Classic Ross Amico

Lincoln Portrait

Lincoln Portrait

by 

Ross Amico
in
8 responses

Intelligent. Wise. Principled. Empathetic. Compassionate. Honest. Fair. Just. Kind. Courteous. Magnanimous. Visionary. Humble. Articulate. Witty. Corrigible. Hard-working. Courageous. Gracious. Resilient.

Aware of his shortcomings. Strove to improve himself. Assembled “team of rivals” to unify and learn from those with differing viewpoints. Understood leadership and sacrifice. Risked everything to preserve the Union.

16th president of the United States.

Abraham Lincoln was born on this date in 1809. They sure don’t make ‘em like they used to.

“Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?”

———

James Earl Jones in Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmfaH5kJv3U

Roy Harris (born on this date in 1898), Symphony No. 6 “Gettysburg”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJig7H0NJd8&t

Paul Turok, “Variations on an American Song: Aspects of Lincoln and Liberty” – conducted by Leonard Slatkin, newly-designated music director of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoD2TDrZ4Jg

Comments

8 responses to “Lincoln Portrait”

  1. Anonymous

    Our greatest. Though I have no written or oral proof, I think it’s highly likely that my great-grandfather got to see him at the final Lincoln-Douglas Debate held in my hometown of Alton, IL on October 15, 1858. Copland used a Lincoln excerpt from that event in his Lincoln Portrait. Also, Mendelssohn and Darwin were born on the same day.

    Reply
    1. Classic Ross Amico

      Mather Pfeiffenberger FUN FACTS: Darwin, who shares Lincoln’s birthday, was the great-uncle of Ralph Vaughan Williams. Ralph Vaughan Williams was the godfather of Daniel Day-Lewis, who of course played Lincoln in the Steven Spielberg film! The photo is of RVW (right) with Daniel’s dad, the poet Cecil Day Lewis (no hyphen).Media: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1774704890115233&set=p.1774704890115233&type=3

      Reply
  2. Anonymous

    How were men like these ever created? Makes our present way of living seem like a triviality.

    Reply
    1. Classic Ross Amico

      John Kececioglu They broke the mold with Lincoln. But couldn’t the fellow we’re saddled with in the present at least try? Strictly rhetorical question. I already know the answer, so please don’t trouble yourself to address it! The thing is, with Lincoln, as with Beethoven, it’s not so much that he was made, but the self-imposed struggle to improve and strive for something greater that defined who he was.

      Reply
  3. Anonymous

    I wish we had even a few of those adjectives we could apply today.

    Reply
  4. Anonymous

    Have you read “Team of Rivals”? Great book by one of my favorite authors, Doris Kearns Goodwin 📚

    Reply
    1. Classic Ross Amico

      I haven’t read it, but I believe I’ve got a copy around here somewhere. So many books! I have been to Seward’s house, though. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1155430662042662&set=a.883855802533484

      Reply
      1. Anonymous

        You’re too funny

        Reply

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