I love music of a profound nature, that somehow makes my mind conjure the mystical, unknown, interconnectness of life. I find it so life-affirming and comforting to listen to but I’m also particular about what I do like, and this piece is another that just has that special something for me.
The lyrics, which translated from the Latin ‘Dominus Vobiscum’ mean ‘The Lord be with you’ and the response in return ‘Et cum spiritu tu’ means ‘and with your spirit’ (translation obtained from Wikipedia). The lyrics for the composition are a salutation and were sourced from the Bible, in particular, Ruth 2:4 and Chronicles 15:2.
What I like about this piece is how the simple repetition builds to a gentle crescendo that falls away to then repeat from its base point, and so on and so forth throughout the entire composition. The rhythmic motion of the music makes me think of the waves of an ocean that build up and fall in the same manner.
From whichever perspective you approach this music, either from a religious or spiritual perspective, (if you’re that way inclined) the waves could represent life or souls that rise and fall in endless unison but nevertheless persist, continuing forth into the endless space that represents the physical universe in a spiritual or Godly connectivity. There’s something incredibly beautiful and powerful about that.
Perhaps for you, if God is instead life from a solely scientific perspective, then the same notion of endless waters can be applied but, in your case, perhaps, likened instead to the seemingly eternal ocean of time that exists in the universe and the power of life itself to permeate it. This perspective has no less a sense of power and wonder behind it.
Human life is like the individual waves of the ocean, rising up and striving to obtain greater heights with each person, as well as with each generation but in reaching for the sky we are fated to fall back into the ocean and to merge into a greater tapestry of other people, of our lovers or partners, of our families, our wider communities, countries and of the entire world. The ocean of life that is our world, our planet, our home, the source of everything that we are. The world that we live and breathe, laugh and cry in and all other number of emotions in the vast spectrum that we experience in the span of our lives.
For me, this is why the music of the church is so vital and no less relevant in an age where religion has steadily fallen by the wayside. There is something incredibly profound in the music of the church and in fact, of the religious music of many cultures all over the world.
In fact, this is what on many occasion has drawn me to the church (for there are innumerable churches in Rome). I appreciate them for they provide a place for me to visit where I can take a few hours away from the world. A place where there are no clocks and my mobile phone is tucked away in my bag on silent and all but forgotten. It’s time where I’m able to reflect on and be grateful for all that I’ve been given in my life and to say thank you for all of the hurdles I’ve been able to overcome.
The singing of hymns as one chorus of people who have sought that space out for any number of reasons, are united in those few hours through music and song and reflection that, at their core, are a deep sense of wonder and love for life.
There is a beautiful ode to life that is threaded into every piece of music such as today’s piece, the reflection of very human souls who seek to understand these lives we started here with no maps, no guidebooks and seemingly, no guide itself. It enables us to channel that mystery, that regardless of our faith or lack thereof that we all share in discovering who we are as individuals, and what we want to achieve and experience on this beautiful blue, white and green marble in space on which we live.
So I leave you with these ponderings to reflect on as you listen to Dominus Vobiscum and by doing so perhaps it will add to and enrich your experience of music that we’re fortunate to have in our classical music repertoire.
CLASSICALISTA 