Protests at Taverner's Allah in cathedral (Westminster)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/06/15/nallah115.xml ^ | 15/06/2007 | Jonathan Petre

[Blogger]

The premiere of a work by the leading composer Sir John Taverner in Westminster Cathedral next week has provoked discord because it glorifies the Muslim deity Allah.

Traditionalist Roman Catholics are planning to converge on the cathedral on Tuesday evening to protest over the work, which includes the singing of the 99 names of Allah.

A number have written to Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, expressing concern that the Church will be seen to be endorsing the Islamic idea of God.

advertisementBut having failed to halt the concert, dozens are now threatening to picket the cathedral with placards and banners quoting Biblical passages that affirm the divinity of Christ.

Sir John's music featured in the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, and his new work, The Beautiful Names, was commissioned by his friend the Prince of Wales.

Mgr Mark Langham, the administrator of the cathedral, defended the concert.

He said that it was a musical performance rather than a "liturgical act of worship".

[horse_doc]

I wish Prince Charles would just convert to Islam publically, so he can get on with living out his “Lawrence of Arabia” fantasy.

[bperiwinkle7]

I agree about the islamic Prince of England, and can you imagine Handel’s Messiah being performed in a mosque?????

hmmmmm?

[Augustinian monk]

disgusting

[dangus]

>> He said that it was a musical performance rather than a “liturgical act of worship”. <<

Duh! But cathedrals aren’t concert halls and shouldn’t be used for profane music.

[livius]

I was appalled when I read about this. John Taverner was a Protestant who became Orthodox some years ago, and many of his compositions show the influence of Orthodox church music. However, he seems to have left the Orthodox Church and is now a Muslim or possibly Sufi (a Muslim sect that most Muslims consider heretical, but that is very popular among English intellectuals).

It’s disgusting that the Cathedral would let this piece be performed there. I know it’s not a service, but they can’t possibly innocently proclaim that just because it’s a concert, it “doesn’t count.” Would they let neo-Nazis rent the Cathedral to do German Nazi music, and still assert that it didn’t count?

[CarrotAndStick]

Not many know this:

Frieze depicts Muhammad among the eighteen 'lawgivers' on wall above the US Supreme Court Justices' Bench.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=48695

[AbeKrieger]

He said that it was a musical performance rather than a “liturgical act of worship”.

Right, and kiddie porn is art, not a felony. No place for Islam or Allah in a Catholic setting, period.

[Kozak]

I wish Prince Charles would just convert to Islam publicaly, so he can get on with living out his “Lawrence of Arabia” fantasy.

No doubt his favorite part is the "Turkish prisoner" part.

[freemama]

I am a musician. I have played a piece by Karl Jenkins called “The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace.” The first time I played it was in a concert hall setting, so the impression of the juxtaposition of the traditional mass with the Islamic call to prayer, among other cultural elements was interesting.

The second time I played it was 9/11 in a Catholic basillica. It was completely different! Having the Islamic call to prayer chanted from where Holy Scripture is usually read was the most sacreligious thing I had ever seen in a church. It was no longer a work of art, it was a religious statement because of where it was performed.

I pray that God give those protesting this work in England strength and lots of publicity.

[GadareneDemoniac]

Ping for you. Please see my tagline....

[Aquinasfan]

Duh! But cathedrals aren’t concert halls and shouldn’t be used for profane music.

Don't confuse them with rational arguments.

[Aquinasfan]

Frieze depicts Muhammad among the eighteen 'lawgivers' on wall above the US Supreme Court Justices' Bench.

Probably Masonic influenced. They started the "all paths lead to God" crapola. No, some roads lead to hell.

[sitetest]

Dear GadareneDemoniac,

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sitetest

[Borges]

Ironically Muslims would probably find using the name of Allah in a formal musical setting blasphemous and have Taverner promptly beheaded.

[good old days]

God bless those who are planning to protest!

[good old days]

Ping

[MinuteGal]

Here I thought the Royals were all atwitter at Diana's very close relationship with the Muslim Dodie Fayad. I thought they were experiencing the swoons and vapours at the thought of her marrying him and providing the little princelings with a "heathen" step-father.

I wonder what the Queen thinks of Wales commissioning this work.

We'll see if she's amused or not.

Leni

[livius]

I think the Queen is hanging on because she doesn’t want “Sultan Charles” to end up in charge.

[ichabod1]

I’ve sung the piece the elegy piece by him that I believe was sung at the Diana funeral. It’s called Song for Athene, and it’s absolutely gorgeous. “May flights of angels lead the to thy rest, Alleluia.” One of the priests of the church I was attending saw us in front of the church with music that had the name of a greek god on it and started to have a problem with it until we assured him it was scriptural.