Gottlob! Nun Geht das Jahr zu Ende

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Bach, Gottlob! nun geht das Jahr zu Ende, Holiday, life, Music, Year end

Francis Reddy who host Les Saisons de Francis, a classical music program on Radio-Canada from Montreal on the weekend, was playing some J.S. Bach this morning and I was listening to a piece played by Wilhelm Kempff (1895-1991). Piano music in the early morning is nice to listen to and in this case Bach is perfect for the title of this blog entry ”Thank God the year is ending”

What did 2019 bring, nothing bad really, it was a quiet year, there was some turbulence in June and lots of cold rainy weather until mid-July which affected the number of tourists coming here, which is a blessing in a way. We travelled to The Netherlands, Norway and London, a very nice trip.

I had some health problems, all resolved now. For my Birthday in March we travelled to Halifax, which is close to us and an easy drive. You can say that this sea port is somewhat of a metropolitan area for the Maritimes. Halifax alone is more than 10 times the population of Charlottetown and has an international airport. I gave 2 lectures on Government House and its history dating back to William IV. In June we travelled to Ottawa, Will attended a conference of the Symphonic Orchestras of Canada and we revisited the sites and new developments in the City. Was impressed by the renovations to the National Arts Centre and those made at the National Gallery of Canada, it renews those two institutions and brings a new perspective on Music and the Arts. The New Canadian Gallery at the National Gallery of Canada is spectacular and so well curated.

I was also able to visit in Amsterdam the Rijks Museum, spending 2 days to really have a good look around, that place made me very happy to be surrounded by so much beauty and so well displayed and presented.

In the Fall we had a gala for the PEI Symphony at Dalvay by the Sea, this beautiful Summer home built in 1895 in Queen Anne Style which is now a Manor style hotel with a good restaurant, the house has been beautifully preserved and is owned by Parks Canada. Had never walked on the beach in October on a Sunny day and a brisk Atlantic wind, it was fun.

There were many other events during the year too many to name but all in all it was a good year.  As for this blog, well I was all over the map with various topics as the mood strikes me. I have been at it for more than 14 years now but I cannot remember exactly when I started it, I was not always on WordPress and migrated with the years.

On this year end I think of the music heard from Austria, Vienna with its end of year concerts and New Year Day concert from the 1870 Musikverein Concert Hall and its famous Golden Room. The New Year’s day concert are heard since 1939.  This year Maestro Andris Nelsons will conduct the Vienna Symphonic Orchestra.

This piece who bears the headline of this blog entry I chose for today,

Composed by J.S. Bach, Cantata for the First Sunday after Christmas (30 December 1725)

Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir Ton Koopman,  Deborah York, soprano,

Aria (soprano): Gottlob! nun geht das Jahr zu Ende

 

Just a quick one

Tags

Bach, comedy, life, Music, royal wedding

As you probably know by now there is a Royal Wedding happening in May of minor royal prince by now. In all the Official paperwork that needs to be done for this wedding, the Queen as Sovereign has to give her permission and the Great Seal must be fixed to said documents which are then kept by the Privy Council Office. In those documents you can read that the party who is to marry is called H.R.H Prince Henry and Ms. Rachel Markle. You will hear those names pronounced during the wedding service so do not be surprise.

It is quite late and I am listening to piano music on Radio-Canada.  It is J.S. Bach and I love to sit in the dark and just listen to the music. It is so relaxing and enchanting. Bach’s Partita no 4, played by Glenn Gould and recorded in 1963.

Here is a compilation tourism poster of PEI, the Season is just about to start.

It was a French comedian who said:

Speaking of oneself leads to an absolute dead end.  

 

Happy Christmas Day!

Tags

Bach, champagne, filet of beef, Food, Goose, Plum Pudding

Well last night we had a Christmas Eve Dinner with a few guests, the menu was festive, First we had a Stilton, Pear and Mache Salad, with a glass of champagne or two. Then a medium rare Filet of Beef with Brussels Sprouts and Roasted Potatoes and Italian Roasted Tomatoes in olive oil, served with a very good French red wine Chateau de Braude, Haut Medoc 2010.

Dessert was a home made Mince Meat Pie served with a Greek Dessert Wine, Muscat de Samos, Kourtaki.

 

Woke up today to the sounds of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio of 1734 from MDR radio in Germany. Gifts under the tree from our faithful puppies, Dachshunds are so clever, LOL!

Today Christmas Day we will have a late luncheon with a few guests, different table setting and on the menu Roasted Goose (2) with an apple and prune stuffing, served with carrots, roasted potatoes, Brussels sprouts and a small salad with a champagne dressing.

Dessert is the home made Plum Pudding from the recipe used at Windsor Castle for King George V. It will be flambé at serving time.

Beautiful day again weather wise, mild weather. Hope Santa was good to you. Best Wishes, Merry Christmas!

Mystical Nativity by Sandro Botticelli, 1501

Bach Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor (Arr. for Piano by E.D’Albert)

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Bach, Bronzino, car, Kandinsky, Louise Bourgeois, MBAC, NGC, Ottawa, piano, Salviati, Spider

I had a good day today, the three classes I thought on paintings from the National Gallery of Canada went very well. The Kids and teachers were interested and asked good questions. I spoke on the Italian Renaissance painters Salviati and Bronzino, two of my favourite Renaissance painter. Then jumped to the Impressionists with Monet and Gauguin and then to Kandinsky where I introduce the concept of how science and astronomy, geometry etc can play a role in the composition of paintings. I tried Magritte but it is very difficult for an audience of 8 to 12 year old, too many challenges to established social class concept which dictates that Art must be safe. I only have 55 minutes and I need to keep it moving. I also told them the story of Maman by Canadian Artist Louise Bourgeois, the giant spider is just outside the National Gallery and the kids always like to hear about it, they all know it.

Maman is a tribute to the mother of Louise Bourgeois who was a weaver by trade and the eight eggs she carries are the brothers and sisters of Bourgeois. The idea that this spider can be associated to her mother and her work is a challenge for those kids who come from middle-class background, it also challenges and may contradict what their parents told them about Art. Never a bad thing to contradict Mom and Dad, after all they are just 10-11 years old and in just a few years they will enter those rebellious years.

I had Angela Hewitt playing this piano piece by J.S.Bach on my way back to the reception for Volunteers Week at the National Gallery of Canada. This piece is usually done on organ but I find it so much more relaxing on piano and it does not take away any of the beauty of the composition. I do listen almost exclusively to classical music and I am often out of the loop on popular music. Have a listen it is quite nice.

I also found this recording with Maestro Leopold Stokowski one of the great conductors of the XXth Century. His arrangements are always dramatic and fulsome.