Symphonie de Psaumes

I have never thought of Igor Stravinsky as a deeply religious person. Not that I ever knew him personally, mind you. But in his music and his biographies he is portrayed as Russian gentry who began his studies in law and whose life was formed by exile and sadness, not faith or any personal relationship with God.

His music embraces crude and primitive elements as well as eclectic and intellectual forces, influenced by composers around him as well as events. Toward the end of his life, he returned to the Russian Orthodox faith of his childhood, and when he wrote the Symphonie de Psaumes in 1930 it was described as "ritualistically sacred."

Perhaps it is the eternal truth of the Psalms, that with which all humanity can relate. Perhaps it is in the dramatic, symphonic style of presentation. Perhaps it is because it abandons syrupy sentimentalism and shallow reflection for deeper more visceral truths. For whatever reason, this particular piece speaks to me at the moment.

Stravinsky begins with Hear my prayer, O Lord taken from Psalm 39: 12-13. Yes, it is where my prayers begin these days.

Hear my prayer, O Lord,
and give ear unto my cry;
Hold not Thy peace at my tears;
for I am a stranger with Thee,
and a sojourner as all my fathers were.
O spare me, that I may recover strength
before I go hence and be no more.

Can you hear me, Lord? Do you take note of my tears? Will you, by your grace alone, spare me?

Stravinsky then moves to I waited patiently for the Lord in Psalm 40:1-3. Yes, I am there. I am waiting, breath baited, searching for the response.

I waited patiently for the Lord,
and He inclined to me and heard my cry!
He brought me up also out of an horrible pit,
out of the miry clay,
and set my feet upon a rock
and established my goings.
He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God
Many shall see it and fear and shall trust in the Lord.

Yes, I have experienced God's deliverance in the past, in the last bout of cancer. I look for that again in this round - let it come quickly!

Stravinsky chose Psalm 150 to close his Symphonie - a song of Praise for the answered prayer. Yes, I will sing that song too. I will remember God's greatness, his grandeur, his power. It will be well with my soul.

Praise ye the Lord.
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in the firmament of His power.
Praise Him for His mighty acts.
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.
Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet.
Praise ye the Lord
Praise Him with the timbrel and dance.
Praise Him with stringed instruments and organs.
Praise Him upon the loud cymbals.
Praise Him upon the high sounding cymbals.
Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.

Check it out!