... that Anna Korsun, a composer who studied in Kyiv and Munich, and teaches in Amsterdam, was awarded a scholarship at the Villa Massimo in Rome in 2018?
2022 talk begins at #2022 in Freundschaft, 2022 images (my calender pics, new year's resolution "in friendship" and musical events) begin here, and the 2022 diary (my own pictures of places, songs, food, flowers ...) begins here, - just watch if you are interested.
My motto for 2022 is taken from In Freundschaft, an article about a composition by Karlheinz Stockhausen, written by missed Jerome Kohl with whom I often exchanged thoughts in friendship. With great help from friends, it became a GA last year, and I translated it to German on 1 January this year.
While garden was a key topic last year, I want to focus on songs in 2022, beginning with Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr, in memory of Erhard Egidi. Other topics are ongoing, and I began to mark groups on my user page. I love collaboration, which also shows there. Just check 2021 for the amazing number of users who began articles we expanded. Thanks also to reviewers, and I do plan to review more and write less, and in writing, focus more on quality than the little daily article, which was a pleasant sport for five years, but not so much in the name of WP:QAI - article improvement. Below I keep - for now - some entries from last year, those related to friendship. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:22, 1 January 2021 (UTC)[reply]
My talk goes like this: on top there's the latest DYK (Elena Gusevaas I write this, will change to Die ersten Menschen tomorrow); next to the TOC are boxes from my life, one for the month (with a pic I took last year, and songs), one for those remembered (Georg Christoph Biller and Heinz Werner Zimmermann now, name bold when on the Main page as Recent deaths that day, but that was yesterday), one for the last concert or opera heard (student concert), one for experience related to the DYK (if there is one, name bold, now Die tote Stadt), one for the last church, with songs (Las Palmas, on vacation, with stylised palm trees for columns). They usually go backwards in time, so yesterdays concert first, last year's opera last.
On 28 January 2021, Did you know was updated with a fact from the article Jerome Kohl, which you recently created, substantially expanded, or brought to good article status. The fact was ... that Jerome Kohl, a music theorist of the University of Washington, was recognized internationally as an authority on the composer Karlheinz Stockhausen, publishing a book on his Zeitmaße in 2017? The nomination discussion and review may be seen at Template:Did you know nominations/Jerome Kohl. You are welcome to check how many pageviews the nominated article or articles got while on the front page (here's how, Jerome Kohl), and if they received a combined total of at least 416.7 views per hour (ie, 5,000 views in 12 hours or 10,000 in 24), the hook may be added to the statistics page. Finally, if you know of an interesting fact from another recently created article, then please feel free to suggest it on the Did you know talk page.
I looked up to Jerome from the day he came in my life (in 2009, telling me that was a reliable source said about Stockhausen was wrong, - it's still on the talk of Siegfried Palm, my second article), and I imagine our conversations - thoughtful, on a meadow - as pictured, in the spirit of Stockhausen's wonderful titles: In Freundschaft, Kontakte, Originale, Licht ... We never met. We edit-warred over Wittener Tage für neue Kammermusik and Georg Katzer, but always with respect. (If you want a tedious task, change the now deprecated parenthetical references, in hundreds of articles.) We worked together on many other. He thanked me for links to performers of Stockhausen's music, and I tried to mention their relation to the composer on the Main page, see Wolfgang Marschner (intentionally in memory), and before.
I have a much simpler guide to arbitration. After spending many months working on it, cutting a word here, finessing a phrase there, I finally arrived at the final version. Here it is, the Ultimate Guide to Arbitration: Don't.
... last line: Das Land ist hell und weit. The land is bright and wide. (written in 1989 in Germany's East, when it was dark and narrow.) Trust the new ways. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:51, 14 March 2021 (UTC)[reply]
... I'd add User:RexxS/Infobox factors to the essays about accessibility. I miss him... We have a RfC for Peter Sellers, and a reverted infobox (not a good one I admit, but a good one was suggested in 2012) for Cosima Wagner, and in both cases users could just have looked up his essay, instead of saying that once upon a time some "principal authors" said that an accessibility feature was not wanted for "their" FA. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:57, 9 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
DYK for La Passion selon Sade
On 24 October 2021, Did you know was updated with a fact from the article La Passion selon Sade, which you recently created, substantially expanded, or brought to good article status. The fact was ... that the title of La Passion selon Sade, an opera by Sylvano Bussotti(pictured with star Cathy Berberian), caused a scandal at its premiere and had to be changed for the next performance? The nomination discussion and review may be seen at Template:Did you know nominations/La Passion selon Sade. You are welcome to check how many pageviews the nominated article or articles got while on the front page (here's how, La Passion selon Sade), and if they received a combined total of at least 416.7 views per hour (i.e., 5,000 views in 12 hours or 10,000 in 24), the hook may be added to the statistics page. Finally, if you know of an interesting fact from another recently created article, then please feel free to suggest it on the Did you know talk page.
From an archived thread: Br'er Rabbit, RexxS, LouisAlain, you are my friends, and I am sure that Wikipedia would be better with you than without you. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:22, 17 October 2021 (UTC)[reply]
LouisAlain, this article is dedicated to you! Scandal seems to fit better than a hymn ;) I miss your inspiration, translation of cultural topics you found in obscure corners, good spirits, thankful heart. Thank you for literary context from Kafka to Schopenhauer. You others: please give me some of any of these because I thrive on them. I believe it's a scandal that we found no constructive way of collaboration, - I felt so talking in vain in the AN thread. Au revoir, and for a hymn after all, there's Möge die Straße uns zusammenführen, and telling you and myself: "go on with life, have a laugh, don't get too upset". --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:49, 24 October 2021 (UTC)[reply]
Hallo Gerda and thanks for completing drafts I involuntarily left behind. Still active on the French Wiki although at a much slower pace than before. Like the Olympics in 1900, the aim and values were praise worthy then and now... I still have fun translating articles from German and English under I.P though, the attribution issue being now completely meaningless.
I post this message from a Parisian cybercafe so if any well meant sysop wants to delete it and block the E.P, who cares ?
On 28 October 2021, Did you know was updated with a fact from the article In Freundschaft, which you recently created, substantially expanded, or brought to good article status. The fact was ... that In Freundschaft was composed in friendship by Karlheinz Stockhausen as a clarinet solo for Suzanne Stephens(pictured), and later adapted to the instruments of other friends? The nomination discussion and review may be seen at Template:Did you know nominations/In Freundschaft. You are welcome to check how many pageviews the nominated article or articles got while on the front page (here's how, In Freundschaft), and if they received a combined total of at least 416.7 views per hour (i.e., 5,000 views in 12 hours or 10,000 in 24), the hook may be added to the statistics page. Finally, if you know of an interesting fact from another recently created article, then please feel free to suggest it on the Did you know talk page.
Hi Gerda, sorry to be a pain in the tail but I reverted this good faith edit because it didn't ask a question. As you can see from the relevant case page, I recommended that Arbcom decline the case and thought that RexxS exhibited no more than mild incivility, that was running rampant throughout the world during the start of COVID, and I agree with SV's comment " I want to add that he is one of the most genuinely kind editors I've had the pleasure to encounter. You may not get fake politeness from him, but you have found a friend if you ever need one." which I can wholeheartedly endorse from personal experience having met him in the pub several times. It would be nice to see if somebody can suggest a constructive action that has a reasonable chance of RexxS returning and contributing to Wikipedia, but I don't think that's it. Sorry. Ritchie333(talk)(cont)11:40, 15 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]
Ritchie, I don't think you understood. I wanted to know from Beeblebrox if the next time an appeal such as Sarah's - "every editor is a human being" - came around (regardless which case) he would listen. I don't know if he didn't see that appeal then, or saw it but it didn't change things for him. I thought that was clear without a question mark, also that without an answer, I'd not vote for him, or any other who accepted the case, before or after Sarah pleaded, because even arbs may change their mind and should follow the complete request discussion. The relevant discussion happened on Hammersoft's page, urging the one who filed the case to withdraw it, but - as we know - in vain. How may I word my censored question? I want arb's who listen to people like Sarah (knowing that there's no one like her), probably women ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:33, 15 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]
I would go with "You accepted the RexxS arbitration case, despite many users including SarahSV suggesting it should be declined, not least because "every editor is a human being". Can you explain how it is acceptable to take action that causes long-term editors to quit the project, and what we might to do mitigate this?" Ritchie333(talk)(cont)12:37, 15 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]
That could be your question ;) - I want only Sarah's, not the others, to keep things "übersichtlich" for someone (unfamiliar with the case, and again, it's not about that particular case) who wants to put the candidate's answer in context (and would have to read only one, not the others). - Let me think a bit, first I have other things to do. My design was to ask candidates not involved in that case: Would you have listened to SarahSV's appeal to decline the case? (with a link), but its a silly question for someone who obviously didn't. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:44, 15 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]
Today, the TFA mentions When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd, created by a QAI member who was banned, the article taken to GA afterwards. Aga Mikolaj was created by banned friend LouisAlain who made the mistake to try to defend himself, which made things worse. RexxS has been criticised for not defending himself (in the arb case that I believe should not have been accepted, and that SlimVirgin pleaded not to accept), but I followed his model (better than falling in the other trap, not really versed in the language, misunderstanding ...). Think about the arb candidates' answers, you all. Some would not listen to SlimVirgin, so probably not to Littleolive oil who defended? ... not to valereee who said an apology worked for her? ... so perhaps not to women in general? I am happy that Opabinia regalis is standing! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:51, 18 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]
Gianni Schicchi is a comic opera in one act by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Giovacchino Forzano, composed in 1917–18. The work is the third and final part of Puccini's Il trittico, three one-act operas with contrasting themes, following the dramatic Il tabarro and the lyric Suor Angelica. The libretto is based on an incident mentioned in Dante's Divine Comedy. Set in 1299 Florence, the title character pretends to be a rich citizen who had died, dictating a new will in favour of the deceased's family members but especially of himself (scene in the premiere pictured). The comedy, a rarity in the composer's work, combines elements of Puccini's modern harmonic dissonances with lyrical passages such as the aria "O mio babbino caro". When Il trittico premiered at New York's Metropolitan Opera on 14 December 1918, only Gianni Schicchi became an immediate hit. It has been performed more frequently than the other two, often combined with other short operas. - TFAtoday by Brian Boulton and Wehwalt
... that conductor Rudolf Pohl, a member of the Aachen Cathedral choir as a boy, brought the Charlemagne-era choir to international recognition in the 1960s?
Happy New Year from me as well, Gerda. You've lit up my day on so many occasion this past year, thank you!
Von guten Mächten treu und still umgeben, behütet und getröstet wunderbar, so will ich diese Tage mit euch leben und mit euch gehen in ein neues Jahr. — Bonhoeffer
Coincidentally, if such things exist, fi:Hyvyyden voiman ihmeelliseen suojaan is one of my favourite contributions as well, and the hymn deeply important on a personal level (the Finnish version uses a different tune, by Erkki Melartin, that I find sublime). New Year's resolution: read more about Stockhausen and try to listen without getting a headache! – Finnusertop (talk ⋅ contribs) 12:57, 1 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Gerda, I don't have pictures of fire works. You have many of those already. I could send you pictures of snow but it's the same kind that falls in Germany(cold). No pictures of roaring fires to keep you warm. Just my heart in words wishing you the best for this new year ahead. You have meant the world to me this past year. Your words of encouragement have seen me through tough days. The flowers in Spring and Summer, the Songs and adventurous paths you placed me on kept me occupied and moving forward. I am so very thankful and so very grateful for you and this community. I adore you and cherish our interactions forever. --ARoseWolf21:13, 5 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Thank you so much, dear, - I love it simple! I'll come with my snow tomorow ;) - I counted friends met this young year - 11! - and meeting friends is what counts, real or as you and I do here. Happy New Year! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:28, 5 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
A barnstar for you!
The Special Barnstar
I don't think I've given someone a barnstar before, and you are the first person that came to mind. I haven't seen as much patience, kindness and civility in most elite contributors as I have seen with you. I hope you have a happy new year! Wretchskull (talk) 13:46, 31 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
Hello Gerda. Mere words are not enough to thank you for all that you have shared over the years. Wikipedia is blessed to have you as an editor. Best wishes to you now and always. MarnetteD|Talk21:20, 1 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
On 9 January 2022, Did you know was updated with a fact from the article Die Schneekönigin, which you recently created, substantially expanded, or brought to good article status. The fact was ... that in Die Schneekönigin, an opera for children by George Alexander Albrecht after Andersen's "The Snow Queen", members of a children's choir play the roles of birds and ice crystals? The nomination discussion and review may be seen at Template:Did you know nominations/Die Schneekönigin. You are welcome to check how many pageviews the nominated article or articles got while on the front page (here's how, Die Schneekönigin), and if they received a combined total of at least 416.7 views per hour (i.e., 5,000 views in 12 hours or 10,000 in 24), the hook may be added to the statistics page. Finally, if you know of an interesting fact from another recently created article, then please feel free to suggest it on the Did you know talk page.
on a day with snow, and DYK ... that the composer introduced me to the major operas? ... I know the woman who inspired the opera? ... the girl's name in the plot is Gerda? ... it's my mom's birthday?
And is it that long? The older you get, the faster time flies. Wetman 2603:7000:9901:41BA:6C73:73C:2892:ED (talk) 13:38, 8 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
I think it is, not relying on my memory but the archive. Look around for music, - always liked chatting with you on the precious occasions! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:41, 8 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Dear Gerda, it's truly a pleasure to hear again from a cordial and constructive individual who works to bring light, rather than heat, to Wikipedia and to the world! Nihil novi (talk) 09:29, 16 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Thank you for asking. You will remember that BWV 1 is planned for 25 March. Fine with me if that's not too close. I was thinking of 11 June - private anniversary, when I sang it first, the day before my grandfather's funeral. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 22:09, 12 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
The schedulers, collectively, would be delighted to run BMV 227 on 7 Feb and BMV 1 on 25 March. Unless you have a strong objection we will do so. Gog the Mild (talk) 20:25, 14 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Jesu, meine Freude (Jesus, my joy), BWV227, is a motet by Johann Sebastian Bach. The longest and most musically complex of His motets, it is in eleven movements for up to five voices. It is named after the 1653 Lutheran hymn "Jesu, meine Freude" by Johann Franck in six stanzas which form the motet's odd-numbered movements, with the hymn tune by Johann Crüger appearing in different styles of chorale setting (beginning pictured). The text of even-numbered movements is from the Epistle to the Romans. The hymn, focused on an emotional bond to Jesus, adds complementing aspects to the doctrinal scripture text. Jesu, meine Freude is one of the few works by Bach for five vocal parts, in a structure of symmetries on different layers. While the work was supposed to have been written for a specific funeral in Leipzig in July 1723, as proposed in 1912, Christoph Wolff suggested that Bach may have compiled it for the education of his choir in both composition techniques and theology. It was the first of his motets to be recorded, in 1927.
Supposed to go with the lead image, beginning of the first movement, the music being the same also for the last movement, just different text. Should I formally request on TFAR, Gog the Mild? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:14, 15 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks - I had just set that up to work on myself, so it saves me a job and you will do it better. No need to formally request, I'm on it. Your draft is 1.098 characters long, including spaces. The limit is 1,025. Would you prefer to trim it, or should I have a go? Gog the Mild (talk) 21:24, 15 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Jesu, meine Freude (Jesus, my joy), BWV227, is a motet by Johann Sebastian Bach. The longest and most musically complex of his motets, it is in eleven movements for up to five voices. It is named after the 1653 Lutheran hymn "Jesu, meine Freude" by Johann Franck, the six stanzas of which form the motet's odd-numbered movements, with different styles of chorale setting (beginning pictured) making up the hymn tune, composed by Johann Crüger. The text of the even-numbered movements is from the Epistle to the Romans. The hymn focuses on an emotional bond to Jesus and Bach's treatment of Crüger's melody ranges from a four-part chorale harmonisation which begins and ends the work, to a chorale fantasia. Jesu, meine Freude is one of the few works by Bach for five vocal parts, in a structure of symmetries on different layers. It has been suggested that Bach compiled it for the education of his choir in both composition techniques and theology. It was the first of his motets to be recorded, in 1927.
1,006 characters.
Sorry, made me smile ;) -. "with different styles of chorale setting (beginning pictured) making up the hymn tune, composed by Johann Crüger" - no, first came the hymn tune, then Bach's chorale settings of it. If we had room to mention the different settings in detail, all you mentioned were less interesting than the "free" one with only bits of the melody quoted, for Trotz, defiance. - I feel we do have to mention the funeral, because although the evidence that it is not so was there from the 1990s, many program notes today (and some of the sources) still say with certainty that is was composed for that event. Wolff is quite the authority, so I'd mention him by name, or the suggestion could be dismissed. - Bedtime. You can schedule, and we polish afterwards, hopefully with Dank and Dying helping. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 22:42, 15 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
The funeral, I think that there is little chance that you will get onto the main page mention of something that is not believed to be so. And trying to explain it uses a lot of characters. Gog the Mild (talk) 23:22, 15 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Gog the Mild, the funeral theory was wrong but held for almost a century, and many still believe it, - I think we need to explicitly say so. New try:
Jesu, meine Freude (Jesus, my joy), BWV227, is a motet by J. S. Bach composed in Leipzig and unusually set for up to five voices. It is his longest motet, in eleven movements, and musically his most complex, in several layers of symmetry. It is named after the 1653 Lutheran hymn "Jesu, meine Freude" by Johann Franck in six stanzas which became the motet's odd-numbered movements, while the text of the other movements is taken from the Epistle to the Romans. The emotional hymn and the doctrinal scripture text complement each other. Bach used the hymn tune by Johann Crüger in five different chorale settings (beginning pictured). While the work was believed to be funeral music, since a Leipzig church musician argued in 1912 for a specific funeral in July 1723, his evidence was refuted in 1995, and Christoph Wolff concluded that Bach may have compiled it for the education of his choir in both composition techniques and theology. It was the first Bach motet to be recorded, in 1927. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:38, 16 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Promised: not that it matters much, but there will be articles about the one who claimed the funeral thingy, and the one who refuted, by when it appears. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:43, 16 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Gerda, i have copyedited the blurb, taking the discussion here into account. feel free to undo any part of my edit if you prefer the original wording or if i have made any mistakes. hopefully, the comments i left in my edit explain my reasoning sufficiently, though i think i should make a few additional points.
i am not sure if it would be better to say that wolf "suggested" his theory (as stated in the article) rather than "believed" it, but i ended up leaving the verb used in the blurb alone. feel free to change that if you think it should conform to the article.
i took the liberty of creating a template for the "BWV" abbreviation, as
the abbreviation and tooltip text are regularly used in articles on bach's works;
bach was prolific, so there is potential for the template to be used more than just a few times;
it improves readability of the code; and
the template automatically inserts a non-breaking space between the abbreviation and the numeral following (if provided).
for example, as seen in the blurb, the code "{{BWV|227}}" inserts the text "BWV 227". i believe its use does not violate any standards for the main page, as the circa template is regularly used in blurbs. please let me know if it violates any other standards that i might not be aware of, such as those of the relevant wikiprojects.
if bach's initials are used, i believe there should be a non-breaking space between the "J." and the "S.", to conform with mos:initials. note that, in tfa blurbs, the html entity " " is generally used instead of the nbsp template.
i feel that, for someone unfamiliar with motets and movements, the phrase "his longest and most musically complex motet in eleven movements for up to five voices" may be misinterpreted to mean that, amongst the motets in the eleven movements, this motet was the longest and most musically complex one. perhaps replacing "motet in" with "motet, with" would avoid such a misinterpretation.
i cannot tell if a link to "motet" was deliberately omitted, but if not, the second instance of the word can easily be linked.
apologies for the delayed response; currently, i cannot seem to find the time to address blurbs much earlier than a week before they appear on the main page. in any case, i appreciate the ping, as it allowed me to think about this blurb over a few days, and i do not know if i would have noticed this discussion without it. dying (talk) 18:50, 31 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
no apologies needed, thank you for your help which I looked forward to (see earlier in the thread). perhaps i should have pinged you then but didn't want to put you under pressure). - the template is fine, thank you! I'd prefer Bach's full name, just proposed to abbreviate it to save a few characters. - how about this: In eleven movements for up to five voices, it is his longest and most musically complex motet? - yes, a link to "motet" was deliberately omitted, because this isn't the typical motet, and a reader with no idea what a motet is may get a link from the list of motets, still sort of a detour ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:21, 31 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
oh, sorry if i was not clear before; i actually did get the earlier ping above (hence my apology for the delayed response). interestingly, however, your ping on the blurb's talk page failed, though i luckily stumbled upon your message anyway, albeit after writing the above response. hopefully, this edit addresses your concerns.by the way, for future reference, i do not mind being pinged significantly before a blurb is scheduled to appear on the main page (even though, admittedly, it might take me a while to respond properly). so feel free to ping me without worrying about putting me under pressure. dying (talk) 20:43, 31 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Congratulations, Gerda Arendt! The article you nominated, Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 227, has been promoted to featured status, recognizing it as one of the best articles on Wikipedia. The nomination discussion has been archived.This is a rare accomplishment and you should be proud. If you would like, you may nominate it to appear on the Main page as Today's featured article. Keep up the great work! Cheers, Gog the Mild (talk) via FACBot (talk) 00:06, 13 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Congratulations. I had intended on taking a look when you first told me about it, then totally forgot. I'm glad we have you. Urve (talk) 09:51, 18 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Hi! Not sure this is something that people do, but I just noticed GhostRiver's extensive work in this month's GA backlog drive. Looking over their contributions, I thought they seemed like someone you might want to give the Precious award to. Not pinging them here both in case you decide not to or else to maintain a pleasant surprise. I know I really valued it when you awarded it to me a while ago. Hope you're doing well! Ganesha811 (talk) 03:05, 24 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Dear Gerda, Fabulous pictures! The living masses resolving into receding poems from the painter's palate, the volumes rolling away like a tide. Domini est terra, et plenitudo eius - Quam admirabile est Nomen Tuum! (that's two different places...). Levavi oculos meos in montes unde veniet auxilium mihi. The whole world causes one to raise up one's eyes into the infinite firmament. Thankyou, I wish I were there. I do hope you took your auloi with you. - Blessings, Eebahgum (talk) 21:09, 30 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
"Hebe auf" - makes it sound such an effort! I, too, sing out loud in the open air, giving to all and sundry the appearance of my being a madman. I sang an entire Psalm (to my own music) when on my own halfway up a very high hill in Snowdonia, before realizing that the top of the hill was rather beyond my reach. And when I go into an empty parish church in the country I often sing one. I sang one to God alone in St Margaret South Elmham in Suffolk one drowsy afternoon in 2020, and just as I finished I realized that I was not alone at all - the entire church was full of sleepy hornets - there was one sitting just beside me (and I have the allergy if I am stung), so I stole away home, or at least, out of the church, rather gingerly... Cortona S Maria NuovaBack in March 1989 I was staying at Cortona in Italy and walked over to the Franciscan cells at Le Celle by the road which sweeps around the contour of the hillside like a vast amphitheatre, looking down towards Il Sodo and the top corner of the Val di Chiana. Half-way around (coming back from the cells) I stopped, and, checking that I was quite alone, "This is surely better than La Scala" thought I, so I stood looking out over the descending hillside and let rip with a very full-throated rendering of "Dai campi, dai prati" (Boito, Mefistofele) in my best baritone declamation. Hoping I was not disturbing the monks in their celle, I enjoyed myself so much I sang "Giunto sul passo estremo" as well, possibly twice, into the deliciously cool but sunny air. It seemed to be going well... As I concluded, con gusto ("voglio che questo sogno sia la santa poesia: è l'ultimo bisogno dell'esistenza mia"), an Italian guide with a party of about 30 nice American ladies suddenly popped out from behind a nearby bush, and the guide remarked kindly, "You have found yourself an excellent theatre!" We all laughed, and everyone was very nice about it. I don't think I had quite ruined their morning, nor they mine, but I didn't reprise after that: the diffidence took over. It was the same week I did this sslightly peculiar sketch of the church a little lower down the same hillside. Younger days... Eebahgum (talk) 23:46, 30 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
You opened my eyes and ears, lovely, thank you. Spectacular even, - I love the sketch, and wish I had been one of those ladies! Recommended reading for all who watch this page. Singing (up to quartet) at the Gnadenthal church on bike tours is all I can offer in return ;) - on 13 June last year with the subject of my first article, - he set Psalm 121 for choir and organ, and nobody performed it yet, because the organ part is too difficult. I better upload an image of the interior. - When we sang the gently soaring Mendelssohn (pictured on my user page this year) the chaplain on duty kindly said that women's choir has been called "wie im Himmel" (as in Heaven) in Salzburg. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:51, 31 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Eebahgum - then you might enjoy the oft-repeated story of the Soviet Russian tenor Victor Nikitin who was born with a beautiful voice, but missed all or most of his training due to war, but when he sang in the trenches the German soldiers stopped firing to listen. And on another track - I (who have no religion) have always wanted to stand on top of a mountain at dawn and sing Sol Ovitur - a mediaeval hymn to Jesus as the rising sun, with the melody and the melismas taken straight and unaltered from the Arab tradition. As John Lennon said - "imagine there's no countries". Storye book (talk) 11:06, 1 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Thankyou for that - difficult to get up that mountain and then sing those melismata without the aspirates, at any rate for me (for any hill makes me huff and puff nowadays)! ;- It's said that Caruso used to call the daily news to the neighbouring hilltop village in his youth. And if your "hill" happens to be F6, who knows what you, or anyone else, may find at the top of it? The Book of Samuel warns us against worship of high places. Eebahgum (talk) 12:12, 1 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Eebahgum, I have been surrounded by mountains most of my life. From Italy where we lived in the Piedmont, to Montana, to Alaska (two mountain ranges), I love climbing. I have now worn a path to my favorite overlook of the lake from Sirr Mt. Even in snow that is feet deep I will walk or mush to sing my morning songs as often as possible. I have done this for as long as I can remember every where I have lived. My songs are different than most but they are sung from my heart and my Spirit. They often are of those I love and care about. They are also songs of thanks to creator and the universe. They are tributes to the Colors I hear and the Songs I see around me. Sometimes I drag my cello or carry a flute or take my bowls to play. On the rare occasion I am accompanied by a friend that brings his drum. When he is not with me my heart keeps beat. It is not a life for everyone, there are hardships around ever bend in the river, but it is a life I love and a life I intend to live as full as I possibly can. I will sing a song for you and the little one. --ARoseWolf14:38, 1 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
thank you all, and don't miss edit summary "A symphony is heard from the tops of the mountain to the depth of the sea, a symphony of Life and Love". --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:51, 1 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Did you ever see this? - Hi Gerda, I just saw this (from 2009) on the internet and find we are both in it! And for the right reasons...! I didn't know I was such a pompous windbag back in 2009 (but it comes as no surprise). I wonder if you ever saw it? Maybe I did, and have forgotten, but the Internet is (almost) eternal. That is even pre-Precious... I had only been editing for 3 years! Eebahgum (talk) 22:04, 22 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
as you can read on my user page: begun by Dr. Blofeld, expanded by Nikkimaria, further expanded together, and I thought about having lost RexxS for this project when I heard it last year --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:44, 6 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Since you are kind enough to thank everyone else on the day of their TFAs: thank you today for Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 227, as you describe it: "Bach's longest motet, with a complex text alternating hymn stanzas from "Jesu, meine Freude" with biblical text from Paul's Letter to the Romans. The music, in a symmetrical arrangement of 11 movements, displays various vocal scorings (from 3 to 5 voices) and compositional variation and finesse. For the longest time, the motet was believed to have been composed for a certain funeral, but recent scholarship questioned that."! DanCherek (talk) 03:52, 7 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Thank you Dan, that's lovely! It was the work of many writing, reviewing, inspiring, - thanks to all! (more later) It played a special role in my life (perhaps more later). For the record the entry as Br'er Rabbit might have wanted it:
Beginning of the first movement
Jesu, meine Freude (Jesus, my joy), BWV 227, is a motet by J. S. Bach. In eleven movements for up to five voices, it is his longest and most musically complex motet. It is named after the 1653 Lutheran hymn "Jesu, meine Freude" by Johann Franck; the hymn's six stanzas form the motet's odd-numbered movements. Bach used the hymn tune by Johann Crüger in five different chorale settings(example pictured). The hymn's text focuses on an emotional bond to Jesus, complementing the doctrinal text from the Epistle to the Romans used for the even-numbered movements. Jesu, meine Freude is one of the few works by Bach for five vocal parts, in a structure of symmetries on different layers. It is unclear when the motet was written. Bach scholar Christoph Wolff believed that Bach may have compiled it to educate his choir incomposition techniques and theology; an earlier theory that it was written for a 1723 funeral in Leipzig is now discredited. In 1927, it became the first of Bach motets to be recorded.
What an absolute joy to read and very deserving of TFA. Gerda and others, the writing of this article very eloquently describes this beautiful motet. Thank you to all involved! --ARoseWolf18:10, 7 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
this looks like a good idea, countering all the battles, but - with a backlog of my own projects - I feel I can't commit to serious work. Call me when translations from German are needed. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:04, 10 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Ein Freund von mir ist Komponist, und sein Vater war ein Freund von Stockhausen, der In Freundschaft komponiert hat, und der Benutzer, der den Artikel über das Werk geschrieben hat, war ein Freund hier, auch wenn ich ihn getroffen habe. Und ein anderer Freund hat in einer Aufführung von Hymnen mitgewirkt, und sich gefreut, dass sie im Artikel erwähnt wird. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:42, 21 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Hello Gerda Arendt, hope you are doing well. I am reaching out as a courtesy to let you know that I've put forward a second TFA nomination for the April 22 date, after your nomination of Kathleen Ferrier. Don't know yet if mine will be selected, but thought it would be proper to let you know that I have also put my interest on that date as well. Truly admire how you keep Brian Boulton's memory alive with all of his wonderful work. Thank you for your time and have a great start to your week! Pseud 14 (talk) 03:22, 22 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
I woke up determined to expand the article, and translate it, - help? We so far have Ukainian, Moldavian, Italian and Japanese. I'll do German. Please note other plans here for coordination. Anybody bold enough for Russian? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:21, 26 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Thank you for your terrific work on the Prayer for Ukraine article—I think I'm going to put some things aside to work on Mykola Lysenko's article. I was considering trying to start some kind of event at the CM project page to work on Ukranian music articles, what do you think about this? I feel like I (or you and I, if you have any interest) could assemble a list of important articles for the project to work on. Not sure if it would be limited to composers, maybe also performers or genres? If you don't have time, I understand, just thought I'd ask about it! I did finally get around to adding more to Crumb's article, by the way, though I think Lysenko will take priority for the time being. Aza24 (talk) 00:23, 28 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
thank you so much - and I woke up thinking that I'd mobilise QAI ;) - I first want to polish the article some more, and nominate for DYK, and then see what's missing, first from the OREYA playlist and the essay about composers cited in the article. If you could add sources to the hymn from what you find for Lysenko, that would be great. We had Kateryna Kasper. Usually, new "needed articles" just come by red links for me, but feel free to do it more formally for CM. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:38, 28 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Ah, lovely! Thank you for your work on this article, the message(s) you left on my talk page, and of course, prayers for Ukraine. Panini!•🥪00:13, 3 March 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks for your work on the article and for the DYK nomination. I'll look through these and add some. I don't think the Toronto99 SNL one is needed though, the existing sources in the article cover that performance pretty well. DanCherek (talk) 19:39, 28 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Not sure I understand, Willsherr. A link was added to the article that didn't work for me, - was that by you? I can read this, and it is in English. Do you mean the other stanzas? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:07, 28 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
I know this old curmudgeonly PhD historiographer who is sort of legendary for being contrary and dismissive of others. But look at the guy's daily edits. He just adds sources. About EVERYTHING. Reliable ones. He doesn't always cite, but his sources inevitably prove to be good ones. Knowing his decidedly and openly rightist bent, it wouldn't surprise me that an inevitable result of his involvement on Wikipedia is a rightist bent towards sourcing... That said, he's a sourcing machine. In Wikipedia history, an influential presence. Deserves more than a barnstar. BusterD (talk) 20:27, 27 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Zwettler, Walter (2007). Zwettlers großes Buch der Bullterrier, Bulldoggen und Molosser (in German). Blaubeuren: Verl. Ulmer Manuskripte. ISBN 978-3-939496-43-4. OCLC244289396.
What makes you say that? It seems to have been a tiny business and I'm not sure the publisher even exists anymore. I see no reason to assume they check what they publish for accuracy. —Kusma (talk) 16:28, 3 March 2022 (UTC)[reply]
That JSTOR link is about the other publisher. Your dog book is from "Ulmer Manuskripte", the JSTOR link is "Eugen Ulmer". I think you'll need to determine the reliability of your dog book by what other WP:RS say about it and use it for (WP:UBO). If they all say "this is the definitive book on bulldogs" then your book can be relied upon even if the publisher doesn't inspire confidence. (Vaguely reminds me of an example from mathematics: Thomas Royen's proof of the Gaussian correlation inequality is generally accepted now although he first published it in a predatory journal that any "serious" mathematician would usually ignore). —Kusma (talk) 20:50, 3 March 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Thank you, Gerda. I had to chuckle a little about your edit summary here though. I did not know that you are wary of Arbcom. But then I understood your edit. :) --Gereon K. (talk) 11:18, 5 March 2022 (UTC)[reply]
This is to let you know that the Messiah (Handel) article will be rerun as today's featured article on April 13, 2022. Please check the article needs no amendments. If you're interested in editing the main page text, you're welcome to do so at Wikipedia:Today's featured article/April 13, 2022, but note that a coordinator will trim the lead to around 1000 characters anyway, so you aren't obliged to do so.
For Featured Articles promoted recently, there will be an existing blurb linked from the FAC talk page, which is likely to be transferred to the TFA page by a coordinator at some point.