Helmuth Rilling, (right) the world's leading expert on the music of Joahann Sebastian Bach, is co founder and artistic director of the Oregon Bach Festival. What a wonderful 28th wedding anniversary we have had!
Last night, the girls made us a dinner of souvlaki and wild rice and then Susan gave us tickets to the opening night ceremonies of the Oregon Bach Festival. Oh, the joys of grown children!
We heard a performance of Brahm's Requiem, but in truth it was not a performance, it was worship. This work is often called "Ein Deutsches Requiem," or "A German Requiem," because instead of using the Latin of the traditional Catholic liturgy, Brahms chose his texts himself from Luther's German translation of the Bible.
My favorite parts were "Denn alles Fleisch ist wie Gras" and "Wie Lieblich sind deine Wohnungen, Herr Zebaoth." The latter is everything I have ever imagined when I have read Psalm 27 (my favorite psalm).
The program notes pointed out,
"Brahm's requiem is for the the consolation of the living, in addition to expressing the hope of resurrection."
I cannot think of a better way to celebrate our anniversary this year.
Thank you, Susan! Thank you, Joanna. Thank you, Herr Brahms und Herr Rilling, and the Festival Chorus and Orchestra. But most of all, thank you, Lord, for my husband, and over a quarter-century of life together in You.
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