It’s the 150th anniversary of the birth of Spanish pianist and composer Enrique Granados. In 1916, Granados made player piano music rolls of some of his compositions, which is how we are able to hear the composer himself play this excerpt from Danzas Españolas.
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musical offerings | Tagged: Enrique Granados | 
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Posted by bluebird of bitterness
It’s the birthday of the Father of English hymnody, Isaac Watts (1674-1748). Isaac began writing poetry at a very young age, and when he complained about the lackluster music he heard at church, his father challenged him to come up with something better. Isaac accepted the challenge, and he went on to write hundreds of hymns — including “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” “O God, Our Help in Ages Past,” “Jesus Shall Reign,” “Come, Ye That Love the Lord,” and “Joy to the World.” Here is one of my favorites.
When I can read my title clear
to mansions in the skies,
I’ll bid farewell to every fear,
and wipe my weeping eyes.
Should earth against my soul engage
and hellish darts be hurled,
then I can smile at Satan’s rage,
and face a frowning world.
Let cares like a wild deluge come,
and storms of sorrow fall;
May I but safely reach my home,
my God, my heaven, my all.
There I shall bathe my weary soul
in seas of heavenly rest,
and not a wave of trouble roll
across my peaceful breast.
5 Comments | comfort & joy, musical offerings | Tagged: Alice Parker, Isaac Watts, North Dakota State University Concert Choir | Permalink
Posted by bluebird of bitterness
4 Comments | comfort & joy, musical offerings | Tagged: Mack Wilberg, Mormon Tabernacle Choir | Permalink
Posted by bluebird of bitterness
In honor of the birthday of the musicologist, conductor, and composer Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936), here is “Italiana” from the third suite of Ancient Airs and Dances, composed in 1932.
7 Comments | comfort & joy, musical offerings | Tagged: Ottorino Respighi | Permalink
Posted by bluebird of bitterness
In honor of the birthday of Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714-1787), here is “Dance of the Blessed Spirits” from Orfeo ed Euridice.
4 Comments | comfort & joy, musical offerings | Tagged: Christoph Willibald Gluck | Permalink
Posted by bluebird of bitterness
4 Comments | comfort & joy, musical offerings | Tagged: Shawn Kirchner | Permalink
Posted by bluebird of bitterness
3 Comments | comfort & joy, musical offerings | Tagged: Mormon Tabernacle Choir | Permalink
Posted by bluebird of bitterness
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The bluebird of bitterness
Home sweet home
Bob's sister Hannah
Bob's sister Ada
Bob's sister Eve
Bob's sister Nan
Bob's brother Otto
A baby picture of Bob and his siblings (clockwise from upper left: Otto, Eve, Hannah, Ada, Bob, and Nan)
Bob's childhood home
Bob's mom and dad
Bob in his youth
Bob's Uncle Ralph and Aunt Edna
Bob's cousin Archibald
Bob's stepbrother Herbie (who really needs to quit smoking)
Bob's cousin Chester
Bob's Great Uncle Norbert and Great Aunt Phyllis
Bob's cousin Saffron (who will do anything for a drink)
Bob's sister-in-law Sybil
Bob's cousin Thorndike
Bob's brother-in-law Vinnie
Bob's cousin Orville, who loves the Green Bay Packers
Bob's nieces Lulu and Bitsy, the biker chicks
Bob's stepsister Eloise, with the twins, Rudy and Trudy
Bob's Uncle Henry and Aunt Rowena
Bob's niece Esmerelda (who likes to live dangerously)
Bob's Great Uncle Arthur up in Saskatchewan
Bob's cousin Louie, the grackle of grumpiness
Bob's nephew Virgil, who loves sports
Miss Screech, Bob's journalism teacher
Bob's second cousin Schlomo in Brooklyn
Bob's Uncle Seymour and Aunt Bernice
Bob's nephew Baxter
Nigel, Bob's pen pal in New Zealand
Bob's sister-in-law Delphine, who volunteers at the animal shelter
Percy the Pickpocket, Bob's third cousin once removed (the relative no one likes to talk about... every family has one)
The Bluebird of Happiness (no relation to Bob)
A pair of boobies (also no relation to Bob, but included for readers who desire titillation)
A pair of tits (in case the boobies were insufficiently titillating)
Bluebird Bitter™, the beer they named for Bob
