Riffing Brown: Installment Two

The following is an excerpt from the first chapters of the Da Vinci Code. As usual, my comments are in red.

Robert Langdon awoke slowly. Deja vu...didn't he do this in the other book?

A telephone was ringing in the darkness—a tinny, unfamiliar ring. This sounds really familiar. He fumbled for the bedside lamp and turned it on. Squinting at his surroundings he saw a plush Renaissance bedroom with Louis XVI furniture, hand-frescoed walls, and a colossal mahogany four-poster bed. Ooh, how romantic.

Where the hell am I? Purgatory.

The jacquard bathrobe hanging on his bedpost bore the monogram:

HOTEL RITZ PARIS.

Slowly, the fog began to lift. And then he beheld the great monster, rising up out of the lagoon, ominous and threatening...

Langdon picked up the receiver. "Hello?"

"Monsieur Langdon?" a man's voice said. "I hope I have not awoken you?" Anyone else think that this question mark is a little out of place? Anyone? Beuller?

Dazed, Langdon looked at the bedside clock. It was 12:32 A.M. He had been asleep only an hour, but he felt like the undead. Wooden stake or silver bullets?

"This is the concierge, monsieur. I apologize for this intrusion, but you have a visitor. He insists it is urgent." "I love you, Langdon. We must be together, or else I shall die!"

Langdon still felt fuzzy. A visitor? His eyes focused now on a crumpled flyer on his bedside table.

THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF PARIS

proudly presents

An evening with Robert Langdon

Professor of Religious Symbology, Harvard University "Symbology". Interesting, I've never heard of that before...

Langdon groaned. Tonight's lecture—a slide show about pagan symbolism hidden in the stones of Chartres Cathedral—had probably ruffled some conservative feathers in the audience. Most likely, some religious scholar had trailed him home to pick a fight. He's a professor of "religious symbology". Doesn't that make him a "religious scholar"?

"I'm sorry," Langdon said, "but I'm very tired and—"

"Mais monsieur," the concierge pressed, lowering his voice to an urgent whisper. "Your guest is an important man."

Langdon had little doubt. He is, after all, soooooo important himself, it's only natural that other important men come to visit. His books on religious paintings and cult symbology had made him a reluctant celebrity in the art world, and last year Langdon's visibility had increased a hundred-fold after his involvement in a widely publicized incident at the Vatican. Since then, the stream of self-important historians (the first step to recovering from a problem is admitting you have one.) and art buffs arriving at his door had seemed never-ending.

"If you would be so kind," Langdon said, doing his best to remain polite, "could you take the man's name and number, and tell him I'll try to call him before I leave Paris on Tuesday? Thank you." He hung up before the concierge could protest.

Sitting up now, Langdon frowned at his bedside Guest Relations Handbook, whose cover boasted: SLEEP LIKE A BABY IN THE CITY OF LIGHTS. SLUMBER AT THE PARIS RITZ.

He turned and gazed tiredly into the full-length mirror across the room. The man staring back at him was a stranger—tousled and weary. It had, after all, been a long hard night of making Ad Hominem attacks against the Church.

You need a vacation, Robert. Try the bermuda triangle. Nice, private, and cheap...

The past year had taken a heavy toll on him, but he didn't appreciate seeing proof in the mirror. Oh, no! Now Cindy won't go to the prom with me! His usually sharp blue eyes looked hazy and drawn tonight. Eyes can't be drawn. A face can be drawn. A forehead can be drawn. Eyeballs cannot. A dark stubble was shrouding his strong jaw and dimpled chin. With that, Langdon realized that his boyish charm was finally fading. Around his temples, the gray highlights were advancing, making their way deeper into his thicket of coarse black hair. Gee, and there I thought it was brown...which is, y'know, what he said in the other one. Is it brownish-black, dark brown or really black? Although his female colleagues insisted the gray only accentuated his bookish appeal, Langdon knew better. Oh, of course. Those female colleagues again. What the heck is a bookish appeal? I find books appealing. I like sitting on the couch with a blanket, cup of hot cocoa and a G.K Chesterton book. But what's a bookish appeal?

If Boston Magazine could see me now. Oh, poor me...I was so handsome once, and now...now I'm...AGING! Heaven forbid anyone should age. 'cause obviously it's, like, y'know...not natural or anything silly like that.

Last month, much to Langdon's embarrassment, (here Brown is explaining that Boston apparently finds Langdon very intriguing, but he's still very humble as is shown by his embarrassment. Brown seems to think that Langdon is a saint.) Boston Magazine had listed him as one of that city's top ten most intriguing people—a dubious honor that made him the brunt of endless ribbing by his Harvard colleagues. Tonight, three thousand miles from home, the accolade had resurfaced to haunt him at the lecture he had given.

"Ladies and gentlemen.. ." the hostess (oh no. It's a female. You know what that means.) had announced to a full-house at The American University of Paris's Pavillon Dauphine, "Our guest tonight needs no introduction. You wouldn't know him anyway. He's an obscure little--oh, whoops, sorry. He is the author of numerous books: The Symbology of Secret Sects, The Art of the Illuminati, The Lost Language of Ideograms, (an ideogram is a character meant to express an idea without giving the pronunciation of an idea. Chinese characters are roughly ideograms, and as far as I know people still write using Chinese characters...) and when I say he wrote the book on Religious Iconology, I mean that quite literally. Many of you use his textbooks in class." Since obviously Religious Iconology/Symbology (which is it, Danny?!) is a huge field that lots of people are studying.

The students in the crowd nodded enthusiastically. "AHHOHMIGOSH IT'S LANGDON!!!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!!"

"I had planned to introduce him tonight by sharing his impressive curriculum vitae, however ..." I have the feeling that somehow "impressive curriculum vitae" is actually a codeword for virility. Anyone else get that drift? She glanced playfully at Langdon ("ooh, Langdon, I'm glancing at you playfully! I love you so much! You're so hot!"), who was seated onstage. "An audience member has just handed me a far more, shall we say ... intriguing introduction." Literary flirting has never been so embarrassing.

She held up a copy of Boston Magazine.

Langdon cringed. Where the hell did she get that? Brown seems to like using 'X the hell'. Well, I don't blame him entirely--his writing makes me want to cuss, too.

The hostess began reading choice excerpts from the inane article, and Langdon felt himself sinking lower and lower in his chair. Inane article, once again showing Langdon's humility. Saint Langdon, patron of conspiracy theories, speak for us... Thirty seconds later, the crowd was grinning, and the woman showed no signs of letting up. I have this sneaking suspicion this crowd was mostly female. "And Mr. Langdon's refusal to speak publicly about his unusual role in last year's Vatican conclave certainly wins him points on our intrigue-o-meter." (gag) intrigue-o-meter? INTRIGUE-O-METER? WHAT ON EARTH IS THAT? I'm getting embarrassed just reading this! The hostess goaded the crowd. "Would you like to hear more?"

The crowd applauded.

Somebody stop her, Langdon pleaded as she dove into the article again. Oh, Langy, you're so humble...

"Although Professor Langdon might not be considered hunk-handsome like some of our younger awardees, this forty-something academic has more than his share of scholarly allure. Here we go again. His captivating presence is punctuated by an unusually low, baritone speaking voice, which his female students describe as 'chocolate for the ears." Those female students...'chocolate for the ears' indeed. I didn't even know that was possible.

Now, let's be frank. I don't know ANYONE, male or female, who will describe someone physically in that much depth, let alone in front of that person. My conclusion? Danny's crushing on his character again, and wants us to, too.

The hall erupted in laughter. So did I, when I read this the first time. And then I started crying.

Langdon forced an awkward smile. He knew what came next—some ridiculous line about "Harrison Ford in Harris tweed" But the author believes it, doesn't he? he uses 'ridiculous' to show Langdon's humility, even while implying the opposite is correct!—and because this evening he had figured it was finally safe again to wear his Harris tweed and Burberry turtleneck, he decided to take action. You, sir, are no Indiana Jones. Just saying.

"Thank you, Monique," Langdon said, standing prematurely and edging her away from the podium. "Boston Magazine clearly has a gift for fiction." Oh yes, I agree entirely. He turned to the audience with an embarrassed sigh. "And if I find which one of you provided that article, I'll have the consulate deport you." Thank God!

The crowd laughed.

"Well, folks, as you all know, I'm here tonight to talk about the power of symbols ..." "And this is my senior picture. As you all can tell, I was a very striking lad, with an arrestingly deep baritone voice, mysterious brown-with-grey-whisps and black hair and an alleged Harrison Ford lookalike. I was a paragon, a symbol of virility. Aren't I wonderful?" "Yes, Langdon! You are!"

Brown's apparent crush on his Gary Stu alter ego is mildly unsettling, or at least I find it so. If anyone else has other opinions, then please do share--I'd really like to think that Dan has only unconsciously made himself an idealized alter ego that he proceeds to turn into a superheroic destroyer-of traditions. But, you know, when the Author mysteriously appears on the jacket of the book wearing the same Harris tweed and turtleneck as the character did in the first chapter...well, minds start turning.

For more information, see this article on the "Mary Sue" archetype and this one on author surrogates. Both are very applicable to all of Brown's works involving Langdon, in my opinion.

Riffing Brown: Installment One

This is a short excerpt from Angels and Demons. Miss Celestine's additions are in red.

Physicist Leonardo Vetra smelled burning flesh, and he knew it was his own. Ooh, charbroiled! He stared up in terror at the dark figure looming over him. "What do you want!" Do you hate question marks! I do! So never use questions marks, okay!

"La chiave," the raspy voice replied. He used to be an opera singer, but then got nodes from too much belting. "The password."

"But…I don't... " ...I don't want to go see this movie! Noooo!

The intruder pressed down again, grinding the white hot object deeper into Vetra's chest. There was the hiss of broiling flesh. Would you like your broiled flesh rare, medium or well-done?
Vetra cried out in agony. "There is no password!" He felt himself drifting toward unconsciousness.

The figure glared. "Ne avevo paura. I was afraid of that." Because all bilingual assassins sprinkle their English with Italian liberally.

Vetra fought to keep his senses, but the darkness was closing in. His only solace was in knowing his attacker would never obtain what he had come for. Vee have vays of making you talk... A moment later, however, the figure produced a blade and brought it to Vetra's face. The blade hovered. And you can have a hoverblade too, for just ten low payments of 19.99 a month! Carefully. Surgically.

"For the love of God!" Vetra screamed. But it was too late.

--

High atop the steps of the Pyramid of Giza a young woman laughed and called down to him. But...but...the Great Pyramid of Giza isn't a step pyramid..."Robert, hurry up! I knew I should have married a younger man!" Her smile was magic.

He struggled to keep up, but his legs felt like stone. "Wait," he begged. "Please…"

As he climbed, his vision began to blur. Ah, dang...lost my contacts in the sand again! There was a thundering in his ears. This is your brain on NunStrum. I must reach her! Oh mysterious girl whose name hasn't been mentioned! I love you! But when he looked up again, the woman had disappeared. In her place stood an old man with rotting teeth. Ah, darn...never the same the morning after! The man stared down, curling his lips into a lonely grimace. Then he let out a scream of anguish that resounded across the desert.

Robert Langdon awoke with a start from his nightmare. As opposed to his other dream that, y'know, he just had the paragraph above. The phone beside his bed was ringing. Dazed, he picked up the receiver.

"Hello?"

"I'm looking for Robert Langdon," a man's voice said.

Langdon sat up in his empty bed and tried to clear his mind. Wait, if he was in his bed, how was it empty? "This…is METALLICA! Robert Langdon." He squinted at his digital clock. It was 5:18 A.M.

"I must see you immediately."

"Who is this?"

"My name is Maximilian Kohler. I'm a Discrete Particle Physicist." Because "Discrete Particle Physicist" is exactly how you introduce yourself on a first date.

"A what?" Langdon could barely focus. "Are you sure you've got the right Langdon?"

"You're a Professor of Religious Iconology at Harvard University. You've written three books on symbology and... " Oh, Robert! You're so...so...smart! Ooh...

"Do you know what time it is?"

"I apologize. I have something you need to see. I can't discuss it on the phone."

A knowing groan escaped Langdon's lips. The last time I checked, a groan was 'ugh'. How can a groan be knowing? This had happened before. One of the perils of writing books about religious symbology was the calls from religious zealots who wanted him to confirm their latest sign from God.

"How did you get my number?" Langdon tried to be polite despite the hour.

"On the World-Wide-Web. The site for your book." Since everyone refers to the internet as the World Wide Web. It just makes you sound smarter.

Langdon frowned. He was damn sure his book's site (damn sure? not just 'sure'? really, what's the significance here?) did not include his home phone number. The man was obviously lying. Captain Obvious--Dan, that is--Strikes Again! He could have said: "Langdon was positive that his book's website didn't include personal contact information--after all, he liked his privacy" and still brought the point across.

"I need to see you," the caller insisted. "I'll pay you well."

Now Langdon was getting mad. "I'm sorry, but I really... "

"If you leave immediately, you can be here by... "

"I'm not going anywhere! It's five o'clock in the morning!" Langdon hung up and collapsed back in bed. He closed his eyes and tried to fall back asleep. It was no use. The dream was emblazoned in his mind. Reluctantly, he put on his robe and went downstairs.

Robert Langdon wandered barefoot through his deserted Massachusetts Victorian home (well, if he's in there, then it's not deserted, is it?) and nursed his ritual insomnia remedy... a mug of steaming Nestle's Quik. Dude, wait...what? He was nursing his drink?! The April moon filtered through the bay windows and played on the oriental carpets. Langdon's colleagues often joked that his place looked more like an anthropology museum than a home. My bookshelf has an icon, a crucifix, two old Bibles, an old Lives of the Saints and some other really old books. Does this make me...smart? It apparently makes Langy smart. His shelves were packed with religious artifacts from around the world…an ekuaba from Ghana, a gold cross from Spain, a cycladic idol from the Aegean, and even a rare woven boccus from Borneo... a young warrior's symbol of perpetual youth.

As Langdon sat on his brass Maharishi's chest and savored the warmth of the chocolate, the bay window caught his reflection. The image was distorted and pale…like a ghost. An aging ghost, he thought, cruelly reminded that his youthful spirit was living in a mortal shell. "Someday, I'll die...and the world will be denied of my presence...it cannot be! No!"

Although not overly handsome in a classical sense, the forty-five-year-old Langdon had what his female colleagues referred to as an "erudite" appeal... I'm female. I don't even know what "erudite appeal" is supposed to mean. wisps of gray in his thick brown hair, probing blue eyes, an arrestingly deep voice, and the strong, carefree smile of a collegiate athlete. Oh, Langdon! You're sooooo attractive! Our logic and reasoning is just...absolutely destroyed by your arresting voice and strong smile! The fact that you were an athlete twenty-five years ago is sooooo astounding! We love you, Langdon! A varsity diver in prep school and college, Langdon still had the body of a swimmer, a toned, six-foot physique that he vigilantly maintained with fifty laps a day in the university pool.

Notice, at this point, readers, that Brown has simultaneously informed us of Langdon's "empty bed" and "deserted...mansion", all the while going on gushingly about his erudite appeal, arrestingly deep voice, probing blue eyes and a strong smile in a way vaguely reminiscent of a creepy man-crush. It appears that Brown wants us to feel sorry for Langdon--so attractive, and yet with no woman by his side. His point is made--Langdon lives alone, in spite of his perceived Adonistic stature. It is made clumsily.

Langdon's friends had always viewed him as a bit of an enigma... a man caught between centuries. On weekends he could be seen lounging on the quad in blue-jeans, discussing computer graphics or religious history with students; other times he could be spotted in his Harris tweed and paisley vest, photographed in the pages of upscale art magazines at museum openings where he had been asked to lecture. No no, Danny. Between centuries is when I dress up in a Victorian-era gown with corset, hoopskirts and crinoline one day and slouch around in jeans and an old band t-shirt the next.

Although a tough teacher and strict disciplinarian, Langdon was the first to embrace what he hailed as the "lost art of good clean fun." Ooh, Langdon, you're sooo much fun! He relished recreation with an infectious fanaticism that had earned him a fraternal acceptance among his students. His campus nickname... "The Dolphin"... was a reference both to his affable nature and his legendary ability to dive into a pool and outmaneuver the entire opposing squad in a waterpolo match. Legendary has two meanings--"General Patton's temper was legendary", as in, well-known, or "Bigfoot is legendary"--doesn't exist. I prefer the latter, myself.

As Langdon sat alone, absently gazing into the darkness, the silence of his home was shattered again, this time by the ring of his Fax machine. Too exhausted to be annoyed, Langdon forced a tired chuckle. In the fifteen minutes that have gone by, he's become...more exhausted?

God's people, he thought. Two thousand years of waiting for their Messiah, and they're still persistent as hell. Well, that's...random.

Wearily, he returned his empty mug to the kitchen and walked slowly to his oak-paneled study. The incoming FAX lay in the tray. Sighing, he scooped up the paper and looked at it.

Instantly, a wave of nausea hit him. "Cindy...won't go to the prom with me?!"

The image on the page was that of a human corpse. The body had been stripped naked, and its head had been twisted, facing completely backwards. On the victim's chest was a terrible burn. He had clearly been out on the beach for far too long. The man had been branded…imprinted with a single word. It was a word Langdon knew well. Very well. As does anyone else who has seen "Lara Croft". He stared at the ornate lettering in disbelief.

"Illuminati," he stammered, his heart pounding. It can't be…

In slow motion, afraid of what he was about to witness, Langdon rotated the fax 180 degrees. He looked at the word upside down. Because no one has ever seen that phenomena before. Especially not people who own a recent DVD edition of "The Princess Bride".

The breath went out of him. It was like he had been hit by a truck. O, that he had! Barely able to believe his eyes, he rotated the FAX again, reading the brand right side up and then upside down.

"Illuminati, " he whispered.

Stunned, Langdon collapsed in a chair. He sat a moment in utter bewilderment. Gradually, his eyes were drawn to the blinking red light on his FAX machine. Whoever had sent this FAX was still on the line…waiting to talk.

Ah-wheeeeew...ahwheeeeew....ahwheeEE! Whoops, sorry, I fell asleep for a minute there...anyway, what happened? Oh, right, right. Sorry, I just got so caught up in the... (yawn)...intensity of the author's man-crush on his own character that I passed out. Oh--wait a minute, what was that? Right, right. In DVC, Brown described Langdon as being "Harrison Ford in harris tweed", if I recall correctly, and references a black turtleneck. Then brown hair with grey wisps, blah blah blah. Yeah. Whatever, right?

Dan Brown

Oh...no. That's not mildly unsettling at all.

An Open Letter to Dan Brown

Dear Danny,

Just so you know, the Illuminati were formed in 1775. That's the eighteenth century.


The Illuminati did not become violent until the 17th Century. Their name means 'The Enlightened Ones'. They were physicists, mathematicians, astronomers. In the 1500's they started meeting in secret, because they were concerned about the church's inaccurate teachings....

...Oh geez, you guys don't even read your own history do you? 1668, the church kidnapped four Illuminati scientists and branded each one of them on the chest with the symbol of the cross. Angels and Demons, film

I'm less concerned with the torturing/inaccurate teaching stuff than I am with the apparent talent of these individuals to time-travel! Really, though, I'm fascinated that you say Copernicus and Galileo were Illuminati. 'cuz, y'know, the last time I checked...the Illuminati were formed in 1775 or thereabouts. Copernicus died over two hundred years earlier; Galileo around a hundred earlier.

Oh, and by the way, Danny...

1. Copernicus was a clergyman held in high esteem by the Church. Imagine that--a priest AND a scientist! The horror!

2. Galileo was not grievously tortured for years on end. His fate was a natural death under "house arrest" in a nice house outside of Florence (which he was allowed to leave for medical care). Also--the initial hubbub was NOT about heliocentrism itself. It was the fact that Galileo (who, by the way, thought that the tides were controlled by the sun, and used that as his basis for his heliocentric beliefs) refused to teach heliocentrism as a theory.*

3. Furthermore, that persecuting Church must've really had it out for all scientists who proposed the Copernican system, because the first one to propose it--before Copernicus himself--(a scientist named Cusa) was persecuted by that mean little Church...by being made a Cardinal.

4. "Novus Ordo Saeclorum" does not mean "New Secular Order". It means "New Order of the Ages". Please, please, please, please--if you're going to use our language against us, for the love of humanity try to use it correctly!

Toodles!

Celestine

*Actually, if I recall correctly, the "gravely suspected of heresy" part had very little to do with Galileo's scientific beliefs, but I can't be certain. It's been a while since I was studying the whole Affair, but I'm pretty sure that it was vastly more a case of ego than scientific disagreements.

Another Organ Recital Pour Moi!

I'll be playing a recital at Muskingum University's Brown Chapel on May 16.  Watch this space for details.

Fifth Sunday of Easter - May 2, 2010

Processional: Christ, The Lord, Is Risen Today (BB 173)
Psalm: Carissa
Offertory:  Ye Sons and Daughters (BB 179)  This is one my bestest most favoritest hymns.
Communion:  Ego sum vitis and Page 15 of this Link
Recessional: Alleluia! Alleluia!  Let the Holy Anthem Rise (BB 183)

After this Mass, we're heading up to Wheeling so Five of Seven can take place in the May Crowning at Our Lady of Lebanon. Pictures might be posted.

Happy Belated Lenin's Birthday--whoops, I mean "Earth Day"

Does anyone honestly think that this...



looks like more fun than these?...

For your belated earth day project, go climb into your SUV/Hummer/other non-hybrid vehicle. Diesel is good, but really any high-horsepower car will do. While in neutral, press down on the accelerator a few times, taking the RPMs up to around 5k. It's best to do this in a public place, like after just coming out from a grocery store to find that a Smart or Prius has parked beside you. Even better if the aforementioned cars have lots of Obama and GreenPeace bumperstickers.

Spitting Nails

Tonight's Confirmation is going to be especially memorable, because I've just found out we're being subjected to being assaulted by  having to endure being treated to a Guitar Mass.  FOR CONFIRMATION.......

Blessed Be? REALLY?

Perform a Google search on the phrase/greeting “Blessed Be”. The first and second results are from Wikipedia:

Blessed be
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Blessed Be may refer to
• A greeting, farewell, and blessing in Wicca
• Blessed Be, a 2000 album by The 69 Eyes
See also
• Fivefold kiss

Answers.com gives the definition for Wicca as:

Wicca n. A polytheistic Neo-Pagan nature religion inspired by various pre-Christian western European beliefs, whose central deity is a mother.

Let’s have a look at the Wikipedia definition for the Fivefold kiss, while we’re at it:

The fivefold kiss is an element of Wiccan ritual involving kissing five parts of the body. Each kiss given is accompanied by a blessing:

Blessed be thy feet, that have brought thee in these ways
Blessed be thy knees, that shall kneel at the sacred altar
Blessed be thy [womb/phallus], without which we would not be
Blessed be thy breasts, formed in beauty/breast formed in strength
Blessed be thy lips, that shall utter the Sacred Names.

This is the form of the blessing used by most Gardnerian and Alexandrian covens.

The fivefold kiss is sometimes performed during Wiccan rites and ceremonies, such as handfasting. It may be the origin of the term blessed be, a well-known Neopagan greeting, also used as a general expression of blessing during ritual.

Let’s neglect the “ewww!” factor of the fivefold kiss, and move on.

The third Google result is http://blessedbe.sugarbane.com/, the “Online Wiccan Resource Center”.

Next on the result list is http://www.blessedbeme.com/. GOTTA LOVE that name! Blessed Be Me!! Woohoo!


There are many common phrases used for the Complimentary Close of a letter: Sincerely (yours), Love, God bless, All the best, Best (I still don’t understand that one!), thank you, In Christ, etc.

So if someone you know signs letters/emails with “Blessed Be”, what is one to think? And what if this person works for the Church? It’s enough to make a person say “hmmmm”.

Comments are encouraged.

Recital - Vierne

French organist and composer Louis Vierne was nearly blind from birth. He was organist at Notre Dame in Paris from 1900 until his death in 1937. He passed away while giving his 1750th organ recital! The third organ symphony was written during a difficult period of Vierne’s life: he was recently divorced, his mother died, four days later his friend and fellow organist Alexander Guilmant died, and he had been passed over for the position of Professor of Organ at the Paris Conservatory. The Adagio is inspired by the chromaticism of Wagner and Franck. The melancholic harmonies, reminiscent of Wagner’s Tristan, are heard on lush 8-foot foundation stops with celeste. The mournful minor harmonies finally give way to a more serene major to close the piece.

Recital - Bach, Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele

Johann Sebastian Bach, the most important composer of the Baroque era, was known primarily during his lifetime as a famous organist and harpsichordist. He was a prolific composer for voices, organ, harpsichord and other instruments. Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele, composed during his years in Weimar, Germany, is one of his best-known ornamented chorale preludes. Regarding this piece, Robert Schumann recalled Mendelssohn’s exclamation that, “If life were to deprive me of hope and faith, this single chorale would replenish me with both.”

Recital - Ropek

Czech composer and organist Jiří Ropek taught at both the music conservatory and at the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Prague, and in 1950 became organist at Prague’s beautiful St. Jacob Church. His Variations on ‘Victimae Paschali Laudes’ is based on the medieval sequence for Easter Sunday. The variations seem to be based on the eight divisions of the sequence:

1. Christians, to the paschal victim offer your thankful praises!
2. A lamb the sheep redeeming: Christ, who only is sinless, reconciles sinners to the Father.
3. Death and life have contended in that combat stupendous; The prince of life, who died, reigns immortal.
4. Speak, Mary, declaring what you saw when wayfaring.
5. “The tomb of Christ, who is living, the glory of Jesus’ resurrection;
6. Bright angels attesting, the shroud and napkin resting.
7. My Lord, my hope, is arisen; to Galilee he goes before you.”
8. Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining. Have mercy victor King, ever reigning! Amen. Alleluia.

Happy Birthday Four of Seven!

He's an amazing, intelligent, witty guy who was born fourteen years ago today. Happy Birthday, Bud.

4th Sunday of Easter - April 25, 2010

I'll be at Christ the King for Confirmation for Three of Seven, Four of Seven, and Ross. Guest Organist is Carissa.

Processional: Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow (582)
Psalm: Maria
Offertory: The King of Love My Shepherd Is (488)
Communion: EITHER English Go to Page 13 of this link OR Latin Ego Sum Pastor
Recessional: Alleluia, Alleluia (176)

Recording from 4/17/10 Mass

Simon Joannis

Featuring Mary, Mary, and Maria!

Jehan Alain - Litanies

I'm starting to learn this piece, and it may close my Senior Recital. My dream is to play it on an organ that sounds even half as good as this one.

The text that Alain included with this piece:
"When, in its distress, the christian soul can find no more words to implore the mercy of God, it repeats, times without end, the same fierce-faithed prayer. Reason reaches its limits and only belief can chase its flight."

3rd Sunday of Easter - April 18, 2010

Prelude: Regina Coeli (174)
Processional: Jesus Christ is Risen Today (170)
Psalm: MCK
Offertory: Christ, the Lord, is Risen Again (182)
Communion: Simon Joannis
Recessional: Alleluia! Alleluia! (176)

Corvettes.....

It's been much too long since I put a pretty car on here, so here we go! There's an Ebay seller, Texas Auto Direct, who has a darned nice selection of affordable "luxury" cars. The Buy It Now price on both of these 2004 Corvettes is slightly less than $23K. I KNOW!

A clean, shiny black car is hard to beat. And LOOK at those wheels! Beeyootiful.



I'm not a fan of white cars, but I think this one, coupled with its GORGEOUSLY STUNNING INTERIOR, is outstanding. Look at that interior - have you ever seen a blacker black or redder red? Me likey a bit too much.

2nd Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday) - April 11, 2010

This is my Junior Recital day! The program starts at 2:00 p.m. at Galbreath Chapel, and will last slightly less than an hour.

Prelude: Fugue in C Major (Johann Sebastian Bach)
Processional: At the Lamb's High Feast (BB 178)
Psalm: Carissa
Offertory: Ye Sons and Daughters (BB 179)
Communion: Mitte manum tuam
Recessional: Jesus is Risen (BB 177)
Postlude: Prelude in C Major (Bach)

Easter Sunday

He is Risen! Alleluia!

Organ Recording - Ropek

Jiri Ropek - Variations on Victimae Paschali Laudes, #8

This will close my recital.

World's Largest Organ

Looking at the Wannamaker Organ makes me dizzy. It's located in Macy's department store in Philadelphia.

Recital is in Two Weeks

Rob took pictures for my poster advertising the recital. Here's one from my best side. We might take more pictures with the organ here at home; I wasn't totally happy with the chapel shots.

Palm Sunday Psalm

The balance is lousy because the recorder was placed right in front of the pipes. Mike was at the lectern in front of church.

Listen here.

Organist for Hire.....

since St. Paul's doesn't "need" me for Holy Week or Easter. I'm annoyed. Again.

JUDAS REVISITED

Stupak Slams Pro-Lifers, Defends Planned Parenthood

By Kathleen Gilbert

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 24, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Once the beacon of hope for pro-lifers in their fight against the abortion expansion embedded in the Senate health care bill, Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) on Tuesday turned around and blasted his pro-life critics, dismissed the Catholic hierarchy as having no control over Catholic legislators, and expressed support for Planned Parenthood and its provision of “health care” in his district.

Stupak and a crucial handful of other House Democrats holding out for an abortion funding ban took the whole country by surprise Sunday by switching sides mere hours before the final health care vote. The switch was made in exchange for an executive order from President Obama purporting to uphold the Hyde amendment abortion funding ban for the legislation – an executive order that pro-lifers have said is essentially meaningless.

In a recent interview with the Washington Times about his health care vote, Stupak defended Planned Parenthood, saying that the clinics in his district do not perform abortions. Interviewer Kerry Picket pressed Stupak on his reasons for not voting for the Pence amendment in 2009, which would have stripped Planned Parenthood of its taxpayer funding under Health and Human Services "family planning" (or Title X) funds.

"I don’t think I ever voted to de-fund Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood does not do abortions…in my district," said Stupak. "Planned Parenthood has a number of clinics in my district that provide health care for my people. Therefore, these clinics do quite well in my district, and I’m all for health care and extending it to everybody - access to health care, so that’s just another way.”

The lawmaker indicated that he trusted the organization's "segregation of funds," between monies diverted to abortion and those going to other health services.

"Also on Planned Parenthood, when they do it, there is a segregation of funds that go with it. It’s usually about four hundred million they tried to de-fund on Planned Parenthood. Maybe this time, I’ll look at it again if Pence brings it up. Maybe I’ll vote differently this time, but you’re right I did vote against it.”

Picket pointed out that, while the Planned Parenthood clinics in Michigan did not list abortion services, they did list abortion referral as one of the services offered.

This past Sunday night Stupak shocked his pro-life supporters when he shot down a last-ditch attempt to include his own abortion-ban language in the bill, saying the motion to send the bill back to include the ban only "purports to be a right-to-life motion" that "is really to politicize life." (See video here.)

"This is nothing more than an opportunity to continue to deny 32 million Americans health insurance," he said, amid loud cheers and angry shouts. "This motion does not promote life.

"It is the Democrats who have stood up for the principle of no public funding for abortions. ... For the Republicans who now claim that we send the bill back to committee under this guise of protecting life, is disingenuous."

Stupak later told the Times that he voted against his own language "because I feel that we have adequately — more than adequately protected life, the sanctity of life especially with the executive order, the colloquy on the floor," and suggested pro-lifers dissatisfied with the executive order were being hypocritical.

"And as I said on the floor, the right to life groups applauded George Bush in 2007 when he did his executive order, and now we did our executive order, suddenly its not good enough?" he said. "I believe some groups politicize life. As I said in my motion, when I spoke against the motion [to recommit], ‘let’s not politicize life.' Let’s prioritize life, and that’s what we did in this legislation and the executive order."

Yet top pro-life legal analysts, including the National Right to Life Committee, Americans United for Life, and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops - a strong supporter of health care reform - all agreed that the executive order does not have the power to correct the bill's serious flaws on life issues.

In a phone interview with the Daily Caller, Douglas Johnson of the National Right to Life Committee responded to Stupak's charges. “We haven’t said anything to suggest we think executive orders are never of value,” he said.

However, Johnson pointed out that Bush's executive order supported existing law, whereas Obama's executive order "basically just recites what's in the Senate bill.

"We do not understand how an Executive Order, no matter how well intentioned, can substitute for statutory provisions," noted the USCCB in a statement Tuesday. Even Planned Parenthood's Cecile Richards asserted that the bill would "significantly increase access to reproductive health care," and dismissed the order as a "symbolic" gesture.

Stupak also noted in the interview, in answering a question on papal sovereignty, that, "the Pope and the Catholic faith does not control Catholic legislators." "We must vote reflective of our districts and our beliefs. When I vote pro-life, it happens to be my own personal belief, also my district’s beliefs and the nation's," he said.

The national pro-life movement has continued to recoil from the lawmaker: days after the Susan B. Anthony List rescinded its planned "Defender of Life" award for Stupak, Michigan Right to Life has rescinded its endorsement of the lawmaker.

"Rep. Stupak indicated he would oppose any efforts to include federally funded abortion in national health care plans; support efforts to specifically exclude federally funded abortion in national health care plans; and be willing to vote against federal funding of abortion except where necessary to save the life of the mother," said the group in a statement.

"On March 21, Rep. Stupak failed to meet those requirements by voting for President Barack Obama's health care bill, H.R. 3590."

Has he forgotten that we must all give an accounting of our actions to God Almighty? I am stunned and exasperated.

Celestine's Less Scriptural Message to Congress

Winter Quarter Grades

Organ: A
Conducting: A
Performance Lab: Credit

This pleases Her Majesty.

Health Care Fiasco

Note to Congress:

Live as free men, yet without using your freedom as a pretext for evil; but live as servants of God. - 1 Pet. 16

Palm Sunday - March 28, 2010

Prelude: Processional (Mathias)
Procession (outside): Hosanna Filio David (#18, p. 100)
Inside Church: All Glory, Laud, and Honor (#143)
Offertory: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (#157)
Communion: Pater Si Non Potest
Recessional: O Sacred Head, Surrounded (#155)

Recordings from 3/20/10 Mass

Despite Spring Break, the church had nearly as many PIPs as usual. I wondered how they'd handle not having the choir to lead them; they did an admirable job. Your auditory perspective? Celestine had the mini-recorder downstairs amid the congregation.

O God Beyond All Praising is usually confusing, even when the choir is singing; everyone freaks out when the melody gets a little low on the scale. But still:

O God Beyond All Praising

I'm including the Sanctus here because the Sunday morning Mass PIPs "can't get it", so they're singing in English. Here's what the Saturday night folk can do:

Sanctus

In the previous post, I wrote that I would experiment tonight with doing a simpler English antiphon, followed by the Gregorian chant. Here's the result:

Qui Mihi Ministrat

When the people started singing O Sacred Head, I thought "they've never heard this before". Is this really so unfamiliar? Or is it just hard to sing? I don't think it's particularly difficult.

O Sacred Head Surrounded

New Resource

Mike the Choir Guy sent me a link from New Liturgical Movement regarding the Archdiocese of St. Louis Institute of Sacred Music. I'd heard last year, I believe, about the institute but didn't realize the scope of the endeavor.

Fr. Samuel Weber, OSB, Director of the institute, is a Real Live Musician and Organist, and I'm very impressed with what I've seen so far. There's so much useful music, but I'm going to start with what we're already doing - the communion antiphon - and expand from there. He's taken the Gregorian Chant from the Graduale Romanum and has adapted it into two versions of English: an easy one, and an easier-than-easy one.

Tonight, I'm going to chant the Easy English version, then do the Latin version. I see it as a win-win situation; the PIPs will understand what the antiphon is saying, AND they'll get to hear the more-beautiful Latin/Gregorian chant version. What's not to love?

I'd also like to try his psalms; although I haven't printed and played them, I'm pretty good at looking at the music and knowing what it's going to sound like, and it looks darn good.

Additionally, I'm hoping to start doing the Owen Alstott Mass Ordinary (with Father's permission) during the Easter Season, thus ridding the 6 p.m. Mass of Marty Haugen.

Now something totally unrelated to the subject of this post: some of you know that I had surgery earlier this week. My hope was that I would be able to put off a more serious surgery until July. It's not looking promising, though. Please pray for my discernment.

5th Sunday of Lent - March 21, 2010

Have a great Spring Break, choir folk!

Processional: Lift High the Cross (733)
Offertory: O God, Beyond All Praising (555)
Communion: Qui mihi ministrat
Recessional: O Sacred Head Surrounded (155)

Acquiescence of Absurdity: Martin Gray Strikes Back

You may recall back in December I posted a quick fisking of an article that purported the pyramids and sphinx of Egypt to be master products of "a society" that, as it went on, was identified subconsciously as yet another case of "The aliens did it!" (since, after all, ancient peoples couldn't possibly have built structures). After a few months of peace, I have uncovered another quite unique little paper upon Bath (England) by the same Martin Gray, and which I will reproduce here in full (with my own commentary included in red).

Archaeological excavations have revealed that the human use of the hot mineral springs at Bath began at least 10,000 years ago and have continued to the present times. Keep in mind that Mr. Gray has not included footnotes or citations of any kind save for the term "archaeological excavations". First frequented by Neolithic hunter-gatherer tribes, the springs were later venerated as sacred by Celtic, Roman, and Christian peoples. I highly doubt that Christian peoples "venerated as sacred" a wellspring, but of course there is not enough information from Mr. Gray to determine what exactly he means by "sacred". The Celts, who arrived in England around 700 BC, erected what are believed to be the first shrine structures at the springs. Dedicated to Sulis, a goddess of water, the shrine was a religious center for much of southwestern England. Soon after the arrival of the Romans in England in 43 AD, the Celtic shrine was taken over and the goddess Sulis was identified with the Roman goddess Minerva as a healing deity. Minerva was the Roman version of the Greek goddess Athena, who is the patron of justice, civilization, skill, art, and so on. However, amongst the numerous traits ascribed to Minerva-Athena, 'healing' is not one of them, unless I'm mistaken. Beginning sometime around 65 AD, and continuing for nearly four centuries, the Romans constructed increasingly elaborate bathing and temple complexes at the springs.
The main spring, bubbling out of the ground at a rate of a quarter of a million gallons per day and maintaining a constant temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Centigrade) was however, far more than just a source of hot water to the Romans. It was a sacred place where mortals could communicate with deities of the underworld and seek the assistance of the goddess Sulis-Minerva, and also the god of healing, Asclepius. I've never read anything regarding a primitive hot tub and worshiping Hades or Athena...perhaps Mr. Gray could enlighten me? Archaeological excavations in the bottom of the spring have brought to light a remarkable collection of sacred votive offerings thrown by worshippers into the waters. Throw a coin over your shoulder, and make a wish... Also from the spring's bottom, over 12,000 coins - spanning the entire Roman period - have revealed that the behavior of throwing coins into a spring to the accompaniment of a wish is a universal and ancient human behavior. The numerous bathing pools were fed with a constant flow of water delivered by lead pipes which still function today, and the largest bath was lined with 42 great sheets of lead whose combined weight exceeded 8 and 1/2 tons.
This great healing shrine of Aquae Sulis was not to last however. Following the departure of the Roman legions from Britain early in the fifth century AD, the city and its splendid temples and baths swiftly fell into decline. Over time the baths were covered by the relentless silting of the spring and only the fallen temple of Sulis-Minerva marked the ancient sacred site. Yet the town was not abandoned. Rather it continued to grow and by the seventh century the first Christian structure had been established upon the ruins of the Roman temple. Mr. Gray's purpose in mentioning the "Christian structure" upon the "ruins of the Roman temple" is unknown, unless he wishes to establish a sort of continuum between religions, i.e that Christianity draws from the mythology of the pagans. For the next twelve hundred years a succession of churches rose and fell upon the hallowed ground with the currently standing abbey having been constructed between 1499 and the mid 17th century. The hot springs, while never again receiving architectural development equal to that of the Romans, were continuously used throughout the medieval period. By the beginning of the 1600's the springs had begun to attract royal and aristocratic families intent on 'taking the cure', and by the 1720's Bath was on the way to becoming a highly fashionable spa. Where are my cucumber slices and hot stones? With this rise in popularity of the springs and a concurrent need for more bathing and housing facilities, construction excavations were begun which resulted in the discovery of the ancient Roman foundations. Archaeological excavations have continued to the present day and the city of Bath now boasts a Roman monument unparalleled in north-western Europe. Scientific study of the waters of Bath spring have revealed the presence of 43 different minerals including iron, magnesium, potassium, copper and radium. It sounds like it should be rust-colored... The prehistoric, Roman and early Christian people using the springs had no (known) way of determining the nature of these minerals yet none the less the springs have been venerated as a healing site since time immemorial. I enjoy a nice hot shower...does that count as "venerating a healing site"? Astute readers will recognize in this matter another indication of the extraordinary (and little understood) energetic resonance between humans and the earth. Whoa, there! "energetic resonance between humans and the earth"? Until this point, Mr. Gray had a dubious but not wholly loony article on the history of Bath which, although it could be improved upon starting at least with some brief citations, was not entirely a whackjob. But here--"energetic resonance" et al.--Mr. Gray has veered off to the far left side of "New Age" loony-bin-ness.

That's all for this one, folks...

A Letter to Sauron

Michael Moore has been transported to Middle-Earth and is now being employed by Comrade Denethor to try to defuse the situation with Sauron. The following was sent via foot messenger:

Dear Sauron the Great, Saruman the Wise, et al.,

Recently it has come to my attention that you have been sieging various protests, boldly standing up for your beliefs in this oppressive world. I can say wholeheartedly that I sympathize greatly with you. It's no wonder that you are frustrated and concerned; for years you have been oppressed and stifled by those old men who maintain repressive policies, citing "dark forces" and "shadows" to the point of hiding property that is rightfully yours! Moreover, I can say without fear that most certainly your frustration with the Elves is understandable; I, too, have often wondered why they maintain their regime of sitting up in towers with lavish clothes, statues and ancient swords, when it could all be sold and used to buy food for the poor. Indeed, even your irritation with the descendants of Numenor is understandable; in the past we have acted unfairly--waging war upon you when it should have been obvious that a dialogue needed to be set up, and I am attempting to do so now.

We understand that you and the Orcs are indeed very angry; by all accounts it is justified. The knights of Minas Tirith have commited great atrocities in the past, for which they should be held accountable. They are extremely simple-minded war fighters. We've wronged you greatly in the past, and now we understand the error of our ways. We are willing to communicate with you and engage in a constructive dialogue if you will please call off the sieges and keep your armies from catapulting the bodies of the dead knights over the walls.

I do hope, Lord Sauron, that you will take this opportunity to engage in a dialogue between our two peoples, and to campaign for CHANGE in the world of Middle-Earth.

Sincerely,
Michael Moore

The foot messenger was promptly returned to Minas Tirith in several different pieces.

Not sick this time........

just burnt out. Call it the end-of-quarter blooz. Organ jury/recital-hearing and conducting final are on Tuesday. I anticipate having a glass of wine before Tuesday's bedtime.....

Fourth Sunday of Lent - March 14, 2010

Before processional: Laetare, Jerusalem (Liber Usualis, p. 559)
Processional: The Glory of These Forty Days (BB 137)
Offertory: What Wondrous Love is This (426)
Communion: Jerusalem Quae
Recessional: 'Tis Good Lord to Be Here (BB 136)

Some days are like that....

Scene: Immediately following a particularly stressful moment in the house.

Four of Seven: Can I get you anything, Mama?

Me: Drugs.

Spiritual Terrorists

With a salute to the Catholic Caveman.

Conversation snippet

Scene: The front of a church, as Fr. Eric greets parishioners after Sunday Mass. Fr. Eric is sporting a fantastically beautiful lightweight chasuble in a dark purple and black damask brocade.

Me, touching fabric: "This is gorgeous!"

Fr. Eric: "Ebay fabric!"

Me, shocked (don't know why - I've gotten lots of goodies on ebay): "Really? And then you had someone sew it for you?"

Fr. Eric: "I did it. I put a hem on it and cut a hole in the middle."

Me: *speechless*

This lends new meaning to the term "Man of the Cloth".

3rd Sunday of Lent - March 7, 2010

Processional: I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say (BB 482)
Offertory: Have Mercy on Us, Lord (BB 124) (Attende Domine)
Communion: Qui biberit aquam
Recessional: There's a Wideness in God's Mercy (BB 423)

Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup

From meals.com, with apologies to my international reader/s for the English Units.

1 9-ounce package Buitoni Refrigerated Three Cheese Tortellini, prepared according to package directions
2 cans (10 3/4 ounces each) condensed tomato soup
2 soup cans milk
1/2 crushed teaspoon basil (but I like to use fresh basil, torn into smallish pieces)
Grated Parmesan cheese

Combine pasta, soup, milk and basil in medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat; reduce heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Serve with cheese. Serves 4.

Sorry about lack of posts.....

but I'm trying to get over a flu-type virus. Be back soon!

Good Mushroom Soup and Easy, Too

The first in my intended series on Friday meals:

The title of this post is the actual name of the recipe, clipped from the December 18, 1994, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. My notes are in red.

12 ounces mushrooms, chopped fine (use whatever; cheap is fine)
1 tablespoon butter (don't use disgusting margarine)
1 tablespoon oil (olive oil is best for you)
1 1/2 cups beef broth (I know; use vegetable broth if it bothers you)
3/4 cup water (filtered mountain spring water - JUST KIDDING!)
1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch (comes from corn, so it must be a vegetable)
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice (not the stuff from a bottle)
2 tablespoons chopped scallions (green onions are just fine)

In a saucepan, saute mushrooms in butter and oil over high heat, stirring, until the liquid the mushrooms give off is evaporated. Stir in broth and water. In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch, soy sauce, and lemon juice until the cornstarch is dissolved, and stir into soup. Bring soup to boil; simmer 5 minutes. Stir in scallions; taste for salt and pepper. Serves two.

2nd Sunday of Lent - February 28, 2010

Processional: 'Tis Good, Lord, To Be Here (136)
Offertory: What Wondrous Love is This (426)
Communion: Visionem
Recessional: The Glory of These Forty Days (137)

Schnow

Not to yank on Yank's chain, but...




Thanks to MCK for the link.

Prayers requested

Will you please say a prayer for a buddy of mine? He's forced to make some serious decisions this week concerning his future, and he could use Divine assistance. Thank you.

Ash Wednesday Exasperation Part 1

What a better way to start the day than with insomnia. After turning in a little early because of a VERY long day, I awoke to the typical nighttime sounds in the house: floors creaking from kids heading to the bathroom. Of course, Mary can't sleep through this because she's a LIGHT SLEEPER. *insert grumbling sound here*

So I lie awake for a while, and then realize, "Why, it must be close to 6:00 and that's why I can't sleep! Better check the time!" I uncover the obnoxiously bright clock and read the bad news:

1:44.

It's gonna be a long day. :)

(I titled this post "Part 1", just in case I have something to complain about later. hehe.)

Weather Woes & Random Thoughts

YET ANOTHER Winter Storm Watch......

I'm really excited by this; it's liking getting to watch Dale Earnhardt Jr. crash at Daytona yesterday - looks catastrophic, but no one gets hurt.

This winter has brought unusually severe weather to our part of the country. The South had a rare snow this past week, with Dallas getting over a foot of the white stuff. The Winter Olympics in Vancouver has had several events canceled or postponed because of unusually warm weather.

I don't know what's been happening weather-wise elsewhere on the globe, but I seriously think God is trying to get our attention. We already have plagues (think STD's and the horrible effects from hormonal contraceptives (which cannot be filtered out) in the water supply), earthquakes, volcanoes erupting. What's next - entire countries being annihilated? It's been prophesied, you know. And lest you think Our Lord and the Blessed Mother are referring to "insignificant" countries like Haiti, remember that it could be US.

Perhaps these ridiculous little snowfalls are like a little tap on the shoulder; as we rush to the grocery store to buy our eggs, milk, and bread, let's think about how we'd react to having NO food to buy for an extended period of time. Or a church to attend. Or any way to contact our relatives in case of a disaster.

I'm not advocating hoarding a five-year supply of food; that's not the point of this post. But I believe first and foremost that we must always TRUST in God. And take our current weather as a reminder of how EASY our lives are, and how miserably difficult they could be (as they are in many parts of the world).

Let's meditate on how much He loves us, and how terribly short this life is. Any miseries on this earth are as dust compared to what He has prepared for those who love Him. Oculus non vidit.....

1st Sunday of Lent - February 21, 2010

Processional: Again We Keep This Solemn Fast (128)
Offertory: Jesu, Rex Admirabilis (choir)
Communion: Scapulis suis
Recessional: Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days (138)

Ash Wednesday - February 17, 2010

Processional: Led By The Spirit (122)
Offertory: Have Mercy on Us, Lord (124) (a.k.a. Attende Domine)
Communion: Qui Meditabitur
Recessional: Again We Keep This Solemn Fast (128)

More organ....

Recorded today at the university chapel. Again, please excuse the lack of bass response.

This piece is much different that those in my previous post; it's a lush, Romantic composition. Give it a chance. If you don't like it the first time, listen a few more times; it'll grow on you.

Adagio from 3rd Symphony (Vierne)

Organ Recordings

Here are a few program notes before you listen:

These were recorded with a hand-held voice recorder; this means the bass response can be described as lousy at best. The recorder was placed on the ledge of the choir loft, directly behind the organ bench, so please excuse the occasional loud creak of the bench (organ playing can get a little aerobic at times).

I'm planning to record these again in a month or so with a real(!) microphone and a laptop. Perhaps they'll be (almost) mistake-free by then!

Wie schon....(Buxtehude)

Processional (Mathias)

Prelude in C Major (BWV 547) (Bach)

Fugue in C Major (BWV 547) (Bach)

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time - February 14, 2010

EDITED

Processional: Come Christians, Join to Sing (569)
Offertory: O God, Beyond All Praising (555)
Communion: Manducaverunt
Recessional: Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee (564)

Recordings from 2/6/10 Mass

Come, My Way, My Truth, My Life

Introibo

Updates

First, listen to the song. I command you to do so at once. It's good for you.

Second, I am proud to announce that the competition yesterday went very well. Thank you for all your prayers!

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time - February 7, 2010

Processional: Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise (BB 583)
Offertory: Come, My Way, My Truth, My Life (choir only, a capella)
Communion: Introibo
Recessional: Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven (BB 572)

The Koran Challenge

I've played this TOO MANY TIMES on Catholic Caveman, so doggone it, I'm putting it here instead.



In my much younger and much, much stupider days, I dated a Muslim who admitted that he would beat his sisters for not drying the dishes correctly. Nice, eh?

His peer group was WELL-REPRESENTED by the Muslim behavior in this post from TH2.

American History 101: The Supreme Court

In 1857, the Supreme Court heard the case of Dred Scott v. John Sandford. Scott v. Sandford is also known as "The Dred Scott Decision". As a whole, the case can be summarized by the following.

The Supreme Court ruled the following:

1. People of African descent imported into the United States and held as slaves, or their descendants (regardless of their status of slave or free men), were not protected by the Constitution and could never be called citizens of the United States.

2. Additionally, it held that Congress had no authority to prohibit slavery in federal territories.

3. The Court also ruled that since slaves were not citizens, they could not sue in court (as was the case of Mr. Scott in question).

4. And lastly, the Court ruled that slaves--an entire class of human beings reduced to the status of private property--could not be taken away from their owners without due process.

So. Here we have a case in which the Law set forth by Man...degraded an entire race of people and all descendants of those people to the rank of a footstool or a pincushion or a dairy-cow.

But it gets better.

Dred Scott v. Sandford is considered today to be overruled by the thirteenth and fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution. But the Supreme Court has never formally overruled it.

And now we have Roe v. Wade. If we're going to play the game in which we can overturn Supreme Court rulings by an Amendment--well, I consider Roe v. Wade overturned by the 14th Amendment.

Amendment XIV: No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges...of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty or property.

Key phrase: nor shall any state deprive any person of life.

There. I've overturned Roe v. Wade, taking my method straight from the history books. You can thank me later... (/sarcasm)

But, of course, there's a basis in the founding document of our country as well. The Declaration states:

"We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness .... whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it."

And there you have it.

One of those days...

Did you ever have one of those days where nothing particularly catastrophic happens, but you're driven to distraction by dozens of stupid little things that ADD UP? Yep.....it's one of those days.

But tomorrow promises to be better.

Huh.

So. Osama bin Laden says that the U.S is to blame for global warming.

Why do I find this hilarious?

As seen in the doctor's office.......

Benedict's Pipes

Did you know that the Holy Father builds organ pipes? These are just a few samples.

Don't tell the non-Catholic organists! They may demand the inscriptions be removed.

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time - January 24, 2010

Processional: Now Thank We All Our God (BB 202)
Offertory: What Wondrous Love is This (BB 426)
Communion: Illumina
Recessional: To Jesus Christ Our Sovereign King (BB 743)

Sacred Music Colloquium 2009 documentary

SACRED, BEAUTIFUL, & UNIVERSAL: Colloquium XIX from Corpus Christi Watershed on Vimeo.

Joke

A golfer is in a competitive match with a friend, who is ahead by a couple of strokes. The golfer says to himself, "I'd give anything to sink this next putt."

Little Johnny walks up to him and says, "Would you give up a fourth of your sex life?"

The golfer thinks the young boy is being silly and that an answer would be meaningless. At the same time he thinks this might be a good omen, so he says, "Okay," and sinks the putt.

Two holes later he mumbles to himself, "Boy, if I could only get an eagle on this hole."

Little Johnny moves to his side and says, "Would it be worth another fourth of your sex life?"

The golfer shrugs and says, "Sure." He makes an eagle.

On the final hole, the golfer needs yet another eagle to win. Though he says nothing, Little Johnny moves to his side and says, "Would you be willing to give up the rest of your sex life to win this match?"

The golfer says, "Certainly!" He makes the eagle.

As the golfer walks to the clubhouse, Little Johnny walks alongside and says, "You know, I've really not been fair with you because you don't know who I am. I'm the devil, and from now on you will have no sex life!!"

"Nice to meet you," says the golfer. "My name is Father O'Malley."

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time - January 24, 2010

Processional: Praise to the Lord (BB 201)
Offertory: O Breathe On Me, O Breath Of God (BB 664)
Communion: Comedite
Recessional: Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee (BB 564)

Celestine's Epic Hymn of Thanksgiving

All Glory, Laud and Honor to our Almighty God and King, for he hath given us soap and hot water. Praise God!

License Plates

Saw an curious license plate today on a big black Dodge Ram: EKS AMISH. Heh, I wonder if he's trying to rub it in the face of his buggy-riding neighbors.

A VW Beetle in town has plates that read "EW A BUG"

We're giving up our EWTN license plate (sniff sniff); the fees have gone up AGAIN.

The funniest plate I've seen (on a Mustang website) is "HLO OFCR".

New Google Gadget

I have fallen to the dark side, and installed the Followers Gadget. I figured if it's good enough for Father Z (and just about everyone else), it's good enough for me. What can I say, except I'm a closet Luddite?

Frozen Ohio River

We traveled to see my parents on Sunday (Hi, Mom and Dad!) and saw something we've never observed before: The Ohio River with a bunch o' ice. These were taken at the "Scenic Overlook" on Route 7, and in Marietta.

2nd Sunday in Ordinary time - January 17, 2010

Processional: God We Praise You (BB 198)
Offertory: Ubi Caritas (BB 424) (The Latin version, if you please.)
Communion: Dicit Dominus; Humbly, Lord, We Worship You (BB 208)
Recessional: Songs of Thankfulness and Praise (BB 108)

Yawn....January update.

For someone who hates snow, I'm really enjoying our current weather. (Snow, if you had to ask.) When the roads are bad, it's an excuse to stay home and "catch up", whatever that means. It also means I don't have to talk to anyone face-to-face. (Three of Seven has just put her face into mine and said, "Whadya mean?")

It means I'm perfectly content to be just with the family, or even alone; I don't get lonely, and I never have.

But classes have started this week, and "face the music" (pun intended) I must. The conducting professor was forced into having to speak to me, since I was one of only seven people in the class, and he couldn't bloody well ignore me. My suspicions that he did not view the final exam video tapes were, I think, confirmed, since he didn't cite a single example of what I did wrong OR right. Oh wait - yes he did: he said I needed to have more "confidence". I replied that I was extremely confident at the final, and I couldn't believe that I would be so confident and that he couldn't see it. I believe he looked away at that point.

Could this be an example of God's Will being shown to me? I had been considering doing a double Master's degree in Organ AND choral conducting. I see that it's not something to consider, at least not now, and not at this university. So instead of grumbling, I should be thanking God.

Thanks, God! And I truly mean that.

Miscellaneous This, That, and the Other:

1. For all you local people: My Junior Recital will be Sunday, April 11, 2010 at 2 p.m., and it'll be over slightly before 3 p.m. And on Divine Mercy Sunday, no less! How cool is that?

10. If you're feeling a little cocky about how doggoned smart you are, head over to TH2's place, and enjoy his latest post. I love his writing, even if I have to Google the lofty vocabulary. Anyway, as I looked out the door this morning, his post inspired me to consider writing about Snow Drift Chaos Theory. Or maybe I'll just post a picture of a snowdrift.

11. Do you save your Christmas Tree tinsel each year? I always have UNTIL NOW. I was picking that stuff off ONE STRAND AT A TIME (why? To keep it orderly, of course!) when I asked the question that haunts all philosophers, mathematicians, and dog groomers: WHY?

So I grabbed my non-biodegradable plastic bag and chucked it all. (Fun fact: Tinsel is made of PVC. So don't eat it.)

100. The March for Life is January 22 in D.C., and the two oldest and I will be joining the first-ever bus trip from Athens for the event.

101. With one notable exception that I won't go into, God has not seen fit to give me Consolations; he gives each person what they need, when they need it, and I believe that Consolations would be detrimental to me spiritually. Nevertheless, He knew I needed encouragement; I substituted at the Sunday Masses last week, and got several nice compliments after the first Mass. I appreciated it not because I need to have my ego stroked, but because I see it as an affirmation that I'm doing His Will. Especially the part about the Saturday music (including the choir) being "a religion saver". It can't get better than that.

110. I detest manipulative people, especially when they psychologically harm the people I love. The motivation for such behavior is BEYOND me. Don't try it on me, because I will see through you. You will NOT succeed.

111. I worry a lot about my salvation. But when I was being medically anesthetized over Winter break, I was fully aware that something could go wrong and I may not wake up. But I wasn't scared at all. I told Jesus that I loved Him, and I prayed that His will be done in all things. To be calm about it felt really good.

1000. Did you really get this far? You possess great fortitude! :-)

Feast of the Baptism of the Lord - January 10, 2010

Processional: When Jesus Comes to Be Baptized (BB 110)
Offertory: Of the Father's Love Begotten (BB 85)
Communion: Omnes Qui
Recessional: Joy to the World (BB 79)

Happy 118th Birthday, Ronnie!

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien
January 3 1892-September 2 1973

Your literary brilliance continues to grace the world in all forms. I really do wish you could be around today, if only to shake some sense into modern authors.

"Out of the darkness of my life, so much frustration, I put before you the one great thing to love on earth: the Blessed Sacrament... There you will find romance, glory, honour, fidelity, and the true way of all your loves on earth, and more than that: Death. By the divine paradox, that which ends life, and demands the surrender of all, and yet by the taste -or foretaste- of which alone can what you seek in your earthly relationships (love, faithfulness, joy) be maintained, or take on that complexion of reality, of eternal endurance, which every man's heart desires."