Highland Fling

Well, in two days I shall be off to Scotland. First visiting Edinburgh, then up to Inverness in the Highlands. I am so looking forward to visiting the castles, museums, the shopping and the general colorful environment. But my romantic heart wants to see something like what is shown in the landscape below. Painted by Wiliam Turner in 1805, it is called 'Mountainous Landscape: A Scottish River".

Turner was English, lived from 1775 - 1851, and had the opportunity to travel a great deal, giving him time to research and record the British countryside and seascapes. His landscapes are truly original and identifiable. They seem to have an inner light, even if they are in painted in sombre colors. He captures the windswept, mournful panorama of the Scottish highlands in this work to perfection.

His father died in 1829, and had a profound effect on his life and his work. He suffered bouts of depression. Some of that is captured in his work. It has great depth and emotion. He never married, but had a mistress for awhile in his later life. He died at her house, and was buried in St. Paul's Cathedral in London, where he lies next to Sir Joshua Reyholds, another famous British artist. Turner's last words were, "The sun is God". Above is a self-portrait, which I think is quite outstanding, and rather contemporary for the times, but he is remembered for his beautiful outdoor scenes. I hope I will see, very soon, this painting come to life!

I take leave for a couple weeks, and hope to bring back new stories! Adieu!

 

 

 

 

Tartan Plaid

I am starting to get excited about my upcoming trip to Scotland! Next week, friends and I leave for Edinburgh and The Highlands, Inverness to be exact. I am hoping to visit some of the famous sites, and bringing them home to you in this blog.

                        I have been doing a lot of history reading to prepare, and find that the 18th Century was particularly a time of unrest and warfare, especially in the Highlands, with the Jacobite rebellions of 1715 and 1745. The Scots eventually became content with their new role in a kingdom united under Great Britian. At least for awhile.

One of the saddest things, though, was by 1745, the Tartan, the Highlander's signature dress, was banned. They were not allowed to carry arms, but the prohibition of their plaid kilts was the final insult. Every clan has their own plaid and pride that goes with. Some tartans are truly beautiful and their history goes way back.

The entimology is interesting. The English word TARTAN comes from the French TIRETAIN, from the verb refering to "woven" cloth.

The act to ban the colorful cloth was repealed in 1782, but the Highlanders pride was hurt, and you don't mess with a Scotsman!

I am hoping to bring some of the tartan fabric home with me, but, ahhh!! which one to choose? As I am not of Scottish descent, I will have to find one that speaks to me. Any suggestions? Above see the McMillan plaid. My daughter can actually claim to be part of the McMillan clan, on her father's mother's side! Years ago, I made her a skirt from fabric we ordered from Scotland. It's a very pleasing design and colors!

Mozart on Tour: A lighthearted moment

Every morning on my way to work, I have a chance to listen to some beautiful music. Sometimes it is my own selection, but most often I ride along with our local public station, KNPR. This morning, I was listening to Mozart, a symphony, an earlier work. Generally, I know my Mozart, and can mentally follow along with the music, but sometimes, I think it might be his work, but I’m not sure. And just when I say to myself, no, this is not Wolfgang, the announcer comes on and says, “That was Mozart’s Symphony 24 in B flat major!”

Ah! I’ve been fooled! I suppose it’s because each composer over time develops his sound! In their earlier works, they are laying down riffs, patterns, chords, sequences that begin to work for them. In later works, they count on some of these to express the mood, to round out the story. A indelible signature, like a painter’s brush strokes…Van Gogh’s squiggly lines, Hieronymous Bosch’s tight detail, Picasso’s geometry, a Turner sky.

Today, by the way, Mozart was in Bologna, in 1770, with his father. In a letter from his father Leopold  to his mother Anna Maria, Wolfgang writes a postscript that is kind of fun. He was a tourist, like any other, enjoying the different things around him, giving his impressions of people he met along the way.  I'm glad he was having a good time. Most often, when he was traveling, he was working, on tour, trying to get a commission. He was 14 at the time, and writes,

I too am still in the land of the living and, what`s more, having lots of fun. Today I was suddenly seized by the desire to ride on a donkey, as is the custom in Italy, and so I thought I should give it a try. We have the honor of going everywhere with a certain Dominican who`s regarded as a saint, though I don`t really believe it as he often has a cup of drinking chocolate for breakfast and immediately afterwards a good glass of fortified Spanish wine, and I too have had the honor of dining with this saint, who at table drank lots of wine, finishing it all off with a whole glass of fortified wine, two large slices of melon, some peaches, pears, 5 cups of coffee, a whole plate of birds and two full plates of milk and lemon; he may have done this on purpose, but I don`t think so, as it would have been too much, apart from which he also eats a lot for his tea during the afternoon. Addio. Farewell: kiss Mama's hands for me. Best wishes to all who know me.

Sir Walter Scott - Happy Birthday!

Today marks the birthday of Sir Walter Scott, famed novelist, playwright, poet from Scotland, Born in Edinburgh, on August 15, 1771, he wrote countless works, among them the famed Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, The Lady of the lake, Waverly, The Bride of Lammermoor, from which we get the glorious tragic opera Lucia de Lammermoor by Donizetti  in 1835.

He was a prominent Tory and an active member of the Highland Society and Royal Society of Edinburgh.

He attended the university, then apprenticed with his father in a business that drew up formal and legal  documents, The Signet. He was a collector of the written word, and later began his career as a writer. He was afflicted early in his life with polio, and walked with a pronounced limp, though he was a physically strong man nevertheless.

He began writing poetry, and achieved some fame, but later began writing prose. His first novel was Waverly, which recounted some of the political struggle and rebellion of the Jacobite rising in 1745. He wrote it anonymously because of political implications, owning up to it inn 1816, when the Prince Regent asked to meet the author of Waverly. The royal knew Scott was the author!

As Scott’s fame grew, the Prince Regent gave him permission to search for the long-lost crown jewels of Scotland, which were unearthed from the depths of Edinburgh Castle by Scott and a team of military men. The grateful Prince granted Scott the title of Baronet, hence Sir attached to his name! Princes Street in Edinburgh has a monument dedicated to the writer in a lovely square.

 

Expiration Date: Gone too soon?

This week, on August 16, will mark the death of Elvis Aaron Presley, king of rock and roll, or better known as The King!

Whether you particularly liked his style of music, one has to admit, he was an incredible showman. The other night, I watched his famous 1975 Aloha Concert in Hawaii. He was at the height of his popularity, with white bell-bottom suit, the mutton chop sideburns, the enormous diamond rings, and the tremendous charisma, all there on display. It was quite something to take in.

Unlike the mega stars of this day, who feel the need to incorporate everything but the kitchen sin into their concert, Elvis was there on the stage alone with his band. That's all....no acrobats swinging from the ceiling, no lighting effects or jumbotron screens with close ups. Just him, in all his glory.

We sentimentalize Elvis, like we do some others that we feel left us all to soon. Sometimes it is because of over-indulgence, sometimes illness, sometimes just the luck of the draw, like Stevie Ray Vaughn, killed in a plane crash at the time he was resurrected from drug addiction, and at his very best. Elvis lived to 42 years of age, and like a comet, soared through this life, and then was gone (not to say how many Elvis sightings there have been ever since). Ha ha

It got me to thinking about Mozart, and his exceptional talent and how he, too, was a star hurtling through this world, to the next, immortalized forever through his music. He lived from 1756 - 1792. 36 years in all.
Every time I hear someone say, he died too soon, I pause. What constitutes a full life? Are we just wanting more, or is their purpose served? Would they have continued to create past their expiration date, or was this their perfect moment to depart?

Purple Heart

On August 7th, in 1782 - George Washington created the Order of the Purple Heart. The original is shown at right below, a simple merit badge.

Originally it was designated as a Badge of Military Merit, and awarded to three Revolutionary War soldiers, by the commander in chief of the Continental Army. Given out to those wounded or killed (posthumously), its legend grew, but although never abolished, the badge was not officially proposed until after the first World War. In WWI, over 320,000 were given out; over a million in WWII, and in the recent Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts, about 40,000.

Why purple? Perhaps because the color, in ancient times, worn by Roman Emperors and officials, later by Catholic bishops. The color is always associated with royalty and piety.

By the way, going way, way back, in about 1500 BC, the color of purple was developed in ancient Phoenician city of Tyre, in present day Lebanon. Developed from a sea snail called the spiny dye-murex, that lived in the shell at left. The process of gathering and utilizing the materials was long, difficult and expensive. The color became known as Tyrian purple, or imperial purple.