When you have a moment, listen to Allegri’s Miserere. What do you make of the story Cyrus’s uncle told him about this piece? When Cyrus said he’d listen to it, his uncle put him off and said he wouldn’t understand it. After listening to it yourself, do you agree with Cyrus’s uncle? Is there anything that stood out to you in this piece? How did it make you feel?
When Cyrus’ uncle cautioned Cyrus from listening to this piece, I think he intuited that Cyrus still had a way to go towards understanding forgiveness and grace. However, I think the uncle underestimated the power of music to move the soul and I think Cyrus would have benefited from listening to it. The writer was building tension by having the uncle dismiss Cyrus. As for me, I found serenity as I immersed myself in this timeless piece and felt a connection to all who listened before me.
I think Arash was trying to protect Cyrus, in the same, flawed, kind of messed up way he always tried to protect his sister. He had this thing (the music) that he loved, and he was ultimately forced to destroy it. He’s trying to spare Cyrus that same loss by stopping him from listening to it in the first place.
I think that it is a question of music versus words. One can listen to his and have an incredible experience and not understand the words. But then, the words...
But some of the things I was thinking about, as a person who was Catholic as a child simply because my mother was Catholic and she made sure we went to church on Sundays and Sunday School after church until they switched Sunday School to Monday nights and then we dropped out of the whole thing altogether by the time I was in sixth grade—I was thinking that it was interesting that this Catholic music was what was stuck in Arash’s car, like why this? Is it that no matter what the law is, the music WILL still be there? And that Arash’s appreciation of art explains Cyrus’s literary bent, because his father didn’t seem to display much interest in art, so caught up was he in his long hours on the chicken farm.
Seconds ago, I heard the last notes of this music. The ending is exquisite. I knew this chapter was coming; I saw your email about it, but hadn’t gotten that far yet.
Now I’m sitting in a coffee shop and I just came to the chapter, so as I was reading, I had the piece playing on my phone, which I held close to my ear so no one else could hear it.
I stopped reading just to listen for a moment, then kept reading, and the music ended as I finished the chapter.
All I can come up with right now is that I just had a cool moment.
The text asks for obedience to a God who says women are inherently inferior to men and must be obedient to men. I understand that very well. So, I suppose I understand it.
When Cyrus’ uncle cautioned Cyrus from listening to this piece, I think he intuited that Cyrus still had a way to go towards understanding forgiveness and grace. However, I think the uncle underestimated the power of music to move the soul and I think Cyrus would have benefited from listening to it. The writer was building tension by having the uncle dismiss Cyrus. As for me, I found serenity as I immersed myself in this timeless piece and felt a connection to all who listened before me.
I think Arash was trying to protect Cyrus, in the same, flawed, kind of messed up way he always tried to protect his sister. He had this thing (the music) that he loved, and he was ultimately forced to destroy it. He’s trying to spare Cyrus that same loss by stopping him from listening to it in the first place.
I think that it is a question of music versus words. One can listen to his and have an incredible experience and not understand the words. But then, the words...
But some of the things I was thinking about, as a person who was Catholic as a child simply because my mother was Catholic and she made sure we went to church on Sundays and Sunday School after church until they switched Sunday School to Monday nights and then we dropped out of the whole thing altogether by the time I was in sixth grade—I was thinking that it was interesting that this Catholic music was what was stuck in Arash’s car, like why this? Is it that no matter what the law is, the music WILL still be there? And that Arash’s appreciation of art explains Cyrus’s literary bent, because his father didn’t seem to display much interest in art, so caught up was he in his long hours on the chicken farm.
Seconds ago, I heard the last notes of this music. The ending is exquisite. I knew this chapter was coming; I saw your email about it, but hadn’t gotten that far yet.
Now I’m sitting in a coffee shop and I just came to the chapter, so as I was reading, I had the piece playing on my phone, which I held close to my ear so no one else could hear it.
I stopped reading just to listen for a moment, then kept reading, and the music ended as I finished the chapter.
All I can come up with right now is that I just had a cool moment.
The text asks for obedience to a God who says women are inherently inferior to men and must be obedient to men. I understand that very well. So, I suppose I understand it.