Journeys in Space-Time 1
Golden Years

It all resides in the mind of the beholder. It transcends everyday, mundane experience and should give us a sense of belonging, responsibility and meaning.

Well, if you subscribe to that argument, then you’ll know that music written to celebrate God has got to be pretty special. Imagine then, the importance of religious music in past centuries, when religion was everything.

Then you’ll understand that in the early days of music, classical music was religious music. Apart from the odd dance tune, composers worked mainly for god.

In this list, we take a trip forward through striking religious music of the last 400 years. The best place to start is 1600s in Italy, where Monteverdi, one of the first name-brand composers, exalted his God with glorious brass fanfares and chanting choirs.

Vivaldi, true to his flamboyant style, wrote a joyful dedication, full of life. In newly protestant Germany, Bach, the god of music, dedicated his life to writing music for his god. His religious music is said to be a religious experience. Handel’s most famous music is called The Messiah. Say no more. His “Hallelujah Chorus” needs no introduction.

Reflecting developments in sumptuous orchestral sound, Haydn and Mendelssohn wrote big, passionate dedications to God.

As religion slowly declined in importance, so did the importance of religious music. Even so, in the middle of a mucked-up twentieth century Stravinsky and Poulenc (who found his god later in life), were able to write beautiful religious music. Rutter continued the tradition into recent times.

If you lack conviction in your spirit, if you are ill at ease, then try one of these pieces out for a spiritual rev-up.