The church calendar is rather quiet on this tenth day of Christmas much like the quiet blanket of snow that fell overnight from Georgia to New Jersey. To match that mood, here is some profoundly simple and beautiful music written in 1894 by the American modernist composer, Charles Ives. He moved quickly from traditional composition to experimental music which sadly left him unrecognized during his lifetime. Years after his death he would emerge as one of the most influential composers of the 20th century.
And in case you didn't meet a chimney sweep or kiss a pig on New Year's Day to ensure yourself a year of good luck, perhaps these postcards from the Vienna Succession's Wiener Werkstatte will work.
And if two chimney sweeps, a pig and pretty girl don't leave you with high hopes for the fortunes of the new year, this music from the genius of Igor Stravinsky should do it. The music is the finale from The Firebird, composed in 1910 for a ballet based on a Russian fairy tale about a mythical bird who helps a prince conquer evil. I like to think of it as the fresh new year bringing an end to a rather distressing 2021. The Firebird is a brilliant work as fresh today today as the day it was composed. Enjoy.
Photos and Illustrations:
postcards, theviennasecession.com
No comments:
Post a Comment