FRIDAY 10TH JULY

“Music has charms to soothe the savage breast.” So said William Congreve in his play The Mourning Bride (1697)



Here are some of my favourite quotes on the subject of music -

Of all noises, I think music is the least disagreeable. (Samuel Johnson)

I don't know anything about music. In my line you don't have to. (Elvis Presley)

Wagner's music is better than it sounds. (Edgar Wilson Nye)

Music is the only language in which you cannot say a mean or sarcastic thing. (John Erskine)

Music with dinner is an insult both to the cook and the musicians. (G.K. Chesterton)

In the presence of great music we have no alternative but to live nobly. (Sean O’Faolin)

An intellectual snob is someone who can listen to the William Tell Overture and not think of The Lone Ranger. (Dan Rather)

After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music. (Aldous Huxley)

Opera is when a guy gets stabbed in the back and, instead of bleeding, he sings. (Ed Gardner)

Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence. (Robert Fripp)

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This painting “Jeunes Filles au Piano” is by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919)



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Continuing the theme of music, the following lines by W.G. Rothery are very often sung to a melody by Handel -

Art thou troubled?
Music will calm thee,
Art thou weary?
Rest shall be thine,
Rest shall be thine.

Music, source of all gladness,
Heals thy sadness
At her shrine,
Music, music, ever divine.
Music, music calleth
With voice divine.

When the welcome spring is smiling,
All the earth with flow'rs beguiling,
After winter's dreary reign,
Sweetest music doth attend her,
Heav'nly harmonies doth lend her,
Chanting praises in her train,
Chanting praises in her train.

Art thou troubled?
Music will calm thee.

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“The Music Lesson” is by one of the Pre-Raphaelite painters Sir Frederick Leighton (1830-1896)



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Finally, this piece of music used to be a favourite with youngsters learning the piano. It was known as the “Celebrated Minuet by Boccherini.” The accompanying paintings and drawings are all from the 18th century.



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Thanks to Webweaver for the use of the clipart item.
http://www.webweaver.nu/clipart/victorian.shtml

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