The Power and the Glory

Posted on June 22, 2017 under Storytelling with one comment

Notre Dame Basilica – Montreal

What elates you?

For many people, the birth of a child is pretty well at the top of the list. This might not be the word that most moms would use immediately after delivering a baby! It could be success in business, a sensational meal, or travels to a foreign country. It may be as simple as a solitary walk in the woods. For many of us over the age of 65, being able to put your feet on the floor every morning is a cause for celebration.

For me, there is nothing like music that can thrill me and occasionally bring me to tears.

On a recent trip to Montreal to spend time with my daughter and granddaughter, I had two occasions to visit historic Notre Dame Basilica in Old Montreal. The first was as a paid visitor. I have been there many times before but this was the first time that I paid an admission fee of $6.00. I wasn’t surprised. With dwindling attendance at many churches in North America, the bills have to be paid in some fashion. And the Basilica would have substantial maintenance costs.

The Basilica is a work of art and grandeur. Most people entering for the first time are struck with a sense of awe. How and why magnificent structures like this were built is another discussion. Some people are offended at the opulence of places of worship ( pick your religion ). I am always fascinated with the vision of the architects and artists who created these works of art and places of worship.

I decided to go to mass on Sunday morning and was pleased that I didn’t have to pay admission again. They can still get you during the collection! They opened the doors at 10:45 for 11:00 mass. It was a stiflingly hot day with very high humidity. The church was packed and despite the high ceilings, there was a lot of face fanning going on. Oh yes, we were told explicitly that we weren’t allowed to wander around the church or take any pictures or videos. Worship was the order of the day.

I was praying ( not literally ) that I would get to hear some organ music and a choir. I was not disappointed on either count. The organist started playing at 10:45 on the Casavant Freres pipe organ with its four keyboards, 92 stops and 7000 individual pipes. The first thing that struck me was the unbelievable acoustics. The sound was incredible and crystal clear. Before mass began, a priest came to the podium with a few instructions, en Anglais et Francais. You could almost hear him breathe with the clarity of the sound system.

The congregational singing was led by a woman who might have been an opera singer for all I know. She was magnificent. And when I heard the first notes from the choir perched high in the loft, I knew I was in for something special. For those of you not familiar with Catholic masses, some of the hymns are sung by the entire congregation while other parts are the domain of the choir.

When this choir sang by themselves, it was mostly a Capella ( without accompaniment from the organ ). The four part harmonies were exquisite. I could hear every note from every one of the four parts. It was like listening while wearing headphones. It’s hard to believe that a person could get goosebumps on such a hot day but such was the case several times during mass.

I was a bit surprised that there wasn’t a recessional hymn. As people slowly filed from the church, the organist decided to strut his stuff. He put on a spine tingling performance as the music got louder and louder. I don’t think a single person left the church and he was rewarded by an enthusiastic ovation when he finished a performance that left people breathless. I waited to speak with him afterwards. I suggested that this was as close to heaven as I was likely to get.

Oh yes. I cannot tell a lie. When the finale started, I whipped out my cell phone and recorded the last three minutes or so. I ‘m not sure if this constitutes a sin, disobeying the instructions from the usher, but I thought it would be a sin NOT to record this performance. https://youtu.be/s2MgK-Z9H5g

I don’t know if it was the venue or the music… probably a combination of the two, but it was one of, if not the most, memorable musical experiences of my life.

If this was a preview of heaven, I want in. But I’ll have to keep my nose clean which includes obeying the ushers!

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