where do we stop?

Currently rehearsing the German Requiem (Brahms). Great stuff, and poses a few interesting questions.

Posted by leo (# 1458) on :

Anything early, where the music takes one inwards rather than outwards. or the new minimalists like Glass.

Posted by HCH (# 14313) on :

Dead silence.

Posted by leo (# 1458) on :

PREGNANT silence.

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :

I have been enjoying a CD from Christ Church St Laurence down here of Gregorian chant.

Posted by ken (# 2460) on :

Old hymns.

And as I realised on Sunday, for me the true sound of Christian worship, or worshipping Christians, is a real congregation singing hymns they mean accompanied by a tinkly upright piano. Choirs and organs and worship bands are all very well, but not the real deal.

And please no piddling around with slow and boring and emotionally manipulative mood music or ambient or even lovely polyphony. I like Tallis as much as the next bloke - but either you are listening hard to him (and so not praying) or letting it all wash over you (and so probably falling asleep). To inhabit the prayer you want words you can remember and words you can mean (or if you can't honestly mean them, words you can know well enough to know what you disagree with) so you own them in a sense, singing (or listening) consciously whilst praying your own prayers at the same time.

"And can it be?" is a good start. "Just as I am". "Amazing Grace". All of which we sang at church this week. [Smile]

Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :

quote:
Originally posted by ken:
The true sound of Christian worship, or worshipping Christians, is a real congregation singing hymns they mean accompanied by a tinkly upright piano.

Out of tune, with a few strings missing, and an occasional unexpected "plink!" due to the mouse who lives inside ...? [Devil]

(That's the piano, by the way, not the congregation).

[ 25. February 2014, 10:17: Message edited by: Baptist Trainfan ]

Posted by Twilight (# 2832) on :

I'm totally with ken about those old hymns and the piano. "Just as I am," always gets to me, as well as, "Softly and Tenderly," and "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms." I loved Iris Dement singing that one at the end of True Grit.

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

Silence works for me, but plainchant does as well.

Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :

quote:
Originally posted by PeteC:
These days I say my rosary to the early morning chants at the Hindu temple, a few hundred feet from my open window.

Not strictly a counterpoint, but I often use Gregorian chant as a background to my meditations.

Posted by MarsmanTJ (# 8689) on :

Stanford's Beati Quorum Via would be my number one choice for music that helps me pray.

Posted by Mad Cat (# 9104) on :

I spent much time praying to Gorecki's Symphony no. 3, unusually, as I get distracted by words.

I'm in choirs, and pray as I sing. Singing is helpful, as you have to be in the moment. As it's been said, qui cantat, bis orat.

I love hymns and find them very prayerful. One of my favourites is 'Forth in thy name, o Lord, I go'. The line 'Preserve me from my calling's snare is one I remember often. Since a wee thing, I've loved 'Alleluia, sing to Jesus'. I always loved the line:
'Where the songs of all the sinless
Sweep across the crystal sea.'
It appealed to my Tolkein-ish side, and is a lovely image. To this day, I can barely sing it for filling up.

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :

I agree with the term 'Those who sing pray twice', however, it's very difficult to do both at once. What it means, I think, is that through music the words worm their way into your heart in a deeper sense, so that they can be recalled at other times, outwith the actual services where you are concentrating like topsy. The words of the Psalms are particularly helpful in this respect, either recalled to Anglican chant or to one of the many Anthem settings.

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Chorister:
... through music the words worm their way into your heart in a deeper sense, so that they can be recalled ...

I couldn't have put it better, Chorister - that's exactly what I've been thinking as I've been reading this thread.

I'd add to the list anthems that are settings of collects from the Prayer Book, like Call to remembrance by Farrant and Prevent us, O Lord by Byrd (there are lots more, but those were the first ones to come into my head).

[slight tangent]

quote:
The words of the Psalms are particularly helpful ...

As a singer, do you ever find yourself using a phrase in everyday conversation and then realise that it came from the Psalms?
[/slight tangent]

Posted by FooloftheShip (# 15579) on :

The act of singing is of itself prayerful. It is an offering to God of a talent given to the singer, an offering of thanks and praise.

Liturgical singing is also the creation of beauty in praise of God, particularly if the music is chosen sensitively and with care, and not because it's the right length or has other utilitarian attributes. Music for a purpose is fine, providing that the purpose is not the only reason for its existence.

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