What’s the number one song ever?
Today’s Lenten Lesson: The Gloria
What’s the number one song ever?
The number one song ever, according to me, is the Gloria, which the Church has been singing for two thousand years, and it was first performed by the Choir of Angels over Bethlehem the night Jesus was born. It is a song of rejoicing because God has sent us a savior!
The Gloria has inspired composers down through the centuries to create stunningly beautiful musical scores for choir and orchestra. Some of the greatest are by Handel and Mozart. But the finest, most sublime setting for the Gloria, is from the Mass “Cum Iubilo”, a classic Gregorian Chant score. But we don’t know who composed it. It is reported that Mozart once said it was the most beautiful music he ever heard.
On very special occasions, the bells are rung during the Gloria: Midnight Mass on Christmas, the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, and Easter Vigil.
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