Paradoxic Religious Appraisal

Emma Kirkby: The unrivaled and beautiful goddess of Early Music recital

I've always felt very strongly against organised religion, particularly those of Christian and Islamic faiths.

The restriction, segregation, sexism, homophobia, war, racism and rape all in the name of these faiths are events which go beyond the concept of disgusting and abhorrent. The utter despicable lows of humanity have been witnessed throughout history all in the pursuit of religious (and regional) supremacy.

Yet, despite these atrocities which to this day continue to plague our society, an aspect of these faiths displays certain beauty of faith and the imagination of the human race: art and more importantly, music.

Of all forms of early music, religious recital overpowers me like no other art form I have ever come across. Colour, texture, composition, voice (both instrumental and soloist) all converge to display a level of faith in a belief that when closely inspected, is almost difficult to comprehend. The passion, love and devotion to the ideas of God, Jesus Christ, the Church and The Cross are beautifully depicted in various recitals through history, from early choral music of the fourteenth century, through to the closing Baroque period of the 1720's to 1750.

Many argue that the Bible is the best work of fiction ever written in the history of civilisation. Sometimes, despite my disgust for The Church I'm inclined to agree. The joy of celebration in the name of God, His Glory and power, combined with the suffering and pain of the death of Jesus Christ are brilliantly conveyed throughout song, chorus and instrumental accompaniment. But more importantly, it is the lyric of God himself, from the Bible, which when voiced through recital evokes emotion never matched throughout the history of music. The joy and light projected by a chorus, the lament and suffering expressed by a soloist are almost magic in power when witnessed and easily reduce a listener to tears, and this is all taken directly from what is possibly the most brilliant story ever written in the history of our civilisation.

I find it a paradox that such beauty can be created through something which causes so much death and misery, even in the world of today. Our ability to express our love and belief is one of our strongest assets we possess - whether in glorious appraisal or depressive longing for Christ's return matters not, it is a devotion to an idea which expresses humanity in its most brilliant and unparalleled form.