Stuart Beatch - "Jesus at the Gay Bar" for SATB and Piano (2023)
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- Опубликовано: 26 дек 2023
- "Jesus at the Gay Bar" for SATB and Piano (2023)
Music by Stuart Beatch
Text by Jay Hulme
stuartbeatch.com/jesus-at-the...
i Coristi Chamber Choir (Edmonton, AB, Canada)
/ @icoristi
Director: Rob Curtis
Pianist: Ariane Lowrey
Live recording from the first performance in November 2023
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As a queer person of faith, the intersection between religion and sexuality has always been important to me. I first discovered Jay Hulme’s poem circulating online following the November 2022 shooting in Colorado Springs-despite the grief and fear being felt by the queer community, Jay’s beautiful expression of love and acceptance resonated with me in a profound way.
My setting of this poem begins with rhythmic dance music played by the piano, creating a kaleidoscope of bright and contradicting harmonies. As the piece progresses, the textures and harmonies become simpler and evoke music from the English cathedral tradition, repertoire that has defined my own musical development over the last decade. The music ends with a moment of peace, as if Heaven itself has opened to welcome queer people in.
Learn more at stuartbeatch.com/ 
Видеоклипы
!["a boy & a boy" for SATB choir (2022) [Score-Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/pLSYSNPGHTI/mqdefault.jpg)
!["a boy & a boy" for SATB choir (2022) [Score-Video]](/img/tr.png)
After just a week, this piece has already hit 20k views! I wrote this music to affirm queer Christians with a message of unconditional love, and I'm thankful for the overwhelmingly positive feedback and heartfelt comments. 🏳🌈❤🏳⚧
If you've come here to rant about semantics and Bible quotes... you're missing the point. Queer & trans people deserve to be welcomed with open arms, full stop. If you're this desperate to justify exclusion, then I pray that you stop letting your own vanity and prejudice cloud your heart. And if I've somehow committed blasphemy, then I suppose that's between me and God. Ultimately, I'd rather be condemned for spreading love than go to heaven for spreading hate.
And if you reply with more semantics and Bible quotes, I'm just going to delete them. I've already shown people more patience than was owed. 🤷
facts. you're a legend.
I clicked on this thinking it would be more of a gag piece, but that was one of the most deeply moving pieces of new music I've heard in a long time.
Finally, a RUclips recommendation I want to watch
Something about the “my child, my child” portion made me cry. The love and the joy and the sorrow and the reaching out.
Was expecting something meme worthy, found something cerebral and solemn. Jolly well done
I randomly got this recommended to me, and even going in with zero expectations, I was moved to tears. It's so expensive and packed with musical symbolism and lyrical imagery that it immediately conjured a vivid scene in my head. Thank you for posting this amazing piece! 🏳️⚧️❤️🏳️🌈
Amazing. Thanks RUclips for finally pushing something worthwhile into my recommendations. So many goosebumps moments, but the effect at 4:24 is breathtaking.
Thank you so much for your kind comments. I'm glad the algorithm did something right for once!
Thank you. Twenty-five years ago, I came to the conclusion that I was created only to be condemned. Narrowly escaping suicide, I'm forever grateful I heard the voice of Jesus speaking these same words to me in my darkest hours; "my beautiful child - there is nothing in this heart of yours that ever needs to be healed."
Thank you for listening to the Spirit and creating a beautiful work with an enduring message of truth. May it bring comfort and affirmation to others, knowing that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!
Your comment is so deeply touching. Thank you for your kind words - this is exactly why I wanted to write this piece!
Totally wonderful. As a lifelong Episcopalian growing up with the glorious Anglican liturgical music tradition, I am so pleased to see how your choral writing is shaped by its influence but also adds on to it and plays with it. Subscribed and can’t wait to hear more of your work.
I expected nothing more than a high quality shitpost upon reading the title. However, instead of being amused, i'm now deeply moved by this poem and this incredible piece of music. Thank you very much for sharing and uploading it!
Being unfamiliar with the poem, I did not expect where this went. Beautifully written and performed.
Actually beautiful. I am neither religious nor lgbt but the music transcends still
This is absolutely wonderful! You've taken a beautiful poem and so perfectly written the music to amplify the message. Thank you!
The fact that you were able to capture the essence of every queer religious person struggling with their identity in one choral work is incredible. This, in my opinion, is a masterpiece.
I'm a queer & trans Christian. I've seen the poem before, and was so happy to hear it had been set to music. And as a pianist, singer, and choral conductor - this is absolutely gorgeous. I would love to conduct/sing in this one day 💕
Thank you. 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
This is beautiful. The poem is already wonderful as it is, and you elevated it to the heavens with your music. May God bless you and to the families of those in Colorado Springs.
i've always loved this poem. I remember crying when i read it for the first time. Hearing it like this made me want to cry all over again.
What a wonderful piece! My first thought was PDQ Bach, but then I listened. Well done!
Just beautiful. The ending is especially moving, and I absolutely love the effect with the soprano soloist, the humming, and the held sustain pedal. It just sounds so out of this world.
listened twice, back-to-back. crying with a sense of peace and satisfaction. this is so beautiful. remarkable piano writing, and fantastic harmony. the way it drops down to the solo voice at the end - and on *that* line, that gorgeous line - is heartrending. just sublime.
Thank you so much for your kind comments! ❤️❤️❤️
I dare say your harmonies sound like Eric Whitacre. Excellent!
I'm not sure that's a compliment...
@@corneliusnowicki5363 exactly. this is nothing like whitacre. these harmonies have so much more meaning and rawness in them. so much. so different.
Absolutely gorgeous! The words and the music have such power together. Thank you.
Uterly beautiful! Thank you. Much love from Brazil.
Was not ready for it to go from jazzy and fun to so beautiful and loving. This is such an important message
This is awesome, just the kind of work the genre deserves. I will be checking out more of your stuff! Keep it up, Stuart!
I’ve sung a lot of songs, but this one touched me more deeply than any other. It is the core of love one another. I am blessed by being given the chance to sing this beautiful piece. Many thanks Stuart!
One of the most moving and intimate pieces I’ve ever heard
Thanks! I'm crying now. Immaculately done ❤
Very moving. Not at all what I was expecting, and so glad I took a moment out of my day to listen to this.
Very beautiful writing! Word painting and text colors are so special! Thank you!
Excellent performance, excellent piece, excellent understanding of human nature. Many thanks Stuart,
BEAUTIFUL piece!!! I love the use of harmony, especially the duality between the piano having more complex parts. This really elevated the text, love it! Subscribed.
I knew of the poem and was interested to see this recommended. Bless you! It’s hard to feel connected to God right now, but hauntingly beautiful music like this makes me come close again.
This is amazing. I was expecting a parody or something to laugh at and what I got was an absolutely insane desire to sing this, especially the solo at the end.
this mf stuart just decided he was gonna wake up and make a banger.
This is stunningly beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing.
How absolutely gorgeous, inspirational. Very well composed! What a beautiful poem too.
A beautiful and very well made piece of music! Thank you so much
Beautiful. Am not usually a fan of contemporary compositions, but this made me emotional.
I'm so glad this piece was recommended to me. I'm speechless.
I'm catholic and gay/same sex attracted (struggling with the naming issue), and while I still hold to the official catholic teaching on homosexuality (as it is stated in paragraphs 2357, 2358 and 2359 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church), I still found this piece very very beautiful and moving. I'm currently exploring anglicanism and other LGBT-affirming forms of Christianity. I can't say I'm fully convinced by them, but I'm open to hearing their points of view. The only issue I would have with the text of the poem itself is the phrase "there's nothing in this heart of yours that needs to be healed", because even if I were to fully agree with LGBT-affirming Christianity, obviously gay people would still have things we need to be healed by Christ, like every other people does. But I get the point of the text is to merely affirm that being gay in itself is not one of those things that would need to be healed. Anyways, this is a beautiful piece, I can feel it was composed from the heart, and I appreciate that.
Yo, this is a very thoughtful and sincere reflection. May God's peace that surpasses all understanding, and the wisdom to do what is good and right, be with you!
I'm confused yet amazed
this is absolutely stunning! I love this poem and you’ve elevated it so well!
This is stunning. I started crying at the "my child" section.
i keep watching and watching this is amazing
As a queer person of faith is deeply resonated with me
beyond incredible. what are the odds well get it on spotify soon? would love to add it to my choral playlist. amazing art.
This piece, along with the song I Chose For You composed by Daniel Ficarri, are the two most beautiful and powerful pieces of music about reconciling being LGBT and christian. Congrats!
Beautiful work Stuart.
You may have seen on instagram (or possibly will soon see) the stories you've been tagged in from a KCL student, asking people to nag the chapel choir to sing this work lol, well thats me :) you're a legend, and I genuinely didn't know you were a KCL alumni when I first sent that post, which is a wild coincidence!!
Another coincidence is that I saw that you were inspired by Bob Chilcott, and Chilcott is far and away my very favourite living composer, his music just speaks to me in some magical way, he is an absolute genius. I've had the privalege of singing with him at one of his 'come and sing' days and had a short conversation with him. So very humble and so incredible with amateurs, which is what a composer should be in my opinion. I actually also sung in the childrens choir of one of bob chilcott's recordings 9-10 years ago now (which i cant believe...) as a treble, that was an incredible experience, and what first got me interested in his music, and possibly composing music as a whole.
It's so odd how our paths have kind of crossed many times...
Such a coincidence! KCL had a massive impact on my development as a composer. The choir has only performed one of my anthems, back in 2018... so I appreciate the nagging! 😉
@@stuartbeatch you're a legend :) thank you
Wow! I'm stunned and left speechless so let me just say, "Bravo!"
Beautiful!!
Thank you, Stuart. This is incredibly moving.
Two year Iowa All State Choir singer here, I would like to say this is one of the most moving pieces of love and inclusion I have heard and I would kill to be able to preform this someday. This beats out songs like I Am Loved by Christopher Harris, Through Love to Light by Elaine Hagenberg, and Can We Sing the Darkness to Light by Kyle Pederson, This piece deserves attention from organizations like the IHSMA.
And to think all of this and more could exist if people just loved one another
Beautiful choral writing.
Deeply moving.
Great stuff!
Nothing short of incredible.
This beautiful piece (and the blasphemy some of these thumpers are using in the comments section) has only galvanized me to speak louder, to compose louder, about our need for music to hold our sweet little queer and trans hearts. You surely know this by now, but if the haters are hating it simply means that you're saying something that needs to be heard. Much love to you 🥰
Transcendent music truthfully
So special ❤️
This is beautiful and well-composed, esp. the switch at 2:40 Let's not listen to the ones who have their bible just to citate and not to understand the message of love!
holy fuck this was beautiful, as someone who adores the poem this made me fall in love with it even more in a much more beautiful way wow thank you
Beautiful piece
absolutely beautiful
This is actually stunning.
holy shit. now i wanna be gay AND christian! Amazing work truly, congrats!
lovely
I'm a music director for a Lutheran church. Perhaps one of the most moving choral pieces of music I've encountered. I wish our choir could sing this, but it feels too technical for the choir. Would it be possible if there could be an accessible arrangement for a community choir without paid section leaders?
Thumbs up 👍🏻
This would be nice as a piano quintet (piano plus string quartet)
Amazing
this is incredible.
Beatiful fantasy.
Why is that masterpiece in my recommendation feed?
awesome
Have to agree with the other comments. I was expecting and irreverant, sarcastic parody. Instead - this is both beautiful in sentiment and in composition. Wonderful job.
excellent
honestly one of the main reasons why i stopped believing in faith is that its worshippers very often shunned or often hated/abused queer, trans, and gender nonconforming people for not being a "traditional" person/relationship. even though i'm not religious, it's kind of a breath of fresh air to see this here and knowing that this rare circle in this comment section for the most part is accepting and won't be shunned even though christianity is involved. which in my experience is far from the norm. because how can god love and accept all of his creations even though according to the bible, queer and nonconforming people are considered sinning? i refuse to believe that, and i think it's the people's misinterpretations of the bible that makes us LGBTQ+ wary of most religions.
I'm sorry to hear about your experiences - many of my queer friends have the same religious trauma. Hateful people will always find a way to cherrypick and justify their hatred. That's why I needed to write this piece - those people don't speak for me, nor for the many affirming Christian communities I've been a part of ❤️
Yeahp this is it right here
this is a medically diagnosed banger (deeply meaningful insightful piece of art)
not even christian but this had me crying hard
Love your channelllll slay
👏
Frankly, to me, this poem and setting reflect the Jesus who sought out the ruffians and rejects of society/ The same Jesus had some very pointed remarks about people who flaunted their faith and rituals more far than they cared for others, and saw the widow who gave a few cents that she'd miss as giving a lot more than the rich people who gave a fortune they'd not miss.
I'm a bi asexual ex-Christian. I don't believe in the Christian god anymore for multiple reasons, but being reminded that there are Christian LGBTQ+ allies out there means so much. It really does. This is a beautiful piece.
Anglican, of course.
Jesus never turned away a healing though.
based
Beautiful piece! Really wonderful. Ingenious use of the sustain pedal. Fantastic use of chord planing. Amazing. You expressed your message clearly and with great emotional resonance. Bravo!
I just have one question: according to the mythological book that allegedly Jesus himself wrote, shouldn’t he throw stones at the little boy and send him to hell? (Lev. 18:22, 20:13.) After all, according to Christianity homosexuality is a “detestable sin” and an abomination.
Please don’t get me wrong, I’m an atheist. I agree wholeheartedly with YOUR message, that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the little boy.
My point is that this is a misrepresentation of Jesus (who thankfully likely never existed), and indeed, Christianity in general. The Christian scriptures expressly condemn homosexuality. They’re wrong, of course, but nevertheless, they condemn it.
Thank you for your kind words - not answering your question. Go talk to a theologian if you're actually curious.
Jesus likely never existed?!?! dude you need to learn a bit of history before commenting
Dear one. The original, orthodox, Christian interpretation of salvation is God healing our hearts. We need our hearts to be healed more than anything except the healer, Jesus Christ. If a voice said that your heart does not need to be healed, I would beware of that voice. May you always seek The Truth, our Lord Jesus Christ, The Logos.
Amen! 2 Corinthians 10:5 "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." From the NIV. By grace in Christ alone, Amen.
Its a bit gay
Lil bit
❤🎉
Jesus forgave sin instead of condemning, but he also asked people to repent. Can't help thinking his response would be more like his response to a woman caught in adultery.
Jesus straightened up and asked her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no-one condemned you?’. ‘No-one, sir,’ she said. ‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.’
John 8:10-11 NIVUK
Lovely until the last line. Absolutely EVERY ONE OF OUR HEARTS NEEDS TO BE HEALED. Christ came to transform, not affirm.
Great music just wish it was biblical
When are people going to stop apologizing for christian bigotry and start asking why (or if) they believe in christianity at all?
?? I haven't apologized for anyone. This piece is about unconditional love and acceptance for queer people of faith - myself, the poet, many of the people in this comment section. If you're not religious, that's fine too 🤷♂️
This is one of the most blasphemous things I have ever seen or heard. The last line, "my beautiful child there is nothing in this heart of yours that ever needs to be healed." If there is a single person to whom that can truly be said, then Christ's coming was useless! The point of Christ's coming at all was that we all are horrible, disgusting, sinful people who could not save ourselves. To deny this is to be prideful, and pride is foolishness. Proverbs 11:2 says, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” Salvation comes when we acknowledge our sinfulness and turn to follow Christ. It greatly saddens my heart to see our culture spitting in the face of the very God has blessed us so immensely throughout past generations.
In context, I read that the last line as clearly about queerness in particular, and not trying to apply to every single situation.
@@NaomiALJ But my point is that homosexuality (or "queerness" as you put it) is clearly described in the Bible as a sin many times, but today we attempt to say that it is not and deny it needs to be repented at all. And it is not just homosexuality, but we live in a society that has decided that our personal feelings and desires outweigh what God has clearly said in his Word. We forget that while Jesus dined with sinners, his command to them was "go and sin no more," and they obeyed. To be honour Christ we must obey him by daily denying ourselves the bad things we want and doing what he has said instead. I'll attest that it isn't always easy or fun, but I myself find that when I do that I find myself happier than I initially even thought possible. When I give in to my desires I find myself frustrated and upset.
The Bible also says a lot of rejecting wealth, feeding the poor and opening our borders to immigrants. Are you also practicing that? Or are you just choosing the part in Leviticus that supports your bigoted outlook? Cuz it sounds like you are.
@@andrewhale6392where is it clearly described? The word homosexuality itself is not in the Bible at all.
@@another_aaronThe term itself was coined in 1868. How do you expect to find it in the Bible?
Is this a parody?
Sadly, no.
God loves LGBTQ+. But while He loves them, He won't answer the boy that way. He knows that the boy needs healing and is begging for it, and because of His love, He will not give the boy the wrong medicine. God has already revealed and responded in the Bible through His chosen messengers.
If you are that boy, or girl, God loves you and wants to heal you. I pray that you take time to listen to God's call, and obey. If you do, God promises healing, true freedom, peace and joy like you've never known before.
"And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13 (NASB)
Romans 1:24-32
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
1 Timothy 1:8-11
Leviticus 18:22-24
Matthew 19:4-6
Mark 10:7-8
that's true, i don't get it why this piece becomes like this.