2002.12.15
Frosty wind made moan
Attended a holiday crafts party hosted by nari in Seattle, where I ended up creating pipe-cleaner sushi and other decidedly non holiday-themed ornaments. Also made some kusudama origami with Eglantine, who was a dear and brought me Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy to borrow. Yay!
Despite the wonderful party, the personal high point of my evening was listening to Benjamin Britten’s “In the Bleak Midwinter” (from A Boy Was Born, written when the composer was only 19), as performed by the women of Opus 7 and the Seattle Girls’ Choir in St. James Cathedral. When the heavenly choir of angels returns with the soprano descant in the second half of the piece, it’s just heartbreakingly beautiful.
It was hangëd with gold so red.
And by that bedside there standeth a stone,
Corpus Christi written thereon.
[…]
Lully, lulley, lully, lulley
The falcon hath borne my mate away.
Britten is my favorite twentieth-century composer; I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything of his that I’ve even thought was mediocre.
If the this all sounds familiar to you, it’s because janjan blogged about the piece less than a month ago! Really, it’s beautiful. If you’re looking for a holiday concert, here’s a tip: avoid the umpteenth Messiah and find the hidden treasures scattered around town.
Craving sushi at midnight equals frustration.
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rosebaby
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cheerful1
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Brian
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janjan
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daintily dirty
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crash course
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Abu
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Eglantine
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Your Insatiable One