Music for the Dying

Soothing: Music in sorrowful times can ease, encourage and uplift the soul PIC: CBSNEWS.COM
Soothing: Music in sorrowful times can ease, encourage and uplift the soul PIC: CBSNEWS.COM

In one scene in the 1987 movie, “A Prayer for the Dying,” a priest is seen administering the last rites to a dying man. The man is a professional killer on the run from his past. In a movie about the quest for redemption and the yearning for mercy by a thoroughly flawed man, this may appear unsurprising.

But there is music playing in the background. That music is classical music. This is the music of the medieval period, past through the Renaissance era, beyond the common period, the 20th century, and right up to the present postmodern period.

It is in the nature of classical music to make the unfamiliar sound inviting; emotional turmoil sound noble; pain sound bearable, and the bearable sound tasteful. And even if you are sceptical of or unfamiliar with it, as long as you are open minded, by its special pleading for your listenership, classical music will move and even awe you.


Editor's Comment
BDP primaries leave a lot to be desired

The BDP as a party known to have ample resources has always held its primaries well in time, but this time around that was not the case. The first leg of the primaries was held last weekend, with the final leg being billed for the coming weekend. This time around, the BDP failed to shine in its primary elections. The elections were chaotic; most if not all polling stations didn't open at the specified time of 6am. Loyal BDP members braved the...

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