Am primit din partea grupului Prodeum, prin intermediul domnului pastor Cristian Maxinesi din Frankfurt, Germania, invitatia de a contribui, alaturi de altii la proiectul ‘Crestinul clasic contemporan’.
Muzica si teologia au fost mereu ingemanate de-a lungul istoriei. Speram ca ele sa faca casa buna si cu aceasta ocazie.
SOLI DEO GLORIA!
Be Though My Vision is considered by many as the oldest known Christian hymn, dating at least from the 8th or the 9th century, if not even the 6th. Here is what David Cole says about it in his book Celtic Lent: 40 Days of Devotions to Easter:
It is thought that the early Irish saint and poet Dallán, also known as Eochaid mac Colla, who died in around 598, may have been the writer of some early form of this hymn, and the words have been chanted by monks from that time onwards. Although we know it best from the version often sung in churches today, versified as a hymn by Eleanor Hull (1860–1935), the original, more literal, translation from which the versified version was taken was written by Mary Byrne (1880–1931).
Watch here one of the best versions I could find on youtube. I hope it will be an encouragement for you at a trying time like this.
Here is the text of the hymn:
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my souls Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
Riches I heed not, nor mans empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heavens joys, O bright Heavens Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
This great song, from the unique voice of beautiful Scottish singer Hannah Rarity, is my tribute to all the great women I had the privilege of meeting in my life. You know who you are. This is for you all!
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Written by Brian McNeill, the song details Brian’s admiration for the life and courage of the famous Scottish historical figure Flora MacDonald, who saved Bonnie Prince Charlie after the civil war of 1745. She was imprisoned for helping him, but then moved to America to live the rest of her life. She later returned to the Isle of Skye, where she passed away. A very strong woman, indeed. Here’s to all women & all they have achieved, all they do and all they will continue to share with the world.
(Please find below the lyrics of this marvelous song.)
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Strong Women Rule Us All With Their Tears
There’s a moment of your story
That has always haunted me
When you set out in yon open boat
To help the poor man flee
Was Charlie Stuart’s future
Already plain to see
Did you know he’d be a waster on his days
If you did, I’d give the world to find
A single tear you cried
From the Cuillins tae the Carolinas
You showed us one and all
The courage you could call
From the tears that would not fall
From your eyes
And after thirty years
After all that you’d been through
Us been marriede haven’ been a
Just a memory to rue
As you watched your husband putting on
His coat of scarlet hue
To go and fight for German Geordie’s crown
But you never tried to hide behind
The dreams of days gone by
From the Cuillins tae the Carolinas
You showed us one and all
The courage you could call
From the tears that would not fall
From your eyes
And there’s times I think I see you
When I find that kind of face
When a woman’s independence
Has kept a woman’s grace
Where confidence and pride
Refuse to know their place
Or hide behind the easy tricks of beauty
For to me your lights are like the chimes
Across the stormy skies
From the Cuillins tae the Carolinas
You showed us one and all
The courage you could call
From the tears that would not fall
From your eyes
From the Cuillins tae the Carolinas
Strong women rule us all
With the courage that they call
When the tears refuse to fall
From their eyes.
(Music and lyrics by Brian McNeill. Inspired by the story of Flora MacDonald, 1722-1790, a figure of Scottish history and of the American Revolution. Source, here.)
Iata, au inceput sa apara si cintecele legate de protestele actuale. E semn bun.
I dedicated this initially to the Independence Day of the USA. You may also read HERE a text written by Parker J Palmer for the same celebration day.
However, after the US strangely elected Trump as president, I find the lyrics of this song most fitting for the present situation.
So, is democracy really coming to the USA? We shall see.
Here are the lyrics.
Continue reading “Leonard Cohen – Democracy Is Coming to The USA”
The great poet and singer Leonard Cohen turned 82 yesterday. Here is one of his most troubling songs, unfortunately, just in audio. Thanks to LigiaC for the link.
NOTE: Cohen died on 7 November 2016 at the age of 82 at his home in Los Angeles.
And here are the lyrics: Continue reading “RIP – Leonard Cohen – You Want It Darker”
Acest superb negro spiritual a fost cintat de Corul Strajerul la inmormintarea mamei mele, in decembrie 2011. Il public acum aici, in memoria matusei mele, Cornelia Serediuc, pe care am condus-o astazi pe ultimul ei drum de aceasta parte a eternitatii. Odihneasca-se in pace!
Corul Quo Vadis
Corul Qvo Vadis Gypsy Choir din Boldesti Scaeni Prahova e in turneu in USA sponsorizat de fundatia crestina “The brother’s keeper” (28 Iulie- 15 August). I-am urmarit la biserica crestina dupa Evanghelie, Mount Joy, PA. A fost impresionant; o expresie a lucrarii deosebite facute de aceasta fundatie, de dirijorul corului – prof. Eduard Teodorescu, de pastorul bisericii crestine dupa Evanghelie a rromilor din Scaeni, fr. Oprisan. Au cintat cintece clasice, in italiana, germana, gospel in engleza si una in limba rroma. Elevi de liceu si studenti la medicina, drept, inginerie, robotica, asistenti medicali, etc, tinerii tigani au lasat o impresie deosebita prin dragostea pt Dumnezeu, rezultatele scolare si performanta muzicala. Corul cinta de 3 ani impreuna si nu este profesionist si cinta doar muzica crestina, dar se vede ca au o educatie muzicala si o tinuta ce impune respect.
M-a impresionat dorinta celor mai multi dintre ei de a schimba imaginea rromilor in Romania si Europa. Iubitori de Dumnezeu dar si de muzica, volei si fotbal, acesti tineri doresc sa aduca o schimbare in comunitatile de rromi si de romani. Ce mult poate face dragostea unui dirijor si a unui pastor! Ce mult am gresit noi fata de semenii nostri “samariteni”, fara sa ne pese de sensibilitatea lor! Continue reading “Doru Radu – Quo Vadis Gypsy Choir din Boldesti Scaeni, Prahova, in turneu in USA”
Prietena noastra, doamna Maria Mosuti, si-a sustinut cu succes doctoraatul in muzica, in data de 24 iunie, in sala Sympozion a Universitatii de Arte, George Enescu din Iasi.
Tema lucrarii: Soprana si vocalitatea oratorial-dramatica. Analiza structural-interpretativa a repertoriului vocal-simfonic saru din spatiul romantic italian.
A fost un doctorat profesional in timpul caruia a analizat repertoriul vocal-simfonic sacru compus de Vincenzo Bellini, Gaetano Donizetti, Gioachino Rossini, Giuseppe Verdi, autori consacrati scenei lirice, dar care spre maturitate au compus si cateva opusuri sacre.
Coordonatorul lucrarii: Prof. Univ. Dr. Laura Vasiliu
Doamna Dr. Maria Mosuti a obtinut in urma sustinerii distinctia summa cum laude.
Felicitari doamnei doctor si mult succes mai departe in cariera muzicala. S-o tina Dumnezeu modesta si deschisa in a-i forma pe altii, si s-o fereasca de spiritul concurential lipsit de loialitate care umbreste adesea reelatiile intre colegi in lumea artistica.
Am primit de la domnul Doru Radu urmatorul text legat de vizita in statele Unite a lui Puiu Caciora si a corului Pro Deum. Pe Puiu, un om de caracter si un compozitor extrem de talentat, pe care il pretuiesc fara limite, il cunosc de circa 40 de ani (a facut conservatorul la Iasi, si am cintat de mai multe ori impreuna in anii aceia).
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A inceput turneul in USA al corului Pro Deum din Arad, dirijor dr. Teodor Caciora.
Turneul e ocazionat de invitatia de a participa la conferinta anuala a organizatiei “Hymnal Society of USA and Canada”. Din intiativa doamnei Sida Hodoraba Roberts, profesoara de muzica la o universitate din Kentucky, organizatia imnologica a inclus un medailon Moldoveanu – in 18 iulie la Universitatea Redlands, California. Doamna Roberts e fiica regretatului pastor Ieremia Hodoroaba, francez de origine romana, si ea a contactat o misionara britanica din Romania care a tradus in Engleza 25-30 cintece de Moldoveanu. Potrivit doamnei Roberts, traducerea e foarte buna, mai reusita decit prima. Corul Pro Deum ar urma sa cinte citeva cintari in engleza. Se va publica o lucrare oficiala a societatii care va include aceste cintari si un articol de fond care ar prezenta autorul, renumitul imolog crestin Nicolae Moldoveanu. Continue reading “Teodor (Puiu) Caciora si Corul Pro Deum in turneu in Statele Unite”
Au participat:
Dan Bittman, Cornel Ilie, Monica Anghel, Virgil Ianțu, Andi Vasluianu, Dorina Chiriac, Ștefan Bănică, Robin Proca, Andi Moisescu, Dani Oțil, Paula Chirilă, Horia Moculescu, Toni Grecu, Irina-Margareta Nistor, Dan Byron, Teo Trandafir, Oreste Teodorescu, Pavel Bartoș, Ada Milea, Călin Goia, Mircea Cărtărescu, Horia Vîrlan, Guess Who, Laura Lavric, Andreea Esca, Răzvan Simion, Alexandru Andrieș, Emilia Popescu, Marian Râlea, Andrei Aradits, Marius Florea Vizante, Cătălin Mitulescu, Pavel Stratan, Cristian Hrubaru, Ovi, Adrian Daminescu, Alin Dincă, Radu Gheorghe, Dana Dorian, Flavius Buzilă, Ivan Patzaichin, Dan Fințescu, Tudor Ionescu, Carmen Tănase, Aurelian Temișan, Alina Manole, Nico, Marius Bațu, Mike Godoroja, Benone Sinulescu, Ada Condeescu, Cristi Grețcu, Stela Popescu, Dragoș Bucurenci, Daniel Iordachioae, Florin Ristei, Marius Manole, Monica Davidescu, Ioan Gyuri Pascu, Cosmin Vaman, Bebe Cotimanis, Mihai Petre, Kempes, Mircea Baniciu, Alexandra Ungureanu, Oana Pellea, Victor Rebengiuc.
Pentru o opinie evanghelica (in continuare) critica fata de acest clip cititi AICI ce scrie Dionis Bodiu.
Pentru un exemplu de critica paranoiaca fata de aceasta initiativa, acuzata ca ar fi o incercare a francmasoneriei de sumbinare a Bisericii (este evident care anume; pentru acesti cretini roncici – cine citeste, sa inteleaga – celelalte oricum nu conteaza), urmariti AICI, cu ceva emetiral la indemina.
Source: 9 Times Bono Was Spot On About What It’s Like To Search For God
Today, May 10th, is Bono’s 56th birthday. Here are 9 of his common sense quotes on faith.
{youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apr_dMDJ5MY]
The Lord’s prayer sung to a Tibetan melody, from morning chapel at the Institute for Worship Studies on Tuesday, January 12, 2016.
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The melody is an Amdo Tibetan folksong melody in a genre known as Dramnyen Dunglen and has been matched with multiple sets of lyrics. It was matched to a translation of The Lord’s Prayer in a Tibetan language in the early 1990s, when it had a typical monophonic musical texture. Some years later, the version performed here was given chords, English lyrics, and a slower tempo by Josh Davis of Proskuneo Ministries, and this arrangement is his.
(Thanks for the link to my friend Mircea Paduraru.)
From the album called ‘Brother’, available on iTunes Global – http://bit.ly/tbbglo.
Go where you belong. The powerful message of a splendid song.
Here are the lyrics: Continue reading “Avicii – Wake Me Up”
Our first album, Martyrs Prayers, asked the question, “What would you die for?” It was our small attempt of speaking musically to the issue of “cheap grace” as defined by one martyr in particular, Dietrich Bonhoeffer. From Ignatius of Antioch to Oscar Romero we considered those who had given their lives for the faith.
Our second album, Mystic Chapel, asks another question, “What if we still believed?”. We came to faith in a time when something was happening. It wasn’t programmed, it wasn’t planned, but it was real. The theology was not deep or profound and there was much that we needed to learn, but we believed, and that belief was translated into a movement that changed the Church, changed the style and substance of ministry, changed worship and changed music. It was a time when it seemed nothing was impossible. Continue reading “Michael Glen Bell and Duane W. H. Arnold – Mystic Chapel”
This is, for me, one of the most beautiful Advents songs ever. It dates from the 16th century in Geneva.
Music: Louis Bourgeois. Text: Johannes G Olearius. Translation: Catherine Winkworth
Here are the words of the hymn: Continue reading “Comfort, Comfort You My People”
Here are the lyrics of this beautiful song, by Marc Byrd, Sarah Hart and Trey Heffinger : Continue reading “Follow the Light”
This is one of my favourite Christmas songs. Wonderful words. The entire album is fabulous.
Here are the lyrics, written by Bishop Robert Willis, for this magnificent Advent hymn, composed by Richard Shephard. Continue reading “Richard Shephard – Let Us Light A Candle in the Darkness”
Enya – Echoes In Rain (Official Video)
Taken from Enya’s album ‘Dark Sky Island’
Taken from Enya’s forthcoming Album ‘Dark Sky Island’ – Out 20th November
Nota: Textul de mai jos, pe care l-am primit in privat de la un bun prieten, inainte de a fi publicat, este, cred eu, unul dintre cele mai consistente pe care le-am citit pina acum in legata cu criza legata de incendiul de la Colectiv.
Autorul, Petre Guran (n. 5 martie 1972 București), este un tânăr istoric român. El este doctor în istorie (2003), cu o teză intitulată Sfințenie regală și putere universală în lumea ortodoxă, susținută la École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, Paris, sub indrumarea profesorilor Alain Boureau și Gilbert Dagron (1998-2003).
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Cu cât se adună informații despre victimele din clubul Colectiv, cu atât răsar noi înțelesuri din această catastrofă. Nu numai că nu avem de-a face cu suflete moarte din cauza Haloweenului sau a rockului – cum s-a spus în multe opinii pripit lansate în spațiul public – , ci dimpotrivă chiar cu eroi ca din poveste – cum nu credeam să mai existe – și mă refer la cei care s-au întors de mai multe ori în club ca să-și salveze prietenii până ce ei înșiși nu au mai putut ieși, apoi la acei soți care au preferat să moară împreună, îmbrățișându-se, decât să se salveze unul fără celălalt, la acele figuri de oameni simpli, singuri și devotați aproapelui, cum era femeia de serviciu – mamă a cinci copiii – sau acel cvasi-nebun întru Hristos, al cărui trup ars a fost târziu identificat Costel (Stashi), și la tinerii olimpici și talentați care venisera acolo pentru a asculta un concert al prietenilor lor. Nu este vorba de sorta tristă a unui grup de oameni îndepărtați de Dumnezeu, ci mult mai mult a ieșit la lumină incapacitatea de a empatiza cu suferința și căutarea acestor tineri a unei tagme clericale care s-a îndepărtat și s-a izolat de oameni.
Neîmbisericirea tinerilor din clubul Colectiv – deși nu știu dacă e cu adevărat cazul – ține mai mult de o neadecvare a cadrelor de conducere ale Bisericii Ortodoxe Române la imperativele misiunii în vremea aceasta din urmă. Tinerii din colectiv și-au făcut din fire lege și încă una de-a dreptul evanghelică: «Mai mare dragoste decât aceasta nimeni nu are, ca cineva sufletul său să-şi pună pentru prietenii săi.» (Ioan 15, 13). Perplexitatea în fața unui zid de indiferență spirituală – acel „știe Biserica mai bine ce are de făcut” – a născut un val de revoltă. Revoltă aproape inocentă în ingenuitatea ei. De frica unor tineri care strigă s-a înființat o contramanifestație clericală pentru „pace și unitate”, terminlogie coborâtă direct din epoca de aur. Ce instincte atavice a trezit frica! Continue reading “Petre Guran – De ce trebuie sa ne cerem iertare”
The “Landfill Harmonic”
(Landfill harmonic – La armonía del vertedero – Orquesta de Instrumentos Reciclados de Cateura)
An orchestra for kids with instruments made from trash?
A cello made from an oil can and pieces of wood, that were thrown in the garbage; a saxophone made of spoons and buttons. These instruments are crafted by Nicolas, a ‘recycler’ with no previous experience making musical instruments, who is living ‘hand-to-mouth’ by the garbage dump in Catuera, Paraguay. Inspired by this initiative and creativity, Maestro Luis Szaran, director of “Sounds of the Earth,” formed the ‘recycled orchestra,’ with children living near the dump. “Our main goal isn’t to form good musicians, but to form good citizens.” Now 30 members strong, (and looking for more, for a full orchestra) listen to the sweet sounds of these ‘recycled’ instruments and the hopes and dreams of the children who play them. … Be Amazed and Inspired!
Landfill Harmonic’s YouTube Channel
The “Creative Visions Foundation” inspires and supports creative activists — individuals who use media and the arts to raise awareness of critical issues around the globe and ignite positive change. CVF provides tools, mentorship, resources and an linked community to help our activists harness the power of media, arts and technology to solve global problems in the areas of: human rights, environment, youth & education, woman empowerment, and global consciousness.
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