Spiegel im Spiegel
A number of people came up after service asking about the piece Jenny and I played – Spiegel im Spiegel – and its composer, Arvo Pärt, who is actually my favorite living composer, in large part due to his spiritual transformation and the resulting pivot to mystic minimalism. (See and hear a recording on Crawford’s YouTube channel, here.)
The title means “mirror in the mirror”, sonifying two mirrors facing each other, producing a cascade of identical images that appears to cascade infinitely ahead. The piece gives me the feeling of staring deeper into the reflection, looking for its origin, its starting place. The deeper I go, the more the ‘here and now’ reveals its infinitude.
As parents, we see ourselves mirrored in our son’s words and behaviors more and more (for better or worse). He embodies that which he reflects, just as we reflect our parents and mentors, and they theirs, ad infinitum. Our best glimpse of what unites us with all that came before, and with all that stretches far ahead, is the steady breath of the here and now, the Ruach, which is the Sancte Spiritu, the same reflection manifested in Acts, in Pärt’s personal spiritual transformation, and, hopefully, for you this very day.
Arvo composes from a place of mystic meditation and spiritual discipline, listening inwardly rather than projected outwardly. Through this act, we might recognize and resonate with the invisible spirituality of others. As he says, “We cannot see what is in the heart of another person. Maybe he is a holy man, and I can see only that he is wearing the wrong jacket.”
Here is a favorite recording of Spiegel im Spiegel. Like most great recordings, the musicians aren’t simply playing notes, but sounding themselves, as if listening to a mirror of their own infinite reflection. To add to your listening, my favorite of Pärt’s works is his Berliner Messe, which begins with this stunning Kyrie. I imagine heaven sounding like this.
As for the song “Breathe” from Sunday, it reflects this same Spirit. I only wish we could insert our choir in our recording. Actually, if you listen closely, you can hear me sniffling as Jenny marches down the aisle to this wedding version I arranged for string quartet, sung by a friend one month shy of five years ago.
Thank you for reading. Whatever you face this week, don’t forget to breathe!
– James G.
Music Director
Crawford Memorial United Methodist Church
Music Director
Crawford Memorial United Methodist Church
