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Musical Notes and Thoughts

Music Texts
Wednesday, April 3, 2024 by Dr. James W. Walraven

What Easter music most moves you? The topic came up in a recent social media discussion. At the start of the discussion three pieces were mentioned: Vivaldi’s “Gloria”; Poulenc’s “Laudamus te” from his “Gloria”; and Mahler’s “Resurrection” Symphony #2.

As it happens, back in my days of normal eyesight, I’d been involved in productions of all three. I’ve played double-bass for both the Vivaldi “Gloria” and Mahler’s “Resurrection” symphony, and I have sung Poulenc’s “Gloria”.

The Vivaldi “Gloria,” in particular, was a lot of fun to play. Musically speaking, so was the Mahler. Since it was “Resurrection Sunday,” a symphony about resurrection would be good, right? Not necessarily. Mahler’s symphony raises a question: Is Mahler’s “Resurrection” biblical?

What does his text declare? This type of text/lyrics question is asked most often in relation to Rap and Rock, with their lyrics that often glorify and celebrate what God declares to be sin. But, “classical” music is no different. The same problems exist, it is just expressed in ways some people think sound “nicer”.

Here are the lyrics that close Mahler’s Resurrection symphony (from gustavmahler.com):

“Arise, yes, you will arise from the dead,

My heart, in an instant!

What you have conquered

Will bear you to God.”

Is that even remotely akin to Jesus’s Resurrection? What do those lyrics make of the cross, of Jesus’s death on Good Friday?

Prior vocal texts in the symphony stress the Judge’s impending judgment, doom will follow shortly. What happens? Everyone is miraculously enveloped in love. In essence, there is universal forgiveness, universal salvation. How is that achieved? According to the concluding text, by what we, or “I” have conquered.

As Mahler was Jewish, I wouldn’t expect him to mention anything related to Jesus Christ. But we aren’t even talking a “neutral” type of resurrection here. Rather, it is self-actualized. I achieve my own resurrection, I make myself worthy, I save myself. Biblically speaking, that is as far away from the truth as one can get.

There is a “Christan” version of universal salvation, first propounded by Clement of Alexandria, and made popular by Origen. My first book, “Will God Save Everyone? Christian Universalism, Hell, Heaven, and the Scriptures” dealt with the fallacy of that belief system, a system that is once more gaining traction. A hyperlink to that book is provided, below.

The Biblical reality is that it is only through Jesus’s death on the cross, and His Resurrection that our salvation becomes possible. Only through faith in Jesus Christ, and His work in our behalf can we be saved. Salvation is universal in the sense that Jesus paid the price for all sin for all time: anyone can be saved. But, only those who receive and accept that gift, those who God draws, are saved. Salvation is not universal. Sadly, most reject what Jesus did on the cross for us, the forgiveness we can have through Him. Like Mahler’s text, most would rather make themselves worthy, something that Scripture states is impossible.

What we listen to matters. When we listen to music, what message does the composer or song writer wish to convey? Music itself is neutral. It can be used for either good or ill.

The Bible tells us that we were made in God’s image. Our artistic creativity is one aspect of that image, as God is the Creator. Quite a bit of music and art is good, directly reflecting biblical truth. Much of it could be considered innocuous, neutral, enjoyable. But some of it is anti-God, anti-biblical.

Mahler’s “Resurrection” looks nice, it sounds wonderful—both spiritually and literally. Who doesn’t long to be enveloped in love? It is a truly well-crafted work of musical art. It really is, in a strictly musical sense, fun to play. But its message is an outright lie. If one adopts Mahler’s view of “Resurrection” as “truth” one will end up separated from God for all eternity. Biblically speaking, at least in this piece, Mahler ends up being a false prophet. Emotionally, I don’t like writing that, but that is besides the point.

What is the music we listen to teaching us? Are we even aware of it?

Here is a hyper link to my book, “Will God Save Everyone? Christian Universalism, Hell, Heaven, and the Scriptures”:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=walraven+will+god+save+everyone&crid=37QUJEY1HIOHC&sprefix=walraven+will+god+save+everyone%2Caps%2C146&ref=nb_sb_noss


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