Are the arts promoted in your schools? Many schools cut the arts because the economy. What are we missing or rather what will we miss as a result?
Beethoven was reputed to have first picked up Handel's Messiah with these words, "Here is a different fellow" and proceeded to play the most interesting looking passages. On another occasion he is said to have remarked, "Handel is the greatest composer that ever lived", and spoke of the oratorio as having "sublimity of language". The music of Messiah so permeated Beethoven's being that on his deathbed he is reputed to have quoted from The Messiah stating that if there were a physician that could help him "His name shall be called Wonderful".
Fortunately, this work will be with us forever and ever because there will always be someone to sing this music. Here is a link to a public performance with the Jacksonville Symphony Chorus and several local choirs at the Riverside Arts Market (I had to miss this because of a Nutcracker rehearsal, but my wife was there singing for the both of us): http://www.viddler.com/explore/jaxsymphony/videos/27/
What does this have to do with my Scottish Bookwraith? Beethoven also wrote music to some Scottish songs written by Sir Walter Scott which are excellent in quality and performed to this day saved from the bookwraith because of an abiding interest in the arts.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
How do you think Scott would have felt about the use of his stories in the dramas and music of the 19th century? Is it like making movies from books and videogames? Were they meant to last or to convey the stories of the day in yet another format?
Post a Comment