- by Art Sulit, www.MuSeeks.com/ArthurSulit
Music Timeline Author
Tchaikovsky in his letters to his brother and to his sponsor, Nadhezda von Meck, remaked that he would often take brisk walks outside (as Mozart did) for inspiration and refreshment. Further, he said, nothing could inspire him more than hearing the Church bells ringing, or the heavenly Chants sung in Russia's Orthodox Catholic service. This is a phenomenon not to be trivialized--for if you notice anything about the major, major composers, those who are universally hailed as being at the very Pinnacle of all composers, then they all share one thing in common--that they drew profound inspiration from the Church. Whether it be Bach in his Lutheran form of the Church, or Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky in their Russian/Eastern Orthodox form of the Church, or Mozart despite his quarrels with the Archbiship of his Roman Catholic Church--all will tell you first hand that they could not have possibly composed their best masterpieces without having grown up immersed in the sounds, the incense, and ceremonies of the One Church founded by Christ.
That should be telling. If one wants to become great either in the composing, or performing, or appreciation of the greatest in musical art, then perhaps he should explore a bit where it came from, by attending a Church, preferably one offering the Latin Mass & Chants as Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Bach or Rachmaninov might have heard it. Take a few brisk walks every week, as gentle Pyotyr Illich once did. Breath in the nature of God, the beauty of our surroundings, the birds, the wind bristling in the trees. Experience the enchantment of the Latin Church service on a regular basis. Then you will have a clue into the world of the greatest composers who ever lived--our rightful heritage.