Totentanz

This is the last in my series of Fall classical harp arrangements.  The music is "Totentanz" by Franz Liszt, and I've excerpted and arranged parts of it for two harps.  It's about death, and I have included lots of pictures of angels, saints, and heaven.  3-1/2 minutes of some amazing music!

Pictures in Video -

1 - Die Musick, painting by Carl Gustav Carus, Germany, 1826
2 - The Raven, book illustration by Gustave Dore, France, 1884
3 - The Raven, book illustration by Gustave Dore, France, 1884
4 - The Raven, book illustration by Gustave Dore, France, 1884
5 - Passage, painting by Anna Sahlsten, Finland, 1894
6 - The Body of St. Catherine of Alexandria, Taken Up to Paradise by Angels, painting by Heinrich Mucke, Germany, 1836
7 - The Woman Who Remained, magazine illustration by Cyrus Cuneo, London, 1900
8 - Fervaal, opera illustration by Carlos Schwabe, Paris, 1898
9 - Christian Martyrs, painting by Gustave Dore, France, 1871
10 - Jacob's Dream, Bible illustration by Gustave Dore, France, 1866
11 - And There Was a Great Cry in Egypt, painting by Arthur Hacker, London, 1897
12 - Jack and the Fairy Harp, illustration by George Cruikshank, London, 1853
13 - Angel with Harp, watercolor by Jan Matejko, Poland, 1895
14 - Divine Comedy, book illustration by the Pico Master, Venice, 1491
15 - The Boat of Souls, book illustration by Gustave Dore for The Divine Comedy, France, 1880
16 - Cemeteries for Animals, book illustration by Anna Harris Smith, Boston, 1900
17 - Dante in Heaven, painting by William Cave Thomas, London, circa 1900
18 - Highest Heaven, book illustration by Gustave Dore for The Divine Comedy, France, 1880
19 - Divine Comedy, book illustration by the Pico Master, Venice, 1491
20 - The Celestial Country, book illustration for Edwin S. Gorham publ., New York, 1900
21 - The Ninth Heaven, book illustration by Gustave Dore for The Divine Comedy, France, 1880

Passacaille by G.F. Handel, transcribed for Harp

Here's another classical harp transcription with a very fall-October-marching-into-Halloween feel.  The piece is "Passacaille" by Handel, transcribed for harp by Tiny Beon.  It's 3 minutes of pure harpistic drama and lots of pictures of fairies, gnomes, and such.

Pictures in Video -

1 - A Carnival Evening, painting by Henri Rousseau, France, 1886
2 - The Princess and the Trolls, book illustration by John Bauer, Sweden, 1913
3 - The Pied Piper of Hamelin, book illustration by Kate Greenaway, London, 1888
4 - Walking Mice in Landscape, book illustration by Elly Verstynen, Netherlands, circa 1915
5 - The Pied Piper of Hamelin, painting by James Elder Christie, Scotland, 1881
6 - Water-Lilies and Water Fairies, book illustration by Richard Doyle, London, 1870
7 - Gnomes, book illustration by Maria Konopnicka, Poland, 1909
8 - Arrival of the King and Queen of Fairyland, book illustration by E. Stuart Hardy, London, 1895
9 - The Brownies, book illustration by Palmer Cox, Canada, 1906
10 - Fairy Hordes Attacking a Bat, painting by John Anster Fitzgerald, London, circa 1860
11 - The Fairy Queen Takes an Airy Drive, book illustration by Richard Doyle, London, 1870
12 - The Waterfall, painting by Henri Rousseau, France, 1910
13 - Fairy Islands, book illustration by Ida Rentoul Outhwaite, Australia, 1916
14 - In Fairyland, book illustration by Richard Doyle, London, 1870
15 - Midsummer Eve, painting by Edward Robert Hughes, London, 1908
16 - Brownies in the Clock Tower, drawing by Palmer Cox, Canada, circa 1900
17 - The Brownies in the Orchard, drawing by Palmer Cox, Canada, circa 1900

Mysterious Barricades

In honor of Autumn and October, I've made a series of classical harp music videos. This first one is my transcription of "Mysterious Barricades" by Francois Couperin. It's 2-1/2 minutes of happy, harpy French Baroque clockwork.

Pictures in Video -

1 - Gold pendant from Germany, circa 1610
2 - Fence at Buckingham Palace, London
3 - Blue fence in St. Helier, Jersey, UK
4 - Black fence in St. Helier, Jersey, UK
5 - Railing for Crystal Palace exhibition, London, 1851
6 - Altar rail, Holmens Kirke, Copenhagen
7 - Main entrance, Jardins des Plantes a Paris
8 - Milliken Brothers catalog, New York, 1900
9 - Red fence in St. Helier, Jersey, UK
10 - Harbour fence, Port of Auckland, New Zealand
11 - Victoria College fence, Jersey, UK
12 - Parish church fence, St. Helier, Jersey, UK
13 - Tomb with rail at Notre Dame, Paris

Veneta Donaldson: The Language of Autumn

Untitled oil painting by C.L. Donaldson

all rights reserved

Here's another autumn poem by my aunt, with a decidedly different mood.  The painting is one of her husband's, which hung in her house for as long as I can remember.

The Language of Autumn

by Veneta Donaldson

Autumn's swirling leaves imprinted by the winds

Upon the darkening sky above the town

Proclaimed the age-old change the season lends

In earthy volumes of gold and brown.

I heard the haunting voice of the sterling oak

That stands so strong, so proud and gallant still—

Bereft of beauty, alone, and yet it spoke

Of cherished days upon the wind-blown hill.

I heard the willow softly crying there

As tho' its heart could find no peace or rest

Until the resurrecting, springtime air

Touched it gently again upon the breast.

The language of Autumn is clear to me—

I understand the oak bereft of charm.

My heart is one with the weeping willow true—

I too fear Winter's irrevocable harm.

This is part of a group of poems by Veneta Donaldson. A brief bio and the beginning of the series can be found here: Veneta Donaldson: A Poet in the Family.

Veneta Donaldson: "God's Artistry"

Autumn Sunset in Texas
Here's another one of my Aunt's lovely autumnal poems. She was a lover of beauty, always grateful for its abundance in nature.

God's Artistry
by Veneta Donaldson

I walked among Thy woods today
Seeking nature's beauty so free;
And lightened was my weary way
By yon copper-burnished tree
With its flame of color splashed
Against Thy canvas of bright sky;
Deep within my breast there flashed
One long, heart-rending sigh.
God, by Thy grace may I impart
This moment of Thy artistry,
So that another humble heart
Adoring it may worship Thee.


This is part of a group of poems by Veneta Donaldson. A brief bio and the beginning of the series can be found here: Veneta Donaldson: A Poet in the Family.

Veneta Donaldson: "Picture of Autumn"

Veneta Donaldson with her husband, c. 1950
In her poetry, my aunt showed an affnity for Autumn. Images of turning leaves appear in many of her poems, and this one is devoted to the season.

Picture of Autumn
by Veneta Donaldson

The morning breaks at my heart's door
And offers wealth beyond compare —
A mist that shines upon the earth
Like gems that bind a woman's hair;
A cloud inlaid with ivory,
Enchanting as a minaret;
A sound from scarlet, feathered throat,
Sweeter than that of castanet;
Sun-burnished leaves along a path,
More beautiful than purest gold.
Throughout my life's swift span of hours
May Autumn share its wealth untold!


This is part of a group of poems by Veneta Donaldson. A brief bio and the beginning of the series can be found here: Veneta Donaldson: A Poet in the Family.

Additional poems are continued here.