Mahavishnu V. Beethoven

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Columbia

Discogs

Cited

'Mahavishnu Orchestra Profile:

One of the premiere fusion groups, the Mahavishnu Orchestra was considered by most observers during its prime to be a rock band, but its sophisticated improvisations actually put its high-powered music between rock and jazz. Founder and leader John McLaughlin had recently played with Miles Davis and Tony Williams' Lifetime. The original lineup of the group was McLaughlin on electric guitar, violinist Jerry Goodman, keyboardist Jan Hammer, electric bassist Rick Laird, and drummer Billy Cobham. They recorded three intense albums for Columbia Records during 1971-1973 and then the personnel changed completely for the second version of the group.

In addition to McLaughlin, the 1974 incarnation of the band consisted of violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, Gayle Moran on keyboards and vocals, electric bassist Ralphe Armstrong, and drummer Narada Michael Walden; by 1975 Stu Goldberg had replaced Moran and Ponty had left. John McLaughlin's dual interests in Eastern religion and playing acoustic guitar resulted in the band breaking up in 1975.

Surprisingly, an attempt to revive the Mahavishnu Orchestra in 1984 (using Cobham, saxophonist Bill Evans, keyboardist Mitchel Forman, electric bassist Jonas Hellborg, and percussionist Danny Gottlieb) was unsuccessful; one Warner Bros. Records, Inc. album resulted. However, when one thinks of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, it is of the original lineup, which was very influential throughout the 1970s.'

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From my reading and listening, Mahavishnu Orchestra is primarily considered of the jazz fusion genre, or jazz rock, being mainly jazz and secondarily rock and classical.

The first two bands were phenomenal, but the third band, 1984 and onward sounds more to me like modern jazz than jazz fusion or jazz rock; therefore it lacked the originality of sound.

Quote

'John McLaughlin's dual interests in Eastern religion and playing acoustic guitar resulted in the band breaking up in 1975."

Mahavishnu is by far primarily, instrumental and without vocals and lyrics. Even so the very name itself is religious and much of the music, at least, has religious purpose.

Mahavishnu

Cited '

Mahavishnu (Devanāgarī : महाविष्णु) is an aspect of Vishnu, the Absolute which is beyond human comprehension and is beyond all attributes.'

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A fundamentalist Christian perspective may be in many cases that a band such as Mahavishnu Orchestra should be avoided.

This would be considered by some as spiritually and intellectually dangerous, or potentially spiritually and intellectually dangerous, even if from a listening Christian perspective there is disagreement with the Eastern religious views.

This is often a fear of the spiritually unknown and how it may effect the Christian believer, spiritually and intellectually.

I prefer to deal with the reasonably known with the use of faith and reason in God's guidance.

Note two recent articles.

Philippians 4:8

Philippians 4:8 II

As a theological Christian I can disagree with the Eastern religious views of Mahavishnu Orchestra and at the same enjoy the musicality.

At the same time I can intellectually learn from the music in regards to the need for technical excellence, creativity, innovativeness and open-mindedness in my own life work.

I own all the five albums already but am buying the collection at a reasonable price for eight bonus tracks.

Again to 'appease the Christian fundamentalist types'; I readily admit that my previous CD purchase was more traditional, and may be considered culturally Christian acceptable.

Decca

This includes that classic historical track by Beethoven Choral Symphony: Ode To Joy.

By far musically my least favourite track on the disc...

However, Beethoven may not pass the fundamentalist Christian musical test much better than Mahavishnu Orchestra.

Hollowverse:The religions and political views of the influentials

Cited

'Ludwig van Beethoven was born and grew up in Bonn, Germany.

Beethoven was raised a Catholic, and his baptism records still exist to this day,1 though it seems unlikely that his was a religious family. Beethoven’s father was an alcoholic and his mother died when he was a teenager.

And it is widely agreed upon by historians that Beethoven didn’t attend Mass very often,2 nor did he claim allegiance to any church as an adult.3

However, Beethoven seems to have turned to religion when it might serve him. For example, one of his lifelong patrons and cheerleaders was Archduke Rudolph, the Cardinal Archbishop of Olmütz.4' Cited 'Religion Beethoven was born a Catholic, but except for a few instances, didn't appear to be very devout.'

Cal Tech

Cited

'From historical evidence, today’s scholars know that Beethoven did not attend Mass regularly, and from that they inferred that he was not an orthodox Christian. His actual religious beliefs are not clearly defined, but references in his letters imply a firm belief in an ultimate, benign, and intelligent Power.'

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Beethoven was documented as likely nominally Roman Catholic, not Protestant, and he may have believed simply in a higher intelligent Power.

Time to toss out those Beethoven CDs?

After all, who knows what spiritual and intellectual damage might be done through his mainly, like Mahavishnu, instrumental music?

I just purchased mine, and although not a huge fan with only one Beethoven CD, I am keeping it for musical and intellectual growth and interest.