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Rossini's "Petite messe solennelle - Kyrie"



I wouldn't say I am a fan of classical music, although I certainly don't hate it. I like to appreciate it at times whether it be on the computer or at a concert hall, though I don't know much about all the theoretical stuff, nor do I know much of the language or history of music. I wish I did, of course, and sometimes I regret not choosing a career in music composition or theory. But for the time being I'm content with singing in a choir, and occasionally searching for some songs on YouTube to listen to. I happen to come across a few pieces from time to time that strike me for some reason, just like any other contemporary pop song, and I get hooked onto it, playing it on repeat until I nearly get sick of it.

One such particular piece is Petite messe solennelle - Kyrie by Rossini. My dad was preparing this mass for his church choir for Christmas a few years ago, which is when I first had the chance to hear it. I must give him props for selecting this; as a musician, he really does have a knack for coming up with some real gems. Anyway, Kyrie just blew me away from the beginning! It's times like these I wish I studied music so I could analyze it and describe exactly what was so special about it for me. It was definitely something about the bass line, the way it's jumping all over the place but still so, how can I say, systematic, in the way I can hear it building up into something. And then when the chorus starts off with the men, a solid note that divides as the other parts add on to each other, that part gives me the damn chills. It's just so grand and majestic and scary. And that's the best I can explain it, but it comes nowhere close to describing what I feel when I listen to it, because I'm really not good with explaining myself. I'm simply in awe, wondering how someone can even think of composing something so ingenious. There are plenty of other great composers, of course, but this mass just reached out to me for some reason. Oh, and it's just Kyrie, by the way. I did listen to the whole mass but the other sections didn't touch me the same way.

I really wish I knew better about this piece. I could read on it, I guess, but it's not the same from a layman's perspective when you can only understand like less than half of what's written, even if it's in English. Just searching a bit on the background will have to do. I suppose it would be pointless of me to wish for more money, more time to start taking lessons in music or courses in theory? Maybe so, but I do hope I will have the chance to, someday. I've probably still got decades left to live... might as well use the time to do something I love.
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