Music 81: In the beginning was the Word

39 Replies

81word

I’m having a break from creating something new. This is the beginning of a longer commissioned work (43 minutes) based on the Gospel of Saint John, that I composed a little time back.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Listen to the music HERE

39 thoughts on “Music 81: In the beginning was the Word”

  2. Yvonne

    You are a man of may talents, Bruce Almighty. I hope you find the rest of it.

    (Some years ago, I was a member of a community choral group. Our director composed a piece based on this Gospel. It was difficult to sing, but so beautiful.)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
  3. exiledprospero

    Can you be decommissioned, I wonder?

    Mind you, I was moved to tears (but then again I suffer from psychosis of the ear drums).

    A little more like John Cage Meets Philip Glass than the Gospel of Saint John–but I’m still groovin’.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply ↓
            1. Cynthia Jobin

              I don’t hear bombs in this composition (nor see them in the photo)….au contraire, mon frère…. And I don’t hear Glass or Cage or the apocalypse, either; I hear poetry in it. But what do I know…..

              Liked by 1 person

              Reply ↓
                1. Cynthia Jobin

                  Indeed it would. All my long life I have puzzled over that “In the beginning was the word…” business, and I still can’t put a meaning to it that makes any sense to me! When I was an adolescent I remember writing a poem that began: “In the beginning was the background…” 🙂

                  Liked by 1 person

                  Reply ↓
                  1. Bruce Goodman Post author

                    I understand it thus: think of the powerful creative force of words – which is what happens when someone writes a poem. If I say “purple cow” to a class of 23 students, I have created 23 purple cows, albeit only in their heads. It can also destroy. In the beginning was the word… And no doubt the experts would parallel it with Genesis: God SAID…
                    I like “In the beginning was the background”! With music I always told the students, in the beginning is silence… and now we’re going to arrange sound in it.

                    Liked by 1 person

                    Reply ↓
    1. Bruce Goodman Post author

      Thank Andrea. I was googling about “How to cook a blade steak” and your comment of “Haunting, mysterious, then playful” came up. It took me a while to work out! It’s still very early in the morning here!

      Like

      Reply ↓
  10. Cynthia Guenther Richardson

    A fine wonder. I have found your blog via Derrick Knight’s, that lovely person. Now I have found another blog, delightful and insightful and sonorous (at least this one)–how fortunate for me! The music caught me and I followed. Looking forward to more various posts. Best regards.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

Please feel free to spout, tout, flout, sprout, pout, or simply say something sensible