Patrick Comerford
The season of Christmas and Epiphany comes to an end tomorrow with the celebration of the Feast of the Presentation or Candlemas (2 February). Many churches celebrated moved these celebrations to Sunday (28 January), for understandable practical and pastoral considerations. But that also means people often miss out on the significance of the season having a full 40 days – just as Lent is a season of 40 days.
The Epiphany events might better be described as epiphanies, as they include three major epiphanies recounted in the Gospel readings that are traditionally read during the Sundays throughout the season: the Visit of the Magi, the Baptism of Christ by Saint John the Baptist, and the Wedding at Cana.
The Epiphany readings became part of my readings, reflections and prayers in my prayer diary each morning throughout this season. On the Day of Epiphany (6 January 2024), my reflections on my prayer diary also discussed TS Eliot’s poem, ‘The Journey of the Magi.’
So it was a delightful surprise a few days later to find once again that my reflections had inspired the American composer Fran Schultz, a long-standing Facebook friend who lives in Howell, New Jersey. She described my Epiphany blog posting and my interpretation of Eliot’s poem as an ‘insightful’ and ‘inspirational piece’.
She went on to say: ‘I think his writing inspired me to make the music and to present the theme in a new light.’
Fran composed ‘Epiphanies’ on the night of 6 January 2024 and released it a week later, on 13 January 2024. She describes this composition as in the genre of pop, symphonic and soundscape. The recording includes Orchestral Strings, String Movements, Warm Synth Pad Future Strings and Percussions.
Later, she said: ‘Thanks so much Patrick. Thank heavens for the wisdom you provide.’
Last year, Fran said my writing and ideas had inspired another composition and recording, ‘How Many Angels Can Dance on the Head of a Pin.’ On her website, she was generous when she extended ‘special thanks to Patrick Comerford for his writing and his allowing me use of his photos.’
She introduced that new piece saying ‘How Many Angels Can Dance on the Head of a Pin’ was ‘very inspired’ by a recent piece I had written and that she wrote that piece of music because of my ‘inspirational writing.’
She added: ‘I also enjoyed reading all the links he provided about the artist, Emily Young, his thoughts and quotes by her.’
She continued: ‘The connection point for me in his writing was immediate in his succinct and direct insightful recognition of such questions and in my seeing how in social media distracts us into questions that are essentially “A metaphor for wasting time discussing trivial topics that have no practical value, or asking questions whose answers hold no practical value, or asking questions whose answers hold no consequence, at times when we have more urgent concerns to debate”.’
She was unexpectedly generous when she says my ‘writing has many layers of depth to it that I particularly am drawn to in the subjects of architecture, sculptures, history, theology, questions, the deeper meaning of things and the beauty of things we might not have noticed or fully appreciated before. I love his thoughtful responses to the questions and what brought those very questions up upon reflecting the sculptures made by Emily Young as he was taking a walk in London … and taking photos. Hope you enjoy his writing and enjoy my music too!’
And she then offered a link to my website and my posting on 25 February 2023, ‘Emily Young’s Five Angels on Columns,’ HERE.
You can listen to Fran Schultz’s composition, ‘Epiphanies’, HERE.
Epiphanies © 2024 Fran Schultz
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