Oh Blessed Cecilia

Every year for the past few I've posted something for the feast day of Santa Cecilia - the patron saint of music. For the first few years it was part of one of the Odes or Masses composed in her honour but its also just been music that I felt celebrated the art which claimed her patronage. As I've mentioned before her connection with music is a bit tenuous to say the least. It has something to do with her hearing heavenly music either at her marriage or as she was being beheaded - the difference being????

This year's Santa Cecilia selection has a slightly stronger link to the blessed virgin (yes I know that heavenly music-marriage thing not withstanding)and martyr.  And I did say "slightly".  It is thought that perhaps the Cecilia of this song may well refer to the patron saint of music in the Catholic tradition, and thus the song might refer to the frustration of fleeting inspiration in songwriting.

Apparently the percussion track was recorded at Paul Simon's house with Paul and Art slapping their thighs, Eddie Simon thumping on a piano bench and a friend strumming a guitar with string slackened to the point of that they were almost out of tune. What ever the inspiration or scoring it proved to be one of Simon and Garfunkel's biggest hits.

And as always as well as tribute to the blessed Cecilia of saintly fame I'm dedicated this to my own bright Cecilia.

22 novembre/November - Santa Cecilia