#st. stephen

[a8ra]

Mass at St. Stephen’s Cathedral, by Jindřich Tomec

[pws-skata-empleksa-pali]

St. Stephen's Basilica, Budapest.

[krispyweiss]

Phil Lesh & Friends Harp on “Darkstar” in Latest “Darkstarathon”

- Mikaela Davis brings classical flourishes to episode 8

Phil Lesh’s latest group of Friends makes no effort to sound like the Grateful Dead in episode 8 of “Darkstarathon,” though the spirit of the bassist’s former band is etched in the sonic cosmos.

Featuring harpist Mikaela Davis and augmented by fellow classical musician Holly Bowling (keys), guitarists Grahame Lesh and Stu Allen and drummer Nathan Graham, the latest exploration finds the band nosing around the gurgling edges of sound for 10-plus minutes before the titular theme emerges. As the band picks up steam and aural light flies by, Grahame Lesh steps to the mic … and sings “Dark Star” really poorly.

This is the only downer of the session as the collective engages in consonant meanderings that lead them through improvisations and parts of songs that demonstrate a sincere sense of adventurism rare in one-off groupings.

Here’s a ragged spoke of “The Wheel,” Davis’ vocals underpinning the attempted harmonies. There go the blues on the hopeful “New Speedway Boogie” coda.

One verse of “Cold Rain and Snow.” A thunder crack of energy. Dissolution and reconstruction for a wordless drive with “St. Stephen.” And Davis struggling to recall the words to “Mountains of the Moon” before the music gently floats back down like a feather to Terrapin Clubhouse and the earth on which it sits.

Lesh the elder often talks of searching for the sound. This time around, he and his pals went looking for the ethos that produced said sound. And they found it.

Read Sound Bites’ previous “Darkstarathon” coverage here.

9/6/24

[abybweisse]

Ch199 (p1), Cover art and title page

Including cover, title page, credits, etc... we've got an official page count of 19.

Theo, a wren, a dying tree covered in parasitic mistletoe, and what seems to be a rather tall ladder.

Theodore means "gift of god". He's the top student in the highest-ranked class. The mistletoe I've discussed somewhat last month, since it's prominent there. A parasitic plant that sucks the nutrients from its host and can eventually kill the host. But it's seen as a symbol of good luck, longevity, and wisdom. And I was trying to figure out why Theo needs to be on this ladder, other than the fact he's so high up in the tree that its small and weakening branches couldn't support him. Then I recalled the cover for ch151:

Like Sebastian in ch111 being mirrored by Undertaker later in this chapter, real Ciel is being mirrored by Theo. I'd say this equates Theo more with the twin, our earl... as a temporary stand-in.

Of course, there is the reference to fledging, but Theo knows that that's not quite what the orphanage staff want him to think it means.

Then there's the wren. That was also discussed a bit last month within the fandom, because in ch198, one is shown holding a bit of mistletoe. The wren is a symbol of rebirth, immortality, and protection. In Celtic mythology, it's seen as the wise "king of birds". But also seen as the "old year", making the small bird something to hunt down and kill, in celebration of the upcoming new year; this would happen on Solstice Day. When Christianity moved into Celtic lands, the church twisted up stories about it, making it a tattle-tale on St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr. He was hiding in the bushes, but the wren gave away his location... so the wren must be killed, as a form of retaliation. And the celebration was moved to St. Stephen's Day.

I'd like to think we aren't quite that far along in December, but these top students seem to be playing-out "wren day" with Finny. Compared to one Celtic myth, the kids are like the birds competing to see who is "king", and the orphanage is set up to give that honor to Theo. But compared to the Catholic Church's twisted stories, Theo is seen as St. Stephen, intended to be a martyr, and the wren must be killed for its betrayal. Instead of hiding in the bushes, he's up in the top of a tree, staring at the wren who's about to give his whereabouts away.

Within the chapter itself, we will see the kids capture (instead of kill) and otherwise deal with their wren.... I'll go into more detail about the parallels when we get to them.

[lionofchaeronea]

St. Stephen Protomartyr (panel from the Pala Tornabuoni triptych), Domenico Ghirlandaio, between 1490 and 1498

[the-birth-of-art]

I'll take Cryptical Envelopments for $500, Alex.

[thevicarage]

December 26th - the Feast of St. Stephen, Martyr.

[trendynewsnow]

Phil Lesh, Founding Bassist of Grateful Dead, Dies at 84

Phil Lesh, Pioneering Bassist of the Grateful Dead, Passes Away at 84 Phil Lesh, the innovative bassist and a founding member of the legendary Grateful Dead, has passed away at the age of 84. His death was confirmed on his official Instagram account on Friday, though no additional details have been provided. Renowned for his creative approach to the bass guitar, Lesh redefined the role of the…

[postcards-and-postcrossing]

St. Stephen's Cathedral

Postcard from Austria Vienna – Tausendschön Edition Postcard Tuesday Take Me To…

[thewahookid]

How fitting on this 2nd day of Jesus's birth that we celebrate the birth of Saint Stephen into eternal life!

Jesus's birth is so glorious and it's ramifications so extraordinary that it takes 8 days to celebrate it! So, yes, you'll be hearing me

wish you a Merry Christmas

for these next 8 days,

as we celebrate men such as Saint Stephen,

who is the first Christian martyr -

And who we find in "The Acts of the Apostles", witnessing heaven being opened and

the Son of Man -

You, dear Jesus -

seated on the right hand of the Father

as he was being stoned to death -

All of this took place

Because Jesus became man and opened heaven for us and

by his suffering and death

he transformed our own deaths,

if we live for Him,

unto eternal glory!

Thank you Jesus for rending the heavens and coming down to save us! And for raising up men like Stephen who proclaim that following you unto death is the greatest joy!

You can read here about hundreds of miracles that God continued to work through St. Stephen, even centuries after his death!!!

Why Dec. 26 was Chosen as the Feast of St. Stephen https://www.ncregister.com/.../why-dec-26-was-chosen-as...

[friarmusings]

It is as He Said

Today’s readings have always struck me as oddly placed only one day after Christmas. It is the story of the protomartyr of the Christian faith – St. Stephen. While I know that the feast day is mentioned in the Christmas carol classic “Good King Wenceslas,” it does seem to put a bit of a damper on the Christmas spirit. Of course two days from now the Feast of the Holy Innocents remembers the…

[mysterious-secret-garden]

Giovanni Battista Lucini - Martyrdom of St. Stephen, circa 1680.

[krispyweiss]

Song Review(s): Phil Lesh & Friends - “West L.A. Fadeaway,” “St. Stephen” and “Playing in the Band” (Live, March 13, 2024)

Saxophonist Karl Denson was the star instrumentalist on “West L.A. Fadeaway,” his horn outshining the guitar and keyboard spots that surrounded him, while Eric Krasno seemed only vaguely familiar with the lyrics he sang.

Things got more titillating in the final jam as half the players tore the song apart and the other half engaged in reconstruction underneath.

The Grateful Dead number was one of three songs Phil Lesh & Friends gave away on the livestream sampler from their March 13 gig in New York, the last show for the titular bassist as an 83-year-old, who will mark his 84th birthday March 15 with a different, as-yet-unannounced group of players.

On this night, it was Denson, guitarists Krasno and Grahame Lesh, keyboardist Jason Crosby, drummer John Molo and singer Amy Helm.

They focused on ensemble performance on the brisk-of-pace “St. Stephen” that followed. It was solid but never truly sparked until about 13 minutes in when Denson’s freight-train bleating signaled a tease of “The Eleven,” on which Grahame Lesh and Krasno played Allmanesque twin-guitar lines and Phil Lesh and Molo drove the locomotive. Alas, the song didn’t materialize and “Stephen” led to “Playing in the Band.”

This breezy, experimental rendition featured Denson on wispy flute and Krasno again unfamiliar with the words. Helm was underutilized on harmony and it was only when Denson picked up a shaker and the band dived into improv that Lesh’s brand of Friend-based risk taking paid off in inspired, groove-heavy jamming that served the song’s open composition. The song proper, however, didn’t fare so well.

Grade card: Phil Lesh & Friends - “West L.A. Fadeaway,” “St. Stephen” and “Playing in the Band” (Live - 3/13/24) - B-/B/C

3/14/24

[thesarahfiles]

Happy birthday, Chris Thompson!

[catholicsaintquotes33ad]

St Stephen, protomartyr

[the-birth-of-art]