Music and Rituals

 I've started writing this during the break of Tuesday's class and one of the questions Dr. Vaneman left us with that I've been chewing on was "What purpose does sad music hold in formal (or informal) settings?" Reducing that down to what is the purpose of sad music: Mainly catharsis, that is the release or breaking of psychological tension. However, in formal settings such as funerals the purpose of sad music feels more reflective if that makes sense. Regardless we've now already had a class discussion on this and don't want to rehash a everything we just said.  

Moving onto less sad of a topic and I'm honestly unsure why my mom and dad decided on changing it up from the traditional wedding march song, but instead of that of the "Here Comes the Bride" instrumental song Canon in D was played. While I wasn't even a thought yet. I still really enjoy the song, maybe because it's so easy, maybe because we coincidently played it in like middle school or maybe because it was played at my parents' wedding. More than likely all three.

Edit: after asking my dad why that was the case, he said that it was because my mom wanted to avoid being reminded of her previous marriage in addition to get away from what seemed to be a bad omen of a song. 



A piece of music that's I've (typically) enjoyed when Christmas rolls around is Hark the Herald Angels Sing, and the family and I have some rendition of it playing while putting up the Christmas Tree, and because of that one of the symptoms of hearing Hark the Herald Angels Sing often every Christmas is branching out to different versions of it. I particularly enjoy this instrumental version of it featuring a bass clarinet. 


 

Comments

  1. Mary Ashton GarrettJanuary 10, 2024 at 11:59 AM

    I have to agree about sad music at funerals being reflective. When listening to music at funerals it can be a great time to reflect on the life they lived and the impact they had on the people around them. I also really enjoyed the song "Hark The Herald Angels Sing" and I love that your family plays some rendition of it while putting up the Christmas tree.

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  2. Clara SteinJanuary 10, 2024 at 12:35 PM

    I love that your family has a tradition of playing Hark the Herald Angels sing each year. It is so cool that you also like branching out to different versions of it. I often like to listen to different versions of songs because its interesting to see how different people can interpret the same song.

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  3. Sarah BurgerJanuary 10, 2024 at 1:29 PM

    I'm glad that you enjoy "Canon In D" and that it means something to you and your family. I'm a cellist, so I personally dislike that piece because of how repetitive the cello part is, but I know it's a piece that a lot of people play during weddings and other important events, so I can appreciate that others find meaning in it :). I also like "Hark The Herald Angels Sing"- We sometimes sing it during the Christmas service at my church. I think it's super cool that your family plays it when putting up the Christmas tree, and I liked the bass clarinet version that you posted.

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  4. Miriam WaddellJanuary 10, 2024 at 8:16 PM

    I like Hark the Herald Angels Sing as well; it's one of my favorite hymns. I like how hard everyone goes for it at my church. I also think it's cool that your family puts it on while decorating, because mine does too! Along with a lot of other Christmas music.

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  5. Baileigh GossettJanuary 11, 2024 at 12:44 AM

    I enjoy listening to Canon in D in some of my free time. It helps me focus when my brain scatters. I also enjoy Hark the Harald Angels Sing. It is an all time bop. I enjoy singing it at church when the occasion arises. I also just love Christmas time so it all ties together.

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  6. Claire CatheyJanuary 11, 2024 at 3:14 PM

    I enjoyed reading the significance of Canon in D for your family. I like that version of Hark the Harald Angels Sing! You seem like a very family-oriented person and it's great to see music being a huge part of that.

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  7. SaryeJanuary 16, 2024 at 2:19 PM

    It's so sweet to see how family oriented you are, and that a song that can be so simple to one person can be so meaningful to another so that was touching. I think its cool how you branch out and listen to different versions of Hark the Herald Angels Sing! My family and I do something similar minus the tree decorating. We usually listen to music together in the kitchen while my aunt cooks dinner. We just listen to different versions of all types of Christmas songs until New Years.

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