Audio Stream: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwmiEI5fOcA
November 1st is "All Saints' Day" (in the Roman Catholic Church at least). "All Saints' Day" is also known as "All Hallows". "Halloween" is named because it is "All Hallows' Even – e'en is a shortening of even, which is the origin of the words 'evening' and 'eve'." The day after "All Saints' Day" is "All Soul's Day". The three combined make up the "Festival of the Dead". I have always marked them and celebrated them for I like the darkness and indulgence of Halloween, followed by the solemnity of "All Saints' Day" and "All Soul's Day". They are very much the end of what was (summer) and the beginning of what will be (winter). All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day are also frequently a time when I pause to remember those I knew who have passed "All Saints' Day" and "All Soul's Day".
This is as "religious" in the traditional sense as I get I suppose (though there is a certain magic to Christmas). Musically I generally avoid many of the newer religious songs played in church, and "Christian Rock". So many of them seem so hokey and contrived, like some sort of bad folk rock concert every Sunday. Blech! Even when I was young I wondered why they didn't play more of the great mass compositions by the classical composers. There is no shortage of them. I suppose it might have required a good organist or even a multi piece orchestra and choir (likely unavailable at the church I grew up going to), but still it would've made the experience all the better. For my song for today, "All Saints' Day", here is one of pieces I am refering to, the "Kyrie" from Franz Schubert's "Mass in G" (AKA "Mass No. 2 in G Major"). It is also a piece I myself have performed with my college choir and a nice contrast to the Halloween songs though I am somewhat sad my Halloween song list will grow no more (until next year… *evil laugh in the distance*).
Enjoy!
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Click here for more info on Schubert – Mass in G – "Kyrie".
The MP3 of my favorite version may be purchased here… Schubert - Mass in G
