The Fredösphere

This can't be a good sign.

This article is a bit of a mess, in the way it confuses high-brow style with liturgical purpose, but this line caught my eye:

Carroll is an unrepentant choir director. She believes there is more to being a Catholic musician than the ability to play some guitar chords while singing, "Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord? I have heard You calling in the night." She can speak words like "Victoria" and "Palestrina" without flinching.

She's doing better than I, since I always flinch when speaking "Victoria" and "Palestrina."  I think it's because my stepfather used to beat me while listening to Renaissance polyphony.

Meanwhile, new reality TV program is seeking the most exciting church choir.  In preparation, they did a poll.  It turns out that music aids spirituality!  Wow.  I did not see that coming.

I hate to criticize a choir director's decision to conduct "Do not stand at my grave and weep" at a funeral, but I don't get the sentiment.  When I die, I want everyone bawling their eyes out.  It reminds me of the notorious King Herod, who on his deathbed ordered the arrest of prominent citizens from every town in his kingdom.  His plan was for them all to be executed upon word of his death, to guarantee there would be no celebrating when he died -- which you've got to admit was a good idea.

Finally:  via The Rat, it's an early art project by MC Escher.