Interesting about the disparity between Synge's realistic writing on the islands and the idealized version produced by some Revivalists. “…Aran is not the uncorrupted pristine environment shut out from modern society and its socioeconomic dynamics...” I've been thinking a lot lately about revivalist movements and how short they seem to fall of the thing they (often with good intentions) try to recreate/impersonate. I used to think it was due to lack of reliable data, but I begin to wonder if it's due to lack of realism....
Thanks Jacquie, that is a very prescient observation and one with many applications, In another sense, it seens that any critique within time of other times is inescapably limited; thus my inclusion at the end of Brooker's fine essay at the end in which Brian O'Nolan critizes Synge (and O'Casey), many years later, in an entirely different Ireland and different context which also were doubtless affected by his own personal decline in the 1950s, I remain ever more uncertain that we will ever 'understand; any particular time (even our remembered and personal ones) and perhaps the best we can hope for is art (in the case of music, at least, pure mathematics!) Have a happy Thanksgiving where you are.
Very glad you're enjoying it, Janelle! The actual album version is really well recorded (as are all the other songs) and the tones of the instrumentation really stand out.
That is outstanding- enjoy the album! And thanks so much for the suggestion, I have done music reviews for years and in fact had been considering increasing this in future, so it is really helpful getting this kind of feedback. I expect in the new year to have some special coverage in music and writing, certainly..
ha! thanks, that's a good one indeed in 100 plus years how they'll be laughing at our antiquated lingusitic terms... and that whole album is really fantastic indeed.
Interesting about the disparity between Synge's realistic writing on the islands and the idealized version produced by some Revivalists. “…Aran is not the uncorrupted pristine environment shut out from modern society and its socioeconomic dynamics...” I've been thinking a lot lately about revivalist movements and how short they seem to fall of the thing they (often with good intentions) try to recreate/impersonate. I used to think it was due to lack of reliable data, but I begin to wonder if it's due to lack of realism....
Thanks Jacquie, that is a very prescient observation and one with many applications, In another sense, it seens that any critique within time of other times is inescapably limited; thus my inclusion at the end of Brooker's fine essay at the end in which Brian O'Nolan critizes Synge (and O'Casey), many years later, in an entirely different Ireland and different context which also were doubtless affected by his own personal decline in the 1950s, I remain ever more uncertain that we will ever 'understand; any particular time (even our remembered and personal ones) and perhaps the best we can hope for is art (in the case of music, at least, pure mathematics!) Have a happy Thanksgiving where you are.
Thank you! I’m really enjoying Whispers.
Very glad you're enjoying it, Janelle! The actual album version is really well recorded (as are all the other songs) and the tones of the instrumentation really stand out.
Indeed! I downloaded the album and just love it. Please keep doing music reviews (and others)! I love finding new music.
That is outstanding- enjoy the album! And thanks so much for the suggestion, I have done music reviews for years and in fact had been considering increasing this in future, so it is really helpful getting this kind of feedback. I expect in the new year to have some special coverage in music and writing, certainly..
Beautifully written essay for some breathtaking music.
Thanks! and very glad that you enjoyed it.
Simply wonderful music and I greatly appreciated being informed about the "Locomotives on Highways Act."
ha! thanks, that's a good one indeed in 100 plus years how they'll be laughing at our antiquated lingusitic terms... and that whole album is really fantastic indeed.
The album is now in my Spotify list!