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Tag: Nobilissima Visione

Saint Francis Feast Day Celebrate Animals

As an animal lover, I’ve always had a soft spot for St. Francis of Assisi. (Also, I was fortunate enough to visit his hometown before the devastating earthquakes of 1997.)

Today is Saint Francis’ feast day. This is a saint who was never too busy to chat with the birds or to befriend a wolf. He introduced the crèche to Christmas, complete with livestock. He even lobbied for a special law so that people would provide for the birds and the beasts. How could you not love this guy?

Regardless of one’s creed, no one, I should think, would take umbrage at the idea of love and respect for the natural world. Take a moment today to be kind to the animals. Hug your pet. Water the birds. Let a cricket out of the house. Bless all animals! Then enjoy some of the music below.

Franz Liszt’s “Saint Francis of Assisi Preaching to the Birds” (piano)

Liszt’s “Saint Francis of Assisi Preaching to the Birds” (orchestra)

Francis Poulenc’s “Quatre petites prières de saint François d’Assise”

Paul Hindemith’s “Nobilissima Visione” (suite, conducted by the composer)

Hindemith’s “Nobilissima Visione” (rarely-heard complete version)

Leo Sowerby’s “Canticle of the Sun” (1946 Pulitzer Prize winner)

Kenneth Fuchs’ “Canticle to the Sun” for French horn and orchestra

October 4, 2023
Happy Feast Day Saint Francis of Assisi

Today is the Feast Day of Saint Francis of Assisi.

If saints are your thing, you‘d be hard pressed to find one more beloved than St. Francis – unless you’ve misplaced your car keys, in which case St. Anthony is your man. I count myself fortunate in that I was able to visit Francis’ hometown before the devastating earthquakes of 1997.

Be sure to take a moment today to kiss your pet. Bless all animals! Then enjoy some of the music below.

Franz Liszt’s “Saint Francis of Assisi Preaching to the Birds” (piano)

Liszt’s “Saint Francis of Assisi Preaching to the Birds” (orchestra)

Francis Poulenc’s “Quatre petites prières de saint François d’Assise”

Paul Hindemith’s “Nobilissima Visione” (suite, conducted by the composer)

Hindemith’s “Nobilissima Visione” (rarely-heard complete version)

October 4, 2018
Hindemith’s St Francis Ballet and Giotto’s Frescoes

As an animal lover, I’ve always had a soft spot for St. Francis of Assisi. (Also, I was fortunate enough to visit his hometown before the devastating earthquakes of 1997.)

On this date in 1938, Paul Hindemith’s ballet “St. Francis” was given its first performance at Covent Garden, London, with the Ballet Russe of Monte Carlo and the composer conducting. Léonide Massine was the choreographer.

Hindemith and his wife had recently visited the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence, the largest Franciscan church in the world. He was so impressed with the Giotto frescoes there, which adorn the Bardi Chapel, that he determined they would form the basis for his ballet.

Just as the familiar “Mathis der Maler” Symphony was derived from episodes from Hindemith’s opera of the same name, the symphonic suite “Nobilissima Visione” was drawn from episodes in “St. Francis.” The result is one of Hindemith’s most luminous scores.

Here it is with the composer conducting:

More about the frescoes:

http://www.artble.com/artists/giotto_di_bondone/paintings/bardi_chapel_frescoes

July 21, 2014

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