Bach's Intentions With Inventions

Johaan Sebastian Bach composed a series of 30 keyboard exercises for his students that are known as Inventionns and Sinfonias. There are 15 inventions and 15 sinfonias; the inventions having 2 parts, and the sinfonias having 3 parts.

Though they were intended to be homework (sort of), they made delightful listening and became very popular, not only with his students but others as well.

This particular recording of "Invention #13" utilizes the recorder and the synthesizer. It is performed by "Baroque Now" and is from the album The Bach Album. The recorder is played by Richard Panero.

To view on a full screen click on the "4-arrow square" in the lower right hand corner of the screen; after viewing, press "escape."

I hope you enjoy this treat for ears and eyes.

Nana Mouskouri "Only Love"

Well, actually neither one on these is Nana, she's next...this photo was the National Geographic's photo of the day for July 25, 2009. I thought it fitting.

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About twenty years ago my husband came home and asked me if I had heard of Nana Mouskouri (MOOS-hoo-ree). I had not, but after listening to his many favorable comments, I purchased her album Only Love: The Best Of Nana Mouskouri. The lead song "Only Love" was the theme song to the BBC TV series Minstral's Daughter, based on a novel by Judith Krantz. Her voice is beautiful and crystal clear.

Nana, the girl with the big black glasses, born on the island of Crete in 1934, and raised in Athens, Greece, was already an international star. She is one of the biggest-selling female artists of all time with about 300 million records sold. She is fluent in many languages and has recorded music for international markets. She loves music, most all kinds of music, and has performed jazz standards, pop tunes, religious music including spirituals and gospel songs, folk songs, songs of the French Cabaret genre, theme songs of TV and screen, classical and operatic selections. Her list of awards is numerable. Some how Nana found time to be the spokesperson for UNICEF in 1993, and gained election to the European Parliament as a Greek representative for about five years.

On July 23, 2008, Nana gave a final Farewell Concert in the ancient Herodes Atticus Theatre in Athens, Greece. The stadium was packed and in attendance were the prime minister of Greece, the mayors of Athens, Berlin, Paris and Luxembourg, along with her fans from not only Greece but from all over the world.






Only Love

Only love can make a memory.
Only love can make a moment last.
You were there and all the world was young
and all it's songs unsung.
and I remember you then, when love was all,
all you were living for,
and how you gave that love to me.
Only then I felt my heart was free.
I was part of you and you were all of me.

Warm were the days and the nights
of those years.
Painted in colors to outshine the sun.
All of the words and the dreams
and the tears live in my remembrance.

Only love can make a memory.
Only love can make a moment last.
Life was new, there was a rage to live,
each day a page to live,
and I remember you then,
when love was all, all you were living for
and how you gave that love to me
Only then I knew my heart was free.
I was part of you and you were all of me.

Savannah

After a busy morning of pulling up weeds, pruning bushes, preparing a couple of flower beds, sweeping and washing the seemingly ever falling pollen off cars, porch, patio, and walks I practically collapsed into the porch swing. Every muscle was screaming, "Why do you always wait to do everything at one time?" I did not have an answer. (and besides, people are likely to wonder about you if they hear you talking to yourself)

As I closed my eyes and rested my head against the back of the swing I knew a take-me-away moment was coming over me, and I was ready to go. Okay, go, but where would my fantasy take me? As I got closer and closer it became clearer and clearer.





Ah yes, Savannah. Savannah, Georgia, a gorgeous old southern, river town dripping with charm and Spanish moss. Under the spreading limbs of enormous oak trees you can take leisurely walks through town, view dozens and dozens of stately homes with fine architectural detail, and browse in a myriad of shops. There are museums to visit, and several of the old houses are open to the public. Have a bite to eat, indoors or out, then relax in one of the 22 shaded parks for which Savannah is famous. Down the road a few miles you cross over to Tybee Island on the Atlantic Ocean, a three mile beach, dotted with sea oats and sand dunes, a fun place to wade and take long beach walks.

But right now I am visualizing myself sitting on the front porch of a bed and breakfast, sippin' my tall glass of sweet iced tea, and just watching the world go by.









Wish you were here...wish I were here

The Tragedy and the Irony

Seventy years ago in April of 1940, Stalin gave the orders for nearly 22,000 Polish War prisoners to be executed at Katyn and various other sites. In this group were Polish military personnel and Polish civilians that had been captured after the Russian invasion of Poland in 1939. Many had been made to dig their own mass graves, and then were shot in the back of the head.

The Soviets denied charges made against them by Germany in 1943, and America and England dismissed the claims. It was not until 1990 that the Kremlin publicly admitted complicity to some of the charges in the killings in the Katyn Forest.

There is an interesting and disturbing article about this massacre posted on the Hoover Institution - Stanford University site.
http://www.hoover.org/publications/digest/3486292.html

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The Polish people gather by the thousands to mourn their loss

On Saturday morning April 10, 2010, the Polish plane carrying about 96 passengers, including the Polish President, Lech Kaczynski and his wife, many of Poland's military, political, and religious leaders, and members of the families of Katyn victims crashed killing all. They were to attend a commemoration service at the mass grave in the Katyn forest for those that had been executed in April of 1940, a few miles from where there plane went down.

Ribbit, Ribbit

Honestly, could you resist that face? Well, I could not. I was browsing around Deborah's Garden at http://deborahsgarden.blogspot.com/ and ran into this little fellow. Sorry, Deborah, he, uh, followed me home.

A couple of frogs or toads (toads are actually frogs) can be beneficial to your garden because they will eat snails, flies and other insects. We usually have a toad to take up summer residence in our backyard. He has his own toad house.

The sounds of frogs all sound a like to me, but different species of frogs have their own unique sounds. Frogs even have a variety of calls. They might be calling for a mate, signaling where their territory is, notifying a weather change, or saying that they are hurt or frightened. I have read that some frog calls can be heard a mile away.

Here is one frog call that is known by many, and I hear is one of the most popular frog songs of all times. "Hey, Kermit, you're on."







we affectionately remember Jim Henson

Tartan Day

Though various cities may have their own Tartan Day, April 6th is the National Tartan Day in America and in Scotland. This day celebrates Scottish heritage and also its independence.

The tartan originated in Scotland and became associated with a particular region, district, family or regiment. The weave is a pattern of threads repeated in both breadth and width, thus the pattern is the same when you turn it 90 degrees.

The tartan is such a part of Scottish identity that the English government banned the wearing of it after the Scottish rebellion of 1746 until 1782. The tartan was considered a uniform of rebels.

Many ancient civilizations had bagpipes, but who does not think of Scotland when they hear the call of the pipers.

If you do not like the sound of the bagpipes DO NOT GO NEAR THAT DIAL!


A Gathering of Pipe Bands at Edinburgh Castle




Highland Dance Competition - The Highland Fling




Heath Richardson on Bagpipes




Hold Your Kilts Down - Here is Clann An Drumma

Weird as in the 3rd Sense

Out of curiosity I looked up the word 'weird' in my old Webster's.

definition:
1. pertaining to fate;
2. relating to witchcraft, or the supernatural, magical: unearthly, mysterious;
3. of strange or extraordinary character: odd, FANTASTIC

This video is a visual definition of weird in the 3rd sense.

Music of Holy Week

JESUS WHO?

For me, Easter is the most important day of the Christian calendar.

Without it Christmas would have little meaning. It would be reduced to a secular winter holiday, that for many it already is. At best it would be a note on a calendar that marks December 25th as the day to remember a man named Jesus.

Some curious kid might ask, "Hey, Mom, who is this Jesus on my calendar?" Mom might say, "I don't remember. Look him up." Upon researching one might find that Jesus was a nice guy, a little different but nice. Some people liked him and others did not. What made him remembered was that he offered a new way of treating people, a new way of looking at life. He promised eternal life. He wanted people to feel closer to God. This life style worked for many, but the government thought that he was dangerous and that he might want to take over; after all he said that he was the Son of God. Even some religious people felt threatened by his authority. He was crucified and that was that.

But for those of us that believe in the man that called himself the Christ, the Son of God, His story did not end with His crucifixion, for Easter is the promise. The promise of eternal life in a world that is so incredibly wonderful and beautiful. A place where everyone respects others and treats them accordingly.A place where all is well. A perfect place where God's love will be the atmosphere that we live in.

To some extent I can experience Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday. We all have felt sorrow, loss, regrets, pain, unfairness. But Easter is beyond my grasp of truly understanding. I do not know anyone that has risen from the dead. I am glad that I do not have to take a test explaining it. All I have to do is believe, and believe I do.

Neither the best sermon nor the most glorious music can fully express the wonder, the grandeur, the holiness of the Easter experience and promise. Perhaps Handel's Hallelujah Chorus comes the closest to giving me the feeling that I want to have on Easter morning, on every morning - that our God, our Messiah can over come all, that our God is forever and ever.

A Happy Easter to you.

Bogus Blue Bird?

Just received this picture by email. It is a beautiful picture, so very clear. I do not see a price tag around the bird's leg but if you look closely it seems that the fence post might be shadowing the tree just behind it. Makes me think that the trees and sky could be a backdrop. Could it be real? However, it does give me an idea. Perhaps I could find some artificial blues and put them on the nesting box for taking pictures (ref. 3/6/10 post). I had already considered planting plastic flowers this year. Hmmmm

The Orange and the Green - The Irish Rovers

THE ORANGE AND THE GREEN

Oh, it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen.
My father, he was Orange and me mother, she was green.

My father was an Ulster man, proud Protestant was he.
My mother was a Catholic girl. From county Cork was she.
They were married in two churches, lived happily enough,
Until the day that I was born. Then, things got rather tough.

Oh, it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen.
My father, he was Orange and me mother, she was green.

Baptized by Father Reilly, I was rushed away by car,
To be made a little Orangeman, my father's shining star.
I was christened "David Anthony," but still, in spite of that,
To my father, I was William, while my mother called me Pat.

Oh, it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen.
My father, he was Orange and me mother, she was green.

With Mother every Sunday, to Mass I'd proudly stroll.
Then after that, the Orange lodge would try to save my soul.
For both sides tried to claim me, but I was smart because
I'd play the flute or play the harp, depending where I was.

Oh, it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen.
My father, he was Orange and me mother, she was green.

One day my Ma's relations came round to visit me.
Just as my father's kinfolk were all sitting down to tea.
We tried to smooth things over, but they all began to fight.
And me, being strictly neutral, I bashed everyone in sight.

Oh, it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen.
My father, he was Orange and me mother, she was green.

My parents never could agree about my type of school.
My learning was all done at home, that's why I'm such a fool.
They've both passed on, God rest 'em, but left me caught between
That awful color problem of the Orange and the Green.

Oh, it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen.
My father, he was Orange and me mother, she was green.


May the best day of your past be the worst day of your future.

Are Your Bluebirds Finicky?

We occasionally see bluebirds flying around our neighborhood and landing for short visits. It is always a delight to see them - what an appropriate name - bluebird.

This past year we put up a bluebird nesting box. We did have a few lookers, sparrows mainly and a few blues, but no takers. One day I saw what I thought was a sure sign of residency, for a blue was in and out of the little house carting nest building materials. But in a couple of days there were no more signs of the new neighbors. This year again I have noticed a few birds flying and lighting on the box, darting in and darting out but not to be seen again. My, my, hard to please. What do they want - granite counters and upgrades?

Well, according to a few articles that I read, these are among the things that bluebirds do prefer:

1. a nesting box that is attached to the top of a pole rather than the side of a tree
2. the pole should be in a clearing
3. the clearing should be away from human habitation
4. attach a "sparrow spook" above the nesting box after the first egg has been laid, but before the second one is laid

I live in a forested area, with few clearings, I am not sure that I can set up surveillance to know when the first egg has been laid, and now I have given up hope of any bluebirds claiming our nesting box. However, I think I will move the box further from the house in case any future tenants want privacy.
Maybe I should put up a sign - Wrens wanted.

St. David's Day

Today, March 1, many Welsh people will be wearing leeks and or daffodils, which are both national symbols, for it is the feast day of Saint David, the patron saint of Wales. The first day of March was chosen in remembrance of the death of St. David who died on March 1st in 589.

At Glyn Rhosyn,in Pembrokeshire, St. David founded a Celtic monastery, where St. David's Cathedral stands today. The foundation became an important Christian shrine, and is considered by many to be the most important center in Wales. David was known throughout the Celtic world as a teacher and ascetic.

There will be parades, concerts, festivals and all sorts of celebrations in many towns in Wales today to commemorate St. David.