Eve of Palm Sunday 2012 and we are in the acoustically splendid St James the Greater overlooking Victoria Park, Leicester. LBC are singing a mixed programme of mainly baroque liturgical music (plus a trumpet concerto). Splendid evening, well sung and played, with wine.
Jennifer Clegg's written welcome was warm but I struggled to hear her verbal welcome from the pulpit. I just wanted the audience told a little more about the origins of some of the music. I know liturgy means a lot to me and that this is not so for all people. However, I think a little more would have lead to a large increase in the pleasure to be derived from the evening.
First in the running order was a Salve Regina, Hail Queen of Heaven. Liturgically, this antiphon to the BVM is sung at the end of Compline on most of the time between Trinity and Advent (the long run of green sundays). Most Catholics used to have it off by heart both in the vernacular and in the original Latin.
In monastic settings it is usually sung in the dark save for a single light/ candle illuminating a statute of Our Lady. Kind of motherly good night song for the Children of Eve.
This was followed by a Stabat Mater. This piece of medieval doggerel also has an important place in Catholic liturgy, or did once upon a time. It is the Tract Hymn at the Mass of the seven sorrows of the BVM. Those that know about these things believe it to be a fine piece of Latin. The key to understanding it is that it is part of the devotion to the seven sorrows of the BVM. What Mary was put through for being the mother of Jesus, therefore in Catholic belief, and of God. We are invited to empathises with Mary on her journey to her son's death.
The last piece of the concert was a Gloria. The words of this Latin hymn of praise is derived from the Hebrew of the First Testament or from the early Christian Latin. The placing of the hymn during the mass has floated between near the start (after the penitential rite and Kyries) and after communion as a great hymn of thanksgiving for the eucharist (which is a great hymn of thanksgiving.) Either way it is a great slam of praise and thanksgiving.
Anything else? I think not. Great evening out and thanks to LBC.
Monday, 2 April 2012
Saturday, 31 March 2012
No need to go into Latin
Once upon a time medical and clerical textbooks moved into Latin when discussing sex and especially what has been called homosexuality. I guess the idea was to protect the innocent faithful laity from picking up ideas.
The practise has more or less disappeared but some versions of it, where euphemisms appear instead of plain speaking, linger on. In this week's Tablet there is a sad little story about a 26 year old gay man in a civil partnership getting elected to a parish council somewhere outside Vienna. The Cardinal Archbishop of Vienna, Dominican, clever and once considered a possible pope, had his spokesman tell us that active homosexuality is a grave sin.
I just want to think for a moment on what means "active homosexuality". Are we talking sex here, in who does what to whom? or are we talking "lifestyle" in the current patois? If we are talking sex is this a reference to anal sex? I think we should be told. If it is that ano-receptive sex deemed to be less of a grave sin. I think we should know. If it is the case that anal sex is always and everywhere out of court do we need to get on and tell heterosexual couples this as well. One final forensic point: does there have to be oral, anal, vaginal penetration for it to be deemed sex (as in the Clinton get out?).
Even though the Archbishop of Vienna is probably a nice man he really does need to spell out what he means by having words like "grave" sin used without clarity as to the meaning. To repeat if he is talking about sex then I think he should say so. Otherwise, we are left with vagaries like "lifestyle" which usually ends of meaning shopping at Waitrose and living in a minimalist house and having copies of gay novels, DVDs and newspapers actually visible in front of visitors,
The practise has more or less disappeared but some versions of it, where euphemisms appear instead of plain speaking, linger on. In this week's Tablet there is a sad little story about a 26 year old gay man in a civil partnership getting elected to a parish council somewhere outside Vienna. The Cardinal Archbishop of Vienna, Dominican, clever and once considered a possible pope, had his spokesman tell us that active homosexuality is a grave sin.
I just want to think for a moment on what means "active homosexuality". Are we talking sex here, in who does what to whom? or are we talking "lifestyle" in the current patois? If we are talking sex is this a reference to anal sex? I think we should be told. If it is that ano-receptive sex deemed to be less of a grave sin. I think we should know. If it is the case that anal sex is always and everywhere out of court do we need to get on and tell heterosexual couples this as well. One final forensic point: does there have to be oral, anal, vaginal penetration for it to be deemed sex (as in the Clinton get out?).
Even though the Archbishop of Vienna is probably a nice man he really does need to spell out what he means by having words like "grave" sin used without clarity as to the meaning. To repeat if he is talking about sex then I think he should say so. Otherwise, we are left with vagaries like "lifestyle" which usually ends of meaning shopping at Waitrose and living in a minimalist house and having copies of gay novels, DVDs and newspapers actually visible in front of visitors,
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
Third sunny day in a row
Just a few days of unseasonal sunlight and warmth seems to change the national psyche. I know the very idea of there being a national psyche is fictive but who cares on a day like this? People suddenly look different, not just burned, but more outgoing. Even strangers start talking to each other. brrrrr
I wonder what it would be like if we had a reliable 6 months of this weather every year?
I wonder what it would be like if we had a reliable 6 months of this weather every year?
Tuesday, 27 March 2012
From the door step
It is surprising what a few warm days do to people's mood and habits. Suddenly, the national mood is raised and I take to sitting out side of the house by the front door. People walking stop to talk, those driving sometimes wave and the value of the houses in the street do not fall by that much money.
The local version of the evening walk is quite swift but people do seem to like to stop and chat as well.
The local version of the evening walk is quite swift but people do seem to like to stop and chat as well.
Sunday, 25 March 2012
Two cities, two days, two operas
People ask sometimes, usually meaning to be sympathetic, "Do you get out much?" I try and be cheerful and tell them I do as much as I can. Friday, I was at Royal Opera in Covent Garden to see their new piece Miss Fortune. Well, notwithstanding a slating from the critics, it was not that bad. The singing was good, the sets were excellent, the orchestra as ever. Paul Daniels was in control, Emma Bell was the lead and the new rising star in the higher tenor range is Noah Stewart. NS is from Harlem, trained at the Julliard, loves his mother, gets lots of air time in the UK. Sang the best number in the show. Pity his kebab trailer goes up last summer's rioting flames. For me the only real problem was the break dancers. Oh what fun when the posh let their hair down (tip: don't). We had a meal afterwards at Les amis near by. Never again. Food mediocre, bill far too high. We ware joined by the delightful Noah. He is such good fun to be with. suspect we will be seeing a lot more of him Europe.
Saturday night, to Birmingam Community Opera doing a new Joanathan Dove Life is Dream. This really was opera perhaps because of it being done in a large, disused fo factory that stands as a monument to industrial britain now gone. This is the first visit to BCO although I have heard much of previous shows - especially Monteverdi.
I think last night was the best night at the opera I can ever remember. I kept getting reminded that the very word OPERA means 'the works' so here we were at a works having the works done before here eyes, Graham Vick directs. It is sometimes hard to know who is performer and who audience. Surreal surely but not to be missed,
Early warning, The same team are doing Stockhausen's unperformed six hour Mittwoch aus Licht (Wednesdsay from Light). This is the Olympic show piece by BCO but there are lots of events.
After all this a rest is indicated.
Saturday night, to Birmingam Community Opera doing a new Joanathan Dove Life is Dream. This really was opera perhaps because of it being done in a large, disused fo factory that stands as a monument to industrial britain now gone. This is the first visit to BCO although I have heard much of previous shows - especially Monteverdi.
I think last night was the best night at the opera I can ever remember. I kept getting reminded that the very word OPERA means 'the works' so here we were at a works having the works done before here eyes, Graham Vick directs. It is sometimes hard to know who is performer and who audience. Surreal surely but not to be missed,
Early warning, The same team are doing Stockhausen's unperformed six hour Mittwoch aus Licht (Wednesdsay from Light). This is the Olympic show piece by BCO but there are lots of events.
After all this a rest is indicated.
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