MY SAY: MUSIC HATH CHARMS TO SOOTHE THE NEWS JUNKIE
With apologies to William Congreve (24 January 1670 – 19 January 1729)who wrote “Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast”…..
Last night I went to the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola, in New York City. The occasion was a performance of the Bach Mass in B Minor, which is, to my mind, the most glorious and magnificent music ever composed- and that tops a list of many favorites. There were no savage breasts in the audience which was enthralled and respectful and enthusiastic from the minute the baton was raised to the coda two and a half hours later, despite sitting on hard wooden pews.
The Sacred Music in a Sacred Space, of the Church of Saint Ignatius Loyola, is directed by the conductor, composer and organist K.Scott Warren with outstanding orchestra and chorus and solo performers.
He is also chief Organist and Choirmaster at Congregation Emanuel in New York and the Shabbat, and Holy Day servies which include choral performances that are webcast year round. Also, the superb bass Enrico Lagasca hails from the Philippines, and among his other operatic and oratorio performances has toured internationally with Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.
Below the main level of the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola, on Park Avenue and 84th Street, lies Wallace Hall, one of Manhattan’s most beautiful and versatile rental spaces. Or Zarua, a conservative synagogue nearby uses Wallace Hall for high attendance services on Rosh Ha-Shana and Yom Kippur.
New York, New York it’s a wonderful town.
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