Lenten Music

Lenten music is often perceived as cold, sad and uninspired. After all, much of the Lenten repertoire is written in a minor mode; traditionally a vehicle composers use to share dark, sad emotions. But for me, Lenten music serves two important functions in worship.

First, it reminds me of the struggles Jesus faced during his 40 days of temptation. Lenten music brings with it introspection, providing me time to search and prepare my heart for the events to come.

Secondly, it provides a canvas for the Light about to the reveled to us. I think about how bright the sun appears following a dark thunderstorm. The cloudy, black sky beautifully provides a backdrop for the sun and its streaming, warm beams. We see all the colors of the spectrum in the oft-accompanying rainbow. This grandeur appears only after the storm.