The Seventeenth Century speaks on the Twentieth to the Twenty-First Century

Last updated on: May 20, 2017 at 10:27 pm by John Mark N. Reynolds

The Seventeenth Century speaks on the Twentieth to the Twenty-First Century 2017-05-20T22:27:53-04:00 John Mark N. Reynolds

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I could not stop listening. The instrument, the program said, was a Stradivarius from 1699 and the music was Prokofiev, the man who saw the nineteenth century commit suicide and watched the twentieth century commit genocide.

I was there in the twenty-first century listening to the sublime Houston Symphony work with an animated Gil Shaham, a man who plays violin and looks like he plays the fiddle. The man enjoys his work and makes you enjoy it too.

All the effort that was required to produce the explosive beauty of Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Opus 63 dazzled me. Jones Hall is a fine place to listen, though unlike the Eastman Theater of dear Alma mater, it is not nearly beautiful enough for the violin, the music, or the times.

The sound of that violin was so sweet and mellow: enlightenment meeting catholic faith incarnate. This sweet instrument was in the service of what had once been daring, but now seemed a bit tame when compared to what men had done in the twenty-first century. There must have been a time when Prokofiev was political or controversial, but now he was a warning that we are (almost) too deaf to hear.

His challenge requires massive stability, wealth, and a commitment to beauty, but also ears unblocked. The man wrote music that assumed the Stradivarius of the seventeenth century, the paid orchestras of the twentieth, and the now gray heads (some of us dyed) to listen in the twenty-first, but most of us were elsewhere with earbuds, deaf by technology.

I was afraid for the beauty.

Why? I looked at the rows of players, so highly skilled, and because I am married to a classically trained musician, knew the sacrifice that got them on that stage. They were so highly skilled that the amount I paid to be there was laughable. The Hall was built to make the sound heard and the seating, temperature, and bathrooms (many of those given our crowd!) were luxurious. Gil Shaham was astounding and there were empty seats.

There were many empty seats.

We assume, I suppose, that some rich patrons (in this case a liquor store) will always keep the music going. But who is taking the lessons? Where is the audience? What is being done to sustain beauty that is so fragile?

Breaking the Stradivarius would be easy, take seconds. Dispersing an orchestra, merely a matter of not supporting the arts or thinking them invincible. Finding an audience? In the twenty-first century, this is proving hard. There is no good reason for this and I will not hazard a jeremiad.

I am merely afraid. I am afraid that a much poorer time gave me a Stradivarius, a wicked time could still produce Prokofiev. His violin dueled with an orchestra and could win, melody triumphing over size. The individual instrument, the Stradivarius, wooing and including the vast orchestra with plucked strings, low notes, and energy to end as a whole: the needs of the many and the one made equal.

God save us.

————————–

Houston is a cultural center. Yes. It is. Join us.

Culture

Previous Post

May 19, 2017

Questions from M: Stupid Disciples! Why so stupid?

Next Post

May 21, 2017 Thank You to a True Pastor . . .

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Apologetics Art Culture Education On Books On Education Philosophy Politics Pop Culture Spiritual Reflections Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 July 2025 June 2025 September 2024 July 2024 June 2024 December 2023 June 2023 September 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What was the primary trade good in Biblical times?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Purple cloth Wheat Olive oil Spices

Books by This Author John Mark Reynolds

See All Titles »