Music as Religion

[caroljane]

Being on something of a music jag lately, I came across a comment on a video of "Nessun Dorma";

"I pray to jussi bjorling not god."

Listening to it, I know how the writer felt. The beyond-myself, everything-in-myself, great soaring response to music is like no other (non-physical) experience in life. The profound gratitude we feel to the composers and artists who give us that experience, is one of unmixed reverence (no matter what me may happen to know about their personal lives).

And the personal sorrow that they could not give us more, is not unlike the sorrowof christians for the crucifixion or shi'ites for the death of Hussain.

Frutz Wunderlich died at age 35. He was probably the greatest Mozart singer who ever lived. A biographer of Mozart commented on the "unearthly perfection" of his music, - Wunderlich gave it earthly perfection, his voice is a universe.Mozart himself died at 36, and I don;t doubt beamed upon Fritz from Musical Olympus, as Puccini did on Bjorling. Stan Rogers died at 33. He wrote his own songs so I am sure he has found his niche on the Mount where Wolfgang and Giacomo drop in to bicker from time to time,

I never thought I would want to hear Ave Maria again (I have been to a lot of weddings) but hearing Wunderlich sing it, I forgot what song it was.

I guess this is my version of value swooning-- so sorry, Perigo, but both those guys were greater than Mario Lanza. Not that he wasn't great.

[Xray]

Frutz Wunderlich died at age 35. He was probably the greatest Mozart singer who ever lived. A biographer of Mozart commented on the "unearthly perfection" of his music, - Wunderlich gave it earthly perfection, his voice is a universe.Mozart himself died at 36, and I don;t doubt beamed upon Fritz from Musical Olympus, as Puccini did on Bjorling. Stan Rogers died at 33. He wrote his own songs so I am sure he has found his niche on the Mount where Wolfgang and Giacomo drop in to bicker from time to time,

I never thought I would want to hear Ave Maria again (I have been to a lot of weddings) but hearing Wunderlich sing it, I forgot what song it was.

I guess this is my version of value swooning-- so sorry, Perigo, but both those guys were greater than Mario Lanza. Not that he wasn't great.

I share your admiration of Fritz Wunderlich, Carol. 'Unearthly' really is the word for his incomparably beautiful voice and his interpretation of the music.

Each and every piece of music sung by Wunderlich just blows me away for the sheer beauty of that voice, and the authentic feelings he could convey in his interpretations.

[Xray]

Speaking of unearthly musical performances - here's another genius: guitar virtuoso Paco de Lucia.

(If were an Objectivist, I'd call him 'The John Galt of the Guitar' ... )

Paco de Lucia - Entre dos aguas.

Enjoy: