Albert Anker - Taylor, Hector Berlioz - The Repose of the Holy Family, Robert Browning - Boot and Saddle

This painting by Albert Anker is of an old man threading a needle.  I found quite a few other paintings by this same artist that shared things in common with this painting - perhaps even using the same man as a model for some of them.  I thought it might be interesting to compare and contrast them.  The hat shows up in several of the other paintings.

 

 

Our piece this week by Hector Berlioz is The Repose of the Holy Family from The Childhood of Christ.  I don't understand the words except for the Alleluia at the end, but the voice of Roberto Alagna is beautiful!  

Our Robert Browning poem this week is historical and the chorus has a nice ring.  The link at the bottom on Roundheads gives a bit of history if you're interested.

           Boot And Saddle 

by Robert Browning

Boot, saddle, to horse, and away!
Rescue my Castle, before the hot day
Brightens the blue from its silvery grey,

(Chorus) "Boot, saddle, to horse, and away!"

Ride past the suburbs, asleep as you'd say;
Many's the friend there, will listen and pray
"God's luck to gallants that strike up the lay,

(Chorus) "Boot, saddle, to horse, and away!"

Forty miles off, like a roebuck at bay,
Flouts Castle Brancepeth the Roundheads array:*
Who laughs, Good fellows ere this, by my fay,

(Chorus) "Boot, saddle, to horse, and away!"

Who? My wife Gertrude; that, honest and gay,
Laughs when you talk of surrendering, "Nay!
I've better counsellors; what counsel they?"

(Chorus) "Boot, saddle, to horse, and away!" 

*Roundheads