Quite by chance today I heard an interesting juxtaposition of two beautiful pieces of music. One, the haunting “When David Heard” by Thomas Tompkins, recalls the moment when Israel’s King David learns of the death of his son Absalom, killed as he was leading a rebellion against his own father. David, though spared, nevertheless cries out in agony, “O Absalom, my son! Would God I had died for thee.”
The other piece of music was an organ work by Johann Sebastian Bach, his Passacaglia and Fugue In C minor. The passacaglia was a Spanish dance form elevated to major effect by the Baroque master. This particular piece consists of a theme and 20 variations (or 21 variations comprising 7 sets of three, per French organist Marie-Claire Alain; this is a point of debate). The theme and variations—the Passacaglia— are then followed by a fugue upon the opening theme.
Though wordless, it is thought that Bach was using musical symbolism to express his deep Christian faith. Disagreement exists on how exactly one should interpret the piece, but the cross of Jesus is generally seen in the pattens tumbling forth from the notes. For example, Australian organist David Rumsey noted the following regarding the dramatic “Neapolitan Sixth” that marks a major pause in the middle of the piece:
“By extension we may therefore deduce that the Neapolitan Sixth at the end of section four of the Passacaglia strongly suggests “crucifixion”. Applied specifically to the Passacaglia we see the relationship to the climax of the New Covenant: the sacrifice of the Messiah.” (David Rumsey, 1992. “THE SYMBOLS OF THE BACH PASSACAGLIA”. Accessed online at http://www.davidrumsey.ch/Passacaglia.pdf)
The meaning of the crucifixion for Christians is summarized by St. Paul: “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.” (Romans 5:10)
The connection between these two stories that grabbed me was this. In the one instance the rebel died that the king may live. In the second instance, the King died that the rebel may live.