The very sound of our music can move us closer to God...

Tonight my Director of Music and I spent a few hours with Martin Jean of Yale Divinity School and the Institute of Sacred Music - plus perhaps 50 other clergy and music directors from around the Berkshires.  It was the annual "Clergy/Church Musician Appreciation Dinner" of the local AGO (American Guild of Organists.)  Each of the past five years I've had the privilege to attend these dinner/lectures - and I've learned a lot.  Sure, they can sometimes feel a bit rarefied, but my musical colleagues are wise and talented.  And some of the other local clergy are a hoot, too.  I have always been grateful for the chance to join with others as we listen and learn from some of the best minds in the country.

Tonight Martin Jean spoke about how the very sounds we create in worship help bring us closer to God.  As you might expect in a room full of clergy, the comments after his presentation tended to highlight vocal music - clergy are SOOO text obsessed - but my man wondered if the sounds of worship that evoke communion with the holy might also include instrumental music?  Dr. Dean obliquely answered in the affirmative - I think he was surprised by the question - but that just set off a post-lecture conversation about today's worship and what we both have sensed intuitively since we started working together two years ago.  Namely, that the very sound we create in our instrumental music invites worship participants to commune with the Lord.

Clearly that happened this morning... but until we can get a recording of what it sounds

and feels like to play 13th century chant on a recorder under an open, fluid jazz groove you are just going to have to trust me.  (Let me also say that Dianne gave birth to a world premiere as she sang Malote's "Lord's Prayer" at the close of worship to a sweet, sweet jazz chart. She is one INCREDIBLE artist and we all are honored to work with her.  As she experienced today, not only was there musical communication happening between the three of us as musicians, but there was an organic and nourishing connection made between the beauty of the past and the artistry of the present where both were honored and married as equals.) Clearly, instrumental music is a sensual style of prayer - helping us move into communion with parts of God's greatness - and we're on to something very creative.  Stay tuned over the next year as we take this deeper...