O God, whom saints and angels delight to worship in heaven: Be ever present with your servants who seek through art and music to perfect the praises offered by your people on earth; and grant to them even now glimpses of your beauty, and make them worthy at length to behold it unveiled for evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
— Book of Common Prayers
(Image: Fresh Air‘s Terry Cross attributes this insight to Louis Armstrong biographer Ricky Riccardi: “Armstrong’s innovations as both a trumpeter and vocalist set the entire soundtrack of the 20th century in motion.”)