The Enlightenment

It's purpose is to inform. There is no order. Everything is put as it comes to my mind or as I learn it.

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(Some) lyrics to Mozart's Requiem

Introitus

Requiem aeternam dona ets, Domine,

et lux perpetua luceat ets.

Te decet hymnus, Deus, in Sion,

et tibi reddetur votum in Jerusalem.

Exaudi orationem meam,

ad te omnis caro veniet. 

Requiem aeternam dona ets, Domine,

et lux perpetua luceat ets.

Kyrie

Kyrie eleison. 

Christe eleison. 

Kyrie eleison.

Sequentia

Dies irae, dies illa 

Solvet saeclum in favilla,

Teste David cum Sibylla.

Quantus tremor est futurus

Quando judex est venturus

Cuncta stricte discussurus. 

Tuba mirum spargens sonum

Per sepulcra regionum

Coget omnes ante thronum. 

Mors slopebit et natora

Cum resurget creatura

Judicanti responsura.

Liber scriptus proferetur

In quo totum continetur,

Unde mundus judicetur. 

Judex ergo cum sedebit

Quidquid latet apparebit,

Nil inultum remanebit. 

Quid sum miser tunc dicturus,

Quem patronum togaturus,

Cum vix justus sit securus?

Rex tremendae majestatis,

Qui salvandos salvas gratis,

Salve me, fons pietatis. 

Recordare, Jesu pie,

Quod sum causa tuae viae,

Ne me perdas ilia die. 

Quaerens me sedisti lassus,

Redemisti crucem passus,

Tamus labor non sit cassus. 

Juste judex ultionis

Donum fac remissionis

Ante diem rationis. 

lngemisco tamquam reus,

Culpa rubet vultus meus,

Supplicanti parce, Deus. 

Qui Mariam absolvisti

Et latronem exaudisti,

Mihi quoque spem dedisti.

Preces meae non sum dignae,

Sed tu bonus fac benigne,

Ne perenni cremet igne. 

Inter oves locurn praesta,

Et ab haedis me sequestra,

Statuens in parle dextra. 

Confutatis maledictis

Flammis acribus addictis,

Voca me cum benedictis. 

Oro supplex et acclinis,

Cor contritum quasi cinis,

Gere curam mei finis.

Lacrimosa dies ilia

Qua resurget ex favilla

Judicandus homo reus. 

Huic ergo parce, Deus,

Pie Jesu Domine,

Dona els requiem.

Offertorium

Domine, Jesu Christe, Rex gloriae,

libera animas omniurn fidelium defunctorum

de poenis inferni, et de prof undo lacu:

libera cas de ore leonis,

ne absorbeat eas tartarus, ne cadant in obscurum,

sed signifer sanctus Michael

repraesentet eas in lucem sanctam,

quam olim Abrahae promisisti

et semini ejus. 

Hostias et preces, tibi, Domine,

laudis offerimus:

tu suscipe pro animabus illis,

quarum hodie memoriam facimus:

fac eas, Domine, de morte Iransire ad vitam,

quam olim Abrahae promisisti

et semini ejus.

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La Paille Au Nez

The boys at Napoleon's school used to tease him, and call him 'la paille au nez' which became his nickname at Brienne.

It means "straw up his nose", but its origin is a fanciful rearrangement of Napoléon => Lopaloné => La paille au nez. A peasant coming from some tiny off-shore island might well be seen as still having straw in his hair or elsewhere: being a hayseed.

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Pieces of Napoleon's Coronation Outfit

This is one of the posts closer to my heart. I've put together some photos I've found of pieces of Napoleon's Coronation outfit.

It is said the shoes at the bottom were worn at the coronation, however upon closer inspection these don't appear to be the same pair. Regardless, these are a pair of shoes worn by the Emperor.

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A lady-in-waiting (also called waiting maid) is a female personal assistant at a noble court, attending to a queen, a princess or other noblewoman. A lady-in-waiting is often a noblewoman of lower rank (i.e., a lesser noble) than the one she attends to, but is not considered a servant.

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Marie Antoinette's shoes.

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A pocket watch is a time piece meant to be carried in the pocket, rather than being worn on the wrist. The first pocket watch was invented in Nuremberg, Germany, in 1510.

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History of Beethoven's 'Moonlight Sonata'

Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata

The Moonlight Sonata was composed in the summer of 1801 in Hungary, on an estate belonging to the Brunswick family. The composition was published in 1802 and was dedicated to Beethoven’s pupil and passion, 17 years old Countess Giulietta Gucciardi.

       The Sonata is one of the most popular piano sonatas from Beethoven’s creation. It is also named “The Moonlight Sonata” by poet Ludwig Rellstab who, in 1832, had this inspiration on a moon lit night on the banks of the Lucerna River. Some biographers make the connection between the unshared love the composer held for Giulietta Guicciardi and the sonorities of the first part. Even more so, this sonata was dedicated to Giulietta, the musical theme of the first part being borrowed from a German ballad as Wyzewa observed.

       According to Fischer, this image has no connection with Beethoven’s intentions. He rather attributes this atmosphere to the feeling that overwhelmed the composer when he took watch at the side of a friend who prematurely left the world of the living. In one of Beethoven’s manuscripts there are several notes from Mozart’s Don Juan, notes that follow the killing of the Commander by Don Juan, and lower, this passage is rendered in C sharp minor in absolute resemblance to the first part of the sonata in C sharp minor. Analyzing and comparing, one could realize that it cannot be the case of a romantic moon lit night, but rather of a solemn funeral hymn.

The piano sonata has three parts:

Adagio Sostenuto

Allegretto

Presto Agitato

The parts of the sonata give the impression of a whole first of all through the elaboration of themes and motifs. Consequently, the main musical theme of the first part becomes very elaborate in the second part, and the second motif of the main theme will be encountered in the first theme of part III.

Part I – Adagio Sostenuto- is based on an accompanying motif in triplet rhythm that, together with a accented notes motif, creates the impression of a grave, meditative state of mind. The composer adds the following direction at the beginning of the first part: „ Si deve suonare tutto pezzo delicatissimamente e senza sordino” which means that the performer should play the part with great delicacy and without dampers. It is also true that the modern piano has a much longer sustain time than the instruments of Beethoven's day. Therefore, his instruction cannot be followed by pianists playing modern instruments without creating an unpleasantly dissonant sound.(Wikipedia, The Moonlight Sonata Page)

The second part- Allegretto- is very small in size which leads to the idea that it was conceived more as a connection between the first and third part, rather than a part all by itself. The feeling is now denser in consistency, and the fairly meditative character of the first part gradually fades away, preparing the tumult of the third part.

The third part – Presto Agitato- is twice as long as the first two parts. Fischer felt this part as being the representation of a storm. A very impetuous storm, if we take into account the fact that at the time when he was composing the sonata, Beethoven was madly in love with Giulietta with whom he had hopes of getting married. The listener can distinguish two themes in this part: a tempestuous one built on arpeggios and strongly accented notes and a second theme, more lyrical in form which comes into contrast with the first one. Both themes are magnificently interlaced and create the impetuous storm emotion Fischer experienced.

This is one of the most well known piano sonatas by Beethoven. The Moonlight Sonata was written in 1801 and today, more than ever, it remaines one of the most popular pieces of piano music in history.

http://youtu.be/vQVeaIHWWck

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The original formulation for Mum deodorant was invented 1888 by an unknown inventor from Philadelphia. Normally it was recognized as being the first product ever to prevent odor. The inventor quickly trademarked his invention and marketed it through his nurse under the name of ''Mum.'' In the late 1940's Helen Barnett Diserens joined the Mum invention team. A suggestion by a partner inspired Helen to develop an underarm deodorant based on the same principle as a new invention called the 'ball point' pen. This new type of deodorant applicator was tested in the U.S. in 1952 and was marketed under the name of Ban Roll-On. The first anti-perspirant aerosol deodorant was launched in 1965.

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The Ten Commandments (Satanic)

The Ten Satanic Rules of the Earth by Anton Szandor LaVey ©1967

1. Do not give opinions or advice unless you are asked.

2. Do not tell your troubles to others unless you are sure they want to hear them.

3. When in another’s lair, show him respect or else do not go there.

4. If a guest in your lair annoys you, treat him cruelly and without mercy.

5. Do not make sexual advances unless you are given the mating signal.

6. Do not take that which does not belong to you unless it is a burden to the other person and he cries out to be relieved.

7. Acknowledge the power of magic if you have employed it successfully to obtain your desires. If you deny the power of magic after having called upon it with success, you will lose all you have obtained.

8. Do not complain about anything to which you need not subject yourself.

9. Do not harm little children.

10. Do not kill non-human animals unless you are attacked or for your food.

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The Ten Commandments (Catholic)

I am the LORD your God. You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.

Honor your father and your mother.

You shall not kill.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.

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In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti

Is a blessing used in Christian churches. Latin for "In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost/Spirit"... to which one would reply "Amen."

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Victorian Era Underclothes

NOTE: Different clothing was worn during different periods of the Victorian era.

Many men would also have multiple collars to wear with a shirt since it was cheaper.

Common Undergarments in the order that they are put on

Drawers - an undergarment for the nether region. Modern terms -Bloomers, pantaloons. 

A loose pants like garment often open at the crotch. After about 1850 they were knee

length. Before that 1820-40 they were ankle length.

Chemise (she mez)- a loose fitting nightgown like garment. Usually knee length and

falling from a yoke, and has short sleeves. late 1800's some were gored to reduce bulk.

Worn underneath corset.

Petticoat - 1700's-early 1800's thegeneral name for a skirt. 

In the victorian era an under skirt used to give fullness and shape to dress.

Great variety in fabrics - the most common being cotton muslin, longcloth,

or flannel. Also made in quilted satin, taffeta, silks, cashmere in white and colors.

Corset- Stays. A figure defining garment made in many styles according to dress shape

that was in fashion. Fancy satin corsets were lined with cotton twill to give them strength.

The boning could be whalebone, wood, metal, or for nursing and maternity simply made

from strong cotton and piped vertically to give firmness.

Corset cover or vest - a close fitting decorative , camisole like garment. 

Worn over the stays to protect the dress and smooth the corset line. 

Crinoline- usually used to describe hoop petticoats in old fashion magazines.

Can be used to describe any petticoat.

Tournure - Bustle also crinolette. A device used to give an extension to the backside to

support the fullness of the dresses. Made of varying materials. wire, boning, horsehair

ruffles, or even small stuffed pillows.

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Feudalism

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Mozart showed prodigious ability from his earliest childhood in Salzburg. Already competent on keyboard and violin, he composed from the age of 5 and performed before European royalty. At 17, he was engaged as a court musician in Salzburg.

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History of the Photographic Image

The first partially successful photograph of a camera image was made in approximately 1817 by Nicéphore Niépce using a very small camera of his own making and a piece of paper coated with silver chloride, which darkened where it was exposed to light. No means of removing the remaining unaffected silver chloride was known to Niépce, so the photograph was not permanent, eventually becoming entirely darkened by the overall exposure to light necessary for viewing it. Later, in 1826, he used a sliding wooden box camera made by Charles and Vincent Chevalier in Paris, France. He made his first permanent camera photograph in 1826 by coating a pewter plate with bitumen and exposing the plate in this camera. The bitumen hardened where light struck. The unhardened areas were then dissolved away. This photograph still survives.

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The styles of 'Louis' chairs.

Louis XIII - May 14 1610 - May 14 1643

Louis XIV - September 5 1638 – September 11 1715

Louis XV -  February 15 1710 –  May 10 1774

Louis XVI - August 23 1754 – January 21 1793