Posts Tagged ‘Mass in B minor’

The Five Voices Spoke

April 13, 2012
 
 
The five voices spoke
Ancient words, Greek, Latin
Within an ancient ritual
Set to modern music
At least it was modern then
 
Voices
Rising and falling
Accelerating, pausing, slowing
Louder, joyful anticipation, praise
Quiet, more somber, reflective, sorrowful
 
A voice, a flute
A voice, oboes
A voice, a French horn
A voice, a violin
A chorus of voices, a chorus of instruments
 
Each voice
Rising and falling
Accelerating, pausing, slowing
Louder, joyful anticipation, praise
Quiet, more somber, reflective, sorrowful
 
Filling the room
The music reached up, out
White and gold
Walls softly held the music
Letting it probe and feel the gilded splendor
 
Caressing fingertips exploring
Wanting to escape?
Or just remembering
The last time this grand space listened
Bach’s Mass in B minor

© 2012 Thomas W. Cummins