Hey all! Just back from enjoying some delicious Ethiopian food down in Cary. Little did I know when I woke up this morning that the service at Duke Chapel today would not have its traditional sermon. Instead, the All Saints' Day service would feature the world premier of a new requiem called From Death, the Rising: A Requiem. And what a performance it was! It was sung by the Duke Chapel Choir and the Mallarme Chamber Players. The singing was emotive and powerful, the soloists were sublime, and the text of this requiem spoke to us all. The words of From Death, the Rising: A Requiem came from the pen of Susan Palo Cherwien at the request of music composer Robert Buckley Farlee.
Again, to have the Lord surprise me with a requiem one day before we commemorate Becky's homegoing 14 years ago was a wonderful serendipity. Ironically, Susan Palo Cherwien herself died from metastatic uterine cancer, the very same disease that took Becky's life. During the performance I closed my eyes with a deep sense of peace and thought about the day when I will meet my Savior face to face, and Becky as well. There is something very special about so many musicians coming together with one shared purpose. Boatloads of comfort imparted through this performance! It's as though the composers had put their arms around those devastated by loss and gently whispered, "Blessed are those who mourn."
What a blessed day.
