As we read and reflect on the four Servant Songs of Isaiah, over time there appears movements spiritually and emotionally in the texts of the Songs. I have tried to reflect those movements in the way I have composed music for these songs. Here is how I see the songs reflecting these movements in the Servant Songs of Isaiah.
he First Servant Song has one song.
The Second Servant Song has two songs.
The Third Servant Song has two songs.
The Fourth Servant Song has five songs.
The Fourth Servant Song
I reflected on five different movements within the Fourth Servant Song of Isaiah. Here is the text for the first of the five movements.
SONG 6: Is 52:13—15
See, my servant shall prosper; he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high. Just as there were many who were astonished at him —so marred was his appearance, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of mortals— so he shall startle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which had not been told them they shall see, and that which they had not heard they shall contemplate.
My Poem reflection on this passage
The ways of the earth
Have been irrevocably altered,
The ugliness of its greed,
Its cruelty, its violence
Has been absorbed by you,
My Beloved, and imprinted
Upon your body so that
All who behold you
See upon your body
That which they carry
Within themselves.
By you, the World has been re-ordered.
Emperors, Kings, Presidents,
Prime Ministers and Premiers,
Who revel in their absolute rule,
Look upon you and realize
Their power is impotent.
This understanding, this insight,
Is not isolated to one moment
In the long string of days in
Chronological Time.
No, It will continue
To be perceived by the eyes,
By the ears, and in the hearts
Of people for ALL AGES.
Fantasia in B
I approached this first part of the Fourth Servant Song from the standpoint of John’s Passion. In John’s Passion, Jesus does not die in despair, nor resignation as in the Synoptic Gospels. Rather, in John’s Passion, Jesus dies in victory. Jesus’ last words are, “It is accomplished.” Notice how, in this Passion, the centurions look upon the crucified Jesus in awe.
In spite of how marred and harmed the Servant appears, the powerful and mighty are in awe of the Servant. They discover in the suffering of the Servant, a greatness and glory they are unable to achieve. In the suffering of the Servant, the glory and majesty of God shines.
I composed this song as a Fantasia. In Classical music, a Fantasia does not have any strict musical form. Like the Impromptu it is improvisational and can take many forms.
I chose not to compose this in the standard meter used often for music, e.g. duple, triple, and quadruple meter (think the meter for a march, foxtrot, waltz). I chose 5/4 meter which to the ear sounds different.
The initial melody is full, glorious, triumphant reflecting the glory of God shining through the Servant.
The second melody keys in on the words, “Just as there were many who were astonished at him —so marred was his appearance, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of mortals.” It begins quietly and somberly in a minor key, but does not remain quiet and somber but gradually gets louder and grander as those who behold the Servant see in the suffering of the Servant a glory absent in the suffering of most humans.
To end the song, the first melody returns.
The Song
Fantasia in B, Songs of the Servant Opus 17 (c) 2022 by Robert Charles Wagner. All rights reserved.
Simply stunning and powerful! I would not begin suggest I understand the movement as to the rules of composition yet knowing the story as you shared it, the emotions as well as the grandeur of the relationship is present.
And just a minor, minor observation, you were ordained in 94′.
And finally as it is well overdue, yes, let’s get lunch on the calendar. Hugs and love my friend!
Hi Trish!
It is so good to hear from you! Thanks for the affirmation. Dick and Rose Marie are coming to New Prague this Friday morning to see how we can fit all of this together in his retreat. I have begun the 7th Song.
Ruthie and I are generally free for lunch or supper most days. Her dad is now 97 years old, so once every couple of weeks she visits him on the farm in Scandia, cooks for him and her brother, and stays overnight. I generally meet with deacons, some retired and some still in ministry, on the third Wednesday of the month for lunch to see what heresy we can raise up in the church, help those in ministry to cope, and to share stories and jokes. Just let us know when and where you would like to meet and we will be there.
I saw Jack Nicklay last week at the funeral of Ruthie’s aunt. Jack and I use to be on the Deacon Council once upon a time. It was good talking with him prior to the funeral. Sounds like he still has a decent pastor at St Rita’s. Jack did a nice job officiating at the funeral. He was a big hockey player. I asked him if he was still strapping on the skates. Alas, two knee replacements had dictated that Jack hang up his skates.
I haven’t forgotten September 24, 1994. That is one of those significant days, or movements, in my own life. It initiated tremendous blessings and also tremendous disappointments into my life. I have been doing church ministry since 1977. Having worked 17 years in the Church prior to ordination, I thought I had the Church figured out and manageable. From the time of Nienstedt to the present day, I have discovered new depths to which the Catholic Church could sink. Immersed in ministering and dealing with 18+ cases of criminal sexual abuse, most of it in the 40’s and 50’s, in churches now merged into St Wenceslaus, reading the case histories and how the Archdiocese and Franciscan Order covered up the abuse, and the complete destruction of all that was good in the Archdiocese from the time of Flynn to the present under Hebda, the poor formation of priests being ordained in the last 16 years, and so on, I am damn glad I am now retired from active ministry. I am far happier dwelling among the marginalized than being in the mainstream church anymore. With the complete abdication of safety protocols by Hebda and the Minnesota Bishops during the pandemic, it has been rare for Ruth and I to be at Mass anywhere, with the exception of those Masses celebrated at the dome home of Fr Kevin Clinton. Given our own mobility issues, Ruthie and I have largely kept holy the Lord’s Day at home doing our own prayer services. I was telling my spiritual director this past week that from 1977 to 2019, I was at 3 to 4 Masses every weekend. Now, Ruthie and I are rarely at Mass. I guess I have put into play the “blessing of the Czar” from the musical Fiddler on the Roof. When the Rabbi is asked whether there was a blessing for the Czar, the Rabbi replied, “May God bless and keep the Czar far from us.” That is quite a shift from the time when I was ordained. As yourself, I have seen too much, and experienced too much. Or, as Fr Kevin Clinton has expressed it, “There are not 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit, but 8 gifts. After ministering in the Church for many years, I have discovered that Sarcasm is the 8th gift.” I told Kevin, perhaps it is not Sarcasm but rather, Cynicism. As Mark Twain once stated, “Sacred Cows always make the best hamburger.”
I am still doing ministry in New Prague, but have been forbidden to do any as a “Catholic Deacon” by the present pastor of St Wenceslaus. He has forbidden me and Fr Kevin, the pastor preceding him, to do ministry within the parish boundaries. However, since the pastor kicked the suicide grief group and separated and divorce support group, both largely non-denominational, from the parish, I just moved them to the local ELCA church, where they are both welcome to meet. When requested by families, I will do funerals at the local funeral home. St Wenceslaus has gone to hell in a hand basket since Cozzens appointed the trent wannebe priest as pastor here. Ruthie and I ended our 44 year membership as parishioners. All our money is going to the Lift Garage and St Stephen’s Human Services (I know that has a new name now) in Minneapolis. We contribute zip to the Archdiocese. When I meet former parishioners at the grocery store and they say, “We haven’t seen in church for ages.” I reply it is because that Fr Theisen has forbidden me to do anything as a deacon, and does not want my family to worship in the parish. I won’t lie to folks. I am sure Theisen doesn’t like it, but I don’t care.
Well, Trish, there you have more information than you want to know. Let us know when you would like to meet.
Take care,
Bob