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Uplifting Thoughts for the Isolated and Depressed in Times of Plague

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What is uplifting? What is comforting? When a person is mourning, strange things can bring comfort. Sometimes facing tragedy, perhaps with gentle music can help.

Undescribable loss and despair permeated the town of Calumet, Michigan, on Christmas Eve of 1913. On that day, over 100 years ago, a Christmas party was held on the second floor of the Italian Hall for the children of the families belonging to the Western Federation of Miners, many of whom were recent immigrants to this country. In the midst of the difficulties of the Copper Country Strike of 1913-1914, this event was to be a time of joy for all; songs were sung and gifts were given to the children, likely the only gifts they would receive that year.

This happiness was abruptly cut short when a man came into the hall from the stairway and shouted “Fire!” causing a stampede that would leave 73 people, the majority of them children under the age of 10, dead on the stairs leading down to the street. The man who caused the panic was never positively identified nor, therefore his motive known.

In 2013, for the 100th anniversary, 23-year-old composer Thomas Lavoy, composed "A Child's Requiem" with a libretto by his mother, Esther Margaret Ayers on a commission by the Marquette (Michigan) Symphony Orchestra.
Here is a pre-premier rehearsal of a part of the fifth movement with the composer conducting. Historical images are included. Warning: though no explicit images are shown, the situations displayed may be disturbing to some. To me, it was very comforting.

 

Here again the song that I posted recently, this time played by the great "Dubliners". I have a translation of the lyrics for those who do not speak the Gaelic language. (Hard work for me, as neither Gaelic nor English are my mother tongues).

Óró Sé Do Bheatha 'Bhaile Original lyrics​

Oró, sé do bheatha abhaile,
Oró, sé do bheatha abhaile,
Oró, sé do bheatha abhaile
Anois ar theacht an tsamhraidh.

Sé do bheatha, a bhean ba léanmhar,
Do b' é ár gcreach tú bheith i ngéibheann,
Do dhúiche bhreá i seilbh méirleach,
Is tú díolta leis na Gallaibh.

Oró, sé do bheatha abhaile,
Oró, sé do bheatha abhaile,
Oró, sé do bheatha abhaile
Anois ar theacht an tsamhraidh.

Tá Gráinne Mhaol ag teacht thar sáile,
óglaigh armtha léi mar gharda,
Gaeil iad féin is ní Gaill ná Spáinnigh,
Is cuirfidh siad ruaig ar Ghallaibh.

Oró, sé do bheatha abhaile,
Oró, sé do bheatha abhaile,
Oró, sé do bheatha abhaile
Anois ar theacht an tsamhraidh.

A bhuí le Rí na bhFeart go bhfeiceam,
Mura mbéam beo ina dhiaidh ach seachtain,
Gráinne Mhaol agus míle gaiscíoch,
Ag fógairt fáin ar Ghallaibh.

Oró, sé do bheatha abhaile,
Oró, sé do bheatha abhaile,
Oró, sé do bheatha abhaile
Anois ar theacht an tsamhraidh.

Ghallaibh - Gaelic for the foreign English
Gráinne Mhaol- Irish name of Grace O’Malley

And now the translation:


Welcome oh woman who was so afflicted,
It was our ruin that you were in bondage,
Our fine land in the possession of thieves...
And you sold to the foreigners!

Oh-ro You're welcome home,
Oh-ro You're welcome home,
Oh-ro You're welcome home...
Now that summer's coming!

Gráinne O'Malley is coming over the sea,
Armed warriors along with her as her guard,
They're Irish themselves, not French nor Spanish,
And they will rout the foreigners!

Oh-ro You're welcome home,
Oh-ro You're welcome home,
Oh-ro You're welcome home...
Now that summer's coming!

May it please the King of Miracles that we might see,
Although we may live for a week once after,
Gráinne Mhaol and a thousand warriors...
Dispersing the foreigners!

Oh-ro You're welcome home,
Oh-ro You're welcome home,
Oh-ro You're welcome home...
Now that summer's coming!
 
Here again the song that I posted recently, this time played by the great "Dubliners". I have a translation of the lyrics for those who do not speak the Gaelic language. (Hard work for me, as neither Gaelic nor English are my mother tongues).

Óró Sé Do Bheatha 'Bhaile Original lyrics​

Oró, sé do bheatha abhaile,
Oró, sé do bheatha abhaile,
Oró, sé do bheatha abhaile
Anois ar theacht an tsamhraidh.

Sé do bheatha, a bhean ba léanmhar,
Do b' é ár gcreach tú bheith i ngéibheann,
Do dhúiche bhreá i seilbh méirleach,
Is tú díolta leis na Gallaibh.

Oró, sé do bheatha abhaile,
Oró, sé do bheatha abhaile,
Oró, sé do bheatha abhaile
Anois ar theacht an tsamhraidh.

Tá Gráinne Mhaol ag teacht thar sáile,
óglaigh armtha léi mar gharda,
Gaeil iad féin is ní Gaill ná Spáinnigh,
Is cuirfidh siad ruaig ar Ghallaibh.

Oró, sé do bheatha abhaile,
Oró, sé do bheatha abhaile,
Oró, sé do bheatha abhaile
Anois ar theacht an tsamhraidh.

A bhuí le Rí na bhFeart go bhfeiceam,
Mura mbéam beo ina dhiaidh ach seachtain,
Gráinne Mhaol agus míle gaiscíoch,
Ag fógairt fáin ar Ghallaibh.

Oró, sé do bheatha abhaile,
Oró, sé do bheatha abhaile,
Oró, sé do bheatha abhaile
Anois ar theacht an tsamhraidh.

Ghallaibh - Gaelic for the foreign English
Gráinne Mhaol- Irish name of Grace O’Malley

And now the translation:


Welcome oh woman who was so afflicted,
It was our ruin that you were in bondage,
Our fine land in the possession of thieves...
And you sold to the foreigners!

Oh-ro You're welcome home,
Oh-ro You're welcome home,
Oh-ro You're welcome home...
Now that summer's coming!

Gráinne O'Malley is coming over the sea,
Armed warriors along with her as her guard,
They're Irish themselves, not French nor Spanish,
And they will rout the foreigners!

Oh-ro You're welcome home,
Oh-ro You're welcome home,
Oh-ro You're welcome home...
Now that summer's coming!

May it please the King of Miracles that we might see,
Although we may live for a week once after,
Gráinne Mhaol and a thousand warriors...
Dispersing the foreigners!

Oh-ro You're welcome home,
Oh-ro You're welcome home,
Oh-ro You're welcome home...
Now that summer's coming!
For those that like female vocals and harmonies (me), this is another version of the same song;
 
I am usually suspicious of animal things like this, but I like this one because sometimes we could all do with a nudge to get us back on our feet

Years ago at the Louisville, Kentucky, zoo I watched one tortoise mount another of a different species (same continent at least, if I recall). "Yeah, he does that" was the comment from the keeper. Slower metabolism but the same overall goals, I guess.
 
Enough of lockdowns. quarantines, distancing, and isolation! Delta is a part of a river in Egypt called Denial. It's summer, the season to flee to an English Country Garden for tea and coffee, ices, champagne, fruit, sandwiches, cake, and biscuits on the lawn. Put on your latest flapper outfit and I'll wear pants, suspenders, vest, shirt, shoes, and hat, all in a bit of drab blue so as not to steal the attention from your loveliness. We'll sip Champs and munch tiny crustless chilled cucumber sandwiches and dish the risqué small talk waiting for the band to arrive. At four promptly, the tea dance, also called by the Francophiles, dansant, will start. We will be the first on the floor, dear, and the last to leave.
When finally the band stops playing at seven, we shall say our gracious and grateful farewells and return to our room and explore what other magical delights the still-young evening might hold for such as us!

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