This book is not about heroes. English Poetry is not yet fit to speak of them. Nor is it about deeds, or lands, nor anything about glory, honour, might, majesty, dominion, or power, except war. Above all I am not concerned with Poetry. My subject is War, and the pity of War. The Poetry is in the pity. Yet these elegies are to this generation in no sense consolatory. They maybe to the next.All a poet can do today is warn. That is why true Poets must be truthful.
~Wilfred Owen, 1893-1918
from a preface to a planned book of his poetry.
8 comments:
Have you ever heard Benjamin Britten's War Requiem? It's a very moving piece; it consists of settings of the Latin Requiem Mass texts interspersed with settings of Owen poems. It obviously wouldn't be appropriate for liturgical use, but it's quite powerful in concert.
Ashamedly not YET.
But have YOU ever heard Korb and Rower's 'Highland Cathedral'? Ens Musica Variata. (Accept no Pipe Organ substitutes)
Hmm. I'll put that one on my list.
Say, have you done something with your email? I sent you a message a few days ago which I just now got bounced back. Maybe some sort of transcontinental glitch?
OK well I'm afraid I can't keep up with the educational banter (my eyes are crossing) but I just wanted to say it's nice to read something that was posted by someone I know, which I actually can agree with (the parts I understand anyway).
much love,
How does one leave pictures??????
Rock: You have to set up a profile of your own and then you get to assign yourself one picture. Just don't let it be one when your eyes are crossed. And you know Highland Cathedral, don't be silly. It's that bagpipe and organ song.
Mark: I'm not aware of the transcontinental intricasies, but I suspect your poor message was just overwhelmed by the amount of material in my inbox and went surrying to saftey. If you sent it to @juno.com, you could try @yahoo.com, or check that you used my spelling, which is incorrect for the Latin (Typical)
AHH I said 'song' when I meant 'work'. Dr Treacy will flay me alive.
Must not be cut out to be a musicologist.
OR an editor. Please insert a 'c' to make the message scurry...
Post a Comment