Ein deutsches Requiem

Or, in English, “Blessed are they that mourn”

Yesterday, I went to the Church of the Redeemer near my house to hear Brahms, Requiem performed. In a word, moving. In fact, when we walked in (more on the entrance later), and were welcomed by the already in progress first movement, I immediately got chills and felt the breath of mourning the piece is meant to convey even in the first moments.

Brahms Requiem is known mostly for its humane (for a requiem), rather than traditional, you're going to deal with the wrath of judgment upon death approach that (of course) the Roman Catholics put forth. He wrote it after the death of his friend and mentor Robert Schumann and mother, which maybe led to the method by which he characterized death not as a day of pain and darkness but as a day of solace. Interestingly, the requiem is composed and pieced together with passages from the Bible even though it is non-liturgical, and never makes mention of JC himself. It focuses on comforting the living, hence the (translated title), "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." It is also written in German, which was pretty uncommon. In fact, his boy Shumann had had the same plan before he kicked it. (Can't get too serious now can I?)

Anyway, that's the quick back story.

Now, to our entrance. I really wanted to go see this, but Trent was definitely not into it. I mentioned it to Leslie the day before, and thankfully, she seemed interested. The day escaped us, and while I thought about it, we were in the yard playing with the neighborhood kids, and time went by. Luckily, Leslie reminded me, and we decided to go--five minutes before it started. We show up on the street where the church is, and for blocks, it is full of cars. You'd think the pope himself was coming to Rogers Forge.
We managed to land a spot, and scurried to the front doors.

Now, I am typically overdressed for anything I attend, but this day I was not. People were literally in their Sunday best. Men in suits, women in southern wedding suits, and chiffon, and there may have even been a few hats. I was like, is it Easter?

I had not bathed in about 30 hours, my hair was so greasy I could have fried eggs for the whole congregation on my head. I had jeans on with flats and a tunic with a sweater over it. Fine for the mall, maybe even the local cafe, but certainly not The Church of the Redeemer 4:00 chorus!

We slither in about five-ten minutes into it, and like I said, it was amazing. We were prepared to stand, since there wasn't a seat in the house, but an usher ushered us away into this corridor that led to the back of the church. We agreed, and hurried to the side entrance. Well, that led us to the side altar seating area, which in this case, was completely behind the chorus. So, in an orchestral and chorale performance, we were sitting behind the action. Blast!

You could immediately hear the difference, but honestly, it was still pretty darn good. This beautiful wood church had some acoustics to it. We couldn't really see the tenor or soprano soloists, which stunk, but they had some major pipes, so all was well.

Then, some jack sits next to me with canine cologne on. Oh Lord. Yes, I prayed to him directly to ask this man to get up. He didn't. Well, he did before it ended thank goodness, but not soon enough. Anyone who knows me knows I can not tolerate the smell of perfume or cologne, much less this Drakkar Noir business. I immediately felt faint and sick, but I closed my nostrils and looked the other way. It actually worked, I couldn't smell him too badly. He didn't have a lot on, otherwise I would have made a massive scene and either moved, or asked him to move. Luckily, I did not have to yank Leslie out of her obscured view seat or myself into the holy water to cleanse the smell, I just dealt with it.

Back to the brilliance...the whole thing was truly amazing. When the tympani errupted in the second and third movements, with the chorus on top of it, I thought my heart would leap out of my chest. I was in love. There is nothing quite like that. I had tears in my eyes it was so exceptional. It didn't feel anything like playing playing the Stars and Stripes Forever in band class. Although, I have been lucky enough to play the 1812 Overture, and let me tell you when the da da da da duh duh duh da da duh...duh...duh comes, it's magical too. Yes, I'm a nerd, I played the flute for many years, who wants to know?

If anyone is interested, I have pasted the English translation to the text here. Enjoy, because you don't get a lot of sap from me on this blog.

1.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

They that go forth and weep, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing their sheaves with them. Psalm 126:5–6

2.

For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower thereof falleth away. 1 Peter 1:2

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receive the morning and evening rain. James 5:7

But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. 1 Peter 1:25

And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Isaiah 35:10

3.

Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.

Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee.

Surely every man walks in a vain show: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heaps up riches, and knows not who shall gather them.

And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee. Psalm 39:4–7

The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God and there shall no torment touch them. Wisdom of Solomon 3:1

4.

How lovely are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!

My soul longs, yea, even faints for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh cries out for the living God.

Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will always be praising thee. Psalm 84:1,2&4

5.

And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. John 16:22

Behold with your eyes, how that I have but little labour, and have gotten unto me much rest. Ecclesiasticus 51:27

As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you. Isaiah 66:13

6.

For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. Hebrews 13:14

Behold, I show you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 1 Corinthians 15:51–52,54–55

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Revelation 4:11

7.

Blessed are the dead, which die in the Lord, from henceforth. Yea, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. Revelation 14:13