Wolfgang A. Mozart turns 249 today. Give him a shout out. Listen to his late motet Ave Verum Corpus (mp3). You might dig it if you're into that kind of thing. Even though I'm not a particularly religious person, I've always found the text kind of moving:
Ave, verum corpus
natum de Maria Virgine,
Vere passum immolatum
in Cruce pro homine,
Cujus latus perforatum
unda fluxit et sanguine,
Esto nobis praegustatum
in mortis examine.
Which translates to:
Hail true Body,
born of the Virgin Mary,
Who truly suffered,
offered on the cross for humankind.
From whose pierced side
flowed water and blood
Be for us a foretaste
in the testing of death.
-- Michael
I'd forgotten about his birthday but nonetheless contributed to his royalities by investing in two really good CD's -- one the Concerto for two pianos and much more with Perahia and Lupu -- pretty damn delicious -- and also Lief Andsnes and the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra (yes, honest) in a wonderful precise, warm take on his piano concertos numbers 9 and 18. Recommended.
Posted by: PW | January 27, 2005 at 08:01 PM