What We're Watching: Vermeer, Master of Light

A few nights ago, M.P. and I watched this fascinating exploration of Vermeer's techniques, and had quite an interesting conversation afterwards.  M.P. being a trained artist, he understood more of the technical aspects than I did.  Very worth watching if you care anything about painting.

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Poets' Corner: Wild Nights

Montage from wallpaperflare.com

Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)

Wild Nights

Wild nights - Wild nights!

Were I with thee

Wild nights should be

Our luxury!

Futile - the winds -

To a Heart in port -

Done with the Compass -

Done with the Chart!

Rowing in Eden -

Ah - the Sea!

Might I but moor - tonight -

In thee!

1861

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Easter Sunday 2018: Christ the Lord Is Risen Today

Carl Bloch, The Resurrection, 1881.

The Choir of King's College, Cambridge sings the beloved Easter hymn, written by Charles Wesley in 1739:

Note:  the selection begins at the 1:10 mark.

These are the lyrics they sing in Cambridge, which for some curious reason are by John Arnold:

Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!

But the pains which he endured, Alleluia!
our salvation have procured, Alleluia!
now above the sky he's King, Alleluia!
where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!

But below are the ones I have always heard sung in the U. S. of A., by Wesley, and of course I like them much better.  Why and how the English went lyrically astray you can google up if you care to.  For myself, I just listen to the choir and sing the words I like in my heart.

Christ the Lord is ris’n today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heav’ns, and earth, reply, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids Him rise, Alleluia!
Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia!
Foll’wing our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Caravaggio, The Incredulity of Saint Thomas, 1602.

Sunday Drive: Come, Ye Thankful People, Come

I believe this video is mistitled, as the interior of this church, while quite nice, lacks the fan vaulting of St. George's Chapel, Windsor.  Nevertheless, the congregation does a lively job with this venerable hymn of thanksgiving.




And while we're here in church today, do have a look at the fascinating, long-lost painting of Da Vinci's that was auctioned off at Christie's in New York last week for $450 million dollars. Surely the purchaser will have the charity and good sense to lend or give it to one of the great museums of the world. I mean, you could hardly stick something as exquisite as this - with that price tag - over your living room couch, could you?

Salvator Mundi, by Leonardo da Vinci
(click to enlarge)

Easter 2017

The Incredulity of St. Thomas by Guernico (1591-1666)

I wish a very Happy Easter to all my truckbuddies.

Sunday Drive: O Holy Night

The Annunciation, Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1898.

As performed by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge:

The Fourth Sunday in Advent, 2016

Sunday Drive: O Magnum Mysterium

The Annuncation, El Greco, circa 1590-1603

As performed by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge:

The Third Sunday of Advent, 2016

Sunday Drive: Away in a Manger

The Annunciation, Hans Memling, 1480.
Click to enlarge.

As performed by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge:

Second Sunday in Advent, 2016

Sunday Drive: Once in Royal David's City

The Annunciation, Leonardo da Vinci, circa 1472

As performed by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge:

FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT, 2016

Easter 2016: Jesus Christ Is Risen Today

The Incredulity of Saint Thomas, Caravaggio, 1602.

The nonpareil of Easter hymns, written by Charles Wesley about 1739, as performed by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge:




I wish a happy Easter to all my truckbuddies, near and far.

Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

Good Friday, 2016: There Is a Green Hill Far Away

Christ on the Cross, Carl Heinrich Bloch, 1870.

A hymn by Cecil Frances Alexander, 1848, as performed by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge:

Psalm 22

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? *
and are so far from my cry
and from the words of my distress?
2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but you do not answer; *
by night as well, but I find no rest.
3 Yet you are the Holy One, *
enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
4 Our ancestors put their trust in you; *
they trusted, and you delivered them.
5 They cried out to you and were delivered; *
they trusted in you and were not put to shame.
6 But as for me, I am a worm and not a man, *
scorned by all and despised by the people.
7 All who see me laugh me to scorn; *
they curl their lips and wag their heads, saying,
8 “He trusted in the LORD; let him deliver him; *
let him rescue him, if he delights in him.”
9 Yet you are the one who took me out of the womb, *
and kept me safe upon my mother’s breast.
10 I have been entrusted to you ever since I was born; *
you were my God when I was still in my mother’s womb.
11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near, *
and there is none to help.
12 Many young bulls encircle me; *
strong bulls of Bashan surround me.
13 They open wide their jaws at me, *
like a ravening and a roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water;
all my bones are out of joint; *
my heart within my breast is melting wax.
15 My mouth is dried out like a pot-sherd;
my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; *
and you have laid me in the dust of the grave.
16 Packs of dogs close me in,
and gangs of evildoers circle around me; *
they pierce my hands and my feet;
I can count all my bones.
17 They stare and gloat over me; *
they divide my garments among them;
they cast lots for my clothing.
18 Be not far away, O LORD; *
you are my strength; hasten to help me.
19 Save me from the sword, *
my life from the power of the dog.
20 Save me from the lion’s mouth, *
my wretched body from the horns of wild bulls.
21 I will declare your Name to the community; *
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.

. . . . . . . . . .

Monet's Garden

My mother used to have a painted iron trivet which read:

One is nearer God's heart in a garden
than anywhere else on earth.

Your Head Trucker has no green thumb, unfortunately, but sometimes wishes he did.  What better refuge is there from the strife and ugliness of the world than a lovely garden in full bloom?  Here we can spend a few moments luxuriating in the painter's famous garden at Giverny - a little bit of heaven, it seems to me.

The French Riviera: A History of Pictures

Monet, Antibes: Afternoon Effect, 1888

A fascinating examination of how the lumineux Riviera landscape affected the course of Impressionist painting, and how the painters in turn popularized the idea of the enchanting Cote d'Azur.  The host of the program is a camera hog and a bit creepy, but if you can ignore his scene-stealing you'll learn some interesting things.



Part II of the program, continuing on through the world wars and into the career of Picasso, is here.

The World's Most Expensive Paintings

An eye-opening documentary nicely presented by a very truckable personable young Brit.

Sunday Drive: Easter from King's

El Greco, The Resurrection (detail)

From King's College, Cambridge, a great collection of songs and hymns in two parts, recorded in 2012. Use the pop-out feature to watch the videos on YouTube; in the description box over there are time links to each individual piece.

And a very happy Easter to all my truckbuddies.

Good Friday 2013

The Crucifixion

Anthony Van Dyck, 1622

Psalm 22

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
and are so far from my cry
and from the words of my distress?
O my God, I cry in the daytime, but you do not answer;
by night as well, but I find no rest.
Yet you are the Holy One,
enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
Our forefathers put their trust in you;
they trusted, and you delivered them.
They cried out to you and were delivered;
they trusted in you and were not put to shame.
But as for me, I am a worm and no man,
scorned by all and despised by the people.
All who see me laugh me to scorn;
they curl their lips and wag their heads, saying,
“He trusted in the LORD; let him deliver him;
let him rescue him, if he delights in him.”
Yet you are he who took me out of the womb,
and kept me safe upon my mother’s breast.
I have been entrusted to you ever since I was born;
you were my God when I was still in my mother’s womb.
Be not far from me, for trouble is near,
and there is none to help.
Many young bulls encircle me;
strong bulls of Bashan surround me.
They open wide their jaws at me,
like a ravening and a roaring lion.
I am poured out like water;
all my bones are out of joint;
my heart within my breast is melting wax.
My mouth is dried out like a pot-sherd;
my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
and you have laid me in the dust of the grave.
Packs of dogs close me in,
and gangs of evildoers circle around me;
they pierce my hands and my feet;
I can count all my bones.
They stare and gloat over me;
they divide my garments among them;
they cast lots for my clothing.
Be not far away, O LORD;
you are my strength; hasten to help me.
Save me from the sword,
my life from the power of the dog.
Save me from the lion’s mouth,
my wretched body from the horns of wild bulls.
I will declare your Name to my brethren;
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.

A Meditation from Andrew Sullivan

I pray today for my friend, David Kuo, whose long battle against a brain tumor is in its final days. And for all those enduring war or plague or illness or despair. Especially despair. In one Gospel, Jesus himself seems to feel the loneliness of that despair on the cross. He had to go there to show how deeply he is still with us – perhaps especially in the valleys of our life when the sky itself recedes from view.

From Messiah (Handel, 1741)

"He was despised and rejected of men." Lynn Dawson sings with the Choir of King's College, Cambridge:

Thanksgiving, 1945

Just thought I'd share with you guys one of your Head Trucker's favorite Norman Rockwell covers for the Saturday Evening Post. The repatriation of American soldiers from the far-flung battle fronts of the war, mainly by ship, continued all through the autumn of 1945 and well into the following year. My dad had served in England and Belgium with the USAAF, and had accumulated enough discharge points that he was able to get home by October. I'm sure there were many thankful hearts that year in homely kitchens all over the country - and grieving ones too.

But of course, it's that way every year in this bittersweet world, isn't it? I wish a very happy Thanksgiving to you all.

Click to enlarge

Pretty Pictures: Tissot, Boldini, Sorolla, Bougereau et al.

Even though we may know better with our conscious minds, I believe we do tend to think of the 19th century as a dull, gray time - on account of all those black and white photographs that were the norm in those days. But of course, it was an era as full of vivid color as our own. Whilst just idling my way along through various things this afternoon, I came across these videos that Sotheby's had up for auction last year, and they were all so lovely and so delightfully new to me that I just had to share them with you fellas. Enjoy.

More videos of paintings from this era and from others can be found at the Sotheby's website.

Good Friday

Christ of St. John of the Cross
by Salvador Dali

A reading from the Gospel of Mark, chapter 15:

And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.

And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.

And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.

And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,

Save thyself, and come down from the cross.

Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.

Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.

And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

From the Great Thanksgiving:

Holy and gracious Father:
In your infinite love
you made us for yourself,
and, when we had fallen into sin
and become subject to evil and death,
you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ,
your only and eternal Son,
to share our human nature,
to live and die as one of us,
to reconcile us to you, the
God and Father of all.

He stretched out his arms upon the cross,
and offered himself, in obedience to your will,
a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.

Agnus Dei, composed by Samuel Barber:

Maundy Thursday

The Sacrament of the Last Supper
by Salvador Dali

A reading from the Gospel of Mark, chapter 14:

While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

The Collect of the Day:

Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The General Thanksgiving:

Almighty God, Father of all mercies,
we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks
for all your goodness and loving-kindness
to us and to all whom you have made.
We bless you for our creation, preservation,
and all the blessings of this life;
but above all for your immeasurable love
in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ;
for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.
And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies,
that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise,
not only with our lips, but in our lives,
by giving up our selves to your service,
and by walking before you
in holiness and righteousness all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Honk to The Daily Office West for prayers and readings from the Lectionary.

Unexpected Meeting: my Maundy Thursday story, for whatever it's worth to anyone.

Pie Jesu, music by Andrew Lloyd Webber: