May Day

#57

Afternoon sun light

Transcendent parking lot scene

Ethereal blossoms

Written Sunday May 4, 2014

The End of Moby-Dick

A weather vane I spotted while I was out walking.

I finally finished LISTENING to the audio edition of Herman Melville's Moby-Dick. What a feat...what an accomplishment...what a treat!

The experience triggered me to borrow the DVD of the 1956 film version version from the library. Although not as compelling as the audio book, it seemed to capture the meat of the story in a much shorter time. However, I'm not sure how much I would have enjoyed the film without having gone through the book first.

 

After the DVD, I browsed around the library and was compelled to read a short volume, "Why Read Moby-Dick?" This turned out to be a nice dessert; a quick review of the book, pointing out highlights. It was an easy read since the chapters did not exceed 4 pages.

One of these days, I would like to actually read the book. However, after listening to it, I think it would be helpful to have annotated version (in print)-I have not yet learned how to read E-books.

Several quotes struck a chord with me:

Hawthorne wrote of Melville: "He will never rest until he gets hold of a definite belief...He can neither believe, nor be comfortable in his unbelief; and he is too honest and courageous not to try to do one or the other." (p.125)

"Life is so short, and so ridiculous and irrational (from a certain point of view) that one knows not what to make of it, unless - well, finish the sentence for yourself."

Ishmael in Ch 49: " There are certain queer times and occasions in this strange mixed affair we call life when a man takes this whole universe for a vast practical joke, though the wit thereof he but dimly discerns, and more than suspects that the joke is at nobody's expense but his own."

Ahab in Ch 132: "Is it I, God, or who, that lifts this arm? But if the great sun move not of himself; but is as an errand-boy in heaven; nor one single star can revolve, but by some invisible power; how then can this one small heart beat; this one small brain think thoughts; unless God does that beating, does that thinking, does that living, and not I."

Links:

http://ricketwrite.blogspot.com/2014/03/moby-dick.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moby-Dick
http://nathanielphilbrick.com/books/why-read-moby-dick/
http://www.rabbitroom.com/2013/10/how-to-read-moby-dick/
http://www.powermobydick.com/

Written Sunday May 4, 2014

Good Friday: "From Olivet to Calvary"

Good Friday has special meaning for me because it reminds me of the Good Friday I sat with my Dad as he was dying (he died the following day on Holy Saturday). I sat next to his bed holding his hand as his breathing labored. The radio was on and during the Noon-three period, there was a church service broadcast. The parallel of my dad with the story of the end of Jesus stares me in the face.

Recently, I came across this wonderful recording that I had never heard before: "Olivet to Calvary" by John Henry Maunder. I found it by chance on YouTube. The recording is by the Choir of Guildford Cathedral, conducted by Barry Rose. I am attracted to it because it reminds me of the church choir my dad sang in when I was young. The men's choir was augmented by a boys choir during the holidays. This recording sounds just like those days (and was apparently recorded around the same time period).

Choir of Guildford - Recording Session 1964.

I have been listening to this recording for several weeks now. As far as I can tell, it is essentially no longer in print. It was reportedly recorded during November and December 1964 and released in 1965. The YouTube version is a single track 65 minutes long. Nowadays, that is probably a challenge for most. On the other hand, it forces the listener to experience the entire piece.

On Good Friday this year I was returning home from the Utica, New York area due to work. I listened to both coming and going. And I am still listening to it. It works well for my regular commute.

I also listened to a recording (from several YouTube files, e.g., see here) of a similar older oratorio by John Stainer, The Crucifixion: A Meditation on the Sacred Passion of the Holy Redeemer. The recording I listened to was performed by an unknown choir of male and female voices. By the second hearing, I became very annoyed with the operatic, bombastic vibrato of the sopranos and all the soloists. I'm also not sure about my reaction to the libretto. It seemed to idolize the character, Jesus.

Some of the sections of Stainer's Crucifixion, though, I particularly liked. Subsequently, I have heard samples of a performance by the male voices of the Choir of Guildford Cathedral (see above). This performance seems like it is more restrained than a mixed choir. There is a certain angelic-like aural quality from the boys choir.

Links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Friday
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Henry_Maunder
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mu3AOHMEkaw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhD9yQ8M-3I
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crucifixion_(Stainer)

Written Sunday May 4, 2014 (Revised F05/09/2014 for Stainer's Crucifixion)