Tuesday, April 27, 2010

"Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis:" Analyzing Transcendence

Courtesy "Discovering Music," on BBC Wonderful Radio 3.

This is the music I want played at my funeral. It is the Gospel of John in music. Unfortunately, the host of the program completely misses the point at the end of his analysis. This music is about the One Who is Fully Human and Fully God, and the final chord is a witness to the reality of theosis.


Part 1:


Part2:


Part 3


Part 4


Part 5


Part 6

4 comments:

Kent said...

Not sure if you are admiring Vaugn Williams' Fantasia or Tallis' original. I didn't have the time to listen to all the commentary on Vaugn Williams' Fantasia. However, the little I know of Thomas Tallis is an arrangement of his "Canon" by Anne Dudley, on her album "Ancient and Modern". This is one of my favorite albums of all time, so I was looking on google to find a version to share with you. I didn't come up with it, but I did fine a nice version by the Libera Boys Choir. I posted it on my Facebook profile.

Some day I should let you borrow the Anne Dudley album, "Ancient and Modern". I'd like to get your reaction.

Beth B said...

I love them both, Kent. The Tallis Canon belongs in corporate worship--indeed, I wish we could sing the doxology to that music sometime. The Vaughan Williams Fantasia is, to my mind, more personal. When I hear it I am moved to think of John's gospel, and the events in Christ's life. That is why I so heartily disagree with the conclusion that the program host comes to.

I'd love to hear the Anne Dudley version sometime, Kent. Thanks for introducing me to Libera. They're great!

Beth B said...

via Susan:

"Mater, I just looked at your blog, and your take on the ending is so much better. It's funny, I was going to suggest the Incarnation as a way to reconcile "transcendence" and humanity, and theosis is the other side of the coin! Maybe the BBC should have you do these from now on."

Anonymous said...

There is a novel Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis by the author Vaughn Petterson that describes in beautiful detail the thoughts and inspiration caused by protagonists listening to Vaughan Williams' sublime masterpiece.