There’s a saying among church musicians: A good hymn-writer can teach us plenty of things, but George Herbert teaches us that good hymns can also be good poetry. Indeed, look up his name in an English hymnal, and you’ll find the pages to his hymns more worn out than others.

There is a ton of great music written for Easter – no surprise there. But like hymnody, it’s hard to find music that captures the joy of the season without going overboard into a sea of shallowness. The “Hallelujah Chorus” is just too much for me. Thank goodness for George Herbert’s poetry, set by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Happy Easter!

The Reproaches are a set of responses traditionally sung on Good Friday. The text contrasts the graces of God with the evils done to Jesus: “I gave you saving water from the rock; you gave me vinegar to drink” or “I parted the [Red] sea before you; you parted my side with a spear.”

English composer John Sanders‘ setting of the Reproaches is haunting, perfectly capturing the emotions expressed in the words. The music is simultaneously liturgically functional and stunningly beautiful.

When I began this blog, I vowed to do it for at least one full year. I’m doing it for myself, but let me say how much I appreciate you, the readers, for your feedback, responses, and your support.

I made a long list of pieces I wanted to present and write about. I’m slowly chipping away at that list. But every once in a while, I stumble across something new and fascinating – you know, like when you go past page 2 of your google search?

Seriously though, among the vast wasteland of trash, you can dig up some real gems. Here’s one I click on because, well, it had a cool picture. And it ended up being a really cool piece of music … and a very interesting story.

Before this post, I had never heard of Sir Eugene Aynsley Goossens. He is the third musician named Eugene Goossens, all from the same family, who lived in the same house, in London. Goossens conducted the British premiere of Stravinsky‘s Rite of Spring, and was the conductor of the Rochester (New York) Philharmonic and instructor at the prestigious Eastman School of Music. Sounds pretty normal, right?

So now it gets interesting. Goossens had an colorful affair with Australian Rosaleen Norton, an artist, occultist, and witch, at a time when Australia was socially conservative. He was stopped at the Sydney airport and searched; his bags had some curious photos, masks, incense, and other objects – enough to cause a huge scandal at the time, and ending Goossen’s musical career.

Here is Goossen’s 1913 “The Eternal Rhythm”, which I had never heard before; I quite like it. It sounds very much like the post-romantic works of the time, and smacks especially of Scriabin.