John Tavener's Prayer Of The Heart sung by Bjork.
When my sister-in-law was dying from liver cancer I often visited her. The drive to her place took 45 minutes and I would hear it about three times. I did this on the return trip as well. It was healing for me.
Joan Baez sings a raw version of Villa-Lobos's Bachianas Brasileiras Nr 5 that I like to listen to uninterrupted.
Some great music here. Some I don't recognize and must try out. Going down a slightly different path, I've reached that sad stage in life where listening to the theme tunes of the kids' programmes I loved when I was growing up makes me feel emotional!
Rumours is an incredible album, btut for healing, I would have to go with Sara. Partly because I find Stevie Nicks voice to be utter perfection (I know not all agree with me).
I have all sorts of healing music - different pieces for different healing types. Drone metal is often really healing (Nadja I often go to), or electronica (Jon Hopkins, Hannah Peel).
Thinking about it, in the Orthodox services I've attended, the Creed, like the Lord's Prayer, has tended to be said by the whole congregation rather than chanted by the choir. I'm sure practice varies.
Whilst the Liturgy goes back many centuries, the tones don't necessarily. I've been told by Orthodox priests that nobody actually knows how the Liturgy would have sounded centuries ago as many of the settings are comparatively recent.
Most Russian church music is a century or so old at the most.
Thinking about it, in the Orthodox services I've attended, the Creed, like the Lord's Prayer, has tended to be said by the whole congregation rather than chanted by the choir. I'm sure practice varies.
Whilst the Liturgy goes back many centuries, the tones don't necessarily. I've been told by Orthodox priests that nobody actually knows how the Liturgy would have sounded centuries ago as many of the settings are comparatively recent.
Most Russian church music is a century or so old at the most.
I'm very fond of that, but I have to be feeling peaceful already to appreciate it. If I'm in an emotional, tumultuous state, I just get annoyed with it.
If I need to find solace in some emotional turmoil, I probably reach for Paddy's Bra first. Here's the choir of Keble College, Oxford.
When I first discovered the music of Palestrina (aged 13, studying for Music O Level), I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Why had nobody told me of its existence before?! I then discovered Tallis, Byrd, Taverner, etc. which helped me to destress during the difficult years of non-stop study and exams. Very soporific, very relaxing and very beautiful.
When I first discovered the music of Palestrina (aged 13, studying for Music O Level), I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Why had nobody told me of its existence before?! I then discovered Tallis, Byrd, Taverner, etc. which helped me to destress during the difficult years of non-stop study and exams. Very soporific, very relaxing and very beautiful.
A lot of the musical education I received was predicated on the understanding that real music started with Bach and Handel, totally overlooking all those you note, and others including Purcell and Monteverdi. I did not really come across the pre-Baroque until the late 60s/early 70s.
This came up in conversation with the kids today - Sufjan Stevens, Seven Swans. If you want to jump from the folk end of his oeuvre to electropop, you could try Get Real Get Right.
They're dissimilar, but kind of the same. In the comments under the first track:
But in reference to the disharmony, you are totally right on. that stuff get's down right scary at the end. But it's actually quite accurate to a christian belief in Irresistible Grace. No one seeks after God, But God restlessly seeks after us. And to be in His presence is a beautifully horrifyingly ego breaking experience.
I'm not sure if this is exactly healing, but once one learns that "O Jesus I have promised" can be sung perfectly well to the tune of the Muppets theme song, it is impossible to hear it to any other tune. Or at least, I haven't succeeded yet.
When I first discovered the music of Palestrina (aged 13, studying for Music O Level), I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Why had nobody told me of its existence before?! I then discovered Tallis, Byrd, Taverner, etc. which helped me to destress during the difficult years of non-stop study and exams. Very soporific, very relaxing and very beautiful.
My Renaissance channel is my go-to on Pandora. Embarrassingly one of my favorite composers is Gesualdo. I can't help it if a divine composer was also a murderer!
This little gem by Faure - Cantique de Jean Racine Op 11.
Now that David's gone, I'm probably the only person left on the planet who doesn't like that piece. I have sung it, but if I never hear it again, it'll be too soon.
This little gem by Faure - Cantique de Jean Racine Op 11.
Now that David's gone, I'm probably the only person left on the planet who doesn't like that piece. I have sung it, but if I never hear it again, it'll be too soon.
Cantique is a piece I instantly fell in love with when I first heard it, but have now heard and sung it many times; the novelty has worn off somehow. And yet it still appeals to those for whom it is fairly fresh and new - my son and his wife chose it for their wedding.
There’s also the beauty of relationship. My love for Cantique is no doubt heavily influenced by association with a much beloved (as my grandmother would say) and influential (to many of us) choral director and with the group he directed. Very happy memories.
Comments
When my sister-in-law was dying from liver cancer I often visited her. The drive to her place took 45 minutes and I would hear it about three times. I did this on the return trip as well. It was healing for me.
Joan Baez sings a raw version of Villa-Lobos's Bachianas Brasileiras Nr 5 that I like to listen to uninterrupted.
Also
Dire Straits - Why Worry
Plus many already mentioned.
And the theme from "White Horses"!
This is the one I was thinking of -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avw-Ijb2zoI
Here's one of my favourite pieces:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=EkQbzZgwfl0
I have all sorts of healing music - different pieces for different healing types. Drone metal is often really healing (Nadja I often go to), or electronica (Jon Hopkins, Hannah Peel).
I've never heard of any of those people, or bands, or types of music, but...if it works, go for it...
Mind you, not many people (apart from those like me Wot Listen To Radio 3) have heard of Gerald Finzi, either...
Whilst the Liturgy goes back many centuries, the tones don't necessarily. I've been told by Orthodox priests that nobody actually knows how the Liturgy would have sounded centuries ago as many of the settings are comparatively recent.
Most Russian church music is a century or so old at the most.
I am used to that experience. And I could have gone far more obscure!
It transports me into Heaven ...
I'm very fond of that, but I have to be feeling peaceful already to appreciate it. If I'm in an emotional, tumultuous state, I just get annoyed with it.
If I need to find solace in some emotional turmoil, I probably reach for Paddy's Bra first. Here's the choir of Keble College, Oxford.
Interesting thoughts about how we bring moods to music as well as music bringing them to us. Some synergies going on.
It's a two way process but in Eliot's memorable phrase, 'You are the music while the music lasts.'
Never heard it called that before!
A lot of the musical education I received was predicated on the understanding that real music started with Bach and Handel, totally overlooking all those you note, and others including Purcell and Monteverdi. I did not really come across the pre-Baroque until the late 60s/early 70s.
They're dissimilar, but kind of the same. In the comments under the first track:
I particularly like this youtube as I just love the conductor. Watching him is something that I find incredibly soothing and utterly sublime.
I'm intrigued by the Pre-Bach references. I've not really delved much that direction - but I am enjoying people's sharings.
My Renaissance channel is my go-to on Pandora. Embarrassingly one of my favorite composers is Gesualdo. I can't help it if a divine composer was also a murderer!
Now that David's gone, I'm probably the only person left on the planet who doesn't like that piece. I have sung it, but if I never hear it again, it'll be too soon.
Sorry about that.
That's the beauty of taste!
And the beauty of time.
Cantique is a piece I instantly fell in love with when I first heard it, but have now heard and sung it many times; the novelty has worn off somehow. And yet it still appeals to those for whom it is fairly fresh and new - my son and his wife chose it for their wedding.