Blues at the White House

The other night I was watching Blues Concert at the White House, another great PBS Special (thank you, PBS - TV worth watching, as they say)! Great old, and new, artists playing classic blues while the President and his guests looked on, tapping feet, head nodding, clapping to the different beats. Among the luminaries singing and playing were Keb Mo, Derek Trucks, Susan Tadeshi, Mick Jagger  (who commanded the room, by the way), B B King and Buddy Guy.

The Blues, of course, has its roots way back to the slave days, with the hollering songs of those poor folk, working away in the fields, back-breaking work in the sun. Our first presidents, though they professed equality and individual rights, still had their slaves working their farms for them for quite awhile. Many years passed before that would change.

Blues songs speak of the misery, the suffering, but in acknowledging it, there is joy! Sounds odd, but in the acknowledgment, one's spirits are lifted. There is a commonality. After all, we all suffer, whether it's by the hand of another, "He done me wrong", or "She had the nerve to put me out!"; or it may be self-induced, "I put her in the ground with my 44", or "Hellhound on my Trail".

Now, you may ask why am I going on about all this. Well, while I was watching the show, which took place in the East Room of the White House (the room for entertaining and those big State dinners), two paintings caught my attention. One of George Washington, and one of Martha Washington. Though they are paintings, and the images depicted in color and skin tones, I have to say, the images still look like frozen statues. One would never imagine that these people ever talked, let alone danced, joked, flirted, sang out, smiled or laughed out loud! BUT, they did!

Martha, of course, was more reserve, as were most women of the day, but George was quite a party-giver and goer. He loved to dance, and he played a mean fiddle! Just look at the painting above by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris shows a much more lively George. I like it!

We must not forget that these people actually lived and breathed, enjoyed parties, agonized over what to wear to a particular gathering, hoped for a good time. Some of the formal portraiture style does not allow our imagination to run and imagine their acutal existence. That's why I love some of the historical movie dramas, period pictures that tell their stories. Catch one soon: Jefferson in Paris, Barry Lyndon, the docu-drama John Adams, Liberty! (the mini-series), The Crossing. You won't be disappointed.

Dancin' To The Jailhouse Rock!

Last night I was watching The Old Curiosity Shop (Charles Dickens) on PBS Masterpiece Classics. There was a scene that took place in the Debtor's Prison, that prompted me to look into that horrible institution during the 18th Century. Of course, the concept goes much further back in history, but reached its pinnacle later on. (Above: Hogarth's famous painting, The Rake's Progress)
The sad fact was that once the debtor was behind bars, he had little chance of raising the capital to be released. Ususally, he was at the mercy of another family member or patron, who could help set him free, once the monies were paid. Only then he could be released. Sometimes, whole families were situated within the walls of the prison, and if no one came to their rescue, there they remained, to live out their days.
In England, however, these prisons varied in the amount of freedom that the prisoner was allowed. With a little money distributed to the proper person, one could buy some latitude, even so far as conducting a bit of business. If a family member was not the cause of the debt, but living within the walls, then that individual could leave the gates by day, earn their living, and come back before the doors were once again closed for the night. As a matter of fact, someone visiting a prisoner had to take great care to leave before nightfall, otherwise they, too, were locked in overnight. They then had to pay for a bed until morning. Ahhh! Another, subtle source of income for the jail!

Life within the prison was not pleasant, and beside the debt owed in the outside world, the prisoners had to pay for their keep within! See below, an interesting account:


Samuel Byrom, son of the writer and poet John Byrom, was imprisoned for debt in the Fleet in 1725, and in 1729 he sent a petition to his old school friend, the Duke of Dorset, in which he raged against the injustices of the system:

What barbarity can be greater than for gaolers (without provocation) to load prisoners with irons, and thrust them into dungeons, and manacle them, and deny their friends to visit them, and force them to pay excessive fines for their chamber rent, their victuals and drinks; to open their letters and seize the charity that is sent to them! And when debtors have succeeded in arranging with their creditors, hundreds are detained in prison for chamber-rent and other unjust demands put forward by their gaolers, so that at last, in their despair, many are driven to commit suicide... gaolers should be paid a fixed salary and forbidden, under pain of instant dismissal, to accept bribe, fee or reward of any kind... law of imprisonment for debts inflicts a greater loss on the country, in the way of wasted power and energies, than do monasteries and nunneries in foreign lands, and among Roman-Catholic peoples... Holland, the most unpolite country in the world, uses debtors with mildness and malefactors with rigour; England, on the other hand, shows mercy to murderers and robbers, but of poor debtors impossibilities are demanded.

One of the most famous of these debtor's prisons was the Marshalsea, the one written of in Charles Dickens' novels, especially in Little Dorrit. In the story, Little Dorrit's father establishes himself in a hierarchy of sorts within the prison, enjoying his reputation as the "Father of the Marshalsea". When he is released by the goodness of an anonymous friend, he is quick to want to put the whole affair behind him to such a degree that one is prompted to say that Mr. Dorrit learned absolutely nothing during his imprisonment.

Eventually, these prison's went away. Today, of course, there are other ways of relieving debt, including the once-humiliating declaration of bankruptcy. Now, every other person who lives well beyond their means, just declares, and goes about the same pattern once they can get ahold of some new "plastic". I'm being facetious, but many folks never learn the responsibility of money management, and credit cards, even at high interest rates, seem to be a great way to buy what you want and think about paying some time in the future.

A Good Woman at His Side

Last night I watched a PBS "American Experience"documentary on President Clinton's journey to the Presidency. It was fascinating, and whether you agreed with him and his policies or not, he was determined from a very early age, to make something of himself, despite the difficulties of his upbringing in Hope, Arkansas. He aspired to greatness, and worked toward it, never acknowledging defeat, but rather looking to see where he went wrong, and how to improve himself for the next go 'round. Admirable, indeed. He also, was smart enough to have a "good" woman at his side: Hilary Rodham, who looked the other way at his weaknesses, and kept "their" eye on the prize.

Another such good woman was Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams, Second President of the United States. Though John did not have the same failings as Bill Clinton, he did have a fiery temper and a big ego. Throughout his career, Abigail served as an unofficical advisor to him, and he sought her counsel on many issues, including his presidential aspirations. She remained a supportive spouse and confidante once he became president in 1797.

During the American Revolution, the couple spent a great deal of time apart, and Abigail took the proverbial "bull by the horns", and ran the family farm in Braintree. They corresponded voraciously. It is believed that they exchanged over 1,000 letters over the years, discussing everything personal, family, the farm, politics.
Abigail did not always agree with John, but expressed her concerns honestly, and tweaked his conscience on the subject of how the new government would treat women. See below, one of her letters on the subject. Some of her critics called her "Mrs. President", but she would not be deterred. It was a real partnership, that led them from a small law office in Worcester, MA to the steps of the White House.

 “Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favourable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could. If perticuliar care and attention is not paid to the Laidies we are determined to foment a Rebelion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation.”

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

On this day, February 16, 1741, Benjamin Franklin published his "General Magazine & Historic Chronicle", the second American magazine publication. He had conceived of the concept earlier, but was beat out by Andrew Bradford's "American Magazine", published just three days earlier. Franklin, though, had the honor of a more enduring publication, publishing for six months, as opposed to Bradford's for just three. At the time, Ben was 35 years of age, and already the publisher of a newspaper and an almanac.

A magazine is different, with the accumulation of interesting, noteworthy information and current events that spans a month, or a quarter, and must still be relevant at the end of the period.

Remember the magazine "George", first published in September 1995. It was concieved of and co-founded by John F. Kennedy, Jr. and Michael J. Berman, a glossy monthly magazine with a tag line, "Not just politics as usual." It had a pretty good run, until 2001, but it doesn't matter who you are, or how much political power you wield, sometimes your take on bringing the news just isn't enough. Kennedy and Berman were looking to pair politics and celebrity, and keep readership up and interested, but most often, people want their news straight, no chaser. (Of course, tabloids area adifferent animal: the more sordid, the more bling and flash, the better, but that's not news).

Franklin showed his intention with his General Magazine" of giving a review of the colonial news from the American as opposed to the British point of view. He did use other forums, including The Virginia Gazette and other weeklies for articles and verse, but his new publication would be an American enterprise.


Interestingly enough, the word news comes from "North, East, West, and South", where news comes from across the globe, in all directions!

My heart will go on!

Today is Valentine's Day! That special time each year where expressions of love, friendship, lust and chocolate play major roles. By 21st Century standards, the holiday is fast-becoming obnoxious, with cheap dark red, market-purchased flowers that may last a few hours if that, the proverbial heart-shaped box of waxy chocolates and the enormous heart-holding bear folks purchase at the corner of the local gas station. No wonder there is no romance worth speaking of these days.
Actually, Valentine's Day goes way back in history, but I found some interesting and different customs worth investigation from the 18th Century.

According to Smithsonian.com, in the 1700's, rural Englishwomen would pin five bay leaves to their pillows (four on the corners, one in the middle) on Valentine's Eve, and supposedly dream of their future husband. Some early aromatherapy, if nothing else. To add to the hopeful prophecy, some wore a clean nightgown, turned inside out, and lying down, would say the words, "Good Valentine, be kind to me, in dreams let me my true love see!"

At the time, in England, the passing of love notes became popular, a precursor to the Valentine's Day card. In 1797, the Young Man's Valentine Writer was published, suggesting rhymes and messages for these notes, and as the postal service became more affordable, the anonymous card of love became possible!

Finally, my most favorite of my research is the tradition of "heaving". Yes, heaving!! Though not connected particularly with Valentine's Day, this practice took place in England and Wales, where groups of men were allowed to physically lift women off the ground in a chair specially adorned with ribbons and flowers for the purpose. You can just picture skirts flying, glimpses of garters and other unmentionables, the giggling, the screams and laughter. The "Oh, please stop! Please stop!" which really means keep going!

So, if you're looking for something fun to do today, for the good of the day, forego the obvious  present-day Valentine offerings, and pin some leaves to your pillow, send a handmade anonymous card to someone you admire or lust after, listen to some beautiful music (how about Chopin? Rachmaninoff?), watch an old romantic movie (how about Now, Voyager! or Camile or Random Harvest - get out the kleenex). Or, find someone to heave, or be heaved, but don't forget to wear something lacy!!

R.I.P.,........ the Mourning Ring

I attended a funeral yesterday of a fellow co-worker, an older gentleman who was former military, and though some of the ceremony seemed a bit gruesome, or perhaps, surreal, the military honors were beautiful, which included the three-gun salute, and the playing of taps out in the crisp February air. Got me to thinking of past traditions, especially those of the 18th century.
A very useful source for these customs and the way death was handled in 18th Century England, can be found in the diary of shopkeeper Thomas Turner, kept from 1754-1765, whose main duties for the shop in Sussex was to "serve funerals", including the supply of cloth, garments, hats, medicinal goods, stationary, gloves for the industry.
He states that "death was never far away in an age when the expectation of life was short." Perhaps this is why the customs were more straightforward, and accepting. Children died all the time, and families faced the propect of losing many to childbirth, illness, injury. It was almost a foregone conclusion.

One of the traditions of the time was the "mourning ring", which seems strange to us today, but were quite popular as an expression of grief. Some bear the deceased's name, some an image of angels, urns, flowers, and some have woven hair taken from the dead person.

Today, of course, we have our own traditions, including the sometimes-rather-distasteful tattoo featuring the deceased face, or date of birth and death, etc. There's always a way we try to deal with the issue. Perhaps the mourning ring was better, because when the mourning period was over, (as it should end sometime), the ring, too, could be put away.

The Thames Pageant!

Over the past weekend, England's Queen Elizabeth II began celebrating her Diamond Jubilee! 60 years on the thrown of England! How marvelous! She came to the thrown on February 2, 1952, and her coronation took place on June 2nd, 1952. She is the longest reigning monarch in England since Queen Victoria, who reigned 50 years.(By the way, the Jubilee can be for 50 or for 60 years).
To mark the event, there will be many celebrations over the next few months, but the most interesting to me is the Thames Pageant! It calls for about 1,000 boats of various sizes to gather for an incredible tribute to the Queen, with a flotilla over seven miles long, and with original music composed for the event, performed along the way! The event pays tribute to Britian's famed maritime history.
The Queen and her family will be traveling on the royal barge, The Spirit of Chartwell, down the fourteen mile parade route, from Hammersmith in West London to Greenwich, where the Royal Naval Academy is located.
The barge will be decorated with flowers in all the royal colors, and the pageant master Adrian Evans, says, it must be " a jewel...the most magnificent vessel in the flotilla!"
The last time there was such a spectacular procession on the Thames was for Lord Horatio Nelson's funeral procession in 1806, but of course, it was sombre and quiet. This procession, on the other hand, will be filled with life, color, radiance!
If you go to the following link, you will see a site donated to the Thames Pageant, and the animated header at the top of the page is charming, whimsical! http://www.thamesdiamondjubileepageant.org/Default.aspx
Enjoy!

And, of course, one of the brilliant things about the ride along the Thames will be the fact that the skyline, with a few modern buildings, remains the same as ever. If you take away the London Eye (the gigantic carousel), and the "Gerkin" (the Sir Norman Foster building in the financial district), you could find yourself in Nelson's time, or further back to Henry III's barge rides along the Thames. This is part of the magic of London!

Celebrating A King Maker

Johann Georg Albrechtsberger was born this day, February 3, 1736. He was Austrian, and he is noted as one of the most skilled contrapuntists of his day. Ah! What is that, do you say!? Well, he used COUNTERPOINT to its finest degree in his compositions.
And, what is Counterpoint? It is the relationship between two or more voices that are harmonically interdependent, but independent in contour and rhythm. There is a bit of back-and-forth, a calling and an answering, but between melody and harmony. It creates a pleasing, if sometimes surprising or dissonant, sound. It brings sophistication and richness, and it occurs with voice or through instruments.

He was a musical "King Maker" of sorts, assisting some of the eventual greats with their compositions, including Johann Hummel, Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart (Mozart's son), and Ludwig van Beethoven! When Beethoven arrived in Vienna in 1792 to study with Joseph Haydn, he became angry that his work was not given correct attention. Haydn recommended his friend Albrechtsberger, with whom Beethoven then studied harmony and counterpoint. Well, you see where that led!! Ha Ha!

Though he died in 1809, Albrechtsberger leaves behind many important works, including his famous concerto for alto trombone and orchestra in B-flat major. Give it a listen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZM2eQW42TY&feature=related

And, funnily enough, he also composed for the mouth harp, or jew's harp, as it is commonly called!

Down to the Sea in Ships

It was reported today in the Huffington Post, that the remains of the "FIRST" HMS Victory are to be raised from the sea, nearly 300 years after the ship sank. The vessel, predecessor to Nelson's famous flagship, sank in a storm off the Channel Islands, in 1744, taking over 100 soldiers to their watery grave. Along with the expensive bronze cannons, it is believed that the ship was carrying a large quantity of gold coins, being transported from Lisbon to England, worth over 500 million pounds!

The ship was found four years ago with the discovery of one of the bronze cannons with the crest of King George III, and exploration will be conducted by Odyssey Marine Exploration.

Stay tuned...there will be more to come!