Aaron Crofut > Recent Status Updates

Of the four biographies of More that I’ve read, this one has made the best use of Utopia. Seriously considering rereading it after this.

“Henry VIII destroyed more things of beauty, and more things of promise, than any other man in European history”. (penned in 1936)

The contrast between the hope at the beginning of his reign and the result is breathtaking.

My fourth biography on More. This one seems to be the first modern one. I appreciate his spending the first tenth of this book examining the sources. The author already seems to have less personal animosity to More than Marius or Ackroyd, which I appreciate.

Part II is extremely technical; I regret not learning music well enough to follow this. Part III has really opened my eyes to beauty of William Byrd. Palestrina and de Victoria have been my focus over the last year, and while I knew Byrd was famous and highly regarded, I didn't get it. Now I think I do.

I greatly regret that my first notice of Mahrt was his obituary.

A great read so far. Mahrt was on some podcasts before his death earlier this year which are really worth listening to, as the guy knew his stuff and clearly loved it. Main themes: liturgy cannot be separated from its music, and order plays an important role in liturgy (the music, the hierarchy, the chants, all of it are meant to reflect the order of Creation in its beauty, worshiping the Creator of that beauty).

Traditional art of the East: the icon. Not personalized art, but a tradition. A spiritualized image that anyone familiar with the tradition can instantly grasp. In the west, that tradition is music. Interaction between tradition and development, but we have a cantus firmus to measure it by: the Gregorian chant; the Psalms the heart of that chant. Praying the entire psalter key to understanding the Mass propers.

I have read some strange things in my time. This one is up there.

I have been excited to read this for some time, and the introduction is very good. This woman was a dynamo and did more with 12th century tech than we can do with 21st. I am fascinated by her music.

I have finished. I have extensive notes. I can read none of them.

"I really have no experience," he began.

"No one has any experience," said the other, "of the Battle of Armageddon."

"But I am really unfit——"

"You are willing, that is enough," said the unknown.

"Well, really," said Syme, "I don't know any profession of which mere willingness is the final test."

"I do," said the other—"martyrs. I am condemning you to death. Good day."

Not as level headed as Dom Alcuin Reid, but that's understandable. The points he's making cannot be dismissed.

Audiobook again; incredible story! Hearing it while reading Dostoevsky is interesting.

He's pointing to the elephant in the room. I disagree with him on the sede point of view, but he's done an admirable job of leaving that out so far. The Church has had a noted shift back towards tradition over the last two decades, especially among its younger priests. Questions this book raise up are going to have to be addressed.

Rereading after 11 years; I knew this was good, but I forgot how good. A page turner!