CandlemasComments

A photo and text summaries of the 2017
Candlemas: Light, Music, Poetry
are available here.
To complete the record, from questions prepared
by CRES intern Geneva Blackmur,
we include

EMAIL COMMENTS ABOUT CANDLEMAS USED WITH PERMISSION

As one of the organizers (and one of the "performers,") I am grateful for the frank evaluations we have received, both in person and from these emails, which are quoted as fully as the writers have consented. I have learned a lot from this experience, and both the praise and the criticism has been useful, and future events will certainly be designed and presented with the benefit of these and other comments. --Vern Barnet

From: Scott Martinez

1. Overall, how would you describe your experience of "CANDLEMAS: LIGHT, MUSIC, AND POETRY"?

It was a lovely evening. I especially enjoyed the music.

2. How did the environment -- the Cathedral setting, the dim lighting as you entered, the candles, the incense, the sprinkling with waters from around the world, the 8-page program, objects from the world's religions on the Holy Table, the procession and recessional -- affect your enjoyment of the evening? Please mention specifically if any of these elements were especially meaningful to you.

It was all quite fascinating. The Cathedral is a beautiful building, and I think everything was staged tastefully and all done very reverently and in good taste.

3. In the prayer spoken by the audience to bless the candles, how did you feel about including many of the world's religions with their references to light?

I think we are all human beings on the same rock and are all affected by the same light, so I thought it was appropriate.

4. The performers included the Sacred Arts Chorale, musician Beau Bledsoe, and actor Matt Schwader reading sonnets by Vern Barnet, who introduced them. What stands out for you, surprised you, or added value to your experience?

The music and playing of Beau Bledsoe.

5. The intent was to provide a sense of sacred time and space, and to enhance individual and community spirit as we carry light forward. How did the evening fail or succeed?

I think the evening succeeded simply by undertaking the effort.

6. To our knowledge, never before has a Mass been paired, movement by movement, with sonnets from a book arranged by movements of the Mass. Did the flow of music and readings seem jumbled or did it create an arc or direction that seemed fulfilling?

It really didn’t’ seem to have any sort of form, but I think that it didn’t take away from the experience. I think if one was more familiar with Shakespeare, it might have more impact.

7. If you enjoyed the evening, do you have ideas or locations where another use of Vern's sonnets might be employed?

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish might be another great location.

8. May I quote you by name?

Scott Martinez

From: Jerry Kolb

1. Overall, how would you describe your experience of "CANDLEMAS: LIGHT, MUSIC, AND POETRY”?

I thought it was an interesting evening with plenty of time to meditate and listen.

The setting was wonderful. There needed to be something that tied the entrance and the candle lighting together. Likewise, there was no referring to the items on the Holy Table. I’m not sure what they were. Perhaps the temporary altar could have been brought down to the pavement where they would have been more visible. Some explanation about asperges would have helped people to understand what was happening. I remember that something was written in the program about the waters used.

3. In the prayer spoken by the audience to bless the candles, how did you feel about including many of the world's religions with their references to light?

The inclusion was fine. Needed something more to make people aware that we were blessing candles. Perhaps someone could have gone to the table with the candles and held one or two up as the blessing was said.

I LOVED the Sacred Arts Chorale. Could have listened to them all evening!!! Enjoyed Beau and his music. Some amplification for him (and for Vern) would have been helpful. Thought Matt did a wonderful job. I’m not a poetry person but his voice and inflection were wonderful… Using the mic for Matt could have made it more understandable. The Chorale was the best part of the program

5. The intent was to provide a sense of sacred time and space, and to enhance individual and community spirit as we carry light forward. How did the evening fail or succeed?

It was a place with sacred time and space but something was lacking that tied it all together. Perhaps we should have lighted the candles again at the end and carried them out into the world.

I felt that the music and the readings flowed pretty well Had a hard time understanding Vern as he introduced each. Even though it was written in the program, would have liked to hear him when he was introducing.

7. If you enjoyed the evening, do you have ideas or locations where another use of Vern's sonnets might be employed?

St. Paul’s Episcopal and St. Andrews Episcopal have good space that would be an appropriate setting.

8. May I quote you by name?

Fine with me.

From: Joe Archias

How did the environment -- the Cathedral setting, the dim lighting as you entered, the candles, the incense, the sprinkling with waters from around the world, the 8-page program, objects from the world's religions on the Holy Table, the procession and recessional -- affect your enjoyment of the evening? Please mention specifically if any of these elements were especially meaningful to you.

The term 'ambience' has been defined as "caress of space" and that phenomena movingly occurred at Candlemas Service in Grace & Holy Cathedral last Thursday night. Flickering candles, inspiring music, celestial scents, memorable voices, and messages to connect everyone's normal days with profound truths were all about us.

For one who grew up attending Catholic Mass regularly, the 'arc' felt familiar and worked beautifully.

8. May I quote you by name?

Yes, if you think doing that would add value.

From: Molly T. Marshall

1. Overall, how would you describe your experience of "CANDLEMAS: LIGHT, MUSIC, AND POETRY”?

It was a lovely evening, carefully crafted and inclusive. The artists were superb, and the content of Vern’s sonnets was evocative.

All were ingredient to a richly textured and sensual experience. The sound challenges detracted somewhat during the spoken aspects of the program.

3. In the prayer spoken by the audience to bless the candles, how did you feel about including many of the world's religions with their references to light?

This is a very good exercise in inclusion. It helps us see the common human threads while respecting the lived religion of others.

I loved the music of the Sacred Arts Chorale—but of course I would say that as they are representatives of my school. The music was difficult, but they performed well. The interweaving of the poet and the music of the mass was quite moving.

5. The intent was to provide a sense of sacred time and space, and to enhance individual and community spirit as we carry light forward. How did the evening fail or succeed?

I think if was quite successful. While not being explicitly political, our current challenges are on everyone’s mind, and we reflected on practices and faith communities and art as means of embracing this time.

It did create a transcendent arc. There is paschal mystery to every human life, not just the life of Jesus.

7. If you enjoyed the evening, do you have ideas or locations where another use of Vern's sonnets might be employed?

Not at present. The cathedral seemed the perfect setting to accomplish the many facets of the program. Sonnets without music and beautiful setting would be diminished.

8. May I quote you by name?

Yes!

From: David Nelson

1. Overall, how would you describe your experience of "CANDLEMAS: LIGHT, MUSIC, AND POETRY"?

Serene contemplative evening.

All the above excellent. I especially enjoyed the program and have shared it with others. I didn't really notice the objects from other religions, but appreciated mention of other world faiths very much. Vern assists in the Cathedral's mission.

3. In the prayer spoken by the audience to bless the candles, how did you feel about including many of the world's religions with their references to light?

WONDERFUL

Vern's introductions were excellent

5. The intent was to provide a sense of sacred time and space, and to enhance individual and community spirit as we carry light forward. How did the evening fail or succeed?

Great success

I appreciated and fully got into the flow. The variety of song, words, etc. in a non hurried venue made the evening special for me.

7. If you enjoyed the evening, do you have ideas or locations where another use of Vern's sonnets might be employed?

I continue to use them in daily meditation

8. May I quote you by name?

Yes.

From: Bill Tammeus

1. Overall, how would you describe your experience of "CANDLEMAS: LIGHT, MUSIC, AND POETRY"?

It was a lovely evening. But G&H needs a completely new sound system. Much was lost of the words spoken, though the choir was heard fine.

All that added to the evening. I always enjoy seeing candles lit, whether up front or among the congregation.

3. In the prayer spoken by the audience to bless the candles, how did you feel about including many of the world's religions with their references to light?

Great. It was the right thing to do.

I was glad to have the printed version of the sonnets, given the awful sound system.

5. The intent was to provide a sense of sacred time and space, and to enhance individual and community spirit as we carry light forward. How did the evening fail or succeed?

Succeeded with me.

Because of a clear printed program, I was able to understand the intended flow from the start. It worked.

7. If you enjoyed the evening, do you have ideas or locations where another use of Vern's sonnets might be employed?

How about some sonnet street theater at the Fringe Festival?

8. May I quote you by name?

Yep.

From: Patrick Neas

1. Overall, how would you describe your experience of "CANDLEMAS: LIGHT, MUSIC, AND POETRY”?

I loved it! And so did my companions. The interfaith aspect was especially uplifting, given the current bitter political climate.

The ambiance was wonderful and was a huge part of the success of the evening. I’m a sucker for rich and symbolic liturgy, so I really enjoyed all the little touches. The votive candles in the windows were so inviting. Having everyone hold lit candles was utterly charming. The candles, the smell of the incense, the music and the poetry all made for a memorable evening.

3. In the prayer spoken by the audience to bless the candles, how did you feel about including many of the world's religions with their references to light?

The opening prayer was simply perfect!! For my companions and me, it was one of the highlights of the evening. Vern did a masterful job composing it.

Beau Bledsoe’s performance really stands out for me. He is an incredible musician and his artistry added a beautiful touch to the program.

5. The intent was to provide a sense of sacred time and space, and to enhance individual and community spirit as we carry light forward. How did the evening fail or succeed?

This is in response to questions 5 & 6 because I think they kind of go together. For me, liturgy and drama must have good flow to be truly successful. Here is what I would have done to create better flow.

--1. I would have dispensed with the opening interviews with Rebecca, Beau and Matt. Even if the microphone were working properly, stopping to ask questions of the performers after the liturgy (performance) has begun really interrupts the flow. Interviews with the artists would have been more appreciated in a preconcert talk or transcribed in the program notes. After the curtain is raised, you don’t ask the actor who is playing King Lear to share his thoughts about the character, etc. It breaks the hypnotic spell that a performance should cast.

--2. The choir should have been in the center of the sanctuary throughout the program. Vern had mentioned to me that the choir was going to be positioned stage left and I thought that would work, but, in retrospect, I don’t think it was a good idea. The sound was unbalanced and it created subtle psychological discomfort in the audience by making them turn their heads to the left every time the choir performed.

--3. I helped Vern test out sound before the performance, and I thought unmiked voices would work, but I was wrong. I could tell that the audience was straining to hear what was being said, and that detracted from the impact of Vern’s poetry. Beau also would have benefited from being miked. The lute is not really a church instrument, and it’s very easy for its delicate sound to get swallowed up in a big space filled with people.

--4. Of course, I loved the idea of pairing Vern’s poetry with the movements of the Mass. I think that worked really well. I would, however, have only used three sonnets.

--5. Vern’s sonnets are complex, and to convey their richness, some explanation is required. However, it came across at times that the sonnets were being read twice. For maximum impact, I would have shortened the intros and made them super punchy. Again, the miking problems didn’t help.

7. If you enjoyed the evening, do you have ideas or locations where another use of Vern's sonnets might be employed?

I had a lengthy discussion about this with Vern the other morning.

8. May I quote you by name?

Yes.

From: John Gregory

The experience overall was very enjoyable, very pleasant, and an interesting event with the unique and creative interweaving of the poetry of our very own Kansas City Bard, with beautifully performed Elizabethan music.

I think the atmosphere of the dimly-lighted church, with its excellent acoustics for a choral Mass was a perfect setting for such a quasi-liturgical event. The wide range of the world's religions, each with its essential symbolic use of light, were brought together nicely by the venue itself, and by the light we shared with one another from our candles...and the (lighted) candles which we brought from there into our individual homes. I especially liked the informative and engaging notes that Vern provided....they shed a lot of "light" on the entire evening. All the performers were superb, especially the dramatic reading by Matt Schwader! Makes me want to go back through the collection, and with my very best channeling of Matt Schwader, see how the sonets sound (...in the privacy of my own home, of course!)

Unfortunately, the difficulty with the microphone, while largely corrected at the beginning, remained a problem throughout. I think that more careful attention to the needed amplification.....and which should have been used throughout the evening, would have made it easier to hear at times. All-in-all an extremely enjoyable, interesting, and informative evening. A big thanks to Vern for his interest, energy, and creativity in bringing to us such a wide- ranging religious and artistic experience.

Whether you use my name in your comments or not is entirely up to you.....I have no feelings either way. Thanks again.

From: Mark Wasserstom

I am attaching some brief comments that I have concerning the Candlemas event. I certain felt that the evening was an important event -- well-conceived and well executed. . . . .
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The event of “Candlemas, Light, Music, and Poetry” was well-conceived and beautifully executed. The music and poetry were, of course, a product of human effort. In effect, they served as an appropriate offering of sacrifice and praise to give thanks to God for the beauty which God has created in the living world. Instrumental music and song are simply two varieties of music. Arguably words historically have been meant to be spoken; and there is some question about whether there is some unity between song and written words. Well-written texts often contain a musicality of cadence as to rhythm as well as tonal qualities of selected words. And of course the imagery of words has and underlying artistry. So the instrumental music, choral music, and dramatic readings each provided a facet of humanly crafted art. Each form was given its own moment under the spot-light.

The environment for the event was well-suited. Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral is imposing space with its soaring ceiling and its larger than life rich stained glass windows. The cavernous space allows sound to linger. While we did not have organ music, which I more typically associate with Gothic stone churches, string solos and chamber music were colored by the intensity of the space. The depth of the darkness was an appropriate contrast to the small piercing candle flames. The one sadness was that although I could see the smoke of the censor balls, I could not smell the incense very well. On reflection, I may have smelled the incense, but was not overcome by it. I am used to the Havdallah ceremony at the conclusion of the Sabbath in which the spice box is passed from person to person, each of whom holds the spice box, shakes it, and bends to smell the sweet aroma in intimate proximity.

The creative prayer service over light stirred many feelings in my head. With any prayers that have not be repeated to the point of being habituated into my memory, it is difficult for me to listen and read text and at the same time think about the words of the text. While I think that creative prayer services are a wonderful way to sensitive us, I am jealous of the people who WRITE the creative prayer service. They get to anguish over each word and sentence that is written down. They are the ones who really do the praying – not the folks in the congregation who glance over the words. Of course the references to various religious traditions makes the prayer universal and inclusive. As a Jew, I felt more welcomed in the Episcopalian setting. But then, the ceremonial aspects of a candlelighting (and candle-extinguishing) service are certainly not exclusive to either the Anglican tradition or even the Christian tradition. Nevertheless, the similarities are somewhat superficial. The custom is not as important as the explanation and interpretation given to the custom.

While I am not very familiar with literary traditions concerning the Mass and the mythology of wine and bread being transformed into the blood and body of Jesus and communicants incorporating the mystic powers of God into themselves during the communion ceremony, I have tried to pay attention to use of religious imagery in the arts. Fairly recently, Wynton Marsalis has created a marvelous work in his Abyssinian Mass, which incorporates jazz music with the ritual of the Mass. One of my favorite pieces of music is Mozart’s “Zauberflaute.” Of course, the story line of the opera is a rather close following of the Masonic initiation ritual in which a candidate, starting in darkness, journeys toward the heavenly knowledge of Divine Light. Perhaps the recent event may be the first example of progressing through the Mass with consecutive readings of a collection of sonnets. However, the Mass has been enhanced with many forms of secular art.

Nevertheless, I am still struggling to resolve a more basic issue presented by the event. What is the role of sensuality with a sense of the divine? On a most basic level, one might ask whether it is appropriate to present love poems in a sacred space. One could ask, as it has been in the past, whether the Song of Songs belongs in the Bible. One the other hand, if human life is divine and if sensuality is part of human life, sensuality cannot simply be ignored. The evening focused my thoughts on this rather important subject. Therefore I would not say that I was inspired by the evening so much as goaded and driven to grapple with thoughts that I have not yet resolved.

Mark Wasserstrom

From: Anonymous

1. Overall, how would you describe your experience of "CANDLEMAS: LIGHT, MUSIC, AND POETRY”?

I enjoyed it a lot.

I really loved the first part of the service - the candles, incense, processional, and sprinkling of the waters. The piece by Vern we recited together pulled the whole thing together.

3. In the prayer spoken by the audience to bless the candles, how did you feel about including many of the world's religions with their references to light?

I loved that the world religion aspect was included.

I think the music added a lot to the service in addition to the sonnets.

5. The intent was to provide a sense of sacred time and space, and to enhance individual and community spirit as we carry light forward. How did the evening fail or succeed?

The whole premise was incredible. The flow was a little jarred by the introductions at the beginning by the performers and the introductions to the sonnets by Vern. I think the program notes and bios in the program would have been sufficient.

Again, as above, the flow was a little jarred. Also, maybe the instrumental in conjunction with the readings?

7. If you enjoyed the evening, do you have ideas or locations where another use of Vern's sonnets might be employed?

I love the concept and hope these pairings are employed again.

8. May I quote you by name? No, thank you.

From: Donna Ziegenhorn

You may quote me by name if you like.

I came to Candlemas not knowing what to expect but intrigued to observe a ritual of light coming into the darkness -- of our world, of our times, of our souls -- an ancient and sacred rite made new for our time. For example, it felt so right to see individuals from many faiths processing down the center aisle, a clear dramatization of our common reality, our common hope, that the light does -- and will -- return.

What surprised and delighted me most was the actor's reading of Vern's sonnets. They absolutely came to life, jumped off the page through his talent, skill and heart, moving me and at times amusing me, too. Who will ever forget "My skin still works." !?

Candlemas offered a unique experience, weaving together light with sound, words and music, to inspire awe, connection, happiness and hope.

From: Kathleen Bergman

1. Overall, how would you describe your experience of "CANDLEMAS: LIGHT, MUSIC, AND POETRY"?

Uplifting

Place me in a sacred space. Having the program to follow and revisit at home was essential.

3. In the prayer spoken by the audience to bless the candles, how did you feel about including many of the world's religions with their references to light?

We are all one.

Multidimensional presentation added depth to the experience.

5. The intent was to provide a sense of sacred time and space, and to enhance individual and community spirit as we carry light forward. How did the evening fail or succeed?

Introduction failed due to poor sound system inhancement.

Definitely created a fulfilling presentation.

7. If you enjoyed the evening, do you have ideas or locations where another use of Vern's sonnets might be employed?

Central Methodist church?

8. May I quote you by name?

Sure.

From: Geneva Blackmer (intern)

I think Candlemas was executed wonderfully! There were definitely great responses at the table; some people asked if it would be done annually.