The lyrics for Glen Phillips’s “Center of the Circle” focus on mindfulness, the fleeting nature of the present, and the inevitability of change. Rather than looking too far ahead or getting lost in regret, the lyrics point to finding grounding and peace right in the middle of constant motion.

Glen Phillips is the lead singer of the platinum recording artists Toad the Wet Sprocket (thank Monty Python for the jocular band name, which stuck!). Despite the name, Glen’s lyrical themes range among honest introspection, impermanence, the mysterious beauty of the universe, carpe diem, and more in addition to some fun, which you’ll hear in a coming week. In addition to big 90s radio hits, Toad the Wet Sprocket’s music has appeared in episodes of Friends and Breaking Bad, as well as in major motion pictures.

The “Hallelujah” chorus is the triumphant, majestic concluding choral movement of Ludwig van Beethoven’s only oratorio, Christ on the Mount of Olives (Christus am Ölberge), Op. 85, which was composed in 1803. The piece builds to the energetic and intricate choral fugue you’ll hear today that pays homage to Beethoven’s idol, George Frideric Handel.

Christ on the Mount of Olives is a dramatic oratorio and is considered a much more humanistic portrayal of the Christ passion than previous settings, such as those by J.S. Bach. The full work — which lasts over 50 minutes — was composed by Beethoven in a 2–3 week period!

 

—Chris