It would be extremely interesting if any of our Polish or Russian Readers could shed some light on the career of Olga Szyrowa, please.
Zephyrinus has received several requests for information on this wonderful Soprano, but, unfortunately, there is no information available on the Internet.
So, help, please, from our Polish and Russian Readership on the career of Olga Szyrowa.
The name Léonin is derived from "Leoninus," which is the Latin diminutive of the name Leo; therefore, it is likely that Léonin's given French name was Léo.
All that is known about him comes from the writings of a later student at the Cathedral, known as Anonymous IV, an Englishman who left a Treatise on Theory and who mentions Léonin as the composer of The Magnus Liber, the "Great Book" of Organum.
Much of The Magnus Liber is devoted to Clausulae — Melismatic portions of Gregorian Chant, which were extracted into separate pieces, where the original note values of the Chant were greatly slowed down, and a fast-moving upper part is superimposed.
Léonin might have been the first Composer to use the Rhythmic Modes, and maybe he invented a notation for them. According to W.G. Waite, writing in 1954: "It was Léonin's incomparable achievement to introduce a rational system of Rhythm into Polyphonic Music for the first time, and, equally important, to create a method of notation expressive of this Rhythm."
The Magnus Liber was intended for Liturgical use. According to Anonymous IV, "Magister Leoninus (Léonin) was the finest composer of Organum; he wrote the great book (Magnus Liber) for the Gradual and Antiphoner for the Sacred Service." All of The Magnus Liber is for two voices, although little is known about actual performance practice. The two voices were not necessarily soloists.
According to Anonymous IV, Léonin's work was improved and expanded by the later composer Pérotin. See also Medieval music.
The Musicologist, Craig Wright, believes that Léonin may have been the same person as a contemporaneous Parisian Poet, Leonius, after whom Leonine verse may have been named. This could make Léonin's use of Meter even more significant.
Mass:Sedérunt príncipes (as on The Day of The Feast, with the exception of the following): Collect:Omnípotens sempíterne Deus. Creed: Is not said. Preface: For Christmas.
Stoning of Saint Stephen.
Altarpiece of the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice, Italy.
Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal, unless otherwise stated.
Feast of The Holy Name of Jesus. Sunday occurring between 1 January and 6 January, otherwise on 2 January. [Editor: In 2018, The Feast Day is 2 January.]
The Church, having made known to us The Incarnation of The Divine Son, now unfolds to us the Glories of His Name.
Among the Jews, a child received his name at the Rite of Circumcision. For this Feast, The Church uses the same Gospel as that of The Circumcision, emphasising the latter part which records that "His Name was called Jesus" (Gospel) as God "did bid that His Name be called Jesus" (Collect). The name means "Saviour" and we read: "There is no other name under Heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved" (Epistle).
The origin of this Feast goes back to the 16th-Century, when it was already observed by The Franciscan Order. In 1721, during the Pontificate of Pope Innocent XIII, its observance was extended to the whole Church.
If we wish to "see our names written in Heaven under The Glorious Name of Jesus" (Postcommunion), that name must be often on our lips, here below.
An Indulgence of Twenty Days may be gained by all who bow the head with reverence when speaking or hearing The Names of Jesus and Mary, while Pope Saint Pius X granted 300 Days to those who piously Invoke Them with the lips, or at least in the heart.
If The Feast occurs on a Sunday, every Parish Priest Celebrates Mass for the people of his Parish.
The main Bell, officially known as The Great Bell, is the largest Bell in the Tower and part of The Great Clock of Westminster. The Bell is better known by the nickname "Big Ben".
The original Bell was a 16 ton (16.3-tonne) Hour Bell, cast on 6 August 1856, in Stockton-on-Tees, by John Warner and Sons. The Bell was named in honour of Sir Benjamin Hall, and his name is inscribed on it. However, another theory, for the origin of the name, is that the Bell may have been named after a contemporary heavyweight boxer, Benjamin Caunt. It is thought that the Bell was originally to be called Victoria, or Royal Victoria, in honour of Queen Victoria, but that an MP suggested the nickname during a Parliamentary Debate; the comment is not recorded in Hansard.
Since the Tower was not yet finished, the Bell was mounted in New Palace Yard. Cast in 1856, the first Bell was transported to the Tower on a trolley, drawn by sixteen horses, with crowds cheering its progress. Unfortunately, it cracked beyond repair while being tested and a replacement had to be made.
Author: Original uploader was Jack1956 at en.wikipedia.
(Wikimedia Commons)
The Bell was re-cast on 10 April 1858, at The Whitechapel Bell Foundry, as a 13½ ton (13.76-tonne) Bell. This was pulled 200 ft (61.0 m) up to The Clock Tower’s Belfry, a feat that took eighteen hours. The Bell is 7 feet 6 inches (2.29 m) tall and 9 feet (2.74 m) diameter. This new Bell first chimed in July 1859. In September 1859, it, too, cracked when hit by the Hammer, a mere two months after it officially went into service.
According to the Foundry's manager, George Mears, Denison had used a hammer more than twice the maximum weight specified. For three years, Big Ben was taken out of commission, and "The Hours" were struck on the lowest of The Quarter Bells, until it was re-installed. To make the repair, a square piece of metal was chipped out from the rim, around the crack, and the Bell given an eighth of a turn, so the new Hammer struck in a different place.
Big Ben has chimed with a slightly different tone ever since and is still in use today, complete with the crack. At the time of its casting, Big Ben was the largest Bell in The British Isles until "Great Paul", a 16¾ ton (17 tonne) Bell, currently hung in Saint Paul's Cathedral, was cast in 1881.
Whenever Big Ben is out of service, for repair or maintenance, its replacement is "Great Tom", which is hung in the nearby Saint Paul's Cathedral.
