Author Topic: Eleison Comments - Broadstairs Mozart (no. 550) (Read 1572 times)

Matthew · « **on:** January 28, 2018, 08:27:56 PM »

Number DL (550)

January 27, 2018

Broadstairs Mozart
A world unbalanced, unharmonious, sad,
To line the soul needs Mozart, wise and glad.
Between 18h00 on Friday evening, February 23, and mid-day, Sunday, February 25, there will be held at Queen of Martyrs House in Broadstairs a modest musical weekend featuring exclusively music of the famous Austrian composer of the late 18^th century, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791). Why music, when the same time and effort could be spent on something more directly religious? And why Mozart in particular?
Why music? Because music is a gift of God to the world He created, an expression of the harmony which He planted at the centre of His universe, to which all living members of that universe respond, not only angels and human beings but even animals and plants in their own way. As for plants, Colorado researchers in the USA once built four boxes with identical light, air, humidity, soil and plants in all four, and they piped into three of them Gregorian chant or classical music or Rock, while the fourth they left in silence. With the Rock the plant grew but withered, with the chant it flourished, with classical music and silence the result was in between. As for animals, many a cowherd pipes into his cow-stalls at milking time tranquil music to increase the flow of milk, just as supermarkets pipe in tranquil music to increase buying by the human customers. Surprising? It is God that has made us, and not we ourselves (Ps. IC, 3), we are His creatures with the harmonious part that He designed for us to play in His universe as a whole.
For human beings, music is the supreme God-given language of access to that harmony of God, even if, like Brahms, one believes in no God. Music is therefore natural to human beings, and has a huge moral influence on them, for good or bad. As Mother Church resorts to chant and polyphony to lift souls towards Heaven, so the Devil uses Rock and all kinds of modern music to cast souls down to Hell. “Tell me what your music is, and I will tell you who you are,” goes the saying. Nearly every man has some music in him, and woe to him if he does not – Shakespeare says (Merchant of Venice, V, 1) –
“The man that hath no music in himself
Is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils . . .
Let no such man be trusted. Mark the music.”
One could say that the man that has no music in him is untrustworthy because he is out of tune with God.
And the modern world is out of tune with God, which corresponds to the wretched noise which so often today passes for music, and yet which people love, because music is so natural to man and goes so deep in his soul. And this ugly noise is what is in the soul of countless people around us, and through them it can only bear on ourselves, and bear us away from God, if we let it do so. The question is religious after all. Anything deep-down human bears on God, and music is certainly deep-down human.
On the other hand Mozart belonged to a much saner world than ours, a nd his music corresponds to a special moment of harmony and equilibrium between the old order and modern emotivity. Mozart is the musicians’ musician. Here are a few of the testimonies from famous musicians – Tchaikovsky said, “I find consolation and rest in Mozart’s music. In it he gives expression to that joy of life which was part of his sane and wholesome temperament.” Schubert said, “What a picture of a better world you have given us, O Mozart!” Gounod said, “Mozart, prodigal Heaven gave thee everything, grace and strength, abundance and moderation, perfect equilibrium.” Brahms said, “It is a real pleasure to see music so bright and spontaneous expressed with corresponding ease and grace.”
Mozart wrote all kinds of music, but outstanding are his operas and piano concertos. In Broadstairs we cannot manage the operas, but John Sullivan who played half of the Beethoven sonatas here in 2016 can easily manage a similar feat with Mozart’s piano concertos and sonatas. Let us know if you plan to come, so that we may have an idea of numbers. No tickets to buy. Mozart is priceless!
Kyrie eleison.

Neil Obstat · « **Reply #1 on:** January 28, 2018, 09:25:26 PM »

Quote

John Sullivan who played half of the Beethoven sonatas here in 2016 can easily manage a similar feat with Mozart’s piano concertos and sonatas.

.
John Sullivan is going to play half the piano concertos and sonatas of Mozart in one day?
.
Half of 19 sonatas is about 9.
Half of 27 concertos is about 13.
So 22 major works in one sitting?
.
Maybe H.E. has more than one day in mind?
.

Neil Obstat · « **Reply #2 on:** January 28, 2018, 09:38:36 PM »

One could say that the man that has no music in him is untrustworthy because he is out of tune with God.

And the modern world is out of tune with God, which corresponds to the wretched noise which so often today passes for music, and yet which people love, because music is so natural to man and goes so deep in his soul. And this ugly noise is what is in the soul of countless people around us, and through them it can only bear on ourselves, and bear us away from God, if we let it do so. The question is religious after all. Anything deep-down human bears on God, and music is certainly deep-down human.
.
How many times have you been stuck at a street signal red light while the car next to you is blasting some noisy garbage that in a saner world would be illegal?
.
Or worse, when staying at a hotel while traveling, some other traveler within earshot plays their nonsense late at night?
.
Time was in L.A. you could call the police and make an anonymous complaint and law enforcement would come out and issue a citation for public nuisance, but no more. Now you have to give your name and address, and if asked, the police then have to divulge to the offenders the identity of the person complaining, your name and address.
.
In other words, if you notice the offence you become the problem.
.

Incredulous · « **Reply #3 on:** January 28, 2018, 09:45:52 PM »

Would His Excellency kindly consider including a few violin concertos from Franz Joseph Haydn?

For this musician's hands were Catholic and undoubtedly inspired by the Holy Ghost.

II

Neil Obstat · « **Reply #4 on:** January 28, 2018, 09:48:52 PM »

Quote from: Incredulous on January 28, 2018, 09:45:52 PM

Would His Excellency kindly consider including a few violin concertos from Franz Joseph Haydn?

For this musician's hands were Catholic and undoubtedly inspired by the Holy Ghost.

Haydn G major Violin Concerto III

.
He's already talking about a 12-hour program and you want to add MORE to it?
.

cathman7 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 28, 2018, 09:51:09 PM »

Quote from: Neil Obstat on January 28, 2018, 09:25:26 PM

.
John Sullivan is going to play half the piano concertos and sonatas of Mozart in one day?
.
Half of 19 sonatas is about 9.
Half of 27 concertos is about 13.
So 22 major works in one sitting?
.
Maybe H.E. has more than one day in mind?
.

http://stmarcelinitiative.com/beethoven-blast/
BEETHOVEN BLAST
December 12, 2015

Beethoven towers o’er music of today.
Sonatas of his hear a young man play.

In two months’ time, from 18h00 on Friday evening of Feb. 19 to Sunday mid-day of Feb. 21, there will be held here in Broadstairs a three-day blast of the music of Beethoven. A young American pianist who can read at sight any of his 32 piano sonatas, and loves them all, is crossing the Atlantic to play some of them for us, we do not yet know which.

No doubt he will play the three great favourites, the Pathétique, Moonlight and Appassionata, also the Waldstein, but there will be time for him to analyze and present many others. Right now there will be no fixed programme for the three days. There will be room for plenty of questions and discussion and improvisation. A certain bishop will also be contributing to the analysis in some depth of his favourite composer. The purpose of the weekend will be for participants to take away with them an understanding they may not have had before, of how classical music ticks and of what makes Beethoven in particular one of its most famous composers.

But, somebody will object, what has music, especially Revolutionary music, to do with the defence and propagation of the Catholic Faith? The answer here has to be brief. Firstly, let nobody despise music. Both the Catholic Church and the Devil are acutely aware that it is a language uniquely capable of expressing and of shaping what goes on in the human soul, and therefore of influencing the direction which a soul is taking, towards Heaven (by Gregorian chant, for instance) or towards Hell (were not the victims of the recent shooting in Paris just then partaking in a Rock song that called on the Devil?). Almost every human being has some music or other in his soul, and that music normally runs deep, for good or ill. It would hardly be an exaggeration to say that if a man does not have in him the music of his religion, he will have in him the religion of his music, e.g. the Devil. Catholics who realize that the music they love flies not much higher than Pop or Rock, may well seize the opportunity to get a handle on classical music, via a studious blast of Beethoven.

Now it is true that there is a great deal of music higher than Beethoven. He was born under the Old Order, 19 years before the French Revolution broke out in 1789, but he died 38 years later when the modern Revolutionary age was well under way, in 1827, so that his life straddled that tremendous upheaval which he expressed musically in a number of his masterworks, notably in the Appassionata piano sonata and in his Eroica Symphony, originally dedicated to that hero of the Revolution, Napoleon Bonaparte. However, while the relative serenity of the musical masterworks prior to the Revolution is free of its agitation and Romantic disturbance, at the same time it is that much further removed from our own world of today, marinated in the Revolution. Therefore Beethoven can speak to souls of today that find little or no interest in music of the earlier masters. Nor is Beethoven only Revolutionary. The unique power of his best loved masterpieces derives from their Romantic wine being contained and ordered within the classical skins which he inherited from Haydn and Mozart.

To give us an idea of numbers, please let us know if you plan to attend the Beethoven weekend. Off season, local boarding-houses should have plenty of room to overnight. And if male readers would prefer something more directly Catholic, let them sign up as soon as possible for the Ignatian Exercises to be given here by Fr Abraham and myself between 18h00, December 26 and 18h00, December 31.

Kyrie eleison.

Incredulous · « **Reply #6 on:** January 28, 2018, 09:54:56 PM »

Quote from: Neil Obstat on January 28, 2018, 09:48:52 PM

.
He's already talking about a 12-hour program and you want to add MORE to it?
.

Jeepers... Why not cut some Mozart already

SeanJohnson · « **Reply #7 on:** January 28, 2018, 10:05:01 PM »

Personally, I despise Mozart, because he was a Freemason, and wrote tons of Masonic music: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozart_and_Fɾҽҽmαsσɳɾყ

Nevertheless, despite conflicting reports, some people say he died Catholic: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfgang_Amadeus_Mozart_and_the_Catholic_Church#Last_rites

Nobody disputes his genius, of course, but he is not for me.

Switching gears, it is interesting what His Lordship says regarding Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice."

This forum's owner (i.e., Matthew) and I were in the seminary when Dr. David Allen White came for a 2-night conference on that play, and it was magnificent!!!

That series can still be purchased here: http://stmarcelinitiative.com/bookstore/products/The-False-Tragedy-of-Shylock-in-Shakespeare%27s-The-Merchant-of-Venice-%252d-Part-I.html

If you spend a few bucks, your investment will be many times rewarded!

It touches upon all Jєωιѕн issues: Usury, "h0Ɩ0cαųst," materialism, etc.

SeanJohnson · « **Reply #8 on:** January 28, 2018, 10:32:44 PM »

Quote from: SeanJohnson on January 28, 2018, 10:05:01 PM

Personally, I despise Mozart, because he was a Freemason, and wrote tons of Masonic music: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozart_and_Fɾҽҽmαsσɳɾყ

Nevertheless, despite conflicting reports, some people say he died Catholic: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfgang_Amadeus_Mozart_and_the_Catholic_Church#Last_rites

Nobody disputes his genius, of course, but he is not for me.

Switching gears, it is interesting what His Lordship says regarding Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice."

This forum's owner (i.e., Matthew) and I were in the seminary when Dr. David Allen White came for a 2-night conference on that play, and it was magnificent!!!

That series can still be purchased here: http://stmarcelinitiative.com/bookstore/products/The-False-Tragedy-of-Shylock-in-Shakespeare%27s-The-Merchant-of-Venice-%252d-Part-I.html

If you spend a few bucks, your investment will be many times rewarded!

It touches upon all Jєωιѕн issues: Usury, "h0Ɩ0cαųst," materialism, etc.

PS: Haydn was also a Freemason. Throw that shite in the sewer.

SeanJohnson · « **Reply #9 on:** January 29, 2018, 07:57:56 AM »

I received this "smack-down" in an email regarding my previous two responses; it is not from the bishop:

"Mozart joined an early lodge filled with Catholic noblemen BEFORE any papal condemnation."

and

"The quality of an artist's life is secondary to the quality of the work he produces. God, from the start, has not granted a monopoly on art to Catholics. In the early days Tertullian dismissed
the notion that Catholics need consult Plato, Aristotle, Sophocles...certainly, NOT the vulgar Aristophanes. Fortunately, he lost that argument meaning that coming generations of Catholics could master the basics of reality (what Bishop W calls the "natural") as a foundation-stone for divine revelation. One of the unfortunate tendencies today affecting Trads is a Jansenist conflating of truly garbage "music" (gangsta rap, hip-hop, etc.) with the genuine article, sometimes produced by Catholics, always made by artists with a least a few warts."

Waiving the white flag!

Incredulous · « **Reply #10 on:** January 29, 2018, 02:07:46 PM »

Quote from: SeanJohnson on January 29, 2018, 07:57:56 AM

I received this "smack-down" in an email regarding my previous two responses; it is not from the bishop:

"Mozart joined an early lodge filled with Catholic noblemen BEFORE any papal condemnation."

and

"The quality of an artist's life is secondary to the quality of the work he produces. God, from the start, has not granted a monopoly on art to Catholics. In the early days Tertullian dismissed
the notion that Catholics need consult Plato, Aristotle, Sophocles...certainly, NOT the vulgar Aristophanes. Fortunately, he lost that argument meaning that coming generations of Catholics could master the basics of reality (what Bishop W calls the "natural") as a foundation-stone for divine revelation. One of the unfortunate tendencies today affecting Trads is a Jansenist conflating of truly garbage "music" (gangsta rap, hip-hop, etc.) with the genuine article, sometimes produced by Catholics, always made by artists with a least a few warts."

Waiving the white flag!

Ah shucks Sean.
I was loading my revolver to return fire, but you've waived the white flag already?

I heard of the "masonic Haydn" rumors too, but with other biographical information, it didn't seem to add up?
I don't see much darkness in Haydn's music?

Consider that ʝʊdɛօ-masonics are masters of deceit.
To build membership, they put famous people under their tent, whether they're lodge members or not.

For example, an Irish Catholic school teacher told me of a recent visit to a museum, where JFK was displayed in portraiture, in full masonic regalia.

For sure, Haydn was formed Catholic and a large part of his works are Catholic.

One account I read was that his friend Mozart, encouraged Haydn to attend masonic meetings.

[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)]In 1761 he became vice-capellmeister at Eisenstadt, and in 1766 went as capellmeister with Prince Nicholaus to his new palace at Esterház. His life during these years was of singular steadiness of purpose. The [/color]duties[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)] of his position were most arduous, involving the necessity of providing daily orchestral recitals, two operatic performances and at least each week one concert. He received a salary of one hundred pounds annually. In 1785 [/color]he joined the Freemasons to please his friend Mozart, who was an ardent member; and it is not clear how long he remained in that society. [color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)]Upon the occasion of his two visits to [/color]London[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)] (1791 and 1794) he was hailed as the greatest musician of the day, and received marked attention from royalty. The [/color]University of Oxford[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)] conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Music. His career in [/color]London[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)] was brilliant, and his successes signal. Salomon's orchestra was the vehicle he chose to introduce his compositions to the English public, and the twelve symphonies performed under his direction created a profound impression. He left [/color]London[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)] in 1795, and in January, 1797, moved to Gumpendorf, [/color]Vienna[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)], where he died. [/color]Source

A couple of good links on Haydn's Catholicity follow:

1. Haydn's Catholic spirit
2. Catholic Ireland

I will close with this Haydn quote from the end of his career:
Final masterpieces
The composer’s last years were spent in Vienna, where he died in 1809. These years were marked in particular by the two great religious oratorios. A devout Catholic throughout his life, Haydn was almost overwhelmed by these undertakings. He wrote of working on The Creation, ‘Never was I so pious as when I was composing this work; I knelt down daily and prayed God to strengthen me for it’. His prayers were answered.

Viva Cristo Rey · « **Reply #11 on:** January 30, 2018, 03:15:47 AM »

https://youtu.be/YUrsHWnpixo

Ladislaus · « **Reply #12 on:** January 30, 2018, 08:35:50 AM »

Quote from: Incredulous on January 28, 2018, 09:45:52 PM

Would His Excellency kindly consider including a few violin concertos from Franz Joseph Haydn?

For this musician's hands were Catholic and undoubtedly inspired by the Holy Ghost.

I've always much preferred Haydn over Mozart; his work seems much more rich, more profound (deeper), and more mature, while Mozart often sounds capricious.

Kazimierz · « **Reply #13 on:** January 31, 2018, 05:08:44 PM »

Good ole Ludwig van B remaineth my number one composer, taking into account all of his works, which I am grateful to have a complete collection thereof.

As for Mozart and Haydn, I prefer the latter if we speak of the total corpus of work. Nonetheless there are great pieces with the Mozart opus, just as with the Baroque master JS Bach.

Robert Schumann's four symphonies are wonderful works. I was surprised when I found out the best interpretation of his work was by my favourite conductor and orchestra, Herbert Von Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic (also the best for Beethoven)

My second favourite composer is Anton Bruckner, who was a devout Catholic. Soaring symphonies and also wunderbar masses and motets.

I confess I do enjoy some of Wagner's works, but heavens he was a devilish piece of work himself, make no mistake. I usually think of Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd though when I ponder Wagner.

If I had my health back, I would make the trip across The Pond for the presentation at Broadstairs. :cheers:

Franciscan Solitary · « **Reply #14 on:** January 31, 2018, 11:37:06 PM »

Everyone who is anyone in music knows that Mozart is the Voice of God Almighty. It’s elementary. Bach was the break of dawn for Mozart and the great Haydn prepared the way. Beethoven was Mozart’s side-kick, and privileged to be so. Mozart died too young, therefore Mendelsohn completed the Divine Mozart’s musical oeuvre. Mozart's heir was Wagner, the weight of whose immense profundity has by now pretty well flattened the entire human race much like a steam-roller. Schumann managed to open up some space so that there could still be something other than Wagner, and that something was Brahms, who is famously “the best of the Wagnerians”. Anton Bruckner is much like Wagner’s omnipotent echo, reverberating down the ages.

There is Mozart, there is Wagner, and inexorably after them there was the Twilight of the Gods. Because there could no longer be any room, or oxygen, for anything else. Just for the End of All Things and God Almighty.

My fellow Catholics: Welcome to our world!

And it all began with Mozart, the Divine Voice of God. The good bishop has pointed out for us where the treasure is and those with their wits about them will dig much deeper….and they will find.

Author Topic: Eleison Comments - Broadstairs Mozart (no. 550) (Read 1572 times)

Matthew

Eleison Comments - Broadstairs Mozart (no. 550)

Neil Obstat

Re: Eleison Comments - Broadstairs Mozart (no. 550)

Neil Obstat

Re: Eleison Comments - Broadstairs Mozart (no. 550)

Incredulous

Re: Eleison Comments - Broadstairs Mozart (no. 550)

Neil Obstat

Re: Eleison Comments - Broadstairs Mozart (no. 550)

cathman7

Re: Eleison Comments - Broadstairs Mozart (no. 550)

Incredulous

Re: Eleison Comments - Broadstairs Mozart (no. 550)

SeanJohnson

Re: Eleison Comments - Broadstairs Mozart (no. 550)

SeanJohnson

Re: Eleison Comments - Broadstairs Mozart (no. 550)

SeanJohnson

Re: Eleison Comments - Broadstairs Mozart (no. 550)

Incredulous

Re: Eleison Comments - Broadstairs Mozart (no. 550)

Viva Cristo Rey

Re: Eleison Comments - Broadstairs Mozart (no. 550)

Ladislaus

Re: Eleison Comments - Broadstairs Mozart (no. 550)

Kazimierz

Re: Eleison Comments - Broadstairs Mozart (no. 550)

Franciscan Solitary

Re: Eleison Comments - Broadstairs Mozart (no. 550)