The Intrinsic Value of Music as Creation

One of my favorite compositions is the short choral selection "Banziflor et Helena," from Carmina Burana. I love the victorious, jubilant quality, so much so that I wish it could played at my funeral one day, as a way of expressing the fact that death can still be a victory through the after life, and to express that my love is a victory.

Carmina Burana, a compilation of  songs composed by Carl Orff set to poetry written in the Middle Ages, is shunned by some due to the Nazi admiration of the work, and it is alleged that they commissioned Orff to compose it.  Though none of the lyrics are concerned with German nationalism, Judaism, or anti-Semitism in any from, the instrumental music does have a majestic, soaring Germanic style and many of the lyrics are sung in the declaratory fashion common to German opera, with the exception of a few, very tender pieces such as "In trutina" and "Stetit puella." Yet to me, it is irrelevant who composed Carmina Burana and why: the music stands for itself, as a creation with its own independent, intrinsic, inherent value, much like the value of a child stands free of its parents, however evil they may be.  As a musician I believe that beautiful music is inspired by the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit can and does act through anyone--however flawed-- to create beauty: even through a possible Nazi collaborator.

Refusing to listen to Carmina Burana because of alleged motivations for its creation is to me as pointless as destroying every last superb Herbert von Karajan orchestral recording, because it is now said that he was in some ways acquiescent to the Nazis. The creation of inspiring, beautiful music no matter what the circumstances is part of the victory of God, and should be heeded as such.