Willy or Won't He?

Post 1,500

2012-01-26T17:31:00.001-05:00

When I first posted on this blog back on November 12, 2006 I said:

I wrote my first blog back in 2000 while working at the Warsaw Business Journal.
(snip) Back then I promised readers a daily update of ex-pat life in Poland. That promise was well-intentioned but more often than not it was a broken one. Blogging on a regular basis can be time consuming and lets admit it most of us don't have that much excitement in our lives that warrant a daily post. Basically I've started this blog to keep a record of our trip to Vietnam in December. We'll see how that works out.

1500 posts and more than five years have passed since I wrote that "mission statement" if you like - funny how we slip back into "bureaucrat-speak" isn't it? And what I wrote still holds true today - blogging is time consuming and hard work, and often topics or events that thrill you would bore your readers to distraction or at least to click quickly away to something more fascinating. My blog log (look Ma I rhymed) shows that there are 61 posts sitting in "draft" status - things started, abandoned and on occasion restarted and once again abandoned. Perhaps this is a good time to clean up that file - finish off the gold that cries to be posted and delete the rest as the dross it is A project for a snowy, cold day - which could be any day this month or next!

Looking at one set of tracking statistics I see that since that day in November there have been:

111, 879 visits (that does not include the times when the code suddenly disappeared from the template)
64,365 unique visitors (I have always thought that all of my visitors are unique)
153, 060 page views (thought this conflicts with the stat on another counter that says 103,160 since June 2009)
168 countries are represented on that survey and though the bulk of my visitors come from the U.S., Canada, Italy and the United Kingdom at least on one occasion someone in Vanuatu (Cameron or Dan during their stint there?), Saint Helena and Bhutan (Bev on one of her many exotic trips?) have clicked their way here.
The most visited post has been A Word of Warning which suggests there is a great deal of interest out there in the corseting of Austro-Hungarian royalty and obscure 19th century German texts on healthy living!!!!
The most popular search strings have been "crollalanza", "pavol breslik gay" - apparently he is but you couldn't prove it by me - and "the past tense of fly" which since it addressed the flu I caught on a flight from Beijing to Toronto must have disappointed all the grammarians out there.

But what a statistics gathering programme can't measure is the pleasure I've experienced in recording the things that have interested, pleased, saddened and, on occasion angered, me. Nor could it in any way record the friendships I have established with so many of my visitors and fellow bloggers. The experiences of reading, corresponding, telephoning and in some cases meeting with people has enriched the past five years in so many ways. And that, for me at least, has been the greatest reward of all the words, links and photos of the past 1499 posts.

And now to get to work on the next 1500!

26 January - 1500: Vicente Yáñez Pinzón is the first European to set foot on what is now Brazil.

Lunedi Lunacy

2012-01-23T09:00:00.000-05:00

This may be a bit of a specialized lunacy suitable for my friends and readers with a liturgical bent but lunacy it is. But then so much of it is, isn't it?

Many thanks to my dear Rob in Rome for this one. Miss you caro.

23 January - 1556: An earthquake devestated Shaanxi Province in China with a loss of nearly 830,000 lives.

龙年吉祥！Gung Ha Fat Choy - Gong Xi Fa Cai

2012-01-22T14:49:00.000-05:00

The Dragon is a magnificent beast. In the East, the Dragon is the imperial symbol, the sign of the emperor and the male element of Yang. The Dragon is also synonymous with power and wealth.

It is said that people born in the year of the Dragon carry a natural charisma and are gifted with power and luck. They can also be egoistical and ambitious, almost to the point of megalomania, and will often stop at nothing to get what they want. They can be successful as actors, singers, bankers, financiers, politicians, pharmacists and quite comfortable in many other professions.

The Dragon falls on the following years: 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, and 2012.

Once upon a time, the Jade Emperor decided to select twelve animals to be recognized as the zodiac (生肖shēngxiāo) signs. In accordance with a decree, the first twelve animals to present themselves to him on the day appointed by the Emperor would be selected as the animals of the Chinese Zodiac.

A right click on the Zodiac will take you to predictions for the coming New Year of the Dragon. Once you get there just click on your sign and all will be revealed.

The Cat asked the Mouse to help her compete, but the Mouse forgot and the Cat was overlooked. Ever since, there has been bad feelings between the two animals. The other animals choose the Ox to go first but the sly Mouse rode upon his back so that when the Ox lumbered into the Great Hall the Emperor first espied the Mouse. So the Mouse was awarded the first place. However the Tiger and Dragon were angry about the mouse's deception and to placate them the wise Emperor granted them the Kingdoms of the Mountain and the Sea. The Rabbit also voiced his displeasure and challenged the Dragon to a race for the fourth position of the celestial signs. Though the Dragon was swift, Rabbit proved the victor. That’s how the Dragon became the Fifth Animal in the Zodiac.

The story is told that once in the old times there was a monster called Nián. The monster was enormous and had spiky antenna coming out of its head. During most of the year it lived in the deepest part of the ocean but on the Eve of the New Year it would rise to the surface and devour people and livestock living on land. However after many years a wise monk discovered that Nián was afraid of the color red, bright lights and loud-bang noises. So on the New Year's Eve Chinese people put couplets written on red paper up on their gate, hung red lanterns across gate beams, set off fireworks and stayed up all night, which was called "守岁 (shǒusuì)". It is still the tradition today as people throughout the East approach the New Year with deep lingering feelings for the passing year and a hopeful longing for good things in the coming New Year.

Another tradition that people follow on the New Year is to hang small messages or wishes called Hui Chun in and around their homes and offices, hoping for good fortune during the year. There are many different Hui Chun depending upon the occasion and circumstance. There are Hui Chun asking for sufficient food, domestic harmony, special wishes for the elderly and some wishing students good luck in their studies.

And as I've done in the past I have a Hui Chun that I want to share with all my dear friends:

And may those treasures not be just monetary ones but also the treasures of love, health and happiness.

If you would like to send friends and family a Hui Chun to begin the New Year the people at Discover Hong Kong (one of my favourite cities in Asia) have an interactive site where Hui Chun can be created and sent to family and friends.

22 January - 1506: The first contingent of Swiss Guards (150 soldiers) arrives in the Papal States.

Patterns of Winters

2012-01-12T17:12:00.000-05:00

I've made no secret of the fact that winter is not one of my favourite times of year, particularly when its a day like today - freezing rain, snow, cold wind, -9c feeling like -13c. Or days when it is bright and sunny but -27c with the wind chill. The other day when I trudged through the Rideau Centre in a t-shirt, shirt, sweater, fleece, scarf, winter coat, toque and big clunkly lined boots I asked myself why I wasn't sitting in Miami in a shorts and t-shirt with many of my friends? However that is a question to be answer another day.

But then every so often there is those moments when the sight of pristine snow falling in soft flakes on virgin white drifts - before the dog walkers set out and the sand trucks appear - takes on a mystical fairy tale aspect. Or times like this morning when I went into the living room and saw a literal forest of frost on the window - looking for all the world like a Lalique sculpture. I know it means that the seals have broke on the window and more cold is coming in than should be but it really was beautiful. I only wish I had a better camera that wouldn't catch the reflection but even that added a touch of the mystical to the designs etched in ice by the cold.

Remember that a left click will enlarge the photos for a closer look.

At this point I'll simply bask in the beautiful of nature and not even bother looking out the window. That would only bring back those old feelings about winter!

12 January - 1908 A long distance radio message was transmitted from the Eiffel Tower for the first time.

Mercoledi Musicale

2012-01-11T22:14:00.000-05:00

This time last year I was preparing to head up to Salzburg for the annual Mozartwoche for a few days of concerts, bazaartost, Salzburger Knockerl and the warm hospitality of the Hotel Bristol. Amongst the musical highlights was a concert by the German bass-baritone Thomas Quasthoff in a concert of Hayden arias and songs. It was an opportunity to hear one of the greats in a little known repertoire in the intimate setting of the lovely Mozarteum. An added thrill was having him come into a restaurant we were lunching at and ask if he could sit at a communal table.

Quasthoff's story is a fairly well-known on in musical circles - how he overcame great physical challenges to become one of the most respected and loved artists of the past few decades. Known for his sensitive and nuanced singing in recital, he branched out into opera and jazz and proved that the subtlety he brought to the concert stage translated into so many forms.

Today at the age of 52 he announced his retirement due to health reasons. As my friend Opera Chic says his ".... statement to the press demonstrates why he's treasured for his elegance and professionalism."

“After almost 40 years, I have decided to retire from concert life. My health no longer allows me to live up to the high standard that I have always set for my art and myself. I owe a lot to this wonderful profession and leave without a trace of bitterness. On the contrary, I am looking forward to the new challenges that will now enter my life. I would like to thank all my fellow musicians and colleagues, with whom I stood together on stage, all the organizers, and my audience for their loyalty.”

One of my favorite Quasthoff recordings is this aria by Mozart written in 1791 for the bass Franz Gerl and double bass player Friedrich Pichelberger. It has been rumoured that Pichelberger had made advances toward his wife Constanza and Mozart composed the extremely difficult bass obbligato of Per questa bella mana as revenge. Whatever the reason he may have had for composing it, here Quasthoff sings it will his trademark elegance and the young bass player Christoph Anacker dispatches his part with elan.

And here is Quasthoff displaying his abilities as a jazz artist with Have A Little Faith in Me from one of his crossover albums.

Though he may be retiring from performing life he will continue teaching at the Hanns Eisler Academy in Berlin and continue to hold his international master classes. In 2009 he launched "Das Lied" an international song competition and has a new talk show series at the Berlin Konzerthaus.

One can only say thank you to him for so much wonderful music and wish him happiness and health. We may not hear the music of his voice but his voice will still be heard in the world of music.

11 January - 1566 The First Official Government Lottery has held in England.

Lunedi Lunacy

2012-01-09T08:30:00.000-05:00

One of the reasons I never make New Year's Resolutions is that I have never been able to keep them past the first week of January.

So how you doing with yours?

09 January - 1768 Philip Astley opened the first modern circus, in London.

Hristos se Rodi!*

2012-01-07T11:23:00.000-05:00

Voistinu se Rodi!*

To all my Orthodox friends in Serbia and Canada who are celebrating the Birth of Christ today I wish you all the all the blessings of Nativity.

This lovely traditional chant "Today the Virgin" is by the Boston Byzantine Choir and is a track on their album "First Fruits".

* The traditional Serbian greetings for Christmas:
Christ is born! He is born indeed!

07 January - 1598 - Boris Godunov ascended to the throne of Russia

The Flight of La Befana

2012-01-05T23:08:00.000-05:00

Tonight, as she has done for the past thousand years - or perhaps two thousand if legend is to be believed, an old lady will wander through the streets, alleyways and roads of Italy looking for a special child. Some say she is seeking the Christ Child, others that it is her own lost child she seeks and still others say it is all children because for one night a year they have been left in her care. Her head swathed in an old scarf to protect her from the cold, dressed in a tattered house dress, wearing a pair of scuffed boots - though sometimes she wears sandals or even goes barefoot - and using a broom as support but more often as transportation she will go from house to house.

At each house where she stops she leaves small presents in the stockings that have been left out by the children of the family. If she finds that the child has been bad there may be a lump of coal or an onion but more often she rewards children for the times they were good with sweets, oranges, toys and games. And because she comes down the chimney and is a good housekeeper she sweeps away the soot so no trace of her entry can be found. Then, if thoughtful children have left one behind, she may partake of a glass of local wine or even a biscotti to warm her old bones and give her strength to continue her journey on to the next house. It is also known that if she is spied upon she will take her broom stick to the offenders and never visit them again.

Over the past few years I have written about the various versions of the story of La Befana and it seems each year I find another one including this rather lovely variation on her tale at My Merry Christmas. It is a tradition I have grown to love and cherish as part of my Christmas and once again this year she graced the tree and has been keeping an eye on things from the hutch until the 12th day of Christmastide comes to an end and things are put away until next year.

Though her tale is now steeped in Christian mythology it is likely that her origins - as with much in Christianity - are pagan. She may be related to Strenua the Sabine goddess of strength and endurance whose feast came at the beginning of the New Year and included the exchange of gifts. This festivity was considered riotous and licentious by early Christians but as Thomas Macaulay remarked "Christianity conquered paganism, but paganism infected Christianity." In some northern Italian cultures she represents the Old Year and a puppet of an old lady is burned on a larger bonfire in a public square (Fellini captured that rite in his Amacord) - a pagan tradition that can be found in many Celtic cultures.

Though she is celebrated throughout Italy - and in many Italian communities worldwide - the town of Urbania in Pesaro is closely associated with La Befana. From January 2 until the 6th the town celebrates La Festa Nationale della Befana with food, fairs, rides, games, parades and more Befane that you can shake a broom at.

These are a few sketches of the street decorations designed by Loris Grisi for this year's festa - stockings, sacks of goodies, brooms, the only thing missing is the old lady herself. But as this little sideshow proves there is no lack of guests-of-honour at this celebration.

Viene, viene la Befana
Vien dai monti a notte fonda
Come è stanca! la circonda
Neve e gelo e tramontana!
Viene, viene la Befana

Here comes, here comes the Befana
She comes from the mountains in the deep of the night
Look how tired she is! All wrapped up
In snow and frost and the north wind!
Here comes, here comes the Befana!

Giovanni Pascoli

And hopefully on her journey tonight she has brought happiness and good things to all my dear friends in Italy. Viva la Befana Viva!

05 January - 1759 - George Washington married Martha Dandridge Custis

Out With The Old In With the New

2012-01-04T22:14:00.000-05:00

Sadly as most of us have figured out by now House Elves were figments of J. J. Rowling's fevered imagination - though of course our belief in them probably gave her enough disposable income to actually hire an army of house elves. Myself, I waited and waited for one to appear and even suggested that the Hounds from Hell start earning their keep. Nicky's reaction was to snap at the vacuum in an attempt to scare it back into the laundry room. Finally I had to call a cleaning lady to sandblast the apartment and make it spic and span.

And I decided at the same time that maybe a little house cleaning on the blog is in order - but that I can do myself. With a change of abode comes a few changes in how things are done here. The celebrations for the 150th anniversary of a United Italy have come to an end - though hopefully not the national pride and enthusiasm it engendered - so that banner has disappeared from the sidebar. Its been replaced by another event being celebrated this year - the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. It is being celebrated on both sides of the border as a defining event in the histories of Canada and the United States of America.

I have also made a change to the way I date posts. After the move to Italy in July of 2007 I went bilingual - Italian/English - and in deference to the rich influence of the church calendar on life there included Saints' Days from the Italian calendario. Lord knows there was a saint - sometimes two or three - for every day of the year but I would dare say that each Saint had his day - and a few even were mentioned each year. However I felt to continue in this vein now that I am back in Canada would be a mite pretentious and anyone who knows me knows I am not pret... okay I am but.... All to say that the date will now be in English and the events recorded will be momentous (?) occasions in the history of that particular day.

And I really must get around to cleaning up the sidebars - I really wonder if anyone does actually read sidebars or not? Perhaps that would be a good survey to post in.... a sidebar????

So now things are a bit neater and a touch tidier on the blog - now all I have to do is find someone to iron the 22 shirts that are hanging in the laundry room. Any offers?

04 Janaury - 1847 Samuel Colt sold his first revolvers to the government of the United States.

For Whom the Belles Toll

2012-01-03T22:47:00.002-05:00

As the year drew to a close another great talent of the late 20th century was lost - cartoonist and illustrator Ronald Searle died on December 30 at his home in France. He first created his infamous Belles of St Trinian's while a prisoner of war working on the Burma Railway in Changi.

In an interview with the Guardian's Steve Bell he described his time there:

"I desperately wanted to put down what was happening, because I thought if by any chance there was a record, even if I died, someone might find it and know what went on. At times I was so ill that I couldn't draw at all. You're doing 16 hours a day rock breaking and you're exhausted. You come back and have a bowl of rice. You have no light, but you have fire, a big fire keeping the mountain lions away, and snakes perhaps, and by the light of the fire, I made the drawings. I didn't have a watch or anything, so you just lie down in the tent until you were dragged out the next morning to go back to the rock breaking. And so all these drawings, some of them very bad, were all I could do in a state of exhaustion."

Ronald Searle: A Life in Pictures
Steve Bell
The Guardian March 9, 2010

After is return from the war his anarchical gang of schoolgirls brought him recognition and success including, in 1954, the first - and best - of a series of films based on their riotous behavior. Featuring the magnificent Alistair Sim as the addled head-mistress Miss Fritton and her gangster twin brother Clarence it also starred Joyce Grenfell, George Cole, Hermione Baddeley, Sid James and in her first film Barbara Windsor. It was followed by four other movies though none ever quite lived up to the fun and frolic of the first.

In these two clips we see the staff and young "ladies" of St. T's at their finest, or at least as good as they will ever get:

But Searle's fame wasn't to rest of his naughty schoolgirls - he output was to include cartoons, travel books, the adventures of Molesworth, his particular take on his beloved cats, advertisements and commemorative medals were all to bear the distinctive spiky style of Searle's pen. I was particularly miffed when I discovered that somehow in all the moves I've lost - sold? given away? - a hysterical look at the history of The Hudson's Bay Company that he and Kildare Dobbs created to celebrate the 300 anniversary of that august institution. Amongst the illustrations was a less than happy Queen Victoria, in her lap a pile of beaver pelts and on her face a look of regal distaste - all captured with a few strokes from the pen of a master.

Victoria and Albert show an atypical ebullience in "Always With It" a cartoon Searle did in 2007 to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of London's V and A.

Today's Guardian has a slideshow highlighting some of Ronald Searle's work and his life here.

03 January - 1987 - Aretha Franklin is the first women inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Lunedi Lunacy

2012-01-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

I know that Advent is over and we are now into the 7th day of Christmas which probably should mean something about swans-a-swimming but I hadn't realized that those two wild Scottish Socks over at the Scottish Sock Puppet Theatre had posted an Advent calendar. But like many of us they got a bit preoccupied with the run up to the big feast day so they decided to do one big catch-up video with I might say typical results.

And not matter what the season I find these two wooly soacks can always raise a laugh. A left click on the link will take you to a very touching poem about soacks in proper Ayrshire.

02 January - St Gregory the Great

Music for the New Year

2012-01-01T13:59:00.001-05:00

Back in 2003 travel writer Patricia Schultz gave us a list of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die - an interesting if somewhat fatalistic title for an intriguing little travel book. Though I've never totaled up my list to hers - there's an iPad app for it!!!!! - I have seen a fair bit of the world in the past 65 years. I was 19 when I took my first trip out of North America and I've been travelling ever since - first with the airlines and then as a dip spouse. According to my list on TripAdvisor - compiled I have to admit with a fading memory - I've visited 252 cities in 29 countries with a few of them on Ms Schultz's list. I know for sure that one of them is Vienna - a city which I didn't like on my first visit but came to enjoy and love as I discovered it over the past few years.

The Großer Musikvereinssaal bedecked for the annual
New Year's Concert. The flowers that decorate the hall
are the gift of the city of Sanremo in Italy.

And though I've done most of the things she lists as "must do's" for any visitor to the city that Jan Morris likens to "a grandiloquent watchman of history," there is one glaring omission. I've never attended the Wiener Philharmoniker's New Year's Day Concert - strangely Ms Schultz pegs the less well-known New Year's Eve concert as the thing to do but I think either one would fit on the list.

Well hopefully there is still time in the next few years to correct that gap in my list - perhaps coupled with another trip to my beloved Salzburg for Christmas? In the meantime here's an excerpt from this year's concert where maestro Mariss Jansons - conducting his second New Year's concert - showed his prowess with the hammers?????

According to the Wiener Phil website if I want to get into next year's concert I'd better make up my mind in the next two days. The lottery registration for January 1, 2013 starts on Wednesday and ends on the 23rd. And the tickets range from €30 to €940 - so I'd have to win two lotteries if I wanted a good seat!

The official website has a history of the concert - now in its 72nd year and broadcast to an estimated audience of 50 million in over 72 countries. And there's an interesting posting on how the broadcast is done - famous British producer Brian Large has been most often in charge in the past few years.

01 January - New Year's Day

In With The New

2011-12-31T18:53:00.000-05:00

With its highs and its lows 2011 is over and much in the world has changed - in the big wide world at large and in our own small corner of it. Though much has changed much has remained the same. Love, family and friends have been as the always have been, and hope always will be, the important things in my world. And for that - and for them - I am grateful. And though I am raising a toast to auld lang syne (days gone by) I also raise a toast to the year to come - may we have all good things in the New Year but should there be bad may we have the strength to overcome it.

This reminds me of a New Year's Eve dinner many years ago in our first house in Aylmer - and yes we did wear tuxedos. A left click will take you to all the words of Robbie Burn's immortal lyrics.

When I grew up New Year's Eve was a time when neighbours dropped in for a drink - my father didn't drink but he worked for a distillery so there was always something in the house - we had a family dinner and then we listened to the radio and at midnight as Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians played Auld Lang Syne we exchanged kisses and hugs and then went to bed. Tonight will be much the same. No great carry on - maybe a bit of reflection and maybe even some Guy Lombardo.

Wishing all those near and dear to me the happiest and healthiest of 2012.

31 dicembre/December - San Silvestro

Lunedi Lunacy Early

2011-12-29T14:57:00.001-05:00

Soooo Canadian eh?

29 dicembre/December - San Davide Regno di Giuda e Israele

A Carol for Christmas VII - The Innocents

2011-12-27T23:16:00.000-05:00

More years ago than I care to remember I was part of a group performing the "Nativity" from the Coventry Mysteries at St Thomas Huron Street in Toronto. In the spirit of the original we performed the pageants on stages set up around the church and the audience followed from stage to stage. The plays had been freely adapted by our director Don Mcgill - whose voice was known to anyone who listened to CBC radio in the 1960-70s - but keeping a good deal of the language of the original at times it was almost like performing in a foreign tongue. To this day I remember that "mickle" is Middle English for "great". And I had a role in the pageants involving Mickle Herod - Herod the Great, his interview with the Magi and the Slaughter of the Innocents.

This Slaughter of the Innocents is one of the
Rotterdam Bible tiles adorning the walls of the
kitchen at Wachau Castle in Saxony.

My dear friend Jim was a big man - well over six feet five and stocky - and he got the "big" role of Herod and I - smaller and, in those days, slimer - was his snivelling, groveling clerk. Herod was of course the "bad Jew" - and was always dressed in black and gold with flaming red hair, red side-locks, a large hook nose and a bombastic bellow meant to elicit laughter from the crowd. In those first performances he would probably have been the butt of catcalls, heckling and perhaps even the odd piece of rotten fruit. That half-comic, half-villainous Herod of the Mysteries was to greatly influence the portrayal of Jews in both Marlowe and Shakespeare. Until Edmund Kean's sympathetic Shylock in 1814, perhaps the most famous Jewish character in English literature had been played as a repulsive and evil clown. It has been suggested that the famous "Hath not a Jew eyes?" speech would have been greeted with great laughter in Shakespeare's time.

The face of Herod is created by the bodies of
the innocents he is said to have slaughter in this
grotesque painting by Giuseppe Arcimboldo.
Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum, Innsbruck

In our version Don had Jim ignore Hamlet's advise to the players that they must not "out-Herod Herod". A great bellowing figure in black with a flame red beard and side-locks wielding a gigantic scimitar he chased me - cringing, whinging and dodging - around in a knockabout routine - sort of the Frick and Frack of Middle England.

Being St Thomas music was very much a part of the performance as it would have been during the Middle Ages. As I noted earlier many carols were meant to accompany these pageants and were sung - and perhaps even danced - as interludes as the wagons moved from place to place. Though the Coventry Carol did not appear in written form until the early 1500s it is quite possible it was written earlier as musical accompaniment for the Slaughter of the Innocents in the Cycle of Mysteries that had been presented by the the Shearmen and Tailors' Guild at Coventry beginning in 1392.

There are many versions available but I find this one by the Robert Shaw Chamber Singers has a particularly lovely blending of voices.

Though there is a great deal of ambiguity in the lyrics - the only know copy of the original text was burned in 1875 and it has come down to us in two very bad transcription - it is both a lullaby and a lament. A mother - perhaps the Virgin herself - rocks her child and sees in its future a sad ending.

Historically this is some doubt about the events as described in St Mathew's Gospel - there is no historical record of such a massacre. It is recorded that Herod had his own young sons put to death to secure his throne. Perhaps Mathew expanded on this event as a link to the prophecy of Jeremiah concerning the coming of the Messiah: A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and greet mourning, Rachel weeping for her children. And perhaps that is what we are really hearing in this simple but beautiful carol - Rachel weeping for her own and all children lost to violence.

28 dicembre/December - Strege degli Santi Innocenti

Winter Storm Warning

2011-12-27T23:13:00.000-05:00

At the beginning of the month we were being told it was going to be a green Christmas with no or at least very little snow. However as someone said on Christmas day, weather forecasting is much like medicine - a very unspecific science.

Fortunately for the drive down to Montreal on the 24th the ice from earlier in the week had melted away, the roads were clear and the sun was shining. However much to Nicky and Nora's consternation it was hovering at -17c (-25c with the wind chill - anyone remember when we didn't even know there was a wind chill????). This was not a temperature much to the liking of two hot blooded little Italian HFH and the next day when it was coupled with 10cm of snow it was even less enjoyed. Needless to say driving in Montreal on Christmas Day was an experience. But again luckily for us the weather on the 26th was sunny and again the roads were clear for the ride back to Ottawa.

Our street is looking very romantic at the moment - almost the perfect covering of snow we all wanted for Christmas but were told by the weather people not to count on!

However this morning brought with it a "winter storm warning" red alert which had the good grace to hold off until our guests had made their way home from lunch. However it is now in full force and the good people at the weather office are predicting 10 to 15 cms of the fluffy white stuff mixed with freezing rain.

In the meantime coat and booted HFH decided that it wasn't that bad after all - Nicky bounded through the snow like the little thoroughbred he is and our Nora plowed her way around the block in that no-nonsense manner of her's looking for squirrels to devour. And I decided that while it was still all relatively white, fluffy and virginal I'd do a walk around our block and take a few pictures.

I have to admit the Christmas lights do take on a special glow when covered by a dusting of snow and filtered through the gently falling flakes.

It all seems so romantic, lovely and Christmas card-like. And I'm telling you right now that I'm posting this so when I struggle into work and back tomorrow and I curse the Canadian winter I will be reminded how romantic I thought it was tonight.

27 dicembre/December - San Giovanni apotolo ed evangelist

Lunedi Lunacy

2011-12-26T17:59:00.003-05:00

To All My Left-wing and Liberal Friends:

Please accept with no obligation, implied or explicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the summer/winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2012, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make Canada a great nation. Not to imply that this country is necessarily greater than any other country in the world. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, colour, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee.

To My Right-wing Friends:

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

With thanks to Vicki for the initial wish - I am assuming she considers me right-wing?????

26 dicembre/December - San Stefano protomartire

A Greeting for the Day

2011-12-25T09:00:00.000-05:00

To all our friends and family where ever you might be

MERRY CHRISTMAS

JOYEUX NOËL

BUON NATALE

25 dicembre/December - il giorno di Natale

A Carol for Christmas VI - Silent Night 1914

2011-12-24T09:00:00.000-05:00

The most famous story about, perhaps the most popular of Christmas carols, "Silent Night" involves a broken organ in the Nikolaus-Kirche in Oberndorf in 1818. Legend says that Joseph Mohr brought the lyrics to Franz Gruber and asked for a melody that he could play on his guitar. Whither that is fact or legend is a small point - it is a carol that has been recorded by artists as varied in musical genre as Mahalia Jackson, Kathleen, Battle, Luciano Pavarotti and Annie Lennox and translated into at least 40 different languages.

It is this universality that led to one of the strangest episodes of the First Great War: the Christmas truces of 1914. Those unexpected episodes leading up to Christmas of that year when British, German and to some small extent French troops left their trenches and met in New Man's Land. For a brief time in that bloody conflict men exchanged greetings, cigarettes, played football and it is said sang carols together - the one carol each knew, in their own language, was Silent Night.

I've chosen not one of the many versions of this beloved carol that is on YouTube but a song that commemorates that fragile and brief peace. It appears that Cormac MacConnell who wrote the song may have altered the year but captures the spirit of those amazing moments; and Jerry Lynch brings a sincere beauty to even the sad brutality of the last verse.

And this is for all my dear friends and all those serving overseas - may there soon be a peace that will bring you home to your families and loved ones so there is never again a need for a Christmas truce.

24 dicembre/December - La Vigilia di Natale

Spaghetti Frittata - From Our Christmas Pot Luck

2011-12-23T21:27:00.000-05:00

The gang at work did a pot-luck lunch today so I thought I'd bring a touch of Italy to the festivities with a spaghetti frittata. I first had this quintessential Neapolitan dish at Leon d'Oro, a quintessential Neapolitan trattoria in Piazza Dante. My friend Wendy loving and accurately described this friendly family run restaurant, that she visited last month, over at Flavor of Italy.

This is a great way to use up left-over spaghetti, vegetables or whatever catches your fancy. Its a good buffet dish, a lunch/brunch dish with a salad or as a primi for a more elaborate dinner.

1/2 lb of spaghetti*
3 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
4 eggs plus 1 egg yolk
Salt
Fresh ground pepper
Other ingredients can be added - almost anything that you would normally use with spaghetti - bacon, cooked zucchini, roast peppers, basil, canned tomatoes or left-over tomato sauce.

Cook spaghetti until just slightly al dente - it will undergo further cooking later.
Drain and toss while still hot with butter, Parmesan and parsley and allow to cool completely
Lightly beat eggs in a small bowl with salt and pepper
Add the beaten eggs to the spaghetti and mix thoroughly
If you are using other ingredients they should be added and thoroughly mixed in at this point.
Spray a 11-12 inch non-stick skillet with Pam or 2 tablespoons of butter and heat over a medium burner until foam subsides.
Pour mixture into skillet and spread to an even thickness over the bottom of the pan.
Cook for 3 to 4 minutes without touching the pan. The tilt the pan slightly and bring the edge closer to the centre of the heat. Cook for minute or so and then rotate the pan about a 1/4 turn and cook for another minute. Continue until a full circle has been completed. This will make sure it is cooked evenly. Lift the edge with a spatula to see if a nice golden crust has formed on the underside.
Place a platter slightly larger than the pan upside down over the pan and turn it over. Let the frittata plop onto the plater. Grease the pan again and side the frittata back into the pan.
Repeat the cooking process above until the second side has formed a good golden crust.
Transfer to a cutting board and cut into wedges.

It can be served hot, lukewarm or at room temperature but never just out of the refrigerator.

23 dicembre/decembre - San Giovanni da Kety

A Carol for Christmas V - For Dolly

2011-12-23T18:59:00.000-05:00

On Christmas morning 1745 Dorothy Byrom received a special gift. Though he had several children little Dolly was John Byrom’s particular favourite and he had promised her that he would write something just for her to celebrate the Feast Day. Amongst the presents waiting for her that morning Dolly found an envelope and an excited little girl opened it before anything else. To her delight it was a poem bearing the heading Christmas Day for Dolly. We know it better by its first line: Christians Awake, Salute the Happy Morn.

John Byrom's original text of "Christians awake, salute the happy morn"
which little Dolly found amongst her Christmas gifts on that morning in 1745.

It was to be published the following year in Harrop's Manchester Mercury and was set to music in 1750 by John Wainwright. Little is known about the composer – he was organist at the Collegiate Church in Manchester and in 1766 published a collection of Hymns, Psalms and Chants.
Somewhere in my collection I have a recording of this joyous carol by The Huddersfield Choral Society – arguably the premiere amateur choir in the British Isles – and again was hoping to find them on YouTube. Unfortunately their full-throated – is there anything quite like an English choir in full voice? – rendition was not there but I did find an equally delightful if smaller scaled version.

This quartet of well-known British singers recorded it in 1948 for Victor. Regarded as one of the great English oratorio singers of the 20th century Isobel Baillie was a petit Scottish soprano with a silvery voice. She is joined by Gladys Ripley, a well-respect contralto who was a great favourite of Sir Adrian Boult, tenor John McHugh and Australian baritone Harold Williams. Perhaps this is the way it was sung in the Byrom great room and many other homes on Christmas mornings after Wainwright had set it to music.

23 dicembre/December - San Giovanni da Kety

A Carol for Christmas IV - Advent

2011-12-22T22:29:00.000-05:00

As we sat at our cappuccino frappes in the trendy café at the Colonnade on Bloor St back in the early 70s my friend John peered over his black forest cake – keep in mind it was the 70s – and demanded to know why they were playing Christmas carols when it was only December 15^th. He summoned a rather perplexed waiter and asked for an explanation as to why we were not hearing Advent carols. The poor waiter, and I must admit I until that time, had never heard of Advent carols. But as I quickly found out carols were meant for any festive occasion and though it was a minor penitential season in the church calendar indeed carols had been written to be sung in sacred and secular settings.

I was first introduced to the Advent carol "Lo He Comes With Clouds Descending" on a recording by Maddy Prior that Bob Kerr often played on the lead up to Christmas. In her rendition Maddy follows John Wesley’s admonition to “sing lustily and with great courage” and brought out the dance-like qualities of the melody. There seems to be some discussion as to the origins of Helmsley, the most popular - and possibly original - tune setting with some suggestion it may have come from a folk opera written by Michael Arne and subsequently arranged by either Thomas Oliver or Martin Madan. Madan was definitely the author of a revised version of the original text. Written in 1752 John Cennick's text had distinct anti-Semitic overtones and was Evangelical fire and brimstone at its best. Six years Charles Wesley adapted it and gave it a more hopeful and finally exultant mode. Then in 1760 Madan made further refinements to the lyrics to bring us to the version most often heard today. It is also possible at that time that he arranged the music as we most commonly know it.

I had hoped to find Maddy's very individual jig-like rendition on video but failing that there is a beautiful version by the Lichfield Cathedral Choir. Lichfield is one of the cathedrals in England that is not often on the tourist path which is a shame as these picture reveal that it would be well worth the visit. I believe the descant arrangement on the final verse is by Ralph Vaughn Williams.

I was reminded of this carol last Sunday when we attended a concert by the choirs of the Basilica of Notre Dame here in Ottawa. I'm sure its Wesleyan authors would have been astounded to hear it sung in a Roman Catholic church. And sung "Lustily and with great courage".

22 dicembre/December - San Demitrio

Marco's Presepe

2011-12-21T22:49:00.000-05:00

Over the past few Christmastides I’ve posted entries about crèches – those traditional tableaux that retell the story that is the Christian origins of the Feast Days. In my travels I’ve always found a certain comforting familiarity in seeing the figures of Mary, Joseph and the Christ Child in places as far away as Saigon and as nearby as Sussex Drive. As the location changed so did the world surrounding those three figures – often touching reflecting the lives of the people and place.

In our own household there are three nativity scenes that have been bought in our travels and set up at various times in our households in Ottawa, Mexico, Cairo, Chicago, Warsaw, Aylmer and Roma. Limited surfaces in the new apartment have meant that again choices had to be made. Sadly the charming corn husk figurines, including a slightly wall-eyed wise man, of the crèche from New Mexico have been left in their box to be used another time. The carved szopka I bought in Warsaw – though not the traditional colourful to the point of gaudy scene – has found a spot on a credenza in the living room. And I was able to find a place for the exuberance of Emanuele Luzzati’s pop-up presepe – a Genovese’s take on the traditions of Napoli. Which is probably where this whole obsession - and yes I admit it is an obsession - with crèches came into being.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York continues its tradition, begun in 1957, of displaying the incredible collection of Neapolitan presepe figures collected by the late Loretta Hines Howard. Well over 200 18th century figures from her collection are displayed on and around the gigantic tree set in front of the enormous medieval choir screen.

I first became acquainted with the elaborate crèches of Napoli when, sometime in the early 70s, the late lamented Gourmet Magazine featured the Christmas tree at the Metropolitan Museum in New York on is cover and in its lead article for Christmas. The elaborately robed angels watching over an even more elaborately costumed Mary and Joseph caught my, at the time decidedly baroque, fancy. I recall immediately wanting to do an angel theme on the tree that year but that was long before angels became ubiquitous in Christmas stores so I settled for the somewhat less heaven-bound theme of toy soldiers.

A few years later my friend Naomi and I made a day trip to New York to see a matinee of Amedeus with Ian Mckellan, do a bit of shopping at Bloomies and see the tree. Set against the imposing choir screen it proved as magical as I had imagined from the photo and word picture that Gourmet had painted. It was only later that I discovered the story behind the elaborate display - how the humble presepe with its painted terra cotta figures that appeared in almost every Napoletano home had been elevated to a high art form by King Ferdinand in an effort to foster industry and the arts in his kingdom.

Though I saw many manger scenes during the four Christmases I spent in Italy I was never able to get to Napoli over the holidays so missed seeing the hundreds of public - and for the privileged, private - presepe on display throughout that most marvellous of cities. And on the three occasions I did get there I never did make it to Via San Gregorio Armeno - the street of the presepe makers. But that just might have been a good thing - I'm sure the temptation to recreate my own presepe Napoletano would have been far to strong.

Knowing my fondness for these little scenes and I'm sure knowing that I wouldn't find too many here in Ottawa my friend Marco thought he'd share his presepe with me, if only digitally. In his apartment in Trastevere he has a traditional Napoletano nativity scene, given to him by his mother and father as a reminder of the traditions of his childhood. Not the elaborate-gowned and bejewelled figures of that courtly New York tree nor the resin creations sold today but the simple painted terra cotta figures that you would find in many homes near Piazza San Carlo or off Via Toledo in earlier times. It is wonderful to share it with him if only at a distance - mille grazie caro.

But in common with all those nativity scenes I love so much - the crèches, szopka, presepe call them what you will - there is world outside the stable. Recognizable figures people the little village - more Campania than Bethlehem - the shepherd boy, the bagpipe player, the fishwife and - perhaps my favourite - the sleeping shepherd who is missing the great events taking place nearby. Perhaps that is what gives these scenes their charm - that as a great event is taking place people are going about their business - some stopping, other continuing on with their daily routine and a few sleeping and missing the whole thing. In other words - life!

A few other entries I've posted over the past few years on nativity scenes:

The Presepe Maker

A Procession of Presepe

A Polish Presepe

Borgo Nights

21 dicembre/December - San Pietro Canisio

And Call It Lights

2011-12-20T20:06:00.000-05:00

"Now Judas celebrated the festival of the restoration of the sacrifices of the temple for eight days, and omitted no sort of pleasures thereon; but he feasted them upon very rich and splendid sacrifices; and he honored God, and delighted them by hymns and psalms. Nay, they were so very glad at the revival of their customs, when, after a long time of intermission, they unexpectedly had regained the freedom of their worship, that they made it a law for their posterity, that they should keep a festival, on account of the restoration of their temple worship, for eight days. And from that time to this we celebrate this festival, and call it Lights. I suppose the reason was, because this liberty beyond our hopes appeared to us; and that thence was the name given to that festival. Judas also rebuilt the walls round about the city, and reared towers of great height against the incursions of enemies, and set guards therein. He also fortified the city Bethsura, that it might serve as a citadel against any distresses that might come from our enemies."
Flavius Josephus
Jewish Antiquities XII

*Blessed are you, Lord our G-d, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us by his commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanukah.

20 dicembre/December - La primera noche de Chanukkà

Lunedi Lunacy

2011-12-19T06:42:00.000-05:00

From the unfamiliar music of the season to the ... uh... "familiar".

With thanks to Cathy, who has brought us so much wonderful music in the past few months.

19 dicembre/December - Santi Dario, Zosimo, Paolo e Secondo

A Carol for Christmas III - The Watchman's Cry

2011-12-18T13:17:00.000-05:00

Before the creation of the unified Metropolitan Police in 1829 the twisting alleyways and dark streets of London were guarded at night by watchmen. In medieval times the watch fell to local householders who, as part of their civic duty, were required to serve a watch, patrolling the streets from 8 or 9 o'clock at night until sunrise. Unpaid and unarmed they were expected to challenge any villainous characters lurking in the boundaries of their parish. As the city grew so did the problems of urban unrest and the task of patrolling the streets and seeing to the disreputable and unruly fell to a salaried force of watchmen. The rising merchant class saw an advantage to get a full night's sleep and in paying a small tax to have their homes and boundaries guarded by a paid force.

The Watchmen at St Marylebone prepare for their nightly duties.
The Microcosm of London published 1808-1810.

The watchmen were employed by parish and city councils and armed with little more than their lantern, a staff and their dogs their duty was to apprehend loose women, drunks, armed thugs and, perhaps worse, gentlemen out on a rout and take them to the local watchhouse. They would then be turned over to the authorities to be seen to and punished - often harshly - for their criminal deeds or unseemly behavior. The watchmen were often ridiculed in the playhouse and literature - Shakespeare takes the mickey in Much Ado About Nothing with bumbling Dogberry and his coherts - but still to the average householder the watchman's cry of the clock and assurance that all was well - if indeed it had not disturbed them from their sleep - allowed them to rest easier.

Though by 1924 the watchman's cry had long disappeared from the streets of London it was to reappear in the carol "Past Three A Clock and A Cold Frosty Morning" in The Cambridge Carol-Book, Being Fifty-Two Songs for Christmas, Easter and Other Seasons, published by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. George Ratcliffe Woodward wrote the text and the music was arranged by Charles Wood. An Anglican clergyman, Woodward was fascinated by old carols and known for his ability to write verse in a pseudo-Renaissance style and frequently Wood collaborated with him, adapted his lyrics to old melodies or composed new tunes in the old style. A teacher at the Royal College of Music Wood counted Ralph Vaughan Williams and Herbert Howells amongst his students. His settings of the Anglican mass and various canticles and anthems can still be heard in many churches with traditional choirs in England and Canada.

The refrain that gives the carol its title is based on the actual cry of the watchman and appears as a refrain to a song in Playford's Dancing Master in 1665. The tune itself is based on an old melody used by Waites. Like the watchmen the Waites or town pipers were paid by their local civic or parish council to play on special occasions and to awaken people on dark winter mornings with the shrill sound of their pipes and shawms.

This version of Woodward and Woods' carol is performed by the Stairwell Carollers, an a cappella choir from here in Ottawa.

Throughout the year the Stairwell Carollers raise money for local charities with concerts and the sale of CDs. As the name suggests they specialize in "carols" in the old sense of the word - music for secular and sacred feasts.

18 dicembre/December - San Malachia Profeta

Decking the Halls

2011-12-17T19:53:00.000-05:00

Though the halls are not being decked as elaborately as they were in the past - during our time in Mexico City our Ambassador's wife remarked that our apartment looked like Eaton's windows at Christmas - there are still a good number of decorations that are being used to give our current residence a feel of Christmas. Many of them have been around for years and have a significance not just to the season but to celebrations and events of the past.

I bought these two little carollers at the Bay on Rideau Street here in Ottawa
back in the early 80s - I don't recall seeing anything like them since.
They may have found a place on one of our earlier trees but for the longest time
they have sung their carols perched on this evergreen bough.

More years ago than I care to think I bought two little papier-mâché and felt carollers and made a decoration for the crown of the eight foot high armoire that graced our various living rooms - and is now found a home with my brother-in-law and his wife - for many years. It was a large piece of furniture with stunning feathered mahogany veneer and dated from the early 1800s. Laurent's mother had save it when someone had thrown it out to be hauled away as garbage. It dominated any room it was in but strangely the one place that it fit in perfectly was the small living room of our first house. A house which figured mightily in my go-for-broke if not quite baroque Christmas decorating phase. Sans armoire in our homes abroad the two little carollers became decorations for the front door and are serving that purpose once again this year. And they are also serving as the link to the postings to my favourite Christmas carols on the sidebar at the right.

The new tree with my silver balls in place.
A time honoured tradition continues.

Several people have asked - well okay no one really ask but its a good way of making a transition - about our tradition of Silver Christmas balls. Well there had been some discussion about whither they would be put on the tree this year. In other years we had a nine foot tree that fit with room to spare in the houses or apartments we lived in - unfortunately the our current apartment is a bit more restrictive. So the good people at St Vincent gratefully took the old very large tree and the good people at Canadian Tire gratefully took our money for a new much smaller tree. However we no longer have room for all the ornaments that have been collected over the past 40 or so years. Some hard choices had to be made - the silver flowers of Christmas didn't go up but the Wedgewood ornaments did; the blown glass apples and oranges from Poland didn't go up but the Russian enamel did. There was some talk about the trouble involved in getting my silver balls all bright and sparkling for the tree and the amount of time it would take but that argument gave way to a wave of nostalgia - did we honestly want to break a 34 year old tradition?


Even in Mexico I don't recall the tarnish being so bad - they were almost black. Ah well that's why silver polish and elbow grease were made I suppose?

So last Saturday silver polish in rubber gloved hand and an old frayed flannel nightshirt torn into usable strips I set to work polishing my balls. Oh for god's sake Cecilia stop it - I can bloody well hear you chortling from here! I don't think I've ever seen them so tarnished even in the soup-like pollution that was Mexico City. The sea air in the shipment? Adjustment to the relatively unpolluted but humid air of Ottawa? Who knows but tarnished they were and it took almost 4 hours to clean all 30 of them. But polished and gleaming they were put on the tree in an unbroken tradition that reaches back to 1979. Somethings you just don't toy with - I guess my silver balls are one them.

17 dicembre/December - San Giovanni di Matha

A Carol for Christmas II - Mary's Joy

2011-12-17T12:56:00.000-05:00

By the 1870s the Oxford Movement had led to the establishment of Anglo-Catholicism, a branch of the Church of England which had revived and embraced many of the rites, rituals and worship practices, if not all of the dogma, of Catholicism. In parishes such as mine in Toronto the traditional Anglican services of Matins and Evensong were no longer the centre of worship but the celebration of Mass was considered a daily duty of faith and on high holidays an act of obligation. Easter and Christmas were the two major days of the Church year but many other feast days dotted the calendar including those bearing the name of Mary. Marian worship was not as strong as in the practices of our Roman neighbours however on special feast days the Angelus was rung and said and the Rosary was encouraged as a source of private meditation.

Christmas Carols New and Old was born out of the Protestant tradition of the established Anglican church of its period however the Reverend H. R. Bramely was known to be a disciple of the Oxford Tracticians and a strong High Church man. It is little wonder than that a Marian carol found its way, surreptitiously perhaps, into that first series of carols published in 1871.

The Seven Joys of Mary were popular in the devotional and artistic life of Medieval parishes and religious houses so it seems only natural that it should have become a carol - in the old sense of the word - to be sung at festive occasions. Though not originally meant specifically for Christmas its introduction into Bramely and Stainer's collection has led to it being consider appropriate for the season. Again it is not a carol that was or is sung in churches (to the more Protestant it smacked of "Popery", to the High Church it was perhaps too frivolous in melody to be comfortable amongst the smells and bells) however it was often sung in homes and by carollers as the season approached.

For some reason this carol is very popular in Eastern Canada - its jig like melody does have a bit of that down-East Callie mood to it. I recall that Rita McNeil always included it in her Christmas concerts and the version I've chosen to post is by Great Big Sea from Newfoundland. Their version conjures up thoughts of an extended family around the kitchen fire, eating and drinking and celebrating the season as a cold wind blows snow off the North Atlantic. It is rather amusing, and comfortable, to see that in this rendition from Newfoundland - and it appears that versions differ from region to region - at least three of the things that gave the Holy Virgin pleasure in her son growing up were things that gave every good Christian mother joy.

Thought I don't believe in advertising on my blog I believe also that artists should get credit, and recompense, for their work, so I'll mention that this is from an album called Atlantic Standards and is available at iTunes. There are some lovely and little known pieces on it that I'm happy to have in my Christmas collection.

17 dicembre/December - San Giovanni de Matha

A Carol for Christmas - A Hymn for Christmas Day

2011-12-15T22:03:00.000-05:00

The cover of the last (1878) "library" edition
of Bramley and Stainers Christmas Carols New and Old.

In 1871 Henry Ramsden Bramley and Sir John Stainer published Christmas Carols New and Old, a book of hymns and songs that could to be said to be responsible for the revival of the Christmas Carol in Victorian England and the English speaking world. The two had met at in 1860 at Magdalen College, Oxford where Bramely was a fellow of the College and Stainer had been appointed organist. At the beginning of the 1870s they collaborated on a book of Christmas music - Bramley acting as editor, translator and in some cases lyricist while Stainer saw to the music and included arrangements thought suitable for use in church and parlor.

That first slim volume was to be expanded to a series of three hymnals and from twenty to seventy carols by the time the last combined edition was published in 1878. In those seven years Bramley and Stainer introduced most of the carols that we hear in concerts, office parties, on TV specials, in shopping malls and at church during Christmastide.

That first edition included carols which we now take as givens at this time of year but for their time were if not new were certainly not well known - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, The First Nowell, What Child is This and Good King Wenceslas. A wonderful interactive copy of that first series can be thumbed through at the Internet Archive - and notice the use of "f" or the "long s" in the lyrics.

The second book in the series included a carol which was often sung at Festal Evensongs during the Christmas season at St. Thomas and which became one of my favourites. "See amid the winter's snow" was published under the title A Song for Christmas and I particularly remember the wonderful descant and organ variations that Walter McNutt and his choir wove around it on those solemn evenings on Huron Street. The text was by Edward Caswall, an Anglican priest who followed Newman's example and joined the Oratorians, and set to music by Sir John Gross who was known for the popular hymn Praise My Soul the King of Heaven.

I searched for a version that could perhaps bring back memories of those candlelit and garland festooned services at St Thomas's but came across this version by Annie Lennox that is as moving and memorable in its own way. In 2010 Annie released an album of Christmas carols and songs and toured extensively in North American during the time leading up to the holiday. Though there are several postings on YouTube of the studio recording, one of which can be heard here, however I choose a live recording that she did on a syndicated American morning show. Despite the inanities of the hosts in the post performance segment - which can be fortunately avoided - there is a joy that shines through and illuminates the true meaning of this carol in her performance.

The standard editions of Bramley and Stainers carol books (as in the Internet Archive edition) were simply the words and music. However there was a more elaborate "library edition" published for the home archives. The illustrations were done by famous engravers of the period - the winter landscape for Caswell and Gross lovely carol was created by Edward Dalziel one of the four Dalziel brothers who were popular engravers and lithographers of the period.

The first page of "See amid the winter's snow"
illustrated by Edward Dalziel.

The "library" editions were illustrated and
annotated with the history of the carol

In the introduction to the final combined volume in 1878 Bramley and Stainer wrote:

The following collection of Christmas Carols, new and old, has been formed with the purpose of providing a single source, easily accessible, from which those who are so disposed may make choice of songs, suitable in words and music, for the sacred and joyous season of our Lord's Nativity.

The time-honoured and delightful custom of thus celebrating the Birthday of the Holy Child seems, with some change of form, to be steadily and rapidly gaining ground. Instead of the itinerant ballad-singer or the little bands of wandering children, the practice of singing Carols in Divine Service, or by a full choir at some fixed meeting, is becoming prevalent.

Among the Carols here given are some which are best suited for the old simple mode of rendering; others which require more ample means for their performance. Some, from their legendary, festive, or otherwise less serious character, are unfit for use within the Church.
.......

With this brief account of the purpose and nature of their undertaking they again submit the result to those orthodox lovers of music who desire to keep the Feast of Christmas with mirth which shall not overstep the bounds of reverence.

Henry Ramsden Bramley and John Stainer
London, 1878

I can't be alone in feeling that their stated purpose and nature was more than achieved.

15 dicembre/December - Beato Carlo Steeb

A Carol for Christmas - Prologue

2011-12-15T06:37:00.000-05:00

"Well what other sort of carols are there?" you may ask? Well there are all sorts of carols - Advent, Easter or just for general rejoicing. The word carol appears to have been derived from the French "carole" or possibly the latin "carula" but in either case it meant music to be played and sung during a circular dance at a festive time. During the 1100s they were particularly popular as dance melodies but were gradually incorporated in to processions of a religious nature or as an accompaniment to the Mystery Plays that were popular throughout Europe.

After having heard the news the Shepherds carol the birth
of the Christ Child in this 12th century manuscript.

In France they became the folk-like noels heard in Provence and the countryside eventually finding their way in the 16th century into the music of Charpentier, Campra and other courtly composers. In Germany the Lutheran church encouraged music at Christmas and Luther himself wrote several carols for use at Christmastide. In England many of the carols were written to be sung outside the church as bands of carollers went awassailing from house to house, a tradition which reached back to the pagan times and accounts for the secular sound of so many of the carols that are popular today.

Brady and Tate's New Version of the Psalms of David
included "While Shepherds Watched",
the first Christmas carol in an Anglican hymnal.

In the 17th century carols were banned in England by the Puritans as frivolous and an unsuccessful attempt was made to turn December 25th into a fast day. It was revived as a feast day with the Restoration of the Monarchy and the reestablishment of the Church of England however it didn't regain its full significance until the 19th century. Though many carols and Christmas songs were written the only hymn accepted at Yuletide in the Anglican church in 1700 was "While shepherds watched" when it appeared in a supplement to the New Version of the Psalms of David by Nicholas Brady and Nahum Tate. It was to be joined by two other carols in 1782 - Wesley's "Hark the Herald Angels" being one of them. More carols were introduced in English country churches and by the 1870s had become a part of Christmas services throughout England and the colonies.

A wealth of Christmas text and music was added to Hymns Ancient and Modern in the period from 1850s onward and many of the popular carols we know and love today were composed at that time. It was also a time when many of the earlier carols were arranged or reset to new tunes often having been translated from the Latin.

A band of children in Yorkshire, carrying greenery as symbols of rebirth, go from house to house singing carols in the tradition of wassail. In exchange for their song and blessings on the house they would receive food, drink and sometimes small coins.

As I was growing up in the 50s and 60s a few popular standards - Silent Night, O Come All Ye Faithful, Joy to the World, Hark the Herald Angels and While Shepherds et al - seemed to be the only ones heard. But during the 70s I had the good fortune to be introduced to a treasury of Christmas music every week day afternoon by Bob Kerr on his programme Off the Record. Much of what I enjoy today as music at Christmas I can trace back to his incredible eclectic mix of music for the season that encompassed so many periods, cultures and languages. At the same time I became involved at St Thomas Anglican Church in Toronto and there discovered Christmas carols that were part of a vital music tradition in the parish.

Though I still love the old familiar carols there are so many beautiful songs that sing to the heart of the season and that make my Christmas a rich and happy time. Over the next few days I'm planning to post a few of my favourites from those less well-known carols. Hopefully they will bring you as much joy as they do me.

15 dicembre/December - Santa Maria Crocifissa di Rosa

Christmas Card - II

2011-12-14T18:39:00.000-05:00

Though of a slightly later period this lovely
floral card is reminiscent of the early Christmas
Cards created by Louis Prang

The United States Postal Service had been created back in 1775 with Benjamin Franklin as its first Postmaster General. By the early 1800s the USPS relied on a system of horse, coach and steamboat delivery to carry an every increasing volume of correspondence as the country expanded.

And at no time of the year was that volume as critical as it was as the Christmas season approached. People sent handmade greetings to family and friends spread out throughout the continent and often with the increase of immigration, overseas. The workload was so bad in 1822 that the Superintendent of Post in Washington D.C. complained that he would have to hire 16 additional postmen. Fearful of future bottlenecks in delivery he petitioned Congress to restrict the exchange of cards by post at Christmas time. He issued the dire warning that the Service would grind to a halt if this sort of thing kept up.

The centre pane of this post card shows a traditional German Christmas that was soon to become the idea of how Christmas was celebrated throughout much of the English-Speaking World. The border seems to have a strange "bringing civilization" flavour to it.

As well as celebrating Christmas these stylish
Fraulein are modelling the latest fashions for the young set
in Wein in 1888. Perhaps this card was designed for
a dressmaker or fashion shop - even then businesses sent out
Holiday Greetings to their patrons.

Poor man - it was of course only the beginning. Once ready-made Christmas greetings became the rage the flood of cards was to become beyond the poor Superintendent's wildest imaginings. Though ready-made cards had been introduced in England in 1843 they didn't become fashionable in North America until 1875 when German-born lithographer Louis Prang introduced them at his shop in Boston. His first Christmas cards were mostly floral bouquets and except for the odd possible bit of "language of flowers" that was popular in Victorian times had little to do with the season. As time went on what is considered now to be traditional Christmas themes began to appear. He could be thought of as the "father of the American Christmas card". However by 1890 his cards fell out of favour and were being replaced by the cheaper Christmas-themed penny post cards imported from his native Germany.

The post card - cheaper to make, buy and send - was replacing the elaborate - and expensive - Victorian card as a way of sending Christmas wishes to friends and family. Reflecting the traditions of Yuletide as they were celebrated in Mittel-Europe and were being observed in a Great Britain emulating their Queen and her family. And of course under the influence of the "Motherland" most of her colonies and former colonies followed the customs. They were to become the template of how Christmas was to be observed for much of the English speaking world.

With the coming of the Great War all things Germany were banished and though post cards continued to be sent they had a patriotic theme - on both sides of the barbed wire. By the end of the war post cards were starting to fade from the scene and the older style cards with envelopes returned to favour.

That poor overwhelmed Superintendent would have thrown his hands up in despair at the millions of cards that flooded through the postal system a mere century after his dire prediction.

14 dicembre/December - San Giovanni della Croce

Lunedi Lunacy

2011-12-12T18:56:00.000-05:00

At this time of year all over the United Kingdom children are loudly warning a favorite Fairy Tale character of one sort or other to "Look Behind" them. Yes its Panto time in England - and beloved Storyland heros and heroines are singing, dancing and prat falling their way across the nation's stages. But even as they boo the evil Queen or the ravenous Wolf and applaud the happily united Cinders with her Prince, Aladdin and his Jasmine or Beauty with her transformed Beast not one of the little darlings in the audience gives thought to what happens once those plush red curtains engulf them.

Oh yes I know "They lived happily ever after." Trips off the tongue easily doesn't it? Oh for heaven's sake grow up!

Cinderella

Belle the Beauty

Princess Jasmine

Red Riding Hood

Sleeping Beauty

Snow White

The Little Mermaid

And though she isn't really a storybook character you have to admit that the Gospel According to Matel painted a pretty fairy tale life for Barbie that many a poor Ken has worked overtime to try and provide.

Barbie Turns 50.

"Happily ever after ....." Yeah right Mother Goose!

With thanks to my dear Naomi for sending me these and destroying my ~~childish~~ childlike beliefs.

12 dicembre/December - Nostra Signora di Guadalupe

A Big Day

2011-12-09T18:01:00.001-05:00

This past weekend has been busy with getting together with old friends, polishing the balls - more of that later - and trying to get the Christmas tree up. Why is it even with the tree being pre-lit it still takes 3 days????

Anyway on Friday morning Laurent reminded me just after I got out of bed of what a big day it was. And after rubbing the sleep from my eyes and seeing to a few more pressing ablutions I realized that indeed it was a big day. December 9th, 2011 Stephen Harper became the 9th longest holder of the position of Prime Minister of Canada. He had been in office now for 5 year 306 days which is 4 days longer than that other great Conservative leader John (Dief the Chief) Diefenbaker. And to think I've lived under both of them.

Which brings to light the other great event of the day - I was finally able to use my Senior Citizen bus pass legally. Yes I hang my head in shame to admit that for two months I've used a Senior's bus pass, shall we say, a trifle illegally. But the very nice young lady at the OC Transpo kiosk offered it to me in October and said that it would save everyone hassle when I actually qualified in two months. So you see it was self-interest on her part and altruism on mine! Honestly!

On the December 8th, 1946 my father announced that he would not be into work because his wife was having a baby the next day. Not the sort of announcement that was greeted with credence in those far off days. Its a long, boring story - or at least was at all those family gatherings - but apparently it was then or never so on December 9th as the snow blew up a treat on Grenville Street in Toronto, Dr Marion Hilliard delivered my poor mother of a pre-mature, mewling tiny creature that was whisked away immediately to an incubator for a few weeks.

Well thanks to pioneers in women's health like Dr Hilliard and her colleagues at Women's College Hospital I'm here today - still mewling, not much more mature than I was in those days, not so tiny and with almost as little hair. I joke but Dr Hilliard and her ilk were remarkable women in an era when issues of women's health were given little attention and thanks to their work great advances were made.

So here I am here 65 years muttering at those 64 year old whippersnappers to get the hell up and give me the seat at the front of the bus. And now comes the discounts at the drugstore, the Ontario Drug Plan for Seniors, movie discounts and every other cut I can get for making it to 65! But I will not go for the early bird special at the local diner - no one, not even a Senior Citizen eats at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. Or at least not this Senior Citizen.

I can hear at least one person I know reading this shaking his head and saying "silly man"; all silliness aside I want to thank all my dear and wonderful friends and family for the wishes, the e-mails, the cards, the notes on Facebook. And to my father-in-law Denis and brother-in-law Stephan and other members of the Leprechaun Chorale - thanks for the singing telegram but don't give up the day job.

One of the great joys of the past 65 years has been the friends that I have made who have given me reason to rejoice in and gave so much meaning to my life. 1000 grazie e baci a tutti!

(Begun on December 9th and finally finished on December 11th.)

09 decembre/December - Juan Diego, nato Cuauhtlatoatzin

Christmas Cards - I

2011-12-06T21:50:00.000-05:00

Over the past five years I may have mentioned that one of my favourite authors is E.F. Benson and chief amongst his books the series that traces the "alarmes and skirmishes" between those two forces of nature Elizabeth Mapp and Lucia. I was drawn to his books by the BBC TV Series that brought to life the citizens of Tilling in the persons of Geraldine McEwan, Prunella Scales and Nigel Hawthorne. Though it is over 30 years old since they first appeared they are still a constant source of joy and gentle laughter.

As indeed are the Lucia novels that I have read, read again and reread a third, fourth and possibly fifth time. Though there may be great things going on in the outside world but to the residents of Tilling they are as nothing compared to the daily thrill of life in their own little, fast fading, world. Even the sending of Christmas cards became a matter of thrust and parry and tactical manoeuvrings.

The pleasant custom of sending Christmas cards prevailed in Tilling and most of the world met in the stationer's shop on Christmas Eve, selecting suitable salutations from the threepenny, the sixpenny and the shilling trays. Elizabeth came in rather early and had almost completed her purchases when some of her friends arrived, and she hung about looking at the backs of volumes in the lending library, but keeping an eye on what they purchased. Diva, she observed selected nothing from the shilling tray anymore than she had herself; in fact, she thought that Diva's purchases this year were made entirely from the threepenny tray. Susan, on the other hand, ignored the threepenny tray and hovered between the sixpennies and the shillings, and expressed an odiously opulent regret that there were not some "choicer" cards to be obtained. The Padre and Mrs Bartlett were certainly exclusively threepenny, but that was always the case. However, they, like everybody else, studied the other trays, so that the next morning when they all received seasonable coloured greetings from their friends, a person must have a shocking memory if he did not know what had been the precise cost of all that were sent him.

But where did the "pleasant custom of sending Christmas cards" originated?

The custom of exchanging greetings at Christmastide was an age old one and often took the form of handmade cards delivered by hand within a town and then as postal systems grew spread to family and acquaintances further afield. In England at least, it appears that the first commercial Christmas card was created in 1843. Henry Cole (left in a caricature from Vanity Fair from August 1871), as well as being a civil servant, was the chief architect of the newly modernized British postal system, a moving force behind the Albert Hall, Great Exhibition of 1851 and promoted and oversaw the building of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Needless to say he was a busy man and in 1843 felt he was too occupied to write out the personal greetings that friends expected to receive at Chistmas time so he hired John Calcott Horsley to design a "greeting card" all ready to be sent. Horsley's design was hand-coloured and lithographed on stiff, dark cardboard and bore the greeting: A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you".

It featured adults and children at a Christmas feast raising a glass in a toast but also bore several readily recognizable Christian symbols: sprigs of holly for chastity and ivy symbolizing the footprints that God had left as he walked upon the earth. And despite the festive atmosphere in the centre pane the receiver was reminded and encouraged to feed and cloth the poor at this time of year as an act of Christian charity.

The card proved popular and 1000 were printed and sold in London stationery shops for a shilling each. Of that original printing only two or three are known to exist today and at the most recent auction one that Cole sent to his grandmother went for £22,500 ($35,500.00). A good deal of the popularity of the card stemmed from the ease of dispatching greetings to family and friends using Cole's newly introduced penny post. Some controversy arose when several Temperance societies complained about the tipples being enjoyed by the merry throng, particularly the little girl who is being given a sip to celebrate the Feast - however like all "bad" publicity it may well have bolstered sales.

And though we may find it odd that our friends in Tilling were buying Christmas cards to send on Christmas Eve until the Second World War there was Christmas morning postal delivery in most English towns. Canada had no such luxury however we did have the distinction of issuing the first Christmas stamp in 1898. Though without a Christmas theme - rather it glorifies a rather more temporal Kingdom - the stamp bears the inscription Xmas 1898. Legend says that when the Canadian Postmaster General William Murdock proposed a stamp to honour the "Prince" meaning the Prince of Wales, a raised eyebrow and a pointed question from Queen Victoria - who it is said never quite approved of her son - as to "which Prince" brought the quick-witted reply: Why the Prince of Peace, m'am.

It had been thought that the e-card would put a dent in the Christmas card market however last year in Great Britain alone - where Christmas cards began - £171.6 was spent on single Christmas cards. Neither Cole nor Horsley could have dreamt that those 1000 cards would lead to the avalanche of greetings that are exchanged around the world at Christmastide.

06 decembre/December - San Nicola

Lunedi Lunacy

2011-12-05T08:30:00.000-05:00

Need I say more?????

A left click will "enbiggen" these terms of sale for easier reading - like they really want you do to that!

05 decembre/December - San Saba Archimandrita

World AIDS Day II - A Few Thoughts and Figures

2011-12-01T13:30:00.000-05:00

There was a time when the world seemed obsessed with finding a "Patient Zero" - for a time a work colleague of mine was unjustly branded as the culprit - someone who brought AIDS to the wider world and could be blamed. Now with this year's theme for World AIDS Day we are looking at "Zero" in a more positive way: Getting to Zero - Zero new HIV infections. Zero discrimination. Zero AIDS-related deaths. A theme? A wish? A hope? A goal!

In those first frightening and confusing years when the world grappled with the "gay plague" I lost many friends and under the most horrendous circumstances. Visits to one friend - only the second person in Ottawa to diagnosed with AIDS - were carried out with visitors wearing protective face coverings and clothing. Doctors and even some nurses were reluctant to go into hospital rooms and the atmosphere was one of fear. And fear was the prevailing atmosphere in many gay - and straight - haunts and homes; sadly there was the odd medical professional who exploited that fear while others became compassionate care givers despite their own battles with the virus. It was a time of ignorance and ignorance breeds fear.

As time went on we became more aware, better informed of possible causes and precautions and we became less fearful. We now know that AIDS is not a "gay" disease; that like any disease it knows no sex, sexuality, race or age nor, despite what we hear from some religious groups, is it "god's punishment". We know that it is no longer an automatic death sentence and the fear has been replaced with some hope as research continues and advances are made. Sadly it has also been replaced in some quarters with complacency as drug companies laud their products as a panacea for the effects of AIDS. And the temptation is there for developed countries to lessen the enthusiastic support they proffered 6 years ago as statistics level off.

Certainly recent reports show a leveling but those levels themselves are still alarming. In 2009 it was estimated that 3.3 million people were living with AIDS and 2.5 million of them were children. In that year it is estimated that 1.8 million people died of AIDS or AIDS related diseases and that approximately 16.6 million children were left orphaned. 16.6 million children! From newborns to teenagers left without mother or father or in some instance any family. I knew from my association with the Wakefield Grannies that the figure was staggering but that number in one year is beyond comprehension.

Much has been done since those days when a diagnosis was a death sentence but much is left to be done in not only developing ways to live with AIDS but in finding a cure. Much has been done to educate people about how to control the spread of AIDS but much is left to do in the way of education particularly in developing countries. Much has been done since those first dark days when friends saw fear and ignorance on the faces of those around them but there is still much to do to combat the fear and ignorance that still clouds so many people's perception of the disease and those living and dying with it. Much has been done but much is left to do before we can reach the goal set out for this year's World AIDS Day.

Getting to Zero - Zero new HIV infections. Zero discrimination. Zero AIDS-related deaths. A theme? A wish? A hope? No, a goal!

01 decembre/December - World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day I - The Lottery

2011-12-01T06:30:00.000-05:00

On his blog Christopher had always tended to be a bit on the facile side - lots of things about his good life in London and the odd romantic heartache thrown in. But just as often as he could "glitter and be gay" he could also touch the heart with a loving and thoughtful essay. As I read his post on World AIDS Day six years ago I was brought face to face with my good fortune and my own "win".

Once again this year I am posting this as a reminder that so many of us have indeed "won the lottery".

December 1, 2005
I have lottery fantasies.

I dream about being able to buy fast cars and designer clothes until they come out of my ears. I want houses in London, New York, East Hampton and Rio. I want to be able to travel first class and work out at The Third Space and get reservations at Annabel's just because of who I am. I want to be able to take hot dates on tours of the National Gallery. When it's closed. Because I'm one of it's biggest benefactors.

Needless to say, twice a week, I am disappointed.

This morning, on the way to work on the tube, I was reading a Times article, written by Annie Lennox, about the millions and millions of people in Africa who are suffering with HIV and AIDS, and dying, and how the governments of the richer nations, such as the one I live in, have pledged support over an eight year period. And how they absolutely must stay committed to this goal.

One of the kids she spoke to on a recent trip to Africa was dying of AIDS. But before he got sick he lost his mother, father, brothers, sisters and pretty much everyone else he cared about to the same disease. He was totally alone in the world. With no hope. And certainly no dreams of fast cars or a nice comfortable house, anywhere. And that shit isn't even near the important stuff.

There are approximately 6,450,000,000 humans on Earth.

Most of them are not 33 year olds who have careers which afford them access to guest lists to the best clubs and bars the city has to offer. They don't have friends who will stick with them no matter what (and slip them Jil Sander dress shirts every now and then.)They don't have housemates who have Thai cuisine prepared and ready to eat when they arrive home. They don't have comfortable beds to sleep in at night.

6,450,000,000.

When I think about it I kinda did win the lottery.

About 33 years ago
EVERYTHING IS NOT REAL - Christopher

For Pierre, Lawrence, Bill, Jim, Don, Andrew, Brian and the many others that we've lost but still love and hold in our hearts.

01 decembre/December - World AIDS Day

Mercoledi Musicale

2011-11-29T21:38:00.001-05:00

I have joking said to many of my friends that I left the country in their hands for four years and its gone half-way to hell. However in the case of the CBC Radio its no joke. I can't believe the shell it has become of what was once a broadcasting system that treated its audience if though they had some degree of intelligence. Programming now talks down to the listeners, announcers mispronounce words and scripts - and I'm assuming there are still scripts - are badly written and edited. Classical programming, where once knowledgeable hosts introduced music that they knew and understood, has been relegated to a few hours in the late morning presented by a simpering host whose inane comments would make a first year music student blush. I've finally given up on our National Broadcaster and listen to CBC only first thing in the morning to get the traffic and weather reports.

Fortunately our friend Allan introduced me to the wonders of a little Apple gadget called Airport Express. Basically a wireless receiver it has been hooked up to my stereo system and at its simplest using iTunes can bring some 2000-3000 radio stations into our living room. Amongst others we have a choice of 345 Adult contemporary music stations, 195 80s Flashback streams, 317 religious stations (should that be your thing) and the list goes on: Metalica, Golden Oldies, Bluegrass, Country and - Hallelujah - 160 classical stations. We've been listening to streams from Barcelona, Zurich, Berlin, Rome, Boston, San Fransisco, Los Angeles - now that's traffic reporting! - and one of our favorites 90.1 University of Wyoming. Most of the US streams are National Public Radio and though often the announcers can be a bit annoying in their gush there are a raft of good programmes that remind me of what classical radio programming can be and in Canada once was.

On Sunday afternoons American baritone Thomas Hampson, through his Hampsong Foundation and WFMT Chicago, is presenting Song of America, a 13 part series devoted to the words and music of 250 years of American song. This past Sunday the programme was devoted to Stephen Foster - and to his credit Hampson didn't shy away from addressing the influence of Minstrel shows on Foster and his lyrics which are now often considered racist and politically incorrect. He also spoke of how these labels have meant only a limited number of Foster's songs are heard today. However there is a wealth of beautiful melodies - many of them in a dialect meant to mirror the way African-Americans were said to speak at the time - that deserve to be rediscovered for the dignity and beauty they bring to their subjects.

One such song is Nelly Was A Lady - a beautiful lament of a man for his dead partner that Foster wrote in 1849 for the Christie Minstrels. The race of the couple is of minor importance because the emotion is simple, dignified and universal and striking at the heart of his sorrow. Yes the lyrics are filled with "da's", "tru lub's" and "jist" but it has been suggested that the "dialect" used by Foster was common all over the US at the time, and is more defined by class rather than race, or even culture. But I'll leave that as a subject for better educated minds than mine to discuss.

Singer Tom Roush has created a series of YouTube videos of Foster songs included a lovely version of Nelly Was a Lady but unfortunately he changed the lyrics to avoid charges of racism that he often gets when he performs the song as written. But I find even with the "santizing" Foster's words and music have a strong emotional appeal. The tune and words have been running through my head the past few days.

The Internet Archive has an exceptionally lovely book created in 1888 with music and lyrics and a series of illustrations "from nature" by Charles Copeland. A left click on the cover will allow you to flip through through the original lyrics and some touching engravings that illustrate the story.

Hampson also played a song of Foster's that became popular parlor song when it was first pubished in 1854. It was first recorded on an Edison Cylinder in 1905 and there are many versions of Hard Times Come Again No More but few strike so close to the sorrow and melancholy of the words and melody as this version by Kate & Anna McGarrigle. Backed up by Rufus Wainwright (before he became famous for being famous), Emmylou Harris, Mary Black, Karen Matheson and Rod Paterson they seem to capture the pain and sorrow of the less fortunate. Listening to it I'm struck by the immediacy of Foster's lyrics. Its hard to believe this was written in 1854 - or perhaps it is just a condition of life that is always with us and applies as much to the hard times of today as it did to those of 1854.

I have every intention of following the next eleven weeks of Hampson's programme which promises Langston Hughes and the Harlem Renaissance, Songs We've Always Sung and War Cries in his survey of 250 years of American song. Now that is radio programming the way I remember it.

30 novembre/November - Sant'Andrea apostolo

Lunedi Lunacy

2011-11-28T08:30:00.000-05:00

Late last year and the earlier part of this year I posted a series of caricatures by the Swedish artist Einmar Nerman lining famous performers from New York, Hollywood and the West End. Many of them were well-known on both continents from their appearances on stage and screen but just many were artists who's fame rested solely in their work in England and Europe. Many of them were the stars of the hundreds of revues that filled West End theatres between the wars - shows produced by C.B. Cochrane or André Charlot with wonderful title like "London Calling", "Rats", "On With the Dance", "Queen High", "Bow Bells" or "Wake Up and Dream". Many of them features full scale production numbers with beautiful chorus girls and elaborate effects while others were small scaled and built on the abilities of multi-talented artists like Cicely Courtneidge and her husband Jack Hulbert.

Cicely was one those performers who was born in a trunk - her father Robert was a producer of theatricals from musical comedies to revivals of Shakespeare and in 1901 the 8 year old Cicely made her debut in 1901 as Peaseblossom in her father's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream in Manchester. By 16 she was playing leading roles in her father's musicals though there was some indication that her "star" status was dependent on paternal nepotism. When financial difficulties put an end to her father's days as a producer the young Cicily turned to playing the "Halls" realizing she could not be an "ingenue" forever. And that experience with the raucous often unforgiving Music Hall audiences honed her craft as a comedienne, singers and dancer. Her professional partnership with Jack Hulbert began in 1913 and led to a series of hit West End revues, many written by and produced by Hulbert.

It was in one of their revues, Clowns in Clover, that she first ordered "A Dozen Double Damask Dinner Napkins" and

She first appeared on stage with Hulbert in 1913 and they married - despite her father's warning of dire things to come if she married an actor - in 1916. They were to appear on stage together until 1976 and that "undesirable" marriage was to last until Hulbert's death in 1978. Though known chiefly for her stage work Cicely appeared in several successful movies in the 1930s and 40s as a comedienne. In this clip from Soldiers of the King, a 1933 musical, she fills in for the missing member of an Adagio act in a - you'll never guess what??? - West End revue. I may be missing something but I can't see where any stunt double takes over for her - the acrobatics seem to be solely Courtnedige at her comedic best.

Though she was to make marvellous cameo appearances in movies until she retired in 1977 her most memorable performance was as the elderly Lesbian actress in The L-Shaped Room in 1962. She continued preforming on stage and in 1971 during the run of Move Over, Mrs Markham celebrated her 70th year as a performer. She toured this quintessential British farce throughout England and as far afield as Toronto's O'Keefe Centre. It was the only time I saw her on stage and to be quite honest little about the play sticks in my memory. However what happened afterwards is one of those small moments I cherish. I went backstage afterwards clutching a copy of Robert Baral's Revue which I had bought a few weeks before. He devoted several pages to London revues and included a picture of Cecily Courtneidge and Jack Hulbert amongst the illustrations. Dame Cecily - an honour she received in 1972 - seemed a bit nonplused by this kid from the suburbs standing in the doorway of her dressing room - I'm sure there had been very few autograph seekers during the run - but graciously invited me in. She introduced me to an elegant gentleman who was seated in the corner but I didn't quite catch his name. She signed my book and showed him the photo and they both chuckled. He asked if I wanted his autograph too? Stupidly I said no, as to be honest I've always been awkward at being an autograph hound and after mumbling my thanks I beat an embarrassed retreat. It was only later that I realized it was Hulbert and I missed my chance to get the two of them to sign the photo. And am not at all sure to this day that I may not have offended his professional pride just a bit.

As a way to make up for it, here's a wonderful clip of the two of them together throughout their professional and private lives with Jack singing a song that could have been their theme: Where There's You There's Me.

I will always regret only getting Cecily Courtneidge's autograph when I had Jack Hulbert sitting - unrecognized - right in front of me. Oh the foolishness of youth!

28 novembre/November - San Giacomo della Marca

Larry's Advent Calendar

2011-11-27T16:33:00.001-05:00

My dear friend Larry's blog has been dormant for the past few months and I was afraid that another cherished tradition may be about to fall by the wayside: his Advent Calendar.

But I'm overjoyed to report that once again this year he will be marking the days leading to Christmas with a daily picture and verse . In previous years he's taken us through Roman doors and gates, allowed us to gaze through Roman windows and given us glimpses of the angels that guard the city. This year he's quenching our thirst at a few of the many fountains that are found in his - and previously my - adoptive city.

As always I will be posting a sidebar link so that you can open a window each day and share the sights and words of Advent with Larry. Given the time change it may be a little late in the day when the window is opened but opened it shall be. A click on the image above will take you to his posting for today - the First Sunday in Advent.

There are some traditions I'm happy to see continue and don't ever want to lose.

27 novembre/November - Prima Domenica di Avvento

HFH Discover Winter's Wonderland

2011-11-27T00:18:00.000-05:00

The HFH discovered the joys of the winter wonderland that will be their home for, if memory serves, at least the next six months.

And if truth be told they probably handled it better than I did.

27 novembre/November - San Primitivo

For Those Who Gather Today

2011-11-24T09:00:00.000-05:00

For my family and friend in the United States I wish you all the happiest of Thanksgivings as you gather with your families and friends.

This particular video is not available for embeding but is worth clicking to on YouTube for the incredible voice of Jussi Björling.

To think that there once was a time when in America - and Canada - people watched programmes like The Voice of Firestone every Sunday night and heard great classical singers in operatic arias and what is now known as cross over music.

And my wish for all those who are "gathered together" and indeed for all those I love and care for is echoed in this card from Vintage Holiday Crafts: May your joys be as countless as the golden grains.

24 novembre/November - Giorno del Ringraziamento (Festa Americana)

Oh Blessed Cecilia

2011-11-22T22:34:00.001-05:00

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

HFH - Updated Gratuitous Puppy Pictures

2011-11-20T22:12:00.001-05:00

Settled into their new home the HFH seem quite happy in the one chair they are allowed to be up on in the living room.

Its been a long while since I've posted photos, let alone any news, of the HFH. Actually its been a long time since I've posted anything regularly, this working for a living is interfering with my living but I keep meaning to remedy that - the posting thing I mean.

Nick and Nora have adapted fairly quickly to their new home - perhaps more readily than the humans in the family. Fortunately we found a very pet friendly building - there are two other dogs on our floor alone - plus at least 10 others in the building including a snappy schnauzer and two pugnacious pugs that even I won't ride in the elevator with. So far no one has complained about the odd barking or even a occasional ruckus in the hallway.

Nora has always had that thoughtful side to her
- or perhaps she is just annoyed about that flashy thing going off again!

Though here she does seem to be "at one" with herself,
almost as if she is taking her inspiration from my little Buddha.

Nora has discovered squirrels and they are the enemy! She's also discovered and seems quite captivated by Toby the Portuguese water dog who lives across the hallway. Unfortunately her reaction to him is almost the same as her reaction to the squirrels - full hunting howl! Neither the squirrels nor Toby seem impressed by this display of interest. The former run like mad chattering excitedly and poor Toby just wants to get away from this mad little creature as fast as he can. This ear piercing howl which no doubt serves her mother well when hunting boar in Tuscany has led to several embarrassing incidents in the boarless environs of Ottawa. One peaceful Sunday morning around 0700 just after we moved in she and I were walking along the Rideau Canal and a squirrel was sighted. The Sunday calm was shattered and the air rent with a series of high pitched bays which echoed across the water - a ~~noisy~~ concerned jogger stopped in his tracks, ran back and indignantly demanded to know what I was doing to that poor dog! And just last week we encountered Toby coming in from his walk early morning walk as we were leaving for ours. Its odd how an apartment hallway amplifies sound - almost every door on the floor opened and be-housecoated occupants poked their heads out to see who was being murdered! Well at least I know that I live amongst concerned neighbours.

Nicky is proud of his Italian heritage but the idea of wearing an Italia jersey doesn't seem to appeal all that much. We'll see how he feels when it drops to -30c, the display of patriotism may be welcomed at that point.

Our Nicky is another story - as he always has been. He's an extremely timid little fellow at heart and responds to people cautiously. Unfortunately that shyness turns to aggression on occasion so we have to be very careful with him in the elevator and on our walks. He looks so sweet as he trots along the Canal with that "I'm a sexy little Italian stud on the catwalk" strut of his that everyone wants to pet him. Fortunately the schools seem to be teaching kids that it is always best to ask first before petting a strange dog - it saved us some possibly sticky situations. In an attempt to avoid trouble we brought in Barkbusters and he has responded to their system remarkably well. As their Uncle Pervy said the other day - Nicky's the perfect pack dog he actually wants to follow orders. Nora however is a little less willing to follow anything but her hunter instincts... or poor Toby. But we're working on it and us - as the Barkbuster motto, rather snidely to my way of thinking, puts it: Dogs are great trainers of people!

Nora - ever the instigator - to Nick: Okay we're not suppose to be up here but its sunny, its soft and its warm. Don't move and old what's-his-name won't even notice us - we'll just blend in.

Though I'm not looking forward to Ottawa's famous snow days - normally from sometime in late November until sometime in late May as I recall - I'm anticipating the HFH's reaction to their first encounter with snow. I have a feeling Nicky will look at it as an insult to his dignity and Nora will revel in it. What ever it will be I want to have the camera at hand to record the event!

20 novembre/November - I Santi Avventore, Ottavio e Solutore

And It Would Be .....

2011-11-19T17:24:00.001-05:00

Well my friend Dayle got it right - though Yellowdog Granny's mind was obviously going in the same direction as a few friends who ventured a guess on Facebook and via e-mail. It is indeed a Citrus press. I will give it a try at lunch tomorrow - not that anything on the menu requires lemon juice but more because I want to try it. And I may follow Jacques suggestion and see if it works as a funnel.

I have to admit I was rather at a loss as to what Platinum Silicone was - but a quick Google reveals its a method of curing the silicone to increase its tensile strength. Who knew?

And Dayle as the winner you have your choice of one of these lovely fridge magnets imported from Italy at great expense. Let me know by e-mail which one you wish to grace the door of your Kalvinator! Or maybe you can use it on that freezer you're so fond of????

19 novembre/November - Santa Matilde di Hackeborne

And This Would Be???????

2011-11-17T19:36:00.001-05:00

Gary and I have been friends for at least the past 40 years - barring the odd time when I was in a snit about something but come to think of it even then he was still my friend - and still he never fails to surprise and delight me. Take for example the little gift we received from him today to welcome us to the new apartment.

Bright! Eye catching! And highly utilitarian! Something that no home should be without. And I'll think of him every time I use it!

Okay so what the hell is it? The first person who can tell me what it is will get their choice from the wonderful collection of fridge magnets I bought back from Italy - all, I might add giving you a broad hint, food related.

Any guesses?

17 novembre/November - Gregorio il Taumaturgo

Memories of .... Another Time

2011-11-16T21:26:00.001-05:00

The downsizing I am currently experiencing means going through 60 years of "things" - knick-knacks, paintings, posters, books, CDs, household items, clothing and photographs. A few things have been put into the boxes for St Vincent de Paul or the consignment house without thought to where they fit in my life but more often unpacking something and simply turn it over in my hand has brought back memories of the many remarkable experiences and people that have crowded my life in the past six decades.

None more so than the photos that are neatly filed in albums or randomly piled in boxes or between book pages. Admittedly in a few cases I'm at a loss to identify one or two people, the occasion or even the location but as I look at most of them the memories, and I will admit the tears, have come flooding back.

This photo was taken during my time at St Thomas Anglican Church on Huron Street in my Toronto days.

It was a Sunday evening choral evensong in late May and Patrick Bergin was being welcomed into our parish family. Father Bull was officiating, the choir and acolytes guild were in full force and the church was full of family and friends of the Bergins. It was a joyous parish event but as I think of it, just one of many joyous celebrations that I recall from my days in a place that was for a time a source of comfort, friendship and love.

16 novembre/November - Santa Gertrude di Helfta detta La Grande

Lunedi Lunacy

2011-11-07T09:00:00.000-05:00

Just as a word of warning to a friend of mine who is talking about getting an iPhone4s or another one of those fancy-smancy does-everything smart(ass)phones.

Just saying Marco!

07 novembre/November - San Prosdocimo di Pavoda

Mercoledi Musicale

2011-11-02T09:59:00.000-04:00

Yesterday the Christian church celebrated "Ognissanti" - All Saint - and today "tutti i fedeli defunti" - all the faithful departed - are commemorated. I've written previously about celebrations (and that is what they are) during our time in Mexico, Poland, of my own personal sense of loss on this feast day and on the music that can bring comfort in times of that loss.

Strangely I have never found the Requiem as a ritual of sorrow but one of comfort and for a believer hope. And amongst the most beautiful setting of the gentle invocation Pie Jesu is Fauré's for his Requiem and when it is sung the way Lucia Popp does here soar as a sweet cry to heaven.

Pie Jesu Domine, dona eis requiem.
Pie Jesu Domine, dona eis requiem sempiternam.

Gentle Lord Jesus, grant them rest.
Gentle Lord Jesus, grant them everlasting rest.

Perhaps it is just that time of life but there seem to be even more people that I remember with a sense of loss on this day.

For Isabella, Albert, Joe, Frank, Deb, Steven, Linda, Jamie, Bill, Ryan, John, Lawrence and all those I have loved and lost.

02 novembre/November - La Commemorazione dei defunti

È arrivato

2011-10-31T23:32:00.001-04:00

You may recall that a week ago Friday - October 21 - Laurent dropped a small parcel in the mail destined for my friend Marco the Napoletano in Roma. I took a small - very small survey - and the general feeling was that it would take between 10 and 14 days to reach him. Myself, based on previous experience - hey 62 days isn't all that bad from Canada to Italy, it took Phineas Fogg 80 days to go around the world - I guessed 20 or more but wouldn't you know it Post Canada and Poste Italiane proved me wrong.

I received an SMS from Marco to tell me that when he got home from a trip to Sicilia this afternoon (October 31) there it was waiting for him. Now this could mean that it reached him last Thursday or Friday or perhaps today. But wither it was 7, 8 or 11 days its still pretty bloody impressive.

Way to go Post Canada and Poste Italiane - now you've really built up my expectations. Still not as good as the record 4 days with Vatican Post to Post Canada of a few years back but ....

31 ottobre/October - Santa Lucillia di Roma

Happy All Holy Ones Eve!

2011-10-31T21:58:00.001-04:00

And by way of an All Holy Ones (All Hallows - Halloween) Eve posting I thought I'd share a photograph that my friend Larry posted today. He's a teacher - and a remarkable one - at the Ambrit International School in Roma. Every year to celebrate Halloween - not a holiday greatly known in Italy - the school does the traditional "guising", trick or treating and pumpkin carving contest. This year's winner though original may be taking the commercialization of the old holiday a bit far but you have to admit that its original.

This is the first year Laurent and I haven't carved our own pumpkins in a long time. Back in the day we always got to work with special tools, stencils and sometimes just our imaginations and created, often as many as ten, pumpkins. All to guard the various places we lived in on the evening when "ghoulies and ghosties and long-legged beasties, and things that go bump in the night" menaced our household.

And for many years we had the assistance of our own two "short-legged beasties" Bundnie and Reesie. They were more than willing to lend if not a paw at least their own critique of the creations. Here they are back in October of 1994 helping out in the backyard as the jack o'lanterns were being carved.

Ever the critic Reese turns up his nose at my hard work!

At least Bundnie shows some interest - probably because she thinks there may be food!

When your beautiful and blend in with the autumn colours you can afford
to be bored by it all!

And just as a reminder that the celebration of All Hallow's Eve is not only about children - as many of our friends not always only for children I thought I'd include this wonderful painting by Daniel Maclise. It captures a party that the Irish artist attended in Blarney on October 31, 1832 where the traditional music, dances and games of the feast were played.

In the original exhibition catalogue the caption for the painting read:

There Peggy was dancing with Dan
While Maureen the lead was melting,
To prove how their fortunes ran
With the Cards could Nancy dealt in;
There was Kate, and her sweet-heart Will,
In nuts their true-love burning,
And poor Norah, though smiling still
She'd missed the snap-apple turning.

The reference to lead melting, cards and nuts (walnuts) are old ways of divination which probably date back to the pagan origins of the Feast. And snap-apple is better known to us as bobbing for apples.

And just as I was finishing off this post I received an e-mail from a good friend who moved away from Ottawa a few years ago but always keeps me au courant with what the lads are sporting for trick and treating. Now here are two super heroes if there ever were super heroes!

Trick or treat, everyone!

31 ottobre/october - All Holy Ones Eve

Mercoledi Musicale

2011-10-26T21:37:00.002-04:00

Just to remind us what they were once capable of - before budgets were cut, when there were people with imagination in charge and the word "culture" was not treated as though it had four letters - the CBC has just released a 10 DVD set of their work with Glenn Gould. Its a compilation of the concerts, documentaries, interviews and discussion which the famed - and eccentric - pianist filmed with the public broadcaster from 1954 until 1977. Gould never enjoyed giving concerts - in one interview he maintains that he "detests audiences" and thinks "they are a force of evil". He preferred the solitude of the recording or television studio and he often stated that the future of music lay in recording.

Originally released in 1968 his recording of Mozart's Piano Sonata No 11 in A major has never been missing from the catalogues on vinyl or CD. The third movement is a familiar one - Alla Turca: Allegretto or more commonly known as the Turkish March - but he gives it an unfamiliar reading.

It is a typical Gould performance - slightly off-beat with his sing-along just audible in the background. He almost plays it if though at a harpsichord and unlike many pianists doesn't race through it. He reveals a delicacy in the music that I had never noticed before. I really wasn't sure if I liked it but with repeated hearings it has grown to be one of my preferred versions.

And maybe if we ever get a TV I'll place an order with Santa for that CBC set.

26 ottobre/October - San Folco Scotti di Piacenza e Pavia

A Postal Quiz

2011-10-25T19:11:00.000-04:00

This time of year most government departments are involved in charity campaigns. What was once a simple canvasing of colleagues for donations has given way to some very elaborate ways of raising money for various local and national charities. I was working briefly at Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) the past few weeks and their bake sale included one of the most delicious Niagara Grape pies I've ever tasted. And the bon-bon skewers that the Candy Ladies sold later in the week were a visual and taste delight.

The good folk over at CIC International Region (the section Laurent is part of) came up with the idea of a cookbook with recipes contributed by Officers and their spouses who had served in Embassies around the world: Chefs without Borders/Chefs sans frontières.

You may recall that this past April I tried my hand at making Pasteria using my friend Marco's mother's recipe. Marco had helped his mother make this Napoletane Easter dolce since he was a child so he gave me it to me not from a book but from memory. Deciding exactly how much "a little but some is required" actually was became an adventure which I shared at that time - and thank god I did because Marco saw the photo of the ingredients and immediately sent me an SMS just before I added enough orange flower essence to make 20 pasterie! Well after all he had said 3 bottles - he just didn't say what size! Fortunately the end product met with everyone's - including Marco's - approval so I must have done something right.

So I decided it would be a great recipe - even in its slightly unscripted state - to submit from our household. Once it was published I felt it was only right that Marco get a copy of the book that included a recipe that I'm sure will be followed this coming Easter in many Foreign Service quarters.

So last Friday - October 21st - Laurent put it in a large envelope and consigned it to the tender combined mercies of Canada Post and PosteItalia. The big question was "how long would it take to get there?" Well today marks the 5th day since it was stamped and sent on its way. Marco has been forewarned and is on the lookout for it. In the meantime I thought I'd take a little poll of my faithful reader. How many days do you think will fly by before it reaches his doorstep?

How many days will it take for the cookbook to reach Marco?

We were asked to share any culinary secrets we had learned in our posting abroad and I shared the lessons I had learned during our four years in Italy:

Four years in Italy taught me that simple is better and fresh is best; and the eye, the nose, the finger and the mouth are the best tools any cook can have in the kitchen.

25 ottobre/October - Santi Crispino e Crispiniano

Lunedi Lunacy

2011-10-24T20:24:00.000-04:00

Presented without comment except to say that the art of translation is one of small subtleties and refinement of language!

24 ottobre/October - Sant'Antoni Maria Claret i Clarà

A Thought

2011-10-24T10:21:00.000-04:00

24 ottobre/October - San Luigi Guanella

A Boy's Crushed Spirit

2011-10-20T22:56:00.000-04:00

Last evening Laurent and I had a reunion of sorts with old friends and colleagues from my Air Canada days. I wish I could say it was a joyous occasion but sadly we had come together to give our support to a friend and colleague and her family as they dealt with the loss of their young son. We were amongst a crowd of people who had come to the funeral parlor to express our sorrow at the suicide death of 15 year old Jamie Hubley.

I had trained Jamie's mother Wendy when she first came to Ottawa Airport and worked with her for many years after. I knew her husband Al and had met various members of her family over the years. Though not close - retirement and distance means you lose contacts with so many people - we were friends on Facebook and I was shocked when she posted a brief message there on Saturday. Further details became available as the weekend progressed and the tragic circumstances surrounding Jamie's death filled me with great sadness. He had problems and struggled with depression but his family had made sure that he was being given help and when he came out they gave him all the support that a loving family could. Unfortunately that could not shield him from the bullying, name calling and harassment that he endured because he was a figure skater when he was younger or that was to be the result of his coming out at high school.

On his blog Jamie had recorded his anguish, frustration and perhaps most heart-breakingly his dreams. And more recently he had spoken from that dark and lonely place that often leads to an act that cuts short a promising life and the heart out of a family.

Last evening as we sat waiting in the chapel to join the condolence line we watched a slideshow of a blond boy, more often than not smiling at the camera, in photos that captured those moments of any child's life - Christmas, vacation, covered with measles, receiving skating medals, in school plays - growing up surrounded by family and friends. That same family, all wearing rainbow ribbons, greet those friends and so many others, surrounded by mementos of Jamie's passions and accomplishments. Though they were meant to celebrate his life they were also a reminder of much that has been lost with his death.

Ironically Jamie's funeral was held today - Spirit Day - a day set aside to show support for LGBT teenagers who have been the victims of bullying. Yesterday to remind us of the day and its meaning my friend Cecilia wrote this "status" on Facebook:

No matter what your beliefs, look into your heart. Children should be Loved, not compelled to suicide, not bullied or murdered. And not having an adult they can turn to gives these children no hope or guidance. If you can't find it in your heart to accept, can you at least not promote intolerance? I'm pretty sure from what I recall from my religious training in my early years that Jesus really wasn't so much into hate or violence.

Al, Wendy and the family have expressed the hope that talking about Jamie's death may do some good and make people aware of effects of teenage depression, bullying and homophobia . "He had dreams and we want to help those dreams come true. So if by sharing our pain that'll happen, then it's good," Al said in an interview. "Our boy won't be gone in vain."

20 ottobre/october - Spirit Day

A Thought

2011-10-14T21:53:00.000-04:00

I can add nothing .... except that this is true of so many people that I love and care for....

Many thanks to Stephen for passing this one.

14 ottobre/October - San Callisto - Papa

Mercoledi Musicale

2011-10-12T21:56:00.000-04:00

This morning as I waited in line for my - dear god help me - Starbuck's coffee (oh lord I can just see all my Italian friends rolling their eyes) I heard an old favourite playing in the background. It still had the power to move me to a gentle melancholy as much today as it did when I first heard it back in 1963.

During my teen years, along with Gordon Lightfoot and Joni Mitchell, Ian and Sylvia were singers who defined a distinctive type of Canadian music that mixed folk with country and urban overtones. I grew up listening to, learning and loving the songs they composed - You Were On My Mind, Someday Soon et al - as well as their covers of Lightfoot, Dylan and others. But I don't think there is a song to beat this one and there is good reason it was chosen as one of the greatest Canadian songs. There have been all manner of covers but nobody sang it like Ian and Sylvia. This version of Four Strong Winds was recorded at a reunion concert on the CBC in 1986. They are joined by Judy Collins, Emily Lou Harris, Lightfoot and Murray Maclaughlin. Now there's a backup group if there ever was one!

I have to admit that hearing it today brought back memories and made me feel just a little big old. I'm finding it hard to believe that it almost 50 years since I first heard them sing it. And like all great songs it endures.

12 ottobre/October - San Serafino da Montegranaro

Memories of... Napoli

2011-10-11T12:24:00.000-04:00

This posting was drafted after a trip to Napoli in February 2009. It had started out as weekend jaunt to see Peter Grimes at San Carlo, my favourite opera house in Italy, and a planned excursion to Herculaneum. But there was so much to do and see in Napoli itself that the entire weekend was spent exploring the city including a visit to the world famous Il Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli. My one regret is that I only got back to there once after that - and then only for an evening. It is a city I longed to explore.

Sunday at the Colesseo

Roma - Tuesday, February 10th 2009

No I didn't go to the Colesseo in Roma again on Sunday, though I did go passed it several times in the last week but without going in. Now that I've been through it 8 times in the last 18 months I'm not sure I'll ever step foot in the place again. Famous last words! (Strangely I was to keep to those words and never did go into it again.)

However when we were at the Museo Archeologico in Napoli last weekend they had a special exhibition on Gladiators and the Colesseo in Pompeii. Many of the items had survived the famous eruption of Vesuvius in 79 CE and were in remarkable condition. For me, at least, one of the most fascinating items amongst the swords, shields and general paraphernalia of the arena was this elaborately worked bronze helmet dating between 50 and 74 CE.

Found at the Quadriportico of the Theatres, it is a stunning example of the artistry involved, and money invested, in garbing gladiators for battle. Unfortunately Christian mythology, Gibbon, Jean-Léon Gérôme and Hollywood has handed down this impression of the wholesale slaughter of the vanquished at the end of a contest. And though combatants did die, as I mentioned in my post on The Boxer, athletes and gladiators were highly skilled athletes who were too expensive an investment to allow for frivolous deaths. And many gladiators were prisoners of war but as many others were volunteers who had chosen fighting as their profession. And even a gladiator who was past his prime could be valuable as a trainer for the young fighters entering the schools and arenas, as a bodyguard or even as a household slave.

Jean-Léon Gérôme's Pollice verso (1872) did much to influence 20th century ideas and ideal concerning Gladiators and the Roman Games. The triumphant Murmillo stand over the defeated Thraex awaiting the pleasure of the crowd - who in this case seem to be calling for the blood of the vanquished.

The owner of the gladiator who wore this helmet must have spared no expense in outfitting his prize fighter. The bronze helmet would have been worn by a "murmillo" as part of his equipment which would have included a broad sword, a loincloth, a belt, short greaves on his lower legs, a linen arm protector, and the curved rectangular shield of a Roman legionnaire. The murmillo derived his name from his helmet - vaguely fish shaped it appears to be a variant on the Greek word for a type of salt water fish. Normally his opponent would have been a Thraex or Thracian - armed with a small round shield and a curved sword - or a Hopolomachus or Hoplite - using a spear, a sword and a small round shield in the Greek fashion. The analogy was obvious to the crowd - the Roman legionnaire (murmillo) against a foreign enemy. Perhaps it is more patriotic propaganda than actual records of combats but in early frescos, carvings and bas-reliefs the murmillo often appears triumphant!

This helmet is a large hemispheric dome with a grated visor and the broad brim surmounted by a crest which has holes on either side used to insert feathers and a horsehair plume to add further adornment to the elaborate relief work on the crown. And no doubt it added a further fearsome aspect to the advancing combatant if not to his opponent then to the spectators.

The cap is decorated in relief with the personification of Roma Victorious, dressed as an Amazon, with her right leg slightly bent. Fasces in her left hand - symbolizing power and jurisdiction - a sceptre in her left she stands in Imperial glory between two kneeling male figures. Their tunics and trousers suggest they are barbarians who, having seen the error of their ways, offer tribute and homage to victorious Rome.

Two prisoners, their hands tied behind their backs, adorn the sides of the helmet. A male on the right and a female on the left they are amongst the spoils of a battle won by the Empire. Heaps of weapons form the traditional trophies of a triumph - armour, shields, spears, shin guard and banners. Is it perhaps semi-biographical in nature - was the gladiator who wore this into the arena among the vanquished in a recent war? Or was it just a reminder to the citizens of a fashionable resort town of Pompeii of the power and glory of their Empire?

It would be fascinating to know the story behind this amazing piece of metal work - the man who made it, the man (men?) who wore it. How often had it been worn in triumph? Or in defeat? Was the last gladiator to wear it one of the 16,000 who were buried in the lava flows and ash showers that reached temperatures of up to 700c. Or as a valued piece of property had he been taken when his owner made his escape? Or, in a more romantic vein, had he used the hysteria and confusion as thousands tried to leave the doomed city to make a bid for freedom and a return to his homeland?

The helmet reveals much about the rituals and craftsmanship of the time but reveals little of the people who made and used it leaving it up to our imagination to fill in the missing pieces.

A few other posts that actually made it up about that wonderful weekend in Napoli:

Of Cabbages and Kings

Sunday Stroll in Santa Chiara

Sharing - Napoletano Portals

11 ottobre/October - San Alessandro Sauli

Lunedi Lunacy

2011-10-10T18:54:00.000-04:00

Anyone who has lived in Italy can tell you that learning the body language is half the battle! It is one of the wonderful silly things about a country that it is easy to criticize but easier to love.

For my darling Walter, Robert, Dario, Larry, Vincenzo, Simonetta, Linda, Nazareno, Gail, Jolka, Micki, Marco, Diana and Cindi - I give thanks that I had four wonderful years with you and miss you with all my heart.

As Walter reminded me in an e-mail yesterday - Roma is Amor spelled backwards.

10 ottobre/October - San Daniele Comboni

A Thought, a Prayer

2011-10-09T23:31:00.002-04:00

As I mentioned in the previous post this weekend is Thanksgiving here in Canada; a time of joining with friends and family to give thanks for the many things that we have been graced with. And it is also a time to think of family and friends who are enduring difficulties and trials.

When I was living in Italy it was an easy thing to drop into a nearby church and light a candle as a way of remembering those I love and care about in their time of need. It is not quite as easy now but that does not mean that I can't light a virtual candle and tonight as I give thanks for my blessings remember in my thoughts and prayers my dear friend Elizabeth, her darling Kirk and the girls. I am holding them close in my heart and my thoughts, I only wish there was more that I could do.

For those of you who pray I ask that your remember them in your prayers - or if you are not given to prayer then pause for a moment and as you give thanks for your many blessings think of them.

With Thanks

2011-10-09T17:49:00.000-04:00

The idea that Thanksgiving is an American invention has always puzzled me. Perhaps as a holiday - i.e. a day away from work - it is very American but as an actual celebration it is as old as man's first harvest. When I was growing up the holiday was more of a religious nature based on the observance as set out in the Book of Common Prayer. Very English and being that our neighbourhood was semi-rural often of a communal nature.

Every culture has its rites, rituals and celebrations of the time of gathering and the First NationsI people in North America were no different with dances and feasts to celebrate the successful bounty of crops. But Thanksgiving celebrations were not always about the harvest - often they honoured the end of a war, the return to health of an important worthy or the safe deliverance of a community from peril. Indeed the first record of an non-aboriginal "thanksgiving" in Canada was a service of thanks given when Martin Frobisher reached Baffin Island in 1578. It has been a bad crossing and one of his small fleet had been lost.

The French explorers and settlers often celebrated special days of feasting to celebrate their safe arrival in a new land, and of course nothing would do but that L'Ordre de Bon Temps be created to oversee the festivities and entertainments. When France ceded the territory to Britain at the end of the Seven Year's War the nature of the irregular celebrations of Thanksgiving took on the less gourmand tone of the Church of England. With the influx of United Empire Loyalists many customs and practices of the American Thanksgiving came into the feast day but celebrations were still of an ad hoc nature not an annual event.

With the celebration in 1879 it became a yearly holiday but in those days, like our American cousins, it was a Thursday in November. And though the theme was often one of thanks for the harvest just as often it was to give thanks on the anniversary of a special event. After the horror of World War One it was combined with Armistice Day as a day to be thankful for the sacrifices of those who died so that the bounty of the earth could be enjoyed. In 1931 they became separate holidays - November 11 as Remembrance Day - and normally the second Monday in October as a day of Thanksgiving. It was not until 1957 that the day was officially set.

The Shakers have always fascinated me and though the foundation of their faith was Church of England they were a people much persecuted both in England and in their new home in the United States. However their legacy has been far reaching in so many areas and their music was one of the many "gifts" that they gave the world. The most famous of their many hymns is one of Thanksgiving - Simple Gifts celebrates exactly that the simple gifts for which we should all be thankful.

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free
'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,

'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gain'd,

To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,

To turn, turn will be our delight,

Till by turning, turning we come 'round right.
Elder Joseph Brackett
1848 - Alfred Community, Maine

As with most of us I often forget the many things and more especially the many people that I have reason to give thanks for at this time of my life. So I will simply give thanks for being given my own "valley of love and delight."

09 ottobre/October - Giorno del Ringraziamento

Momento Musicale

2011-10-07T18:56:00.001-04:00

Max Bruch wrote what is perhaps the loveliest setting of the Kol Nidre (All Vows) for the eve of Yom Kippur. This performance features an incredible group of musicians Jacqueline du Pré (cello), Gerald Moore (piano), Ray Jesson (organ), Osian Ellis (harp), and John Williams (guitar). The writings, visual arts, and photography in this video are the creations of Matthew Schwartz

I had not realized that the words are not in Hebrew but in Aramaic and that it is not actually a prayer but a declaration of an almost legal nature.

The success of Kol Nidre led to the belief that Bruch was of Jewish ancestry and under the National Socialist Party his music ceased to be programmed because of the possibility of his being a Jew; as a result of this, his music was completely forgotten in German speaking countries. However there is no evidence for his being Jewish and Bruch himself was raised Catholic.

7 ottobre/October - Yom Yippur

Lunedi Lunacy

2011-10-03T20:20:00.000-04:00

My two favourite Scottish socks are visiting Venice; not sure why or to what end but there they are amongst the Gondolieri and wandering the campielli of one of my favourite cities in all of Italy.

03 ottobre/October - Santa Geraldina

Memories of .... Ravenna - A Modern Mosaic

2011-10-01T11:33:00.000-04:00

For a brief glorious time in its history Ravenna was successively the capital of the Western Roman Empire, the capital of the Kingdom of the Ostrogoths and the seat of government of Italian Byzantium. It was during the reign of Theodoric the Great (489-526 CE) that it gained many of its famous churches, palaces, mausoleums and art treasures. Pope Adrian I authorized three looting expeditions that allowed Charlemagne to enrich his own capital of Aachen while stripping Ravenna of many of its glories; however enough remains to make it one of the most fascinating cities on the Adriatic. Its glory days as a capital may be longed passed but its glorious past has left it with nine World Heritage Sites. And the most glorious of its treasures are the many mosaics that adorn the walls, ceilings and floors of the churches and mausoleums that dot the city.

It is almost too easy to post photographs of the wonderful images in the Basilicas of San Vitale and Sant'Apollinare in Classe but as so often happens, as overwhelmed as I was by these fabled works I was also struck by a rather unusual mosaic by the Porta Ardiana. One of the old city gates it was also known as Porta Giustiniana, after a Venetian mayor who ruled the city in the 500s when it was first built. In its initial incarnation it stood guard at the edge of the Padenna River, its drawbridge at the ready to thwart pesky Vandals or unwanted strangers but it was moved to its present position in 1585 by order of the Papal Legate Cardinal Ferrero. Though I was unable to get photos of it at night - the best time to see it - there is a wonderful interactive view of it here looking into Centro.

An early photograph of Porta Adriana in Ravenna- named not after an Emperor or Pope but for a well connected Patrician family - the Adriani - in the region. Much of the marble used on its reconstruction in 1585 had been stripped from the Porta Aurea which had been demolishedn 1582.

But, as I so often do, I digress. As I strolled through the gate I noticed an intriguing tableau in the greenery surrounding one of the square towers that had been added in the 1700s. A park bench! Not unusual of itself but the fact that a coat and book had been left on it seemed a bit odd.

A closer look revealed - as it often did in Ravenna - the art and arteface behind the reality. A beautifully conceived and crafted modern mosaic calling to mind not legions of angels and saints nor any heavenly vision but a few commonplace items left out in the open.

The mosaics from the earlier periods are filled with symbols and signs meant to convey the messages of religion to the faithful. I'm wondering what message the artist was giving us with this piece. Secular or sacred? Had someone abandoned the book and coat in a moment of abstraction, had they been suddenly forced to flee the bench leaving possessions behind, had they been assumed into one of the heavenly clouds of an earlier mosaic or perhaps had the owner simply wandered over to look in one of the store windows or have a quick espresso knowing that in a small town things could be left unguarded? Unfortunately I was remiss in making note of the details of the work (title, the artist's name etc) that perhaps would have signalled the intent of the work. For me, at least, mosaics seem to have an air of the mysterious about them so I guess this one is no different.

01 Ottobre/October - Santa Teresa di Lisieux

Tizku leshanim rabbot*

2011-09-28T18:16:00.000-04:00

שנה טובה ומתוקה

*May you merit many years - the old Shepardic gretting for Rosh Hashanah

The response to which is: ne'imot ve-tovot (pleasant and good ones)

In the seventh month, on the first of the month, there shall be a sabbath for you, a remembrance with shofar blasts, a holy convocation.
Leviticus 16:24

Tonight begins the celebration of year 5772 in the Jewish Calendar - which is traditionally calculated by adding up all the ages of people mentioned in the Torah to pinpoint the date of Creation. Though as someone wisely says its more symbolic than accurate and most Orthodox or Reform Jews believe that the world is certainly more than six thousand years old.

I extend to all my friends - those who are observing this High Holiday and those for whom it is an unknown custom - a wish for all our new days and new years: May you merit many years. And indeed may they be pleasant and good ones.

28 settembre/September - Capodanno ebraico

Lunedi Lunacy

2011-09-26T12:40:00.000-04:00

Flash mobs are starting to lose some of their pizazz but they can still bring life to a street in the Market area of Ottawa on a drizzly Sunday afternoon. The good people at Ottawa's Greek Fest decided to liven up the afternoon to the well-known, perhaps too often played, but still captivating music that Mikis Theodorakis wrote for Zorba the Greek.

On all my trips to Greece I can't recall seeing it at any of the places we went where plates were broken except once when a waiter dropped one in Corinth - but apparently its expected by tourists searching for that "real" Greek experience. There are many explanations for that particularly Greek custom as an expression of "kefi" - the outpouring of joy, excitement and passion. Some say that it derives from ancient traditions and there are other schools of thought that suggest it has more modern origins.

Many thanks to Cathy for passing this on and to my darling Yannis, Fotis and Marius in Athens - Μου λείπεις τόσο πολύ!

26 settembre/September - Santi Cosma e Damiano

Willy or Won't He?

Post 1,500

Lunedi Lunacy

龙年吉祥！Gung Ha Fat Choy - Gong Xi Fa Cai

Patterns of Winters

Mercoledi Musicale

Lunedi Lunacy

Hristos se Rodi!*

The Flight of La Befana

Out With The Old In With the New

For Whom the Belles Toll

Lunedi Lunacy

Music for the New Year

In With The New

Lunedi Lunacy Early

A Carol for Christmas VII - The Innocents

Winter Storm Warning

Lunedi Lunacy

A Greeting for the Day

A Carol for Christmas VI - Silent Night 1914

Spaghetti Frittata - From Our Christmas Pot Luck

A Carol for Christmas V - For Dolly

A Carol for Christmas IV - Advent

Marco's Presepe

And Call It Lights

Lunedi Lunacy

A Carol for Christmas III - The Watchman's Cry

Decking the Halls

A Carol for Christmas II - Mary's Joy

A Carol for Christmas - A Hymn for Christmas Day

A Carol for Christmas - Prologue

Christmas Card - II

Related articles

Lunedi Lunacy

A Big Day

Christmas Cards - I

Lunedi Lunacy

World AIDS Day II - A Few Thoughts and Figures

World AIDS Day I - The Lottery

Mercoledi Musicale

Lunedi Lunacy

Larry's Advent Calendar

HFH Discover Winter's Wonderland

For Those Who Gather Today

Oh Blessed Cecilia

HFH - Updated Gratuitous Puppy Pictures

And It Would Be .....

And This Would Be???????

Memories of .... Another Time

Lunedi Lunacy

Mercoledi Musicale

È arrivato

Happy All Holy Ones Eve!

Mercoledi Musicale

A Postal Quiz

Lunedi Lunacy

A Thought

A Boy's Crushed Spirit

A Thought

Mercoledi Musicale

Memories of... Napoli

Lunedi Lunacy

A Thought, a Prayer

With Thanks

Momento Musicale

Lunedi Lunacy

Memories of .... Ravenna - A Modern Mosaic

Tizku leshanim rabbot*

Lunedi Lunacy