The most disturbing song I’ve ever heard.

It was composed to help memorialize of one of those most disturbing things humans have ever done to each other –  the U.S. dropping an atom bomb on the City of Hiroshima on  Aug. 6, 1945.

O God how it hurts to listen to it.

I participated in a liturgical dance group back during grad school and we did a dance to this song during a Hiroshima Day observance.  I’ll never forget it.  In fact, I think I may have a taste of PTSD from it… can’t even fathom what it was like for the folks who actually lived, and died, through the actual experience.

(yes, I’m aware that by admitting this, I’m setting myself up for all manner of ridicule. liturgical dance is sort of the embarrassing, gassy, sings-too-loudly, aunt of the Church.)

For more about the significance of this day, see: this article.

Krzysztof Penderecki – Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima