Tea at Trianon: An English Ladymass

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Saturday, May 9, 2009

An English Ladymass

An English Ladymass by Anonymous4 is one of my most beloved CDs. I was delighted to find some reflections about it, HERE. Share

8 comments:

Unknown said...: I also enjoy Anonymous 4 An English Ladymass, but recently discovered Schola Gothia An English Lady Mass by Thomas Packe, which I find to be superb.
http://www.millenniumofmusic.com/sound/0849Player.php; May 9, 2009 at 7:27:00 AM EDT
elena maria vidal said...: I'll have to check that out!; May 9, 2009 at 8:53:00 AM EDT
Stephanie A. Mann said...: Guy, thanks for that link--that site is incredible: I'm listening now to a recording from the Abbey of Chevetogne in Belgium. So many wonderful performances are available from the Millennium of Music! It's in my favorites now.; May 9, 2009 at 2:30:00 PM EDT
The Harlequin King said...: You too!?

I actually just got in contact with Anonymous 4, asking them to put the sheet music for the Introit in the English Ladymass (Salve Sancta Parens) up in their sheet music store. They said they'd get on it as soon as possible.; May 10, 2009 at 5:35:00 PM EDT
Alexandra said...: Thanks for introducing me to this. I listened to half the samples over at Amazon before I decided I had to have this CD! There were used copies for less than $3.00 which was perfect.; May 10, 2009 at 7:03:00 PM EDT
Anonymous said...: This music is hauntingly beautiful!! It gives me goosebumps!!; May 11, 2009 at 2:28:00 AM EDT
John Wing said...: Thank you for your wonderful music suggestion. I have just ordered it from Amazon, as well as another CD that was featured: The Lily and the Lamb: Chant and Polyphony from Medieval England. I am looking forward to indulging some gorgeous and timeless music.; May 11, 2009 at 12:11:00 PM EDT
elena maria vidal said...: I am so glad we are all like minded about beautiful music! I would also like to recommend the Anonymous4 "Miracles of Santiago" which is all music from the great shrine of Compostela.; May 11, 2009 at 12:15:00 PM EDT