‘Writers of the Purple Sage’: A Poem by Roy E. Peterson The Society October 1, 2023 Culture, Music, Poetry 35 Comments . Writers of the Purple Sage What happened to the music? The writers of the West? The legends of the cowboys? The songs I loved the best? The outlaws and the posse? Please tell me where they went? The ones who...
A Madrigal Setting for ‘Come Away’ from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, by James A. Tweedie (Updated) The Society September 5, 2023 Music, Poetry, Shakespeare 6 Comments . A Madrigal Setting Music composed by James A. Tweedie for William Shakespeare's "Come Away" from Twelfth Night. Words by William Shakespeare are below. . . Come away, come away, death, __And in sad...
Critiquing Woke Language in Rolling Stone: A Poem by Maura H. Harrison The Society August 25, 2023 Culture, Music, Poetry 5 Comments . A Deeper Scaly Screed "'Rich Men North of Richmond' is a passionate screed against the state of the country sung by Oliver Anthony, who identifies as a farmer living off the grid with his three dogs in...
‘Tucson Sunday Morning’: Original Song and Lyrics by Roy E. Peterson The Society August 22, 2023 Beauty, Music, Poetry, Song Lyrics 15 Comments . . Tucson Sunday Morning Chorus: Tucson Sunday morning, See the sage brush come alive. Gold upon the Rincons, Catalina mountain sides. Saguaro in the desert Lift their silent arms in prayer. The mission...
‘Ghost in This House’ After Hugh Prestwood and Other Poetry by C.B. Anderson The Society August 14, 2023 Humor, Love Poems, Music, Poetry 17 Comments . Ghost in This House "I don’t mind staying in, there’s another ghost here. He sits down in your chair, and he shines with your light, And he lays down his head on your pillow at night.“ —lyrics from...
‘The Heavy Launch of the Siegfried Idyll‘: A Poem by Julian Woodruff The Society July 29, 2023 Beauty, Culture, Music, Poetry 18 Comments . The Heavy Launch of the Siegfried Idyll The landing offered just the space required for Wagner and the band that he had hired to play the idyl Cosima inspired, the mother of young Siegfried, whom he’d...
‘To Music’ and Other Poetry by Martin Rizley The Society June 2, 2023 Beauty, Music, Poetry 21 Comments . To Music Oh, Music, wherein lies your wondrous power To pierce the barren heart and open wide Joy's floodgate in the soul, that from inside Fresh streams may flow that make the desert flower? By what...
‘Bach’s Amazing Journey’ and Other Bach Poetry by Brian Yapko The Society May 16, 2023 Beauty, Culture, Music, Poetry 35 Comments . Bach's Amazing Journey In the autumn of 1705, when Johann Sebastian Bach was 20, he set out to travel over 275 miles (each way) on foot from Arnstadt, Thuringia, in the heart of what is now Germany, to...
Essay: ‘On the Musical Language of Poetry’ by A.J. Illingworth The Society April 12, 2023 Essays, Music, Poetry 21 Comments . On the Musical Language of Poetry In Defense of the Classical Style . by A.J. Illingworth The historical connection between music and poetry is no secret. Homer, in the first line of the Iliad, instructs...
‘Hymn’ and Other Poetry for Easter Sunday by Susan Jarvis Bryant The Society April 9, 2023 Beauty, Culture, Music, Poetry 21 Comments . Hymn I met Him on that Sunday afternoon I trod the Kentish cobbles through the streets Of Rochester past dwellings in the gloom Of fog laced with the waft of teashop treats. I entered the cathedral...
An Easter Poem and Song: ‘The Shroud of Death’ by James A. Tweedie The Society April 8, 2023 Beauty, Culture, Music, Poetry 12 Comments . . The Shroud of Death The shroud of death’s night-shadow fled Before the dawning light of day; Unveiling tombs wherein the dead In grave and solemn stillness lay. And earth-life voices stirred the...
‘The Lark in the Morning’: A Tune for St Patrick’s Day by Poet Jeff Eardley The Society March 17, 2023 Culture, Music, Poetry 15 Comments . "The Lark in the Morning" is a traditional Irish song performed on classical guitar by poet and professional musician Jeff Eardley: . . Jeff Eardley lives in the heart of England near to the Peak...
‘The Piano Student’: A Poem by Royal Rhodes The Society February 27, 2023 Beauty, Music, Poetry 6 Comments . The Piano Student Glissandos flow like rivers from the keys, One by one, you slide with practiced skill And let us hear some hidden melodies, Delighting in these notes that lift and thrill. When you play...
Modernism and the Murder of the People’s Poetry and Art: An Essay by Phillip Whidden The Society February 15, 2023 Art, Essays, Music, Poetry 60 Comments . Modernism and the Murder of the People’s Poetry and Art In Response to “Poetry Died 100 Years Ago this Month” by Matthew Walther in the New York Times . by Phillip Whidden First, let’s have a sonnet...
‘Instructions Set in Bone’: Poem by Peter Lillios Turned into Song The Society February 11, 2023 Beauty, Music, Poetry, Song Lyrics 20 Comments . "Instructions Set in Bone" by Peter Lillios was first published by the Society of Classical Poets here. Now songwriter Joseph DeNatale has created a version with adapted lyrics below. . . Instructions...
‘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 26 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 28 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 11 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, Chaucer, 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...