As I was driving home from Dr. Kenneth Miller’s talk up in St. Paul on Wednesday night, I listened to Brahms’ German Requiem.  Having the almost-full moon peer down at me through my sunroof, it was an exuberant soul experience, let me tell you.  It does the same thing to me that Vivaldi’s “Gloria in excelsis Deo” does, which I will include at the end of this post.

I’m sharing the first movement of the German Requiem with you.  It starts out softly, so turn it up.

First, the German text, then the English.

Selig sind, die da Leid tragen, denn sie sollen getröstet werden.
Die mit Tränen säen, werden mit Freuden ernten.
Sie gehen hin und weinen und tragen edlen Samen, und kommen mit Freuden und bringen ihre Garben.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
They that go forth and weep, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing their sheaves with them.

If this whets your appetite, you can listen to all seven movements here.

And here is the beautiful “Gloria in excelsis Deo” by Vivaldi.  Exquisite.

[Post image: Full Moon by RoadHead on stock.xchng]