The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to our Brains
(In light of Saint Isidore of Seville, patron of the internet, here is a re-post of a review from 2016, on Nicholas Carr's book,...
The Two Passions of J.S. Bach
As we begin Holy Week with this Passion Sunday, it is fitting to suggest some music to fit the season, here the two settings...
Six Organ Concertos By Handel
On this Laetare Sunday, where we may mitigate our Lenten practices somewhat, symbolized by the subdued colour of liturgical rose, and the organ may...
Allegri’s Miserere and Mozart’s Memory
On this Third Sunday of Lent, it is fitting to remind ourselves of Allegri's Miserere, his unsurpassed musical setting of Psalm 51, recited in...
Rabanus Maurus and the Veni Creator
February 4th is the traditional memorial of the the erudite Frankish monk, Rabanus Maurus (+856), one of the most learned men of his age,...
Listening in the Silence – A Meditative and Musical Offering
Today's reading from Samuel, telling the origin story of our biblical hero, ends with the words of the prophet, 'speak, Lord, for thy servant...
Keeping the Christmas Caroling: In Dulce Iubilo, the Wexford, and A Rose in Winter.
With the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God yesterday - or, in the usus antiquior, the Circumcision - the Octave of Christmas closes, but...
A Christmas Carol
Charles Dickens' novella A Christmas Carol was first published on December 19, 1843, and it has been a much beloved classic ever since. Sure,...
Handel’s Miraculous Messiah
Handel's Messiah, first performed on April 13th, 1742 (in Dublin of all places) was Composed by a German, who had become a naturalised Brit,...
Solzhenitsyn: A Soul in Exile
I just finished reading Joseph Pearce’s biography of Alexander Solzhenitsyn, subtitled ‘A Soul in Exile’, a remarkable book, packing a very full life into...