Friday Flowers: Among the Winter Roses

Rose: Honor

Sonnet 73


That time of year thou mayst in me behold 
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang 
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold, 
Bare ruin’d choirs, where late the sweet birds sang. 
In me thou seest the twilight of such day 
As after sunset fadeth in the west, 
Which by and by black night doth take away, 
Death’s second self, that seals up all in rest. 
In me thou see’st the glowing of such fire 
That on the ashes of his youth doth lie, 
As the death-bed whereon it must expire 
Consumed with that which it was nourish’d by. 
   This thou perceivest, which makes thy love more strong, 
   To love that well which thou must leave ere long. 

---William Shakespeare

Rose: Olympiad

It's always a good time to feature a poem by Shakespeare, but, during this drab period in which so few flowers are in bloom, stunted by the unusually frigid weather, it seems especially appropriate. Though the blossoms are scarcely to be found, these elegant words bring color to the gardens of our minds.

Well, the icy days may be behind us now. Today was nice and warm, inspiring me to head outside and bask in the sunlight. Perhaps the flowers will be soon to follow. ;-)

The Heart of Music

Nino Rota won the Academy Award for Best Original Score for The Godfather in 1974.


On this date in 1911, the great cinematic composer, Nino Rota was born.

One way of judging the effectiveness of a movie score is to imagine how a scene would feel if the music were removed. How would the mood be changed? How memorable is it with a background of silence?

If this test were applied to Nino Rota's work, the answers are clear. Yes, movies such as The Godfather or La Dolce Vita would still be masterpieces, but their underlying intensity of mood, which the music conveys, would certainly be weaker. In the case of lesser films, Rota's music is that which makes them stand out.

The Love Theme from Romeo & Juliet topped the US charts in 1969.

So let's take a moment today to remember Nino Rota's artistry and the beauty of his music.