life life life

From the YouTube Music Video Archives: Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 (‘Resurrection’) – Finale

April 9, 2023 by Angelico Nguyen at 10:00 am

“Why have you lived? Why have you suffered? Is it all some huge, awful joke? We have to answer these questions somehow if we are to go on living – indeed, even if we are only to go on dying!” These are the questions Mahler said were posed in the first movement of his Symphony No. 2, questions that he promised would be answered in the finale.

–John Henken, Los Angeles Philharmonic, ‘About the Piece’

The full symphony is available on YouTube here, courtesy of the Netherlands’ Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.

Quin Finnegan has more on Mahler (and Percy!) here.

9 Comments Filed Under: Angelic guest posting, cut and paste, Heaven, the God problem, the problem of pain, Things to discuss with Walker Percy over drinks, YouTubular Tagged With: Age of Anxiety, Catholicish composers, converts, Death, Dudamel, Easter, Fin de siècle, gloria, Happy Old Austria, hurts so good, Know Your Heresies, Kopy-Kattery: Quintile, Life, life life life, Mahler, Orchestral botrytis is safe in small doses, Pelagianism Caution, Resurrexit sicut dixit, The Beeb, Triduum, Yes the lyrics are proximate to heresy but I listen to it for the beat

‘… Still With You.’

April 9, 2023 by Angelico Nguyen at 12:00 am

From the Armadio degli Argenti of Blessed John of Fiesole, OP (Fra Angelico), c. 1450

‘… I rose up and am still with you.’

Psalm 139: 18

17 Comments Filed Under: Angelic guest posting, Earth, for self-examination, Heaven, Life, me, Saints, the God problem, you Tagged With: Alleluia, be not afraid, Caro cardo salutis, Dominicana, Easter, Fra Angelico, gloria, Holy Week, Life, life life life, Mary Magdalene, Resurrexit sicut dixit, sequential art, The God Problem and the God Solution can be hard to distinguish, Triduum, Veritas

O Filii et Filiæ

April 16, 2012 by Angelico Nguyen at 1:45 pm

Dignity, gravity, and meditative sobriety combine with Easter joy in this hymn, a favorite of mine. The verses on the doubting of Thomas are especially moving.

Alleluia! alleluia! alleluia!
O sons and daughters of the King,
Whom heav’nly hosts in glory sing,
Today the grave hath lost its sting!
Alleluia!
That Easter morn, at break of day,
The faithful women went their way
To seek the tomb where Jesus lay.
Alleluia!
An angel clad in white they see
Who sits and speaks unto the three,
“Your Lord will go to Galilee.”
Alleluia!
That night the Apostles met in fear;
Among them came their master dear
And said: “My peace be with you here.”
Alleluia!
When Thomas first the tidings heard
That they had seen the risen Lord,
He doubted the disciples’ word.
Alleluia!
“My piercèd side, O Thomas, see,
And look upon My hands, My feet;
Not faithless but believing be.”
Alleluia!
No longer Thomas then denied;
He saw the feet, the hands, the side;
“You are my Lord and God!” he cried.
Alleluia!
How blest are they that have not seen
And yet whose faith has constant been,
For they eternal life shall will.
Alleluia!
On this most holy day of days
Be laud and jubilee and praise:
To God your hearts and voices raise.
Alleluia!
Alleluia! alleluia! alleluia!