UNCUT: Your god seems very vengeful in your songs.
STEVENS: [Laughs] Oh no. There's no element of revenge in the character of God, but there's definitely an aggressive joy. He's not chasing you like a stalker, he's chasing you like a lover chases you. There's a lot of aggression in that kind of romance. We pursue things out of reverence, out of our need to worship.
I would have to agree. The chord progression during this particular set of lines is found in many major works (such as Durefle's Requiem) symbolizing the descention of God or the Holy Spirit. He starts out in a minor chord, (when singing Lo---rd), then the second note in the piano part causes a dissonance with the vocals (that are holding a constant note) which leads to a final resolution in a major chord. The song also ends in a final major chord, thus possibly symbolizing a joyous unity. This type of musical symbolism is seen through out music history.
Not only are Sufjan's words powerful and symbolic, but so are the notes behind them.
As someone said earlier...
UNCUT: Your god seems very vengeful in your songs. STEVENS: [Laughs] Oh no. There's no element of revenge in the character of God, but there's definitely an aggressive joy. He's not chasing you like a stalker, he's chasing you like a lover chases you. There's a lot of aggression in that kind of romance. We pursue things out of reverence, out of our need to worship.
I would have to agree. The chord progression during this particular set of lines is found in many major works (such as Durefle's Requiem) symbolizing the descention of God or the Holy Spirit. He starts out in a minor chord, (when singing Lo---rd), then the second note in the piano part causes a dissonance with the vocals (that are holding a constant note) which leads to a final resolution in a major chord. The song also ends in a final major chord, thus possibly symbolizing a joyous unity. This type of musical symbolism is seen through out music history.
Not only are Sufjan's words powerful and symbolic, but so are the notes behind them.
i love the representation of gods wrath being beautiful.
i love the representation of gods wrath being beautiful.
and yes the melody and harmonic structure is well thought and very apt for this topic.
and yes the melody and harmonic structure is well thought and very apt for this topic.