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Beginning this week, Evening Music resumes Sacred Sundays, featuring pieces that present, draw on, transform, and/or personalize various traditions of sacred music. I began this feature last spring, and it continues on a larger scale from now to the end of December.

Lisa Bielawa (photo by Liz Linder)

September 7th: Lisa Bielawa The series begins with composer and vocalist Lisa Bielawa, who has recently returned from a visit to the Republic of Armenia. There she discovered a world of music she’s eager to share with us. Lisa tells me that a sense of the sacred permeates most music-making in Armenia, and we speak of that and more as we present some the musical treasures Lisa brought home from her journey.   If you do not see flash audio player please install the latest flash player.

It has always seemed to me that music is inextricably connected to a sense of the sacred: a sense of mystery, purpose, and wonder larger than ourselves. And it isn’t only “officially” sacred music that offers transcendental moments.

Have you experienced a sense of the sacred through secular music? Perhaps via one of saxophonist John Coltrane’s improvisations, the hypnotic rhythms of rave music, an empathy-inducing love song, or a Beethoven string quartet? I’d love to hear your experiences.

Or have you been moved by the sacred music of a religion or tradition other than your own? Is there music from your own religion that you feel most effectively conveys its spirit? Please share such musical experiences and impressions in the comments section. Maybe some of your recommendations can be heard on one of our Sacred Sundays.