Reformátusok Lapja, 1971 (71. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1971-01-01 / 1. szám

12

REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA

The church has conducted citizenship training classes to assist persons in obtaining citizenship papers, and has sponsored numerous Red Cross blood programs.

Rev. Nagy, who has served the " church longer than any other pastor, is also reported to have served his congregation longer than any other minister in the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ, which includes 270 churches.

Rev. Nagy is a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College with an AB degree, and the Lancaster Theological Seminary with a B.D. degree. In 1931, he spent a year at the Theological Seminary in Budapest, Hungary, where he received a gold medal for excellence in public speaking.

He majored in languages and serves the congregation in both English and Hungarian, as well as speaking German, French and Spanish.

Rev. Nagy has served on the board of Park City Hospital, the Bridgeport Red Cross, the Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport, and the “I Am An American Committee” of the Bridgeport Area Chamber of Commerce.

He is a member of the Rotary club and is president of the Connecticut Alumni Club of Franklin and Marshall College.

(The Bridgeport Post)

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To leave the old with a burst of song To recall the right and forgive the wrong;

To forget the thing that binds you fast To the vain regrets of the year that’s past;

To have the strength to let go your hold Of the not worth while of the days grown old,

and

To dare go forth with a purpose true,

To the unknown task of the year that’s new;

To help your brother along the road To do his work and lift his load.

To add your gift to the world’s good cheer,

It is to have and to give a Happy Year.

Author Unknown

Peter Biro & Sons, Inc.

INSURANCE—REAL ESTATE AIRLINE & STEAMSHIP RESERVATIONS

109 FRENCH ST. NEW BRUNSWICK, N. J.

846-1000

“JESUS CHRIST, SUPERSTAR”

There is a considerable distance between “Rock Around The Clock” from the early Fifties to the Beatles, Dillon, and the groups of young serious artists speaking through a new musical idiom similarly called “rock.” The distance is not only measured in time but in depth and focus of the art form used.

We — the straight adult population — began to recognize that rock had turned a comer toward significance with the Beatles’ later recordings that dealt with the issues the youth cult was concerned with. Then we saw the interest develop toward an expanded form for rock statements with the Who’s recording of “Tommy” billed — for want of a better term — a rock opera.

Now there is a new rock-opera based on the Passion of Jesus Christ entitled: “Jesus Christ, Super- star.” The music is a curious combination of forms from romantic mood music through rag-time to contemporary rock. All of the melodies are listenable. The artists who have developed and executed this music have been able not only to set a story to music but to include deeply moving emotional involvement with the aspects and characters in the story. We can really feel the bewilderment that caused Judas to became disillusioned with the “movement” and to turn his leader over to the authorities and then the agony of remorse as he realizes his error. We have a kind of empathy with Mary Magdalene as she tries to identify the strange feelings she has toward this man. We even are able to identify — and for me this was a first — with the agony of the Garden of Gethsemene.

The creative genius of this recording breaks down at the crucifixion. (I suppose we have to leave something for the next generation to do). The style becomes stilted and the forms traditional at the point.

Out of context, the interogation by Herod may appear to be somewhat blasphemous. Taken in the context of the whole, its lilting melody and sarcasm add to the believability of the whole work.

The electronic effects are best appreciated in stereo, and even more so with headphones.

We recommend this as a good chance to begin to bridge the gulf of musical taste and cultural alienation that separates the generations. We might take issue with some of the exegesis and theology. We might, but we won’t.

The Staten Island Division of the Council of Churches has the recording and it is available for rental at $1.00.