Sunday, August 05, 2012

Shakespeare Musings Amidst Ol' London: Part II

I am no Shakespeare expert nor a music guru and whether the lines below are appropriate for the London Olympics 2012 Opening is debatable but Sir Kenneth Branagh's reading of it is enough to please any true Englishman. The lines, actually taken out of context, were probably describing how magical the British Isles are today:

Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises,
Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears; and sometime voices
That, if I then had waked after long sleep,
Will make me sleep again; and then in dreaming,
The clouds methought would open, and show riches
Ready to drop upon me, that when I waked
I cried to dream again.

(The Tempest, 3.2.135-43)

Have the organisers selected the right lines for the international event?  Or is it inappropriate?

Here's another.

Mark how one string, sweet husband to another,
Strikes each in each by mutual ordering;
Resembling sire and child and happy mother,
Who, all in one, one pleasing note do sing.

(Sonnet 8 - For full version click comments below)

Would the above Sonnet be more suitable then? Give us your view.

Image: Google.
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8 comments:

  1. ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. ©5.8.12

    SONNET 8 in full:

    Music to hear, why hear'st thou music sadly?
    Sweets with sweets war not, joy delights in joy.
    Why lovest thou that which thou receivest not gladly,
    Or else receivest with pleasure thine annoy?
    If the true concord of well-tuned sounds,
    By unions married, do offend thine ear,
    They do but sweetly chide thee, who confounds
    In singleness the parts that thou shouldst bear.
    Mark how one string, sweet husband to another,
    Strikes each in each by mutual ordering,
    Resembling sire and child and happy mother
    Who all in one, one pleasing note do sing:
    Whose speechless song, being many, seeming one,
    Sings this to thee: 'thou single wilt prove none.'

    ReplyDelete
  2. ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. ©5.8.12

    Just for fun folks and we're still within the music theme.

    Which lines from Shakespeare's plays do you think would have been more appropriate for the London Olympics opening? Or aren't there any?

    Other British poets, playwrights, literary writers?

    ReplyDelete
  3. LarryLai5.8.12

    Andy,

    My friend Zain shares his thoughts on the Opening Ceremony.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Z5.8.12

    Hi Larry,

    You can pass on my 2-bits worth on the opening ceremony.

    1. Way too many depressing scenes:
    Dirty overworked miners, sullen frowns on faces, children in hospital beds, nurses, Voldemort.

    2. Poor international empathy:
    Having James Bond as a hero parachuting in British glory in an international event?

    How do you think the "villians" in his movies feel? Russia, China, N. Korea. Poor taste.

    ReplyDelete
  5. ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. ©5.8.12

    Thanks Larry for forwarding the mail and Z for your thoughts.

    Wow never looked at the Opening from that angle. Very enlightening.

    ReplyDelete
  6. ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. ©5.8.12

    Readers need to read PART I which is previous to this posting to understand the content of the above letter.

    ReplyDelete
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  8. ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. ©6.8.12

    I take it that you are trying to connect your business to this blog.

    Please remember I do not advertise nor allow site connections.

    ReplyDelete