Happy happy Americans

 

.....

and I didn't realize the big ships were coming for the celebration.

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then we have the concert in Washington DC

Happy Birthday USA

..........

But Independence day remind me of the the Boston Pops, who would play this as an encore to their concerts:

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Then you have this story about the fans who came to the US to watch the World Cup and discovered that what they thought they knew  about the USA was wrong. Duh.    

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Ironically, almost no one on the discussion groups has noticed that. \the later episodes of this series is about the US revolution, including the Battle of Saratoga, and now has ended with the Battle of Kings Mountain. 

musical interlude of the day

 

Praise the Lord He is risen

 

Igbo, probably from Nigeria. We had many refugees of that tribe in Liberia because of the civil war back then.

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and equal time for Filipinos.

Musical interlude of the week

things are getting crazy again, so it's time for a musical interlude:

 

O come o come Emmanuel

 

...

from classic FM:O Come, O Come, Emmanuel – full lyrics

O come, O come, Emmanuel,

And ransom captive Israel,

That mourns in lonely exile here,

Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free

Thine own from Satan's tyranny;

From depths of hell Thy people save,

And give them victory o'er the grave.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Dayspring, from on high,

And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,

And death's dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come

And open wide our heav'nly home;

Make safe the way that leads on high,

And close the path to misery.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Adonai, Lord of might,

Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,

In ancient times didst give the law

In cloud and majesty and awe.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

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from wikipedia:

 The text was originally written in Latin. It is a metrical paraphrase of the O Antiphons, a series of plainchant antiphons attached to the Magnificat at Vespers over the final days before Christmas.

The hymn has its origins over 1,200 years ago in monastic life in the 8th or 9th century. Seven days before Christmas Eve monasteries would sing the “O antiphons” in anticipation of Christmas Eve when the eighth antiphon, “O Virgo virginum” (“O Virgin of virgins”) would be sung before and after Mary's canticle, the Magnificat (Luke 1:46b–55). The Latin metrical form of the hymn was composed as early as the 12th century.[4]

The 1851 translation by John Mason Neale from Hymns Ancient and Modern is the most prominent by far in the English-speaking world,

 ---------------------------- 

I should explain that Vespers is the evening prayer of the Divine Office, where psalms are recited or sung several times during the day. Usually these include a hymn, several psalms preceded by a short bible verse or poem called an antiphon, a bible reading, and then a canticle: For vespers it is the Magnificat of Mary from the gospel of Luke.

these prayers vary from day to day and can be found on line, the most popular app for this is at Universalis.

The history of the O antiphons preceding Christmas can be found here:

 O Antiphons.

the Wexford Carol

 

from WIkipedia: The full set of lyrics:

1. Good people all, this Christmas time,
Consider well and bear in mind
What our good God for us has done
In sending His beloved Son
With Mary holy we should pray,
To God with love this Christmas Day
In Bethlehem upon that morn,
There was a blessed Messiah born.

2. The night before that happy tide,
The noble virgin and her guide
Were long time seeking up and down
To find a lodging in the town.
But mark how all things came to pass
From every door repelled, alas,
As was foretold, their refuge all
Was but a humble ox's stall.

3. Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep
Their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep
To whom God's angels did appear
Which put the shepherds in great fear
Prepare and go, the angels said
To Bethlehem, be not afraid
For there you'll find, this happy morn
A princely Babe, sweet Jesus, born.

4. With thankful heart and joyful mind
The shepherds went the babe to find
And as God's angel had foretold
They did our Saviour Christ behold
Within a manger He was laid
And by his side the virgin maid
Attending on the Lord of Life
Who came on earth to end all strife.

5. There were three wise men from afar
Directed by a glorious star
And on they wandered night and day
Until they came where Jesus lay
And when they came unto that place
Where our beloved Messiah lay
They humbly cast them at His feet
With gifts of gold and incense sweet

Have yourself a merry little Christmas

wikipedia article

The song first appeared in a scene in which a family is distraught by the father's plans to move to New York City for a job promotion, leaving behind their beloved home in St. Louis, Missouri, just before the long-anticipated 1904 World's Fair begins. In a scene set on Christmas Eve, Judy Garland's character, Esther, sings the song to cheer up her despondent five-year-old sister, Tootie, played by Margaret O'Brien.[7],,,

 

Garland's version of the song, which was also released as a single by Decca Records, became popular among United States troops serving in World War II; her performance at the Hollywood Canteen brought many soldiers to tears.

This essay at The Catholic Thing explains why Christmas inspires us to nostalgia: it is a longing for home. And these songs are often sung before Christmas because the Christmas celebration is about the family and our loved ones being with us:

 

...(these) songs and movies are “Christmas movies” or “Christmas songs.” Sure, we call them that, but they’re really all about Advent – about the sense of longing which steadily grows as we approach Christmas...

Notice, too, that each of the songs and films I listed came out within a decade of the Second World War – the greatest collective experience of homesickness and (for the lucky ones) safe return in American history. Many of these make explicit reference to the war. And while thousands of songs and films about Christmas (and Advent) have been made since, and while some have even become immensely popular, the post-War, pop-culture, nostalgia factory which produced the old hits remains the standard against which the more recent additions are measured.,,

 at a time when many pundits insist the family is no longer important, Christmas reminds us that our family is echoed in the family of Jesus: We Filipinos are not big in theology but see God as part of our extended family: So we celebrate Christmas as the day of the birth of Kuya (older brother) Jesus, and we see Mama Mary as our own mother, and God the Father as our father. 

and as The Catholic Thing essay reminds us:

We Christians know that Advent is a season to prepare for the arrival of the Christ child... The God from whom we were separated in the Fall will come among us, and the deepest longing and restlessness will give way before the Prince of Peace. He makes a home among his people so that we may find a home in him.,

Musical Interlude of the week

Melting pot or Chop Suey

 

 

Remembering Seiji Ozawa

a memorial concert for Seiji Ozawa, who died last year:

...

Wikipedia:

Seiji Ozawa (小澤 征爾, Ozawa Seiji; September 1, 1935 – February 6, 2024) was a Japanese conductor known internationally for his work as music director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, and especially the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO), where he served from 1973 for 29 years.

his Evening at Symphony was broadcast on PBS, which is one reason that PBS should include government funding, at least for cultural programs.

Here is an article on the UKGuardian with an excerpt of a book where Ozawa discusses classical music with Japanese writer Haruki Murakami

it includes a discussion of Mahler's music and the culture that inspired Mahler. I can't excerpt it because it is a bit technical, but if you like Mahler it is interesting because it points out the culture of music evolving (devolving?) in Vienna at those times and how various folk music etc. are embedded in his music.

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the ClassicReview discusses Mahler's Symphony No. 9: an ode to sorrow: at a time when he was mourning the death of a daughter and facing his own mortality. And the review explains the movements on how this was structured: again too long to excerpt but read the whole thing.

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the symphony as played by Ozawa

just for fun

 its dark and rainy outside, and my granddaughter left at 3 am to fly back to Thailand (hope the flight isn't canceled).

So here is a happy concert to listen to:

wish list?

 so Taylor Swift's wish list includes this line:

"I just want you, have a couple kids, got the whole block looking like you... Got me dreaming about a driveway with a basketball hoop," she sings on the dreamy "Wish List."

No I am not a Swiftie but my granddaughter is. But apparently it is now okay to say you want to settle down and have a family, and that this won't destroy your creativity or get you canceled by the woke Karens who run the culture of me me me:

"I used to have this dark fear that if I ever were truly, like, happy and...nurtured by a relationship -- what happens if the writing just dries up?" Swift told BBC Radio 1. "And it turns out that's not the case at all.

musical interlude of the day

 

lyrics: this is a mixture of two songs

You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord, 

Who abide in His shadow for life, 

Say to the Lord, "My Refuge, 

My Rock in Whom I trust." 

 And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,

 Bear you on the breath of dawn, 

Make you to shine like the sun, 

And hold you in the palm of His Hand. 

 The snare of the fowler will never capture you,

 And famine will bring you no fear; 

Under His Wings your refuge, 

his faithfulness your shield.

And He will raise you up on eagle's wings, 

Bear you on the breath of dawn, 

Make you to shine like the sun, 

And hold you in the palm of His Hand. 

 You need not fear the terror of the night, 

Nor the arrow that flies by day, 

Though thousands fall about you, 

Near you it shall not come. 

 And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,

 Bear you on the breath of dawn, 

Make you to shine like the sun, 

And hold you in the palm of His Hand. 

 For to His angels He's given a command, 

To guard you in all of your ways, 

Upon their hands they will bear you up, 

Lest you dash your foot against a stone. 

 And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,

 Bear you on the breath of dawn, 

Make you to shine like the sun, 

And hold you in the palm of His Hand. 

And hold you in the palm of His Hand.

and this one:

Original lyrics: 

 It must have been cold there in my shadow 

To never have sunlight on your face 

You've been content to let me shine 

You always walked the step behind 

 I was the one with all the glory 

While you were the one with all the strength

 Only a face without a name 

I never once heard you complain 

 Did you every know that you're my hero? 

And everything I'd like to be 

I can fly higher than an eagle 

'Cause you are the wind beneath my wings 

 It might have alleard to go unnoticed 

But I've got it all here in my heart 

I want you to know I know the truth 

I would be nothing without you 

 did you ever know that you're my hero? 

And everything I'd like to be 

I can fly higher than an eagle 

'Cause you are the wind beneath my wings

Musical interlude of the week

 

Going Home: Dvorak's muscial salute to America

Dvorak's New World Symphony remains popular, but this sad excerpt is now played (and sung) as the hymn Going Home: 

the sad melody had lyrics put to it, and is often played or sung at funerals: LINK

 you might remember it being played at Regan's Funeral but most famously in the funeral scene from A Clear and Present Danger.

here is the melody without the singing:

.

..

The Symphony has many musical influences:  this NPR article points out how it is influenced by Black Spirituals and American folk songs.

(And don't forget to donate to NPR: I may object to them getting tax dollars due to their obvious bias, but I do support their being able to articulate a liberal point of view without the vehemence of certain US Cable channels.)

and here is the Wikipedia summary:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_No._9_(Dvořák)

So anyway, if you don't want to check out the complicated discussion in those links, here is an easy summary for your enjoyment:

...

amd the full symphony is here: and the Largo I cited above is at 12 minutes.

Musical history of fur Elise

 

I play this all the time. And it has an interesting history... and has similarities to the theme of Jaws? Huh? yup. the da duh da duh da duh at the beginning of the piece.

Dirkdeklein explains why it is so popular among middle level piano students:

 Technically, “Für Elise” is approachable for intermediate pianists, which has contributed to its popularity as a learning piece...

and he explains it's popularity in popular culture; 

Beyond the concert hall and practice room, “Für Elise” has permeated global culture. It is heard in countless films, television shows, advertisements, and even cell phone ringtones. Its familiar melody can evoke a range of emotions, from nostalgia to tranquility, depending on the context in which it appears. In educational contexts, “Für Elise” often marks a milestone in a young pianist’s development, representing a transition from beginner to more advanced repertoire.

More in this video: and he discusses how the revised version is more melodic and fancy, yet it is the straightforward original version that remains more popular.

musical interlude of the week

Happy Father's day

The song in the US was made popular by Eddie Fisher, but when I started to sing it, Joy showed me this video: the song is also popular here in the Philippines.

Nora Aunor was a cinema icon in the Philippines passed away a few weeks ago. Sigh.

according to the Insider, the song was actually the English version of a song 

by Paul Burkhard, a Swiss composer who’d created the piece for his 1939 musical The Black Pike (Der schwarze Hecht).

It's June