Art is an insignificant attempt at reproducing what God does every moment. – George Harrison
All posts by Rondi Adamson
Honouring Holocaust Victims by Bringing their Music to Life
I first saw this report on 60 Minutes in December – the entire transcript with video clips is here. It tells the story of Francesco Lotoro, an Italian man who has dedicated his energy to discovering the music written by prisoners of Nazi death camps and bringing it to life. What a blessing he is, as is his wife.
Aided by his wife, Grazia, who works at the local post office to support the family, Lotoro has collected and catalogued more than 8,000 pieces of music, including symphonies, operas, folk songs, and Gypsy tunes scribbled on everything from food wrapping to telegrams, even potato sacks.
The couple have established a foundation to archive the music and their work in their native Barletta, in the Puglia region of Italy. When/if I am lucky enough to return to Italy, I will visit Barletta and the Lotoros’ foundation.
Very Sad News
Valentine
Debussy for Elephants
Beryl O’Links: St. Brigid’s Day Edition
Whatever happened to Notre Dame’s bees?
A good piece (by Ray Pennings, an acquaintance from media circles) about the dangers in Canada’s assisted dying legislation.
Novel written at Auschwitz to be published in English.
Hussein Aboubakr gives me hope. So does Mohammed Saud.
Give this man – a kitten-rescuer – all the awards!
Another man who deserves all the awards.
In my view, this is a legitimate reason to nuke a country.
In Sweden’s most notoriously anti-Semitic city, a rabbi and an imam are trying to make a positive difference.
The librarian who saved Timbuktu’s cultural treasures from al Qaeda.
Never stop! Centenarian Japanese photojournalist is still working.
International Holocaust Remembrance Day
Please read my “Series of Unpleasant Experiences.”
Robbie Burns Day
I’m on time for Burns Day – not a week late as I was for Milne (see post below). Check out what I wrote two years ago, which in turn links to a previous Burns-related item.
Disobedience
Apparently, it was Winnie-the-Pooh day last Saturday. I missed it, but I wanted to link to this piece about A.A. Milne, nonetheless. I was and am a Pooh fan, but I think I love Milne’s books of poetry for children more. They were a big part of my childhood – my mother would recite “Rice Pudding” to us if we complained about our meals – and they are so clever it would be a mistake to think they can only be enjoyed by children. “Disobedience” is, in my view, an absolute gem. I offer it, forthwith:
Disobedience
James James
Morrison Morrison
Weatherby George Dupree
Took great
Care of his Mother,
Though he was only three.
James James Said to his Mother,
“Mother,” he said, said he;
“You must never go down
to the end of the town,
if you don’t go down with me.”James James
Morrison’s Mother
Put on a golden gown.
James James Morrison’s Mother
Drove to the end of the town.
James James Morrison’s Mother
Said to herself, said she:
“I can get right down
to the end of the town
and be back in time for tea.”King John
Put up a notice,
“LOST or STOLEN or STRAYED!
JAMES JAMES MORRISON’S MOTHER
SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN MISLAID.
LAST SEEN
WANDERING VAGUELY:
QUITE OF HER OWN ACCORD,
SHE TRIED TO GET DOWN
TO THE END OF THE TOWN –
FORTY SHILLINGS REWARD!”James James
Morrison Morrison
(Commonly known as Jim)
Told his
Other relations
Not to go blaming him.
James James
Said to his Mother,
“Mother,” he said, said he:
“You must never go down to the end of the town
without consulting me.”James James
Morrison’s mother
Hasn’t been heard of since.
King John said he was sorry,
So did the Queen and Prince.
King John
(Somebody told me)
Said to a man he knew:
If people go down to the end of the town, well,
what can anyone do?”(Now then, very softly)
J.J.
M.M.
W.G.Du P.
Took great
C/O his M*****
Though he was only 3.
J.J. said to his M*****
“M*****,” he said, said he:
“You-must-never-go-down-to-the-end-of-the-town-
if-you-don’t-go-down-with-ME!”