Comments on: The Contributions of Freethinkers: Verdi

By: mikespeir

mikespeir — Tue, 27 May 2008 11:00:23 +0000

"Ah, I interpreted that as sarcasm. My apologies."

I mean, it's not like I've ever made that mistake! ;)

By: Alex, FCD

Alex, FCD — Tue, 27 May 2008 00:57:52 +0000

Note the "right" that begins my previous post. I was, in fact, agreeing.

Ah, I interpreted that as sarcasm. My apologies.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Sun, 25 May 2008 19:08:12 +0000

Thanks for that amazing story! I have always enjoyed Verdi's work, but never knew that he was a freethinker. I am sure the next time that I hear a work of his there will be an even bigger smile on my face. Thanks this information and I look forward to more from this series.

By: mikespeir

mikespeir — Sun, 25 May 2008 18:16:33 +0000

"Hey in english they are Joseph and Josephine Green. How cool is that."

I don't know. Seems too pedestrian. Kinda like Beethoven means "beet garden" in Dutch. Loses a little something. Beet Garden's Ninth? Nah!

By: Robert Madewell

Robert Madewell — Sun, 25 May 2008 17:31:01 +0000

Giuseppina's comment about wanting to beat her husband for his indifference to religion, reminds me of my wife and myself. I'm sure my wife would like to beat me for being so steady in my own unbelief. Sometimes, I am very irreligious and that can't be good on a relationship with a theist. I do try to be understanding, but I am who I am. Maybe, she'll come around, or not. Either way, I still have some giving to do.

Hey in english they are Joseph and Josephine Green. How cool is that.

By: mikespeir

mikespeir — Sun, 25 May 2008 11:27:45 +0000

FCD:

"Or were you agreeing with me? Are we communicating at all?"

Note the "right" that begins my previous post. I was, in fact, agreeing.

By: Alex, FCD

Alex, FCD — Sun, 25 May 2008 02:41:34 +0000

Beethoven also wrote The Creatures of Prometheus ballet. I seriously doubt he believed in the Greek gods.

Well, exactly. My point was that two masses is a suspiciously small number compared to, say, Mozart, who was working on his eighteenth when he died. Or were you agreeing with me? Are we communicating at all?

By: the chaplain

the chaplain — Sat, 24 May 2008 01:19:43 +0000

Great kickoff to what looks like it will be a promising series. Thanks.

By: mikespeir

mikespeir — Fri, 23 May 2008 23:26:24 +0000

Wikipedia reports two masses and an oratorio called Christ on the Mount of Olives, about which Ludwig commented that he would rather have used the words of Homer, Klopstock or Schiller.

Right. Beethoven also wrote The Creatures of Prometheus ballet. I seriously doubt he believed in the Greek gods.

By: Alex, FCD

Alex, FCD — Fri, 23 May 2008 22:34:18 +0000

I've also heard that Beethoven was a rather secular guy, though I don't know how much stock to put in that. He certainly didn't compose much explicitly religious music. Wikipedia reports two masses and an oratorio called Christ on the Mount of Olives, about which Ludwig commented that he would rather have used the words of Homer, Klopstock or Schiller.