Between The 'Burgh and The City

R.I.P., Etta James

2012-01-21T17:08:00.001-05:00

The great singer Etta James died yesterday at the age of 73.

Etta's wonderful voice has been featured in this space before. One Sunday night in March, 2010, shortly before I met the steady, I posted her rendition of the beautiful song of longing "A Sunday Kind of Love."

For this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend," here again is Etta with her take on the 1930s tune "These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)."

Peace:

2012

2012-01-01T09:50:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year 2012!

May it be a year filled with peace and joy the world over.

Lena

2011-12-31T21:30:00.000-05:00

As most of my political expression this past year moved to Facebook and Twitter, the (too infrequent) posts on this blog were often about milestones in the lives of family members and friends. I do appreciate the opportunity this space affords to both welcome and say goodbye.

I have been remiss, however, in issuing one welcome. And, it seems that celebrating a new life would be a fine topic for this final post of 2011.

Lena, pictured above, was born November 26 at 10:19 a.m., weighing in at seven pounds, two ounces. She is the daughter of my old NYU friends, Tim and Melissa, and a sister for Ann.

Like yours truly, these "Firework Babies" will often find themselves "between the 'Burgh and the City" as their mom grew up in Bethel Park, PA, and their maternal grandparents still live there.

In mid-January, I will have the honor of serving as Lena's Godfather. She will be my fourth Goddaughter (joining Georgianna, Nora and Lucy). United by prayer despite being half a world away, Waldie will be serving as Lena's Godmother. Just a few days ago, Waldie and her husband, Chris, arrived in Tanzania in East Africa. They will live and work there for three-plus years as Maryknoll Lay Missioners.

Welcome to the party, Lena! May God abundantly bless you with many, many wonderful New Years.

The Jackpot Question

2011-12-31T13:28:00.001-05:00

Another New Year's Eve. The steady has a bit of a cold so we're staying in. Which is just fine. At the moment, we're both checking e-mail and surfing the Internet while watching "Julie & Julia" on TV. (A movie about food and blogging set in New York City and Paris -- LOVE it.)

It's time to post my final "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend" of 2011. Would you object, gentle reader, if I opted for the obvious?

Here with Frank Loeser's "What Are You Doing on New Year's Eve?" are Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Peace:

O Great Mystery

2011-12-26T09:13:00.000-05:00

"O Magnum Mysterium" is a traditional prayer of the Church at Christmas. One English translation reads:

O great mystery,

and wonderful sacrament,

that animals should see the new-born Lord,

lying in a manger!

Blessed is the Virgin whose womb was worthy

to bear Christ the Lord.

Alleluia!

A living American composer who has set the prayer to music is Morten Lauridsen. For a belated "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend," below is his beautiful offering.

Pax:

Incarnation

2011-12-25T09:20:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas!!

Like so many Christmas mornings of my life, I'm up while the rest of the house is still quiet. My inner seven-year-old is curious to see if Santa came, I guess.

But, unlike the Christmas mornings of my past, today I find myself in Auburn, Indiana, at the home of the steady's parents. It's a blessed first. I arrived here yesterday at 6:45 a.m. on the Amtrak train from Pittsburgh (where I had been visiting with my family for few days).

Last night, we went to the 11 p.m. service at the First United Methodist Church. It was quite nice. And, we'll soon head out for the 10:30 a.m. Mass at Immaculate Conception Church. (See: Ecumenism in necessary practice.)

Over at Dating God, Br. Dan has posted a reflection called "Christmas is Not a Holiday…It’s a Game-Changer!" Here are two snips to ponder:

" ... Christmas marks the most important moment in Salvation History -- the Incarnation, the coming of the Lord, the birth of a child who reveals to us the unseen God, makes visible the invisible and shows us that God's Reign unfolds in the making of the impossible possible!

" ... with God's entrance into the world as one like us, the game has totally changed. Jesus Christ is the game-changer par excellence! The way that humanity related to God previously had become outdated and finally recognized as imperfect, because, whereas once we were able to know about God, now we can personally know God."

Flashback: Christmas 2009 and 2008

The image above is "The Adoration of the Shepherds" or "L'adoration des bergers" by James Tissot. It is the property of the Brooklyn Museum of Art.

Celebrating Guadalupe

2011-12-12T00:30:00.005-05:00

For Catholics, today (December 12) is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. To help celebrate the day, here is a photo of Texas-based artist Federico Archuleta's contemporary take on the miraculous Guadalupe image:

Adelaide

2011-11-28T00:17:00.001-05:00

Last Monday, November 21, my old friend, Heidi Price Brayer, and her husband, Paul, welcomed their baby daughter into the world.

Adelaide Erica, pictured, weighed in at 8 pounds, 7 ounces. She was 21.5 inches long.

Welcome to the party, little lady! May God abundantly bless all your days.

In the late '90s, Heidi and I worked together as staff writers at the Observer-Reporter in Washington, PA (my first job out of college). In fact, my first day on the beat, it was Heidi who showed me how to do the evening checks with the local police departments. We've been friends ever since. I have no doubt daughter will be as awesome as mother.

To help celebrate this new arrival, here's Frank Sinatra with a song devoted to another awesome Adelaide, from the Broadway classic "Guys and Dolls":

Guys & Dolls - "Ever Loving Adelaide" - Frank Sinatra from Matt Perri on Vimeo.

Learning Glass

2011-11-20T23:35:00.001-05:00

We recently attended a performance of Philip Glass' 1979-1980 opera "Satyagraha" at the Metropolitan Opera. Powerful and challenging, it has stirred my interest in Glass and his work. So, earlier tonight, I poked around YouTube to hear more.

It's good to share, right?

For a belated "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend," below is a beautiful composition by Glass for the film "The Hours."

Peace:

A Year in New York

2011-11-14T14:45:00.001-05:00

A love letter (in video and with song) to Gotham:

A Year in New York from Andrew Clancy on Vimeo.

In Memoriam: Ray Vincenti, 1916 - 2011

2011-11-03T15:53:00.000-04:00

I’m writing today while literally “between the ‘burgh and the city.” I’m on Amtrak’s “Pennsylvanian” from New York’s Penn Station to Downtown Pittsburgh. At the moment, we are in the woods west of Harrisburg.

I opted for taking the train over flying mostly because of cost. With only a day of lead time, the train was significantly less expensive than a flight on USAirways, JetBlue and the other airlines. Plus, the long train ride across southern Pennsylvania is providing some beautiful views of the fall foliage.

I’m headed to Western Pennsylvania for the funeral of my great-great uncle, Ray Vincenti (pictured). “Uncle Remo” died Wednesday morning at the age of 95. He was the youngest brother of my maternal great-grandfather, Joseph Vincenti (1908-1983).

Grandpap Vincenti and Uncle Remo’s parents, Dominick and Catherine Vicari Vincenti, immigrated to the United States around 1900. Dominick originated in northern Italy and Catherine from Austria (although, I believe she too had northern Italian heritage). Dominic and Catherine had five children in total, four sons and one daughter. Dominic was killed in 1937 in a coal mining accident.

With Uncle Remo’s passing, my family loses one of our last connections to these immigrant ancestors who made the brave decision to come to the United States.

When I ran for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2002, 2004 and 2006, Uncle Remo was a strong supporter. In the 2002 race, he spent the day of the general election speaking on my behalf outside his polling place in the village of Eldersville in Jefferson Township. (We won that precinct that day, too.)

In 2006, Uncle Remo also came to my aid when an opponent issued a piece of literature claiming to be “the only proud Italian” in the race. To help set the record straight, Uncle Remo went with me to a dinner at the Italian Club in the village of Muse in Cecil Township.

He was a good and kind man, and will be missed. Please keep his wife of 61 years, Della; his daughter, Cathie; his son-in-law, Ken; and his two grandchildren in your prayers.

From the prayers at the end of the funeral Mass:

Uncle Remo,

May the angels lead you into paradise,
may the martyrs come to welcome you,
and take you to the holy city,
the new and eternal Jerusalem.

The photo above is by Ken Havelka.

The Most Mysterious Heart

2011-10-31T11:52:00.000-04:00

Some food for thought:

“The greatest enigma of man is his heart. It is so magnificent that God competes for it. So powerful that it can resist the love of the Almighty. So frail that many a weakness may snare it in its net. So wild that it may destroy all happiness and all order. So faithful that it cannot be subverted even by infidelity. So naive that it succumbs to every sweet temptation. Of such great capacity that it can contain every contradiction. And all this — almost — in every man, and all this — almost — in the wink of an eye. But man is a hundred times more grand, because he is capable of ruling it. And God? He alone knows the routes into the most mysterious heart. That is why man opened the Heart of God on the cross to learn about His plans.”

— Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski (1901 - 1981), from the book “A Freedom Within: The Prison Notes of Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski”

Hat-tip: John Wilson

Kol Nidre

2011-10-08T12:12:00.000-04:00

For the Jewish people, today is Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement.

To honor of the day, this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend" features an instrumental setting of Kol Nidre.

A hat-tip to the Concord Pastor for leading me to this particular composition by Max Bruch.

Shalom:

All of the Right Things

2011-09-26T00:10:00.001-04:00

How about a second offering from Adele for this week's (again, sadly belated) "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend"?

This week, I've been listening to the talented Brit's "Best for Last." I'm not co-signing all of its lyrics. (As I said last week, I'm way too happy these days to endorse a break-up song or an ode to a bad relationship.) But, this tune has a great beat.

So, without further ado, below is "Best for Last."

Peace:

Quite Possible

2011-09-19T18:44:00.000-04:00

Food for thought:

" ... the mindsets we form from everyday experience close us off to possibility. It doesn't occur to us to rethink much of what we learn about the world because we tend to learn mindlessly; it's not that we aren't paying attention to whatever it is we are learning, it's that we aren't paying attention to the context in which we learn it. We don't consider that what's true here may not be true there. If we don't think to improve our ideas, we can't update or improve them. It won't occur to us to question how we know what we know, what facts we base it on, and whether the science that produced those facts is suspect. The hefty price for accepting information uncritically is that we go through life unaware that what we've accepted as impossible may in fact be quite possible. ... "

- Dr. Ellen J. Langer, from "Counter Clockwise: Mindful Health and the Power of Possibility"

Dr. Langer, a professor of psychology at Harvard, is being honored this Saturday, September 24, by the NYU College of Arts & Science Alumni Association. (She graduated from NYU in 1970.)

However Far Away

2011-09-18T23:15:00.004-04:00

Last week, some of the ladies from my gig made me listen to a few songs by Adele.

Don't know what rock I was living under. How is that I never before took note of this impressive 23-year-old British singer-songwriter with the most sultry and soulful of voices?

For this week's belated "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend," below is Adele's cover of The Cure's "Lovesong."

Peace:

An aside: Adele's "Someone Like You" may be a stronger tune than "Lovesong." But, I'm way too happy these days to post a break-up song.

Lux Aeterna

2011-09-11T13:51:00.006-04:00

Today is the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

For this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend," below are three clips to help mark this day of prayer, mourning and remembrance.

The clips are the parts of Morten Lauridsen's Requiem setting "Lux Aeterna."

Pax:

Grant them eternal rest, Lord,
and let perpetual light shine on them.

The Sun's Love

2011-08-28T17:03:00.005-04:00

I'm writing this afternoon from our pad on Pinehurst Avenue in Washington Heights / Hudson Heights. While perhaps not the most chic spot, its close proximity to the highest natural point in Manhattan proved ideal this weekend as we waited for Tropical Storm Irene to pass by.

"High and dry" would be an apt description.

While very thankful we never lost power or running water, we do now have an awful lot of non-perishables in the kitchen. (Not to mention the $13 in little candles I bought yesterday at the neighborhood pharmacy during an early afternoon rain that turned out to be regular old rain.)

The post-storm calm calls for an equally reassuring tune for this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend." I have selected Amanda McBroom's 1979-1980 song "The Rose" as heard in a 2008 episode of "Family Guy." (I saw this for the first time earlier this week -- don't know how it took me three years to catch it!)

Peace:

Clips from the episode are banned on YouTube. Fortunately, the "Family Guy" lawyers have not yet discovered its Japanese counterpart:

Jolene

2011-08-21T23:25:00.005-04:00

Earlier tonight, the steady and I watched the season finale of "The Glee Project" on Oxygen. It's cotton candy for summer Sunday nights.

For his final offering, contestant Samuel performed Dolly Parton 's 1974 hit "Jolene." While I'm not a fan of most country music, I must say this is a fine song -- it's simple but memorable and tells a story.

For this week's very late "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend" below are two covers of "Jolene." (The first is from The White Stripes. Up second is Ellie Goulding.)

Peace:

Softwood

2011-08-15T22:50:00.007-04:00

For Catholics, today (August 15) is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Out in Teaneck, New Jersey, my old college buddy Anthony Santella is doing a large scale carving of Mary out of the trunk of a dead softwood tree on the grounds of St. Anastasia Church.

Here are some images of the work in progress:

Also (via Fran on Facebook): Karl Rahner on the Assumption of Mary.

Flashbacks: Solemnities of the Assumption 2010, 2009, 2008 and Bertha.

Leads Me Into Life

2011-08-14T19:21:00.003-04:00

This weekend, I was on retreat with Apostolist, the young adult group from the Church of Saint Paul the Apostle. We gathered at the retreat center on the grounds of St. Mary's Abbey and the Delbarton School in Morristown, New Jersey.

On Saturday night, we had a beautiful candlelight prayer service on side porch of the Kountze Mansion, also known as Delbarton's "Old Main." With the sounds of a light rain and various insects in the background, we sang three long Taizé chants.

For this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend," below is the first of those chants, "Bless the Lord, My Soul."

Peace:

A Privilege

2011-08-09T00:01:00.002-04:00

Quote of the day:

"Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many."

- Unknown

(I spied this on the inside label of a bottle of Honest Tea.)

Heaven Opens

2011-08-08T02:49:00.005-04:00

I'm writing tonight from the Hyatt in Wichita, Kansas. I've been here since Friday to exhibit for my gig at the Midwest Catholic Family Conference.

It's our fifth visit to this annual event that draws moms, dads, grandparents and loads of kids and teenagers from Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.

I have been trying to think of a song related to Wichita or Kansas for this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend." Only one has come to mind -- and it's more a Hollywood creation than anything locally grown.

But, as it's already technically Monday, I better get to it. So, for this week's belated offering, below is the classic tune "Over the Rainbow."

Peace:

I chose the Ella Fitzgerald version because it includes the often-overlooked first verse:

"When all the world is a hopeless jumble,
and the raindrops tumble all around,
Heaven opens a magic lane.

"When all the clouds darken up the skyway,
there's a rainbow highway to be found.

"Leading from your windowpane,
to a place behind the sun,
just a step beyond the rain ... "

Pipes Are Calling

2011-07-31T22:56:00.003-04:00

Tonight, the steady and I spent a lazy hour watching a new episode of "The Glee Project" on Oxygen. (Yes, it's a guilty pleasure.)

Near the end of the program, one of the young participants performed a rather unmemorable rendition of "Danny Boy."

Frustrated that such an amazing tune should receive a lackluster treatment, I'm posting another version here for this week's (quite late) "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend."

Cue the late great Eva Cassidy.

Peace:

Flashback: St. Patrick's Day, 2010

La Divina

2011-07-24T23:00:00.003-04:00

On Tuesday evening, we attended a fine performance of the the Manhattan Theater Club's Broadway revival of "Master Class."

The 1995 play by Terrence McNally is a look of the legendary opera diva Maria Callas. The soprano is adeptly brought to life in the revival by the Emmy Award-winning actress Tyne Daly.

From The Economist's review: "Ms. Daly is excellent, revealing a Callas-like commitment to text and nuance that vividly evokes La Divina's real despair."

For this week's belated "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend," below is a clip of Callas singing the Puccini aria "O Mio Babbino Caro."

Pace:

Bonus: Callas with a selection from "Carmen":