In the midst of the political turmoil that has been happening the last few weeks — or rather years, I find that is has been easier to default to anger and outrage rather than sitting with grief. One of the wonderful things about art, and the Psalms of course, is the opportunity that God gives us to just sit with pain. That might not sound so wonderful but I truly believe that lament is the beginning of healing and the beginning of compassion and empathy for those hurting around us.
The picture background for the music is a picture of the sculpture at the Holodomer Museum and serves as a reminder of the 3.5 million children who died of starvation during the genocide of the Ukrainian Nation between 1932-1933.
While anger can have its place, I believe God calls us to spend time in lament for the many tragedies and brokenness we see around us first.
Psalm 13
Prayer for Help in Trouble.
For the music director. A Psalm of David.
1 How long, Lord? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?
2 How long am I to feel anxious in my soul,
With grief in my heart all the day?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
Enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,
4 And my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken.
5 But I have trusted in Your faithfulness;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord,
Because He has looked after me.
Trois Piéces No. 1 is part of a set of three pieces for cello by Nadia Boulanger (1887-1979). Ms. Boulanger was a leading French music teacher and composer in the early 20th century and taught notable musicians and composers such as Aaron Copland, Daniel Barenboim, Philip Glass and many more. I arranged the music for oboe and the recording is of myself and Aaron Stampfl on piano. You can purchase that recording here.
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