Call it torture, call it University.
Just kidding, University rules.
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I'm not really sure what I'm going to post. That's often what I do with this blog...I decide I want to update and then I get on here and type whatever comes to mind. At the moment, I'm not really having much inspiration. Usually I have something buried in the back of my mind that comes to the forefront when I am confronted with the glow of a computer screen. This, I think, is not a good thing. You probably deserve more thought and effort as a reader of this blog. I apologize for being so inconsiderate.
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Today I had a musical breakthrough. About a year and a half ago I purchased John Coltrane's groundbreaking record A Love Supreme. This album really interested me because Coltrane composed it as a gesture of thankfulness to his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It's a jazz album. One of the most respected and well known saxophone players of all time was a Christian, and dedicated his work to God. That had a pretty stark contrast with the rest of the jazz world at the time. Jazz is a world in which music is god, and there is no room for anything else. You play jazz or you get out my way. I found the concept of a groundbreaking Christian jazz musician very refreshing.
I'll share with you a bit of the liner notes from the album:
"Dear Listeners:
All praise be to God to whom all praise is due.
Let us pursue Him in the righteous path. Yes it is true: "seek and ye shall find". Only through Him can we know the most wondrous bequeathal.
During the year 1957, I experienced, by the grace of God, a spiritual awakening which was to lead me to a richer, fuller, more productive life. At that time, in gratitude, I humbly asked to be given the means and privilege to make others happy through music. i fell that has been granted through His grace. All praise to God.
As time and events moved on, a period of irresolution did prevail. I entered into a phase which was contradictory to the pledge and away from the esteemed path: but thankfully, now and again through the unerring and merciful hand of God, I do perceive and have been duly re-informed of His Omnipotence, and of our need for, and dependence on Him. At this time I would like to tell you that No matter what...it is with God. He is gracious and merciful. His way is in Love, through which we all are. It is truly - A love Supreme.
This album is a humble offering to Him. An attempt to say "thank you God" through our work, even as we do in our hearts and with our tongues. may He help and strengthen all men in every good endeavor."
The album is divided into 4 parts - Acknowledgment, Resolution, Pursuance, and Psalm. Absolutely beautiful.
Anyway, I've listened to this album many many times, trying to understand, musically, what was so great about it. I kind of hated it. But I kept listening, over and over, trying to figure out what it was all about. Today I finally got it.
This may mean nothing to you at all, but if you are into jazz, you will understand what I mean.
love,
Ryan
---
I'm not really sure what I'm going to post. That's often what I do with this blog...I decide I want to update and then I get on here and type whatever comes to mind. At the moment, I'm not really having much inspiration. Usually I have something buried in the back of my mind that comes to the forefront when I am confronted with the glow of a computer screen. This, I think, is not a good thing. You probably deserve more thought and effort as a reader of this blog. I apologize for being so inconsiderate.
---
Today I had a musical breakthrough. About a year and a half ago I purchased John Coltrane's groundbreaking record A Love Supreme. This album really interested me because Coltrane composed it as a gesture of thankfulness to his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It's a jazz album. One of the most respected and well known saxophone players of all time was a Christian, and dedicated his work to God. That had a pretty stark contrast with the rest of the jazz world at the time. Jazz is a world in which music is god, and there is no room for anything else. You play jazz or you get out my way. I found the concept of a groundbreaking Christian jazz musician very refreshing.
I'll share with you a bit of the liner notes from the album:
"Dear Listeners:
All praise be to God to whom all praise is due.
Let us pursue Him in the righteous path. Yes it is true: "seek and ye shall find". Only through Him can we know the most wondrous bequeathal.
During the year 1957, I experienced, by the grace of God, a spiritual awakening which was to lead me to a richer, fuller, more productive life. At that time, in gratitude, I humbly asked to be given the means and privilege to make others happy through music. i fell that has been granted through His grace. All praise to God.
As time and events moved on, a period of irresolution did prevail. I entered into a phase which was contradictory to the pledge and away from the esteemed path: but thankfully, now and again through the unerring and merciful hand of God, I do perceive and have been duly re-informed of His Omnipotence, and of our need for, and dependence on Him. At this time I would like to tell you that No matter what...it is with God. He is gracious and merciful. His way is in Love, through which we all are. It is truly - A love Supreme.
This album is a humble offering to Him. An attempt to say "thank you God" through our work, even as we do in our hearts and with our tongues. may He help and strengthen all men in every good endeavor."
The album is divided into 4 parts - Acknowledgment, Resolution, Pursuance, and Psalm. Absolutely beautiful.
Anyway, I've listened to this album many many times, trying to understand, musically, what was so great about it. I kind of hated it. But I kept listening, over and over, trying to figure out what it was all about. Today I finally got it.
This may mean nothing to you at all, but if you are into jazz, you will understand what I mean.
love,
Ryan
posted by Ryan at Thursday, September 13, 2007
3 Comments:
Hey thats great! i remember you talking about totally just not being into that album.
Its absolutely true what you say about the music being god to these intense musicians. it's quite something to see one of them being so humble about his musical abilities and bringing it back to the praise of God.
nice post ryan
dan
I like that I've read your post, and I feel educated. :) Can I hear that album sometime? I will probably hate it too, but who knows.
That's really cool! I never knew that about John Coltrane...U2 refers to that specific album twice on Rattle & Hum, you know. It's cool how advancing you understanding of music in one area affects another--and an important album like A Love Supreme has an effect on the entire music world too.
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