‘Look Up and See the Music’ by James A. Tweedie The Society January 26, 2023 Beauty, Music, Poetry 12 Comments . Look Up and See the Music Psalm 19:1 In winter, when the atmosphere is still And cold, and when the nighttime sky is clear, The stars and planets, fire and ice, blast chill- Blazed, hot-white light so bright...
A Classical Guitar Rendition of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ for Burns Night, by Jeff Eardley The Society January 25, 2023 Culture, Music, Poetry 17 Comments . Burns Night is when Scotland's most important bard, Robert Burns (1759-1796), is celebrated, usually with the recitation of Burns' poems, the eating of haggis, and the drinking of whiskey. It occurs on...
A Poem on the World Economic Forum’s Davos 2023, by Julian D. Woodruff The Society January 23, 2023 Culture, Music, Poetry 20 Comments . WEF, Davos, ‘23—A Modern Reply after “Endless Pleasure, Endless Love”* Endless hooey, endless snow, We’re exposed to here below. Ever on their riches leaning, Our tormentors strew their lies; While...
‘On Attending a Holiday Ensemble with My Wife’ by Jeremiah Johnson The Society December 27, 2022 Beauty, Music, Poetry 8 Comments . On Attending a Holiday Ensemble with My Wife We’re gathered in a colleague’s home, Invited to this performance; Watching musicians’ fingers roam, I’m taken to when providence Crossed mine with Dr....
Classical Guitar for Christmas Performed by Poet Jeff Eardley The Society December 23, 2022 Culture, Music, Poetry 25 Comments . A Christmas medley by poet Jeff Eardley: . . Jeff Eardley lives in the heart of England near to the Peak District National Park and is a local musician playing guitar, mandolin and piano steeped in the...
A Translation of Martin Luther’s Christmas Hymn Vom Himmel Hoch by James A. Tweedie The Society December 23, 2022 Culture, Music, Poetry, Translation 20 Comments . Vom Himmel Hoch by Martin Luther (1483-1546) translation by James A. Tweedie 1. From highest heaven I here befall To bring a good news tale to all. So much I want this tale to bring To tell it I will gladly...
‘The Tartini Tones’ by Joseph S. Salemi The Society December 18, 2022 Beauty, Culture, Music, Poetry 17 Comments . The Tartini Tones Combination tones generated by violins of good quality can be easily heard, affecting the perception of the intervals. The harmonic content of the dyad is enriched by the combination tones...
A Poem for Donald Trump: ‘Nessun Dorma’ by Monika Cooper The Society December 6, 2022 Beauty, Blank Verse, Music, Poetry 4 Comments . Nessun Dorma after the Italian libretto by Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni The aria "Nessun Dorma" was played for Donald and Melania Trump's first dance at their wedding in 2005. No sleep tonight. The...
Thomas Payne’s ‘Liberty Tree’ Set to Music by Jack DesBois The Society November 27, 2022 Culture, Music, Poetry, Song Lyrics 7 Comments . A contextual note: The American patriot Thomas Payne wrote "The Liberty Tree" early in the American Revolution; it was published in the Pennsylvania Magazine in July 1775. Payne wrote the song to be sung to...
Two Poems by Victor Hugo, Translated by Joshua C. Frank The Society November 5, 2022 Love Poems, Music, Poetry, Translation 10 Comments . Guitar by Victor Hugo (1802-1885) Translated by Joshua C. Frank Gastibelza, the rifleman coming to town, Sang loud and clear: “Has someone seen Doña Sabina around, Someone from here? O villagers, sing...
‘Carcassonne’ and Other Poetry by Gustave Nadaud, Translated by Joshua C. Frank The Society September 21, 2022 Beauty, Culture, Humor, Music, Poetry, Translation 18 Comments . Carcassonne by Gustave Nadaud (1820-1893) Translated by Joshua C. Frank “At sixty years, I’m getting old, And I’ve been working all my days Not being able to behold Fulfillment of my wishing gaze. I...
‘Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition’ and Other Poetry by Brian Yapko The Society September 2, 2022 Culture, Music, Poetry 20 Comments . Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition Although this mad world’s headed for perdition, Don’t cower or wring hands with misery. Spines straight, my friends! Choose gumption and ambition Just like the...
‘A Stranger in Your Land’ by Damian Robin, After Dimash Qudaibergen The Society August 16, 2022 Beauty, Music, Poetry 12 Comments . A Stranger in Your Land after Dimash Qudaibergen’s song “Stranger” A lonely stranger in your land__where you are strange to me,underfoot, your rock and sand__enfold your land, your sea. I haul my...
‘Lament of the Little White Horse’ by Paul Fort, Translated by Joshua C. Frank The Society August 13, 2022 Beauty, Music, Poetry, Translation 11 Comments . Lament of the Little White Horse by Paul Fort (1872-1960) Translated by Joshua C. Frank The little horse in the weather so dread, What courage he had inside! A little horse as white as white bread, All...
‘Byrd in Flight’ and ‘Summer Sunday Baroque’ by Cynthia Erlandson The Society August 10, 2022 Beauty, Culture, Music, Poetry 24 Comments . Byrd in Flight The surplice-vested, five-part choir, Like sparrows on a five-tiered wire, Gives flight to canticles of Byrd. The flocks of lightweight, living notes Ascend to where celestial thoughts Send...
Percy Bysshe Shelley Poem Put to Music for Death Commemoration, by Guntbert Markefka The Society July 7, 2022 Beauty, Love Poems, Music, Poetry 5 Comments . . Introduction Percy Bysshe Shelley was born August 4, 1792 and died in a boating accident on July 8, 1822. To mark the 200th anniversary of his death, Guntbert “Gunny” Markefka and the Powerpoets...
‘On Palestrina’s Music’ by Margaret Coats The Society June 30, 2022 Beauty, Culture, Music, Poetry 27 Comments . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHUuaA8DKiQ . On Palestrina's Music Sicut cervus desiderat ad fontes aquarum, Ita desiderat anima mea ad te, Deus. Psalmus 41:2 As the deer desires springs of water, So my...
A Translation and Musical Setting of Victor Hugo’s Poem, ‘Demain, dès l’Aube,’ by James A. Tweedie The Society May 9, 2022 Beauty, Music, Poetry, Translation 11 Comments . "Tomorrow, at Dawn" Sung in English . "Tomorrow, at Dawn" Sung in French . Tomorrow, at Dawn by Victor Hugo (1802-1885) Translation by James A. Tweedie Tomorrow, when the countryside is kissed by...
‘Lost Song’ by Jack DesBois The Society April 9, 2022 Beauty, Music, Poetry, Song Lyrics 10 Comments . https://youtu.be/LllN9NflfR8 . Lost Song A compass that won’t point the way, And a map of the faraway skies… I once was a child of grace; No matter the country I trod My feet found the path in its...
‘Dueling Violins’ by Tamara Beryl Latham The Society March 18, 2022 Beauty, Culture, Music, Poetry 10 Comments . Dueling Violins Yanni, Karen Briggs and Shardad Rohani live at the Acropolis in 1993 Anticipating each half-note he brings to life, her fingers stretch to find the grooves. Perfection springs, as sound is...
Share Your St. Patrick’s Day Poetry (with Music by Jeff Eardley) The Society March 17, 2022 Beauty, Culture, Music, Poetry 15 Comments . Happy St. Patrick's Day! Share your St. Patrick's Day Poetry in the comments section below. While writing and posting, enjoy an Irish medley of songs, “Chief O Neil’s” followed by “The Red-Haired...
‘Young Strongbow’: An Anonymous American Ballad Presented by Jack DesBois The Society March 6, 2022 Culture, Music, Poetry, Readings, Song Lyrics 7 Comments . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaAv09XqwAY . Young Strongbow anonymous American ballad (Words in parentheses are alternate lyrics suggested by other extant versions of the song.) To Dartmouth’s...
‘Salieri on Mozart’ by Brian Yapko The Society February 26, 2022 Beauty, Culture, Music, Poetry 26 Comments . Salieri on Mozart More wine, Signore... Should I say mein Herr? I know! French cognac. Spirits help me share Dark thoughts. Now listen. I take one full year To pen these operas Kaiser Josef lauds; Then you...
A Valentine from Geoffrey Chaucer, Margaret Coats, and James A. Tweedie The Society February 14, 2022 Beauty, Culture, Love Poems, Music, Poetry, Readings, Rondel, Translation, Video 21 Comments . https://youtu.be/3XWcnISYGSE . Rondel for Saint Valentine's Day by Geoffrey Chaucer (c.1340–1400) | modernized in the original lyric form by Margaret Coats Now welcome, springtime, with your gentle...
‘Ode to Joy’ and Other Poetry by Brian Yapko The Society February 5, 2022 Beauty, Covid-19, Culture, Music, Poetry 29 Comments . Ode to Joy My final symphony---my best by far!--- Which crowns a challenged life of brilliant works. Vienna’s finest came! Some from afar: Nobility, musicians, Prussians, Turks. A triumph! Yet it made my...
‘Bach in Heidelberg’ by Lionel Willis The Society January 27, 2022 Beauty, Culture, Music, Poetry 7 Comments . Bach in Heidelberg for Marjorie Bach’s chorus didn’t leave us much to say After the Easter Monday concert in The Holy Spirit Church. Taking our way Over the Old Bridge seemed like we’d just...
‘To Tchaikovsky’ by A.N. Apukhtin, Translated by Olga Dumer The Society January 22, 2022 Beauty, Culture, Music, Poetry, Translation 13 Comments . To Tchaikovsky by A.N. Apukhtin (1840-1893) | Translated from Russian by Olga Dumer With my musician friend’s departure A minor key pervades my lines. Yet, like a fugue’s evolving texture, Old...
An Excerpt of Jack DesBois’s Western Star for Epiphany: January 6, 2022 The Society January 6, 2022 Beauty, Culture, Music, Poetry, Song Lyrics 4 Comments . https://youtu.be/dYyxThEY71o . An Excerpt from The Western Star for Epiphany, January 6, 2022 The road stretched out forever in the morning, giving Balthazar plenty of time and space for thought. The...
‘Forever and Evermore’ by Margaret Hunt Brisbane, Put to Music by Gunny Markefka The Society January 2, 2022 Beauty, Found Poem, Music, Poetry 12 Comments . Introduction In a second-hand bookshop, located in the French Quarter (New Orleans), I discovered a poetry book by Margaret Hunt Brisbane (1858-1925). It had been in mid spring of 2005, a couple of months...
Three for Christmas Day: Poetry and Music by James A. Tweedie The Society December 25, 2021 Beauty, Culture, Music, Poetry, Song Lyrics 12 Comments . Introduction Each year I compose or arrange music in celebration of Christmas. This year I have created three arrangements of familiar Christmas music, each introduced by a poem. The organ piece is based on...
‘A Wretch Like Me’: a Christmas poem by Joe Tessitore, set to music by Jack DesBois The Society December 25, 2021 Beauty, Culture, Music, Poetry, Video 10 Comments . https://youtu.be/fx3NidSVFKk . A Wretch Like Me by Joe Tessitore To miss the mark, to lose my way,To choose the dark, on Christmas Day.No star I see, no Virgin Birth,No joy for me, no peace on earth. But...
Two Poems by Bécquer, Translated by Cheryl Corey The Society December 18, 2021 Beauty, Culture, Music, Poetry, Translation 10 Comments . The Harp by Gustavo Bécquer | from Spanish by Cheryl Corey Obscured by corner shadows, gathering dust, perhaps forgotten over time—there stands the silent harp. So many hidden notes entombed on muted...
‘Bidenflation’ to the Tune of ‘Tomorrow’ by Will Spiller The Society December 15, 2021 Humor, Music, Poetry, Song Lyrics 1 Comment . . Bidenflation to the finale of “Tomorrow” from the musical Annie Fuel prices go up Tomorrow Bet your shrinking dollar that tomorrow They will soar! Inflation will rise Tomorrow All the things you...
‘There Was a Free Nation That Swallowed a Lie,’ Nursery Rhyme Sung by Jack DesBois The Society December 12, 2021 Beauty, Covid-19, Humor, Music, Poetry, Song Lyrics, Video 13 Comments . There Was a Free Nation That Swallowed a Lie sung to the tune of "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly" . https://youtu.be/luLcKkCHWFo There was a free nation that swallowed a lie. I don’t know why...
‘A Vagabond Song’ by Bliss Carman, Put to Music by Jack DesBois The Society October 31, 2021 Beauty, Music, Poetry, Readings 7 Comments . . A Vagabond Song by Bliss Carman (1861-1929) There is something in the autumn that is native to my blood -- Touch of manner, hint of mood; And my heart is like a rhyme, With the yellow and the purple...
‘Why Freedom Had to Die’: A Song by Jack DesBois The Society October 6, 2021 Covid-19, Humor, Music, Poetry, Song Lyrics, Video 3 Comments . https://youtu.be/ErwnJkA4G68 inspired by a T-shirt at a Boston freedom rally You may be wondering why Freedom had to die. You may be wondering why Freedom had to die. If you were wondering why Freedom had...
‘Biden Blues’ for the 4th Worldwide Demonstration for Freedom, by Jack DesBois The Society September 19, 2021 Culture, Music, Poetry 24 Comments . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhNIScHrUOM&t=4s . Biden Blues When I was just a kid,I’d shout and I’d refuse.My mama taught me, be polite,Taught me the words to use:No thank you, Joe; no thank you,...
‘California Wildfires’ to the Tune of ‘California Dreamin,’ by Margaret Coats The Society September 17, 2021 Culture, Humor, Music, Poetry 25 Comments . California Wildfires to the tune of “California Dreamin’” All her landscape bronzed, Her breezes ashen gray, What can Cali dream on, Despoiled and rechauffée? Never safe, too sultry In her disarray ....
A Vaccine Mandate Protest Song by Jack DesBois The Society August 30, 2021 Covid-19, Music, Poetry, Song Lyrics, Video 91 Comments . Waking Up (Freedom Doesn't Come in a Can) A Protest Song Written and Performed by Jack DesBois I was lying in my bed, Waiting for the day to start, Waiting for the sun to get me on my way, And I...
‘Riots Everywhere’ by Jeff Kemper, After Hank Snow’s ‘I’ve Been Everywhere’ The Society July 11, 2021 Culture, Music, Poetry 28 Comments . The below poem is a memoir of the summer of 2020, to be sung to the tune of “I’ve Been Everywhere,” with apologies to Geoff Mack and Hank Snow. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6JSfp6Az3k . I was...