“Ave Maria” Acapella: The Sublime In a Stairwell

rredick November 28, 2023

Photo credit: the urban music scene

A work of A work of artistic genius can feel immune to the passage of years. But for works meant to be performed, “timeless” does not Mean “static.” This stairwell recording of Schubert’s “Ave Maria,” by four gifted young Texans, imbues new life and grace into a song loved round the world.

Planet Earth can be a woefully sectarian place, but music—even music sacred to a certain religion or culture—has a way of proliferating far beyond its origins and becoming dear to people around the world. You don’t have to be a Muslim to feel a thrill when a sublime voice calls out the Adhan at sunset. You don’t need to understand Zulu to sway to the magic of a South African vocal ensemble. And of course, you don’t need to be Christian to feel the beauty of “Ave Maria” deep in your bones.

Since its debut in 1825, Franz Schubert’s prayer-song has been covered in hundreds of ways and performed by millions of singers. Its very simplicity is part of its strength. While literally a straightforward adoration of the Virgin Mary, the sincerity of its yearning touches something timeless and universal in us.

One of the most beautiful renditions in recent times is our feature today. The acapella group Kings Return began in 2016 as a purely Gospel project by four Dallas friends. Now they’re branching into pop, blues, soul, and classical performances as well—but they’ve held on tight to their roots in the Christian faith. Whatever your beliefs or musical preferences, we think you’ll feel the peace, strength and beauty of their “Ave Maria.” Enjoy!

rredick

When Song, Faith, and Joy are Enough

The full name of the song is “Ndikhokhele Bawo,” which means “Lead me, Father” in Xhosa. These South African youths, assembled in their school’s courtyard, transform their place of learning into a concert hall with nothing more than the power of their voices. But it’s their spirit of joy and solidarity that lifts the beautiful into the realm of the sublime.

rredick April 30, 2024

Learning About Depression. And Fighting Back.

Forty percent of Americans will suffer a major depressive episode at some point in their lives. Five percent of the world’s population is suffering from it at any given time. It’s a disease that’s too often misunderstood—when it’s not overlooked entirely. Recovery writer Annie Highwater offers this primer on the many forms depression can take, and the variety of paths available for dealing with it.

annieunhooked April 23, 2024

King’s Return Encore: “Amazing Grace” Acapella

The Dallas-based quartet often focuses on spiritual and gospel music, and like any truly gifted performers, they make even the most familiar classics sound and feel brand new. This time, they’ve chosen a song that never gets old, and one with a special resonance for many in our Allies community.

rredick March 26, 2024

IFS: Embracing and Listening to Our Multiple Selves

“Most of the world’s problems arise from a misunderstanding about parts and burdens,” Dr. Richard Schwartz asserts. In IFS, which he founded, the “parts” are our multiple internal selves, and the burdens are the trauma and wounds they try to manage on our behalf. The simple but radical proposition of IFS is that these multiple selves arise for good reasons and have a lot to offer—if we can help them change with the seasons of our lives.

rredick February 6, 2024

“Hi Ren” Brings the Inner Demons out in the Open

Our sanctuary blog is often a place where you’ll find light, comfort, and tales of perseverance in the face of immense challenges. Today is no exception—but a warning: all of those familiar qualities are accompanied by one of the more vivid portraits of suffering we’ve shared with you.

rredick January 23, 2024

Loneliness Is an Epidemic. Love Is the Closest Thing We Have to a Cure.

You don’t need anyone to tell you that loneliness sucks. But did you know that it’s an all-but-out-of-control epidemic in the modern world, and that lives are shortened because of it? That’s the lamentable truth. But happily, as Dr. Jill Carnahan relates, the remedy is accessible to nearly everyone.

rredick December 19, 2023

Top Secret Drum Corps: The Pursuit of Perfection, and Fun

They’re not a secret, and despite their 18th-century style uniforms, they’re not part of any military. But the discipline and focus of these 25 young men from Switzerland could put many an army marching band to shame.

rredick December 12, 2023

As Real As It Gets: Stand By Me In Central Park

No studio, no mixers, no lights, no amplifiers: when Cover Story Doo-Wop sings “Stand By Me” under the Bethesda Terrace arches in New York’s Central Park, it’s their talent and deep feeling that carry us away.

rredick December 5, 2023

Dr. Gabor Maté: The Power of Addiction, the Addiction to Power

Across four decades of work on issues of trauma, addiction, childhood development, stress, and illness, Dr. Gabor Maté has become an internationally recognized thinker, author, and public speaker. But his brilliance is only one side of the coin. The other side, evident in all his remarks, is profound compassion. In this TED talk, both qualities are on full display.

rredick November 7, 2023

Dopamine, Addiction, and the Brain: Understanding the Science Can Help Us Change

The research has taken three quarters of a century (and counting). But the findings are truly remarkable: pain and pleasure are naturally balanced in a healthy brain. Substances can drastically disrupt that balance, however. In the effort to restore it, our brains go into overdrive. Fortunately, we can help it along—and help ourselves at the same time.

rredick October 31, 2023

Photo credit: the urban music scene

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