‘Harmony of the Spheres’ van Joep Franssens – weldadig mooi!

‘Harmony of the Spheres’ van de Nederlandse componist Joep Franssens is een op teksten van Spinoza getoonzet vijfdelig werk voor gemengd koor en (alleen in het middelste derde deel) kamerorkest. Meer informatie over dit werk vind je o.a. hier. Wat Franssens er zelf over heeft gezegd vind je hier en voor een diepgaande, muziekwetenschappelijke analyse klik je hier.

Een prachtige kerngedachte van Spinoza, die Franssens nadrukkelijk gebruikt in begin- en slotdeel van z’n ‘Harmony of the Spheres’, licht ik er nog even uit:
“Animi tamen non armis, sed amore et generositate vincuntur.”
(“Niet door wapens, maar door liefde en edelmoedigheid worden harten gewonnen.”)


Weldadig mooi!

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‘Kathy’s Song’ wonderfully covered by brilliant singer Sarah Jarosz

Ever since her beautiful debut album Song Up In Her Head I’m a great admirer of the young and fabulous American singer/songwriter Sarah Jarosz. Last week I was struck by her touching recent live performance of Simon & Garfunkel’s Kathy’s Song, recorded at The Troubadour in Los Angeles.

The lyrics:
I hear the drizzle of the rain
Like a memory it falls
Soft and warm continuing
Tapping on my roof and walls.

And from the shelter of my mind
Through the window of my eyes
I gaze beyond the rain-drenched streets
To England where my heart lies.

My mind’s distracted and diffused
My thoughts are many miles away
They lie with you when you’re asleep
And kiss you when you start your day.

And a song I was writing is left undone
I don’t know why I spend my time
Writing songs I can’t believe
With words that tear and strain to rhyme.

And so you see I have come to doubt
All that I once held as true
I stand alone without beliefs
The only truth I know is you.

And as I watch the drops of rain
Weave their weary paths and die
I know that I am like the rain
There but for the grace of you go I.

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