christmas
POTD: Real Clouds
As opposed to chemtrailed fake ones… ~Vic
Click for a larger view.
Picture of the Day
Music Monday: Magnificat 1733
D Major
Language: Latin
Performed: Leipzig 1733
Image Source: Digitalisierte Sammlungen
Two hundred, ninety years ago…Johann Sebastian Bach performs a revised version of his Magnificat in D major, BWV 243, ending the mourning period for Augustus II the Strong, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland.
Johann Sebastian Bach‘s Magnificat, BWV 243, is a musical setting of the biblical canticle Magnificat. It is scored for five vocal parts (two sopranos, alto, tenor and bass) and a Baroque orchestra including trumpets and timpani. It is the first major liturgical composition on a Latin text by Bach. In 1723, after taking up his post as Thomaskantor in Leipzig, Bach set the text of the Magnificat in a twelve movement composition in the key of E-flat major. For a performance at Christmas he inserted four hymns (laudes) related to that feast. This version, including the Christmas interpolations, was given the number 243.1 in the catalogue of Bach’s works.
Likely for the feast of Visitation of 1733 or another feast in or around that year, Bach produced a new version of his Latin Magnificat, without the Christmas hymns…instrumentation of some movements were altered or expanded and, the key changed from E-flat major to D major for performance reasons of the trumpet parts. This version of Bach’s Magnificat is known as BWV 243.2 (previously BWV 243). After publication of both versions in the 19th century, the second became the standard for performance. It is one of Bach’s most popular vocal works.
In Leipzig, the Magnificat was regularly part of Sunday services, sung in German on ordinary Sundays but more elaborately and in Latin on the high holidays (Christmas, Easter and Pentecost) and on the three Marian feasts Annunciation, Visitation and Purification.
Apart from an early setting of the Kyrie, on a mixed Greek and German text (BWV 233a), all of Bach’s known liturgical compositions in Latin were composed during his tenure as Thomaskantor in Leipzig, from 1723 until his death in 1750. Compared to Lutheran practice elsewhere, an uncharacteristic amount of Latin was used in church services in Leipzig. An early account of Bach showing interest in liturgical practices in Leipzig dates from 1714 when he noted down the order of the service on the first Sunday in Advent during a visit to the town.
Bach assumed the position of Thomaskantor on May 30, 1723, the first Sunday after Trinity, performing an ambitious cantata in 14 movements, Die Elenden sollen essen, BWV 75, followed by a comparable cantata, Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre Gottes, BWV 76 the next Sunday.
Wikipedia Summary & History
POTD: New Year’s Eve 2022
Buena Vista, CO
Christmastime 2008
Click for a larger view.
This was my view from the backdoor of our room. The lodge backed up to the Arkansas River. It was a wonderful place to vacation for Christmas and New Year’s. Sadly, the lodge had to close, permanently, due to the Plandemic/Scamdemic. It’s heartbreaking. And, as far as I am concerned, good riddance to 2022. I have hopes that 2023 will be better but…it’s not likely. I will be raising a glass of bubbly to the awakening of humanity. ~Vic
Quick edit…this is a companion piece to Walsenburg.
From October 2014
From May 2015
Christmas 2022
Memories from my years in Texas. Merry Christmas, everyone. ~Vic
12-20-2005
Click for a larger view
12-20-2005
Click for a larger view.
12-20-2005
Click for a larger view.
12-18-2005
Click for a larger view.
Hans 2021 Movie Draft: Round Eleven-Pick Eight-Love Actually 2003
Hanspostcard has a movie draft challenge. This is my Round Eleven pick.
Category: Romance/Holiday/Animation
Film: Love Actually
All I have to say is, this is a great movie. It will make you laugh. It will make you cry. ~Vic
Written and directed by Richard Curtis (with six producers in tow), this is a Christmas romance romp with an all-star ensemble cast, mostly comprised of Brits. There are ten separate stories, that become interwoven in places…with one exception. This was Curtis’s Directorial Debut.
Filmed primarily in London, production was a collaboration between the US, the UK & France, with the first release on September 7, 2003, at the Toronto International Film Festival.
The movie opens with Prime Minister David talking about the state of the world.
[1] Rock and Roll legend Billy Mack records a Christmas version of the song Love Is All Around (by The Troggs). He thinks it’s crap but, he promotes it, anyway. He spends Christmas with his manager Joe and, you can see him on various TV sets throughout the movie.
[2] Best man Mark (a very young Andrew Lincoln sans Colt Python) is in love with Peter’s soon-to-be wife, Juliet, though they both believe that Mark dislikes her. He declares his love with cue cards on Christmas Eve.
[3] Jamie discovers his girlfriend is having an affair with his brother. He meets Aurélia but, she doesn’t speak any English. He learns Portuguese to communicate his love for her.
[4] Harry & Karen are happily married and raising their children. Mia is Harry’s new secretary. He is drawn to her and nearly destroys his marriage over her.
[5] Karen’s brother is David, the Prime Minister. He finds himself attracted to staffer Natalie and having to deal with the U.S. President.
[6] Daniel, Karen’s friend, is still mourning the loss of his wife, Joanna. His step-son Sam is interested in an American classmate, also named Joanna. Sam shows his affection for Joanna at the airport (before she returns to the US). Daniel crosses paths with Carol and is interested.
[7] Sarah works for Harry and is in love with Karl. Karl is interested but, Sarah’s mentally ill brother Michael is an issue.
[8] Colin tells his friend Tony that he is traveling to America to try to woo some women there. He meets Stacey, Jeannie and Carol-Anne in Milwaukee and they invite him to stay with them. Roommate Harriet shows up, later.
[9] John (a young Martin Freeman…Arthur Dent/Bilbo Baggins) and Judy meet as nude stand-ins for a film that Tony is a production assistant for. Comfortable with each other simulating sex, they are shy with clothes on, later.
[10] Rufus is a jewelry salesman, wrapping Harry’s gift for Mia and, he assists Sam at the airport in getting to Joanna before her flight. He was, originally, to be a Christmas angel but, a script re-write removed that part of the story.
a series of […] videos by Robert Palmer.
Image Credit: IMDb
Trivia Bits:
♦ Knowing about Billy Bob Thornton’s quite unusual fear of antique furniture, Hugh Grant would sometimes flash a piece of antique [furniture] (which is abundant in England) in front of Thornton just before the cameras rolled and watch him freak out in amusement (an issue that is part of the dialogue in Sling Blade).
♦ Simon Pegg was considered for the role of Rufus.
♦ For the role of her lovelorn character Karen, Emma Thompson has said that she drew on the immense heartbreak she experienced over former husband Kenneth Branagh’s affair with Helena Bonham Carter with whom he had co-starred, and directed, in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994). This extramarital affair ultimately led to their divorce in 1995.
♦ The airport greeting footage at the beginning and end of this movie is real. Writer/director Curtis had a team of cameramen film at Heathrow airport for a week and, whenever they saw something that would fit in, they asked the people involved for permission to use the footage.
♦ For her one-minute cameo, Claudia Schiffer received a reported £200,000 (roughly $300,000 U.S.).
Additional Reading:
Epilogue
Full Cast List
How We Made Love Actually (The Guardian/12-16-2013)
Christmas Day
Providing some wonderful Christmas music, a bit of humor and a flashback. I hope everyone has a lovely Christmas. ~Vic
Mary, Did You Know?
Christmas Must Be Tonight
Light of the Stable
Blue Christmas
House Lights From 2005
Christmas Countdown 15.0
This is my last countdown post. I’ve saved my favorite gingerbread house for last. I’ve been inside this place and you can feel its history. Unfortunately, I didn’t take any pictures when I was there. Before the world went insane, Ayr Mount would host Scottish Festivals. ~Vic
If you’d like to vote:
Homes for the Holidays 2020
12-09-2020
Click for a larger view.
Click for a larger view.
February 1965
Wikipedia & Wikimedia
Additional Information:
Ayr Mount (Classical American Homes Preservation Trust)
Ayr Mount Celebrates 200th Birthday (The News of Orange)
Cèilidh Scottish Festival (Visit Hillsborough NC)
Christmas Countdown 14.0
Some more sweet decorations. ~Vic
This tree is in front of our Fire Department.
12-09-2020
Click for a larger view.
Click for a larger view.
Hot Tin Roof Bar
12-13-2020
Click for a larger view.
Also at the Hot Tin Roof Bar.
Click for a larger view.
The ornaments are lit at night.
12-18-2020
Click for a larger view.
More natural decorations.
Click for a larger view.
Christmas Countdown 13.0
I did a write-up on the Colonial Inn back in May. This historic building has come a long way. It is, now, finally open for business after being vacant and crumbling for nearly 20 years. I wish them luck. ~Vic
If you’d like to vote:
Homes for the Holidays 2020
12-09-2020
Click for a larger view.
12-05-2020
Click for a larger view.
Christmas Countdown 12.0
Welcome to the Winter Solstice. ~Vic
From Why Christmas:
The evergreen Fir Tree has traditionally been used to celebrate winter festivals (Pagan and Christian) for thousands of years. Pagans used branches of it to decorate their homes during the winter solstice, as it made them think of the spring to come. The Romans used Fir Trees to decorate their temples at the festival of Saturnalia. Christians use it as a sign of everlasting life with God.
12-05-2020
12-09-2020
12-09-2020
Christmas Star
Image Credit: staffblogs.le.ac.uk
Christmas Countdown 11.0
I did a post on the Old Courthouse back in April. Now, it’s a Gingerbread House. ~Vic
If you’d like to vote:
Homes for the Holidays 2020
12-09-2020
Nice reflection of the Town Tree.
Click for a larger view.
Click for a larger view.
Christmas Countdown 10.0
Some nice decorations from a local business. The lady who owns this shop has a HUGE collection of cowboy boots. ~Vic
12-05-2020
Click for a larger view.
Click for a larger view.
Click for a larger view.
Christmas Countdown 9.0
Another Gingerbread House submission. I walk past this house every day. It’s nice to see these historical homes being restored. We had another house jacked up on on stilts 18 months ago while the foundation was repaired. ~Vic
If you’d like to vote:
Homes for the Holidays 2020
12-09-2020
Click for a larger view.
Trick the Eye
12-09-2020
Click for a larger view.
12-09-2020
Click for a larger view.
Folk Victorian Home
07-14-2020
Click for a larger view.
07-21-2020
Click for a larger view.
for the concrete basement/garage.
12-08-2020
Click for a larger view.
Christmas Countdown 8.0
Some more natural decorations. ~Vic
12-05-2020
Same Front Yard
12-13-2020
Click for a larger view.
The Crawford House
12-13-2020
Click for a larger view.
You can’t see this house from the street.
12-13-2020
Click for a larger view.
Christmas Countdown 7.0
The next Gingerbread House submission. ~Vic
If you’d like to vote:
Homes for the Holidays 2020
12-09-2020
Click for a larger view.
07-06-2019
Click for a larger view.
07-11-2018
Click for a larger view.