Baba Yetu

I'm not exactly going out on a limb by proclaiming the merits of Baba Yetu, Christopher Tin's award-winning masterpiece. Since its release as the “title screen” track for Sid Meier's Civilization IV, Baba Yetu has garnered praise from all corners.

Which is wonderful. Tin is a wonderful and accomplished composer, and this could rightfully be considered his masterpiece in the oldest sense of the word: this is the work that grants him the status as a master. But what does that mean to you and me? Here's why this song gets a post:

It feels amazing.

Listen to it again. How can you not be moved by this music? If you speak Swahili you understand the lyrics, the rest of us had to read the Wikipedia article to learn that the song is a translation of the Lord's Prayer from the New Testament.

But no matter who you are there is power in this music. There is simplicity as it starts, swelling into grace and optimism and grandeur that includes all of humanity in its sweep. This song hasn't aged in the thirteen years since its release, nor will it. Like all the true classics, Baba Yetu will be relevant and fresh forever, like Moonlight Sonata or Kind of Blue. This is music for the ages.