Damasked means DEEP PINK interesting contrast of PERFUME with REEKS. Once again a good way to study word contrasts is by synonyms.
Pejorative (negative)
Neutral
Positive
reek
odor
Fragrance
stink
Aroma
scent
stench
aroma
Smell
IT is interesting that Shakespeare uses PERFUME and REEK as contrasts.
I suppose the lady’s breath smells of garlic or beer. This usage certainly seems humorous today though it may not have been as pejorative in Shakespeare’s time. Of course in Scots English it merely means “smoke”“ ”as the soldier turned to peer through the reek” Before Edinburgh was being lauded as the ‘Athens of the North,’ it was given the nickname The Auld Reekie, which means Old Smokey
SONNET 130
My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips’ red;
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
I have seen roses damasked, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
And in some perfumes is there more delight
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
That music hath a far more pleasing sound;
I grant I never saw a goddess go;
My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground.
Very interesting essay on CHIDE SEE ANTHOLY LIEBERMAN which is a word of unknown origin though it seems to be of Germanic or Anglo-Saxon origin. The words are synymns but they have different nuances.
Anglo-Saxon Or Germanic Or Other (unknown)
Latin (French or Romance)
Greek
CHIDESYNONYM
Reprimand STRONGESTSYNONYM
criticizeSYNONYM
1)to criticize mildly for a fault or an offense; To correct (mildly)
1)to write an official report; make an official documented censure
1) to find fault with
2)”to knock”; to “rap” “to slap on the wrist”(minor punishment)
2) to rebuke (to criticize sharply; originally to strike with busche firewood)
2)
3)to scold
3) admonish
3)
ANTONYMTo praiseTo speak well of
ANTONYM To commend To laud
ANTONYM
With a smile and with encouragement he chided the boy for his sloppy writing.
The Major reprimanded the corporal for not following orders.
A couple photos of my “music corner”, with one of my favorite jazz albums of any year.
I listen to a fair amount of rock music (as well as some country, folk, pop, electronica), but the majority of the time I listen to classical and jazz. I rarely buy new classical albums, as I have my favorites and very little modern classical appeals to me.
But I am constantly listening to new jazz releases, sometimes several a day. Yet, despite that, it seems as if I barely scratched the surface, as 2023 saw numerous exceptional releases. Here are my favorites.’But I am constantly listening to new jazz releases, sometimes several a day.
Yet, despite that, it seems as if I barely scratched the surface, as 2023 saw numerous exceptional releases. Here are my favorites.
• Shuteen Erendenbaater—Rising Sun. Born in Mongolia, this 25-year-old composer, pianist and arranger has quietly (or so it appears to me) produced one of the finest debut albums in jazz in recent years. It is, in a word, impeccable. If that sounds too clinical, add lyrical, melodic, captivating, brilliant, and really, really great.
Erendenbaater certainly has “chops,” but what’s most impressive here is the songwriting and ensemble playing; she is obviously a mature and confident band leader. Anton Mangold, who plays soprano and alto saxophones and flute, is very much a co-star; his playing is perfectly suited to the songs and provides an edge and rawness that mixes sublimely with Erendenbaater’s elegant, beautiful lines. Yes, impeccable and impressive. The opening song, “In a Time Warp,” is a great place to start; here it is being performed live for Bavarian National Radio.
• Veronica Swift—Veronica Swift. It’s a real shame that the other Swift gets all the attention and fame, because this Swift has all the talent, versatility, and real swagger. Her 2019 album Confessions was top-notch and her 2021 Bitter Earth was brilliant and stunning. This self-titled album is eclectic, sophisticated, cocky, wild, and often startling; while not as poignant or emotionally wrenching as the edgy Bitter Earth, this is a chance for Swift to have some fun and to show that she can sing—well, let’s see—jazz (of course), rock, hard rock, pop, punk, R&B, Broadway, opera, and whatever else.
In fact, the idea behind the album is to rework songs in a style far removed from their original character. So, for example, the raw (okay, vulgar) Nine Inch Nails song “Closer” gets turned into a (PG-rated) face-melting funk/R&B tune with a scorching section of scatting (Swift is the finest scat singer around today and I think she rivals the great, including Ella and Mel Tormé). The Broadway tune “I Am What I Am” is reworked into a swinging jazz song that also features scatting—including a minutes of so of Swift scatting Bach. A favorite of mine is “Don’t Rain on My Parade”, from the 1964 musical Funny Girl and famously performed by a young Barbra Streisand, which Swift morphs into a Green Day-ish punk tune that is both smirky and joyous.
The presence of Freddie Mercury can be felt throughout, as two songs are Queen hits—”The Show Must Go On” and “Keep Yourself Alive”—reimagined, respectively, as a bossa nova-meets-Tin Alley tune and a bombastic blues number. Mercury would amused, I think, and impressed. I know that I am.
• Espen Ericksen Trio and Andy Shepperd—As Good As It Gets. The 2018 collaboration of the stellar Norwegian jazz trio and UK sax giant Andy Sheppard, titled Perfectly Unhappy, was a gorgeous, haunting work. This new release continues the Scandinavian-meets-Britain brilliance, with a strong fire underneath the inherent melancholy. In many ways, this reminds me of the great Keith Jarrett European group with Jan Garbarek: the shimmering piano work undergirds the longing saxophone journeys, everything propelled by a certain leisurely restlessness that is distinctly Nordic in tone and British in character.
• Benjamin Lackner—Last Decade. The legendary label ECM is both quite eclectic and yet almost immediately identifiable in terms of sound and aesthetic. The Germain-American pianist Lackner, joined by the fine Norwegian trumpet player Mathias Eick, has created a quintessential ECM album: slightly dark and pensive, perfectly played and with lots of space, featuring melodies that unfold with calm sureness. Lackner and Eick converse with attentive respect, like old friends discussing the mysteries of life, the songs expanding like sunlight slowing breaking through clouds, with moments of thoughtful intensity. One of the most beautiful albums of the year.
• Joe Locke—Makram. The vibraphonist Locke has long established himself as one of the finest players around. I’ve enjoyed many of his albums, but this is surely my favorite. The compositions are consistently great, the playing is the same, and the production is 10/10; the detail in each tune is impressive and captures the richness of the playing. A reader on Locke’s Bandcamp page says that the album “is almost overwhelming in its multitude of colors, moods and sheer energy. The joy of playing music on a very high level with virtuosic musical excursions by all musicians of this coherent band is exciting and just infectious.” Perfectly stated. A underrated jazz gem for 2023.
• Mohini Dey—Mohini Day. The Indian bass virtuoso, now in her late twenties, has been performing professionally since the age of 10. Little wonder: her technique, feel, playing, and musicality are simply stunning. She has played with a wide range of jazz, fusion, rock, funk, and world music groups, and seems to absorb and produce ideas and music like most people breathe air. Her debut album is, well, quite stunning. There is (of course) jazz, fusion, rock, funk, and world music. There is lots of energy (this is not background music); there are really good songs—this isn’t just a jam album. And the guest artists are of the highest order with, for example, Simon Phillips on drums and Guthrie Govan on guitar. There isn’t a dull or ordinary moment to be found.
Also recommended:
• Kurt Rosenwinkel—Undercover (Live at the Village Vanguard)
• Tingvall Trio—Birds
• Emil Brandqvist Trio—Layers of Life
• Joey Alexander—Continuance
• Yussef Dayes—Black Classical Music
• Jeremy Pelt—The Art of Intimacy, Vol 2: His Muse
• Walter Smith III—return to casual
• Kurt Elling and Charlie Hunter—SuperBlue: The Iridescent Spree
• Pat Metheny—Dream Box
• Affinity Trio—Hindsight
• Eric Alexander—A New Beginning: Alto Saxophone with Strings
The old world BODY has many uses and meanings and is clearly the oldest word. Body snatcher is a funny term. I remember a character in Dickens who was a body snatcher called himself a “resurrectionist!”. Then there are many Latin/Romance synonyms related to the latin word “CORPUS” (body). Many of these are medical, legal or military. The Greek works are technical and academic most people will not readily know these word unless they are in the medical field.
Anglo-Saxon Or Germanic Or Other (unknown)
Latin (French or Romance)
Greek
BODY SYNONYM
Corporeal (bodily) SYNONYM
somaticSYNONYM
1) physical part of a person
1)corpse (dead body)or cadaver; carcass: dead body of an animal
1)relating to the body
2)group of individuals(organization)
2) corpus delicti (body of a crime) 3) Corps Diplomatic Corps Medical Corps Marine Corps (silent s from French) 4) corporal punishment 5) corporal (rank in army)
Many scientific and medical terms: Somatotherapy Somatotype Somotology=study of the body Anatomy=study of body structure.
3)main part of a book or essay
Corporation (legal person)
ANTONYMSpirit/soul
ANTONYMMental/not physical
ANTONYM
1)Body of water(mass of water)masa de agua 2)He earns enough money to keep body and soul together. Gana lo justo para vivir 3)Body snatcher (ladrón de cadavers)
Essay #3 Of course, most our words having to do with education or schools are Latin or Greek in origin but there are curiosities. A “Lore” house was originally a gloss on the Latin word school in other words a place where traditions were taught. And a “School of fish” is not, of course, a school at all but a shoal or group of fish. I would think the expression “shoal of fish” is the original expression.
Anglo-Saxon Or Germanic Or Other (unknown)
Latin (French or Romance)
Greek
School“lore”* house (originally Lat/Gr) (Grammar school/primary school) Or elementary school –k-6)SYNONYM
CollegeSYNONYM
#1Academy*SYNONYM
k-12 education Elementary school middle school High School escuela
1)undergraduate division of a university Universidad/colegio universitario
1)a school for special instruction such as the military academies. academia
2)all colleges and universities in general
2) in France or Spain an secondary school NOT supported by the state. Public schools are called lycée “ lyceum” could be a place where public lectures are presented
2) secondary school esp. a private one
3)SCHOOL OF ATHENS a group of people, esp. writers,philosophers,artists Whose thought,work or style demonstrates a common origin,belief or influence.
politics/religion;
Electoral College /College of Cardinals
3) can mean university life or higher education in general “academe”*
***4) a shoal or large group of aquatic animals swimming together : *“a school of fish”GRUPO/BANCO
The Lyceum of Aristotle
Plato’s Academy
There are several schools of thought on this issue Sobre este tema hay varias Corrientes de opinión
97% of English words come from three language sources.
Essay #2
Normally, Latin and French words are more educated or cultured than Anglo-Saxon words. However, sometimes the old English word has become archaic or literary itself as in the example of FOE or FOEMAN. Today ENEMY or ADVERSARY are probably more common words. NEMESIS or ANTAGONIST are definitely literary or academic words.
They are organized by SYNONYMS
40%ANGLO- SAXON (or Germanic) Basic English. Includes Norse and some native Celtic words.
30% LATIN Includes French and Romance languages ACADEMIC WORDS
30% GREEK Or Hellenic words. ACADEMIC WORDS
1) Foe*; foeman Expression: “Friend or foe?” “Who goes there?”
97% of English words come from three language sources GERMANIC (or “Anglo-Saxon”) , LATIN or GREEK.
For example, the beautiful word WILDERNESS is not a Greek or Latin word but from the old mother tongue ANGLO-SAXON. Wild+ Dior (animal) from which comes the word DEER a particular animal but originally all animals hence (cf Dear Mouse) . -Ness is an Anglo-Saxon suffice meaning state of being so WILDERNESS is literally a “wild animal place”! DESERT is a near synonym from Latin meaning a wasteland, wilderness, infertile area (wooded or not). Gradually it came to mean a “waterless, treeless area.” Of course, some people think the forest or rainforest is not a wilderness but a PARADISE (to use a Greek word going back to Xenophon and the Bible ). Here is a quote by Thoreau who uses Sahara as a synonym for wilderness or desert and then compares it to paradise :
Every important worker will report what life there is in him. It makes no odds into what seeming deserts the poet is born. Though all his neighbors pronounce it a Sahara, it will be a paradise to him; for the desert which we see is the result of the barrenness of our experience. [Thoreau, Journal, May 6, 1854]
COMMON ORIGINS OF ENGLISH:
40% ANGLO- SAXON
(or Germanic) Basic English. Includes Norse and some native Celtic words.
30% LATIN
Includes French and Romance languages Legal or ACADEMIC WORDS
30% GREEK
Or Hellenic words. ACADEMIC WORDS
1)Funny 2) fun (n.) 3) funnyman (person); joker, wag, wit
• Dimash Qudaibergen—Anything and Everything. This is the first time that the work of my favorite artist of a particular year is nearly impossible to find and buy. Good luck being able to track down CDs or even downloads. The reason for this strange situation highlights one of the many admirable and impressive qualities of this 30-year-old singer, performer, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and actor from Kazakhstan: he is fiercely independent and will not let himself be controlled by the usual powers in the music industry. Which means, in short, that Dimash (for the most part) has to be heard and viewed via YouTube and other online media (or, if you are able, in concert).
My introduction to Dimash came in early January 2023, when I watched this video of the then 22-year-old singer giving his first performance, of the French song “S.O.S d’un terrien en détresse”, on the popular Chinese show “I Am a Singer”. Like countless others, I was stunned, then transfixed, then ready for more (and, thankfully, there is much more).
Dimash has (depending on the source) a six or seven octave range, can sing in a variety of styles—operatic, popular, traditional, more—and usually does so in the course of a single song (and also sings in over a dozen languages). An exceptional example of this is the ambitious and powerful song “The Story of One Sky,” which Dimash wrote and performed, while also acting in the 12-minute-long video that came out in September 2022.
Although Dimash has had several successful concerts in North America, he is, as far as I can tell, mostly ignored by the American media. Meanwhile, the banal and brain-numbingly boring muzak of Taylor Swift has turned her into a sort of singer/songwriter goddess here in the United States. Neither fact is surprising. That said, those who have never heard Dimash before will, I am certain, be stunned, transfixed, and ready for more.
• The Warning—Error. This trio from Monterrey, Mexico consists of the three Villarreal Vélez sisters: Daniela (guitar, lead and backing vocals, piano), Paulina (drums, lead and backing vocals, piano), and Alejandra (bass guitar, piano, backing vocals). Now in their late teens and early twenties, the trio has been performing together for over a decade and has released three studio albums.
Error was released in 2022, but I include it here because, well, it’s so good and I first heard The Warning a few months ago. My first impression of these dynamic ladies was that they reminded me, in many ways, of Muse; it turns out that they have toured with Muse. Many of the same elements are there in abundance: great musicianship, exceptional hard rock songs that contain elements of metal and punk, fabulous vocals and harmonies, and lots of energy. Their August 2022 concert at “Teatro Metropólitan” is a perfect place to start, as The Warning is a captivating, well-honed live band. Favorites include “Disciple,” “Choke,” and “Money,” and their new single “More”.
But every song by the band is excellent, and many are great; there are clearly many hours of practice and work involved, and interviews reveal just how seriously the sisters take their craft. Lyrically, also, these three ladies are several cuts above, with an intriguing mixture of raw, cryptic, and even existential that belies their youth. A band to watch now and for years to come.
• Van Morrison—Accentuate the Positive. The timeless Irish singer and songwriter, now 78 years young, continues a pace of recording that would put most young artists to shame (he now has 45 studio albums, with several live albums). His 2022 release What’s It Going to Take? was widely blasted by the usual suspects for its strong pushback against government overreach and media-induced hysteria during the height of COVID, but I thought the album (featuring all original songs) was solid. But there certainly was a dark and even dour aspect to it (how could there now be?) that is nowhere to be found on Morrison’s two 2023 releases, which consist of mostly covers of skiffle songs (Moving On Skiffle) and of rock and roll, R&B, and country favorites (Accentuate the Positive).
The latter is one of my favorites of the year; it is crisp, warm, energetic, and playful. Morrison’s voice is in great form, with a sinewy strength and casual slyness backed up by strong arrangements and adept, in-the-pocket playing. While projects like this can easily veer into nostalgic excess, there is an immediacy and lean focus here that avoids such dangers with ease. Besides, Morrison’s music has always looked back—there’s a reason he refers to “Jelly Roll” on his classic 1970 album Moondance—while pushing forward with creative restlessness, and that loving tension makes for another excellent addition to an already staggeringly great catalog.
• Bruce Soord—Luminescence. This is perhaps the most surprising pop/rock album of the year for me: a set of beautiful, contemplative songs that are sung and played with masterful control and understatement by the leader of the prog-rock group Pineapple Thief.
I’ve enjoyed Soord’s fine work over the years, but this release really grabbed me from the first listen. There is a rather timeless mixture of heaviness and lightness here—both lyrically and musically—that is easy to underestimate. But numerous listens prove that this is a keeper, an album that I’ll be listening to for years to come.
• Greta van Fleet—Starcatcher. The Michigan band’s 2021 The Battle at Garden’s Gate won me over, as their mix of classic rock, prog, folk, and more found its stride, with a number of well-written and attractive tunes.
Starcatcher builds on that success, but eschews a more commercial direction (certainly a temptation, I would think) for a more raw, semi-prog, and expansive course. The musicianship and vocal prowess continue to grow, and that means there are subtleties and layers here that reward multiple listens.
While the Led Zep comparisons will continue, it’s obvious to me that GVF is a band that has absorbed a wide range of influences (band members cite their love of jazz, Motown, world music, etc) and will continue to experiment and expand their musical and lyrical palette. To my ears, there is as much early Rush (and perhaps even early Queen) in the mix as Plant and Page. A strong release with many sonic pleasures contained within.
• Steven Wilson—The Harmony Codex. Speaking of sonic pleasures, this is one of the best-sounding releases of 2023, which comes as no surprise to anyone familiar with the many talents of Wilson, who is almost as famous for his mixing and producing as he is for his writing and playing.
I know that a fair number of Wilson/Porcupine Tree fans have strong (and even harsh) debates over the merits of respective Wilson albums, but I don’t have the time or energy for those squabbles. I simply enjoyed listening to this album many times after it was released, without any expectations or many comparisons.
The 11-minute prog-jazz-electronica-fest “Impossible Tightrope” is a favorite, perhaps because I listen to a fair amount of fusion-y, electronica-tinged jazz, or because I like strange rock-ish music that refuses to go where you expect it to go. This is an aural adventure, and as such, it delivers.
2023 is coming to a close, so I’d like to take stock of some great music I’ve enjoyed over the past 12 months. These are my personal favorites, not the official list of Spirit of Cecilia (but we have reviewed quite a few of them!)
#10 – Haken: Fauna
Have these guys ever made a bad record? I don’t think so. No band better combines heaviness with soaring vocals and great melodies. There are moments of true beauty – the intro to “Nightingale” – alongside blistering guitar-driven rock – “Beneath the White Rainbow”. And the artwork is a total hoot!
#9 – Galahad: The Long Goodbye
Brad Birzer and I reviewed this excellent album recently here at Spirit of Cecilia. You can read our thoughts on it here.
#8 – Downes Braide Association: Celestial Songs
I know that Yes released a new album in 2023, but I ended up listening to this one much, much more. I think Geoff Downes is saving his best songs for DBA, and Chris Braide is the perfect collaborator for him. This is a uniformly excellent set of pop-prog songs. Majestic, intimate, and altogether pleasing to the ear. Also, it features one of Roger Dean’s finest album covers.
#7 – Cyan: Pictures From The Other Side
Again, Brad Birzer and I reviewed this one recently. It is a rerecording of earlier songs, but what a fine set of songs to work with! You can read our thoughts on it here.
#6 – Kite Parade: Retro
I reviewed this delightful album back in April. What a fun blast of “retro” sounding songs that please the power pop lover in me.
#5 – Bruce Soord: Luminescence
This offering from the Pineapple Thief’s frontman impressed Carl Olson, Brad Birzer, and me so much that we posted a discussion of it back in early November. Check it out here.
#4 – Riverside: ID.Entity
Our own Erik Heter wrote a masterful review of this phenomenal album in January. I couldn’t possibly improve on it, so check it out here.
#3 – Glass Hammer: Arise
Glass Hammer is a perennial favorite of Spirit of Cecilia, and Arise continues their streak of excellence. Steve Babb and company blast off for a very spacey adventure in this album. You can read my detailed review of it here.
#2 – North Atlantic Oscillation: United Wire
It is Brad Birzer’s and my firm belief that Sam Healy is a musical genius. United Wire confirms that belief. You can read our discussion of this wonderful suite of songs here.
#1 – Southern Empire: Another World
I only recently was able to listen to this, Southern Empire’s third album, and it has not left my CD player and car stereo. What an achievement! Sean Timms has really come into his own as a composer, and wow, what a terrific sound he and his group create here. Sean Holton is the vocalist now, and he is amazing. The 20-minute epic “White Shadows” is the finest song I have heard in a long, long time. The overall feel of the album reminds me of Spock’s Beard when they had Neal Morse writing all of their material. Another World is one of those rare albums that I can listen to multiple times in a row and not tire of it. In a year of incredibly good music, Southern Empire has jumped out to lead the pack.
Well, that’s it for another year. If I sat down to do this again tomorrow, I’d probably come up with a different one (that included, perhaps, Steven Wilson’s Harmony Codex, Steve Thorne’s Malice in Plunderland, Katatonia’s Sky Void Of Stars, or Damanek’s Making Shore)!
Happy New Year, and thank you for following us at Spirit of Cecilia!
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