The Song of Songs. Attributed to King Solomon, this Biblical book contains some of the most ardent poetry ever written. Whether it represents the communion of man and woman, or, as some would have it, something of a more allegorical nature – telling of the relationship, depending upon one’s system of belief, between God and Israel, between God and the Church, or between Christ and the human soul – over the centuries it has inspired some meltingly lovely music.
Since it is customary to read from the Song of Songs as part of the observance of Passover, we’ll devote “The Lost Chord” this week, on the eve of Pesach, to two settings: one by Sir Granville Bantock – selections from his massive, 2 ½ hour oratorio – and one by Lukas Foss – a more intimate song cycle, in which divine and romantic love unite in understated metaphor.
What if I told you your temples behind your veil are like the halves of a pomegranate? If you fall for that, there’s plenty more where that came from, on “King Solomon’s Lines,” this Sunday night at 10:00 EDT, on WWFM – The Classical Network and at wwfm.org.

Leave a Reply