Jesus, now be praised

Imagine you were attending the New Year's Day service at Leipzig's Thomaskirche in 1725...

And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Jesu, nun sei gepreiset, BWV 41 by J.S. Bach 

But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

First Footing

Happy New Year!

And what piece of music is better to start 2014 that the thrilling toccata which opens Monteverdi's Orfeo - the first extant notes of operatic music in the Western world.

What a entrance!

And if that's not thrilling enough, just listen to what Monteverdi did to it when he set it to sacred words and added a dancing ritornello at the start of his great Vespers.

'Wow!' is the word.

May 2014 bring you joy!