January 1, 2026
by
Jacky Bramma
“Music has charms to soothe the savage breast, to soften rocks or bend a knotted oak”.
This famous line was uttered by a character in William Congreve’s 1697 play, “The Mourning Bride. It suggests that the power of music can calm even the wildest, most aggressive emotions or people. It highlights music’s deep emotional and psychological impact from calming stress to unifying whole communities.
Sometimes all it takes is song or piece of music to transport us back in time to our younger days, or to a special place with a loved one. For those of us of a certain age for example, hearing the Beatles’ “She Loves You, Yeh, Yeh Yeh!” instantly conjures up a time when hair was long and skirts were short. How about Christmas carols? Do you have a favourite which evokes memories of home and family?
Music of all kinds has always played a starring role in the human condition: lullabies sung to infants; community singing to keep up people’s spirits in the air raid shelters of WWll; soccer fans singing in the bleachers; love songs which touch the heart; the singing of national anthems, designed to arouse feelings of patriotism. I can think of many times when listening to or performing music has moved me to tears by its beauty.
Music is an important feature of most religions. Early in the Old Testament we find the song of Miriam after the crossing of the Red Sea. The Psalms are known as the hymn book of the OT, with Levites as singers and musicians, to lead joyful praise at the Tabernacle. Temple worship included a wide array of instruments such as trumpets, lyres, harps flutes, tambourines and cymbals, and was seen as divinely inspired. The trumpet blasts from Joshua and his army were powerful enough to break down the walls of Jericho!
In the New Testament, music is primarily focused on heartfelt, Spirit-filled singing of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs for teaching, encouragement and praising God, exemplified by Jesus and his disciples singing hymns at the Last Supper. In Ephesians 5:19, Saint Paul exhorts believers to “worship with psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.”
In the Anglican tradition, music is an integral part of worship, and the wonderful acoustics of many churches only add to the effect. The phrase, “He who sings prays twice,” is attributed to Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430 CE), who himself was greatly inspired by liturgical hymns and music. Indeed, singing in worship adds another layer of devotion because music engages both the heart and the soul.
In the secular world, Christmas is over, and there will be no more of the endless (and so often mindless) festive music at the mall. But, for us, the Twelve Days of Christmas aren’t over until Epiphany on January 6. We will continue to enjoy beautiful Christmas music until then as we lift our voices in praise of the birth of the Holy One of God.
PRAYER
Thank you, Lord, for the gift of music. As we lift our voices in praise, draw us closer to you. Touch our hearts and minds in the beauty of music as we worship you. Through your Holy Spirit, may we always pray twice as we sing.
AMEN
Installation of New Canons at St. James Cathedral Sunday – January 11, 2025, 4:30pm
FYI, in the Anglican Church, “Canons” refer to senior priests distinguished by the Diocesan Bishop for their service. They can be residentiary (that is, working directly at the cathedral) or have honorary status at the cathedral while still serving elsewhere.
