Category Archives: Arts

Left vs Conservatives in organisation and promotion

The outstanding feature of the leftist class is their ability to organize, promote and propagandise effectively. Leftist campaigns are the result of the coordination of a myriad of organizations, manipulation of media instruments and the tireless work of leaders without conscience. In contrast, conservatives show a reluctance to organize themselves into associations, organizations, clubs, and media groups and when they do, they appear to lack the energy and spirit to seek cooperation and coordination. There are exceptions but they are few in number.

Some time ago, John Sullivan, editor of Quadrant, pointed out that the left generally support the literary efforts of their class. One sees them lavishing extravagant praise on their works thus providing priceless promotion. The quality of the writing and ideas does not play a critical role. So long as the work fits the leftist project, its style is tolerable, and contains much witless sneering and ridicule of the enemies of the left, that’s enough. Witness the range of leftist works, authors and speakers the various writers festivals feature each year. I refer the reader to ‘MWD Scoop’ in Gerard Henderson’s Watch Dog No.357. Continue reading Left vs Conservatives in organisation and promotion

Christmas culture – the Hallelujah Chorus

The final posting on Christmas culture is the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ from Handel’s Messiah. The Messiah is normally performed during the Easter ceremonies particularly on Good Friday, but the Hallelujah Chorus is often sung as a finale to Christmas Carols programs as it was this year on the Nine Network’s Carols by Candlelight. Below is a performance by Andre Rieu’s company.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76RrdwElnTU

Christmas culture – J.S. Bach: Christmas Oratorio

The Telegraph (UK) has provided a list of the ten best pieces of classical music together with a link to a performance of each piece. Below is a performance of Bach’s beautiful Christmas Oratorio.

Some people have the idea Bach was always on his knees when he wrote church music. Not true. Here he stands up and shouts for joy. His Christmas Oratorio, composed in 1734, tells the entire Christmas story from the Birth right through the arrival and adoration of the Magi. This opening movement sets the mood. It’s in the celebratory key of D major, with lots of ‘royal’ trumpets for the Christ child, and the trilling oboes give a foretaste of the pastoral mood that comes later.

Christmas culture – The Nutcracker Ballet

The Nutcracker is a ballet in two acts. The score is by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and is one of his greatest and best known. Each year ballet companies around the  world stage the ballet at Christmas time. After all, it is a Christmas story. The Australian Ballet has new production of The Nutcracker for late December 2016 and January 2017. Below is a summary of the story and below that a youtube clip of a stunning performance at Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg, December 2012.

THE NUTCRACKER STORY

It is Christmas Eve, and the Stahlbaums are having a marvellous party. Drosselmeyer the Magician amazes everyone with his magical dolls, who come to life and dance for the guests. At the end of the party Drosselmeyer hands out presents for all the children, including a Nutcracker doll for Clara, the daughter of the house.

That night, Clara creeps downstairs to check on her precious gift. As midnight strikes, magic is unloosed and the Nutcracker comes alive to fight with the Mouse King. Clara saves him by throwing her slipper at the Mouse King – and the Nutcracker is transformed into a handsome prince.

The Prince takes Clara to the Kingdom of Sweets, where the grateful inhabitants, led by the Sugar Plum Fairy, perform a series of delicious dances to delight Clara. Afterwards, the Prince whisks Clara home and she wakes up at the foot of the Christmas tree – but was it really all a dream?