As you've probably read or seen in the news, Montreal and Quebec are in the throes of a student protest that has drawn hundreds of thousands of demonstrators into the streets for more than 100 days. I've been wanting to write about this for you but it's such a complicated tangle of issues, an history, that I haven't yet found the time to do the subject justice in words. But it's still my intention, especially since many of the foreign news reports I've seen seem pretty far off the mark. On Saturday night Jonathan and I went out at 11:00 pm and joined the march as it went through our neighborhood: it was quite an experience. This video will give you the flavor of what's been going on:
Meanwhile, I'm working on my community garden, between thunderstorms, and on the next title forthcoming from Phoenicia, Claudia Serea's Angels & Beasts, a three-part collection of surrealistic prose poems from a very gifted Romanian-American author -- the book will be coming out in September.
Sunday, Pentecost, was another all-day affair for us singers, and full of fabulous music: a contemporary mass setting by Jonathan Dove in the morning, and some wonderful music by Herbert Howells in the afternoon. Between the two services and rehearsals, I helped facilitate a discussion within the cathedral community about the protests, our history, and our city, and what - if anything - we might offer as a response.
Yesterday I was pretty tired! But in the late afternoon we went to Pépinière Jasmin, up on Henri-Bourassa toward the western side of Montreal island, and I bought some plants...a white anemone, some delphinium and achillea, a hosta, and a hardy yellow rose, along with a bag of fumier de lapin: composted rabbit manure, highly recommended by the staff and apprently quite potent. And early this morning, after being woken at dawn by huge thunderclaps and then a torrential downpour, I went to the garden and worked...and worked...while the skies cleared, the earth rapidly heated up, and everybody and everything (including that rabbit manure) began to steam. Now, in the late afternoon, the skies have gotten absolutely black and the rain is starting again.
It's time, I think, to go home and pour a glass of wine.
What an absolutely marvellous video! I don't know anything about this protest - but then I've been too wrapped up to keep in touch with recent news. Eager to read your take on this subject.
Posted by: Natalie | May 29, 2012 at 08:32 PM
A wonderful work by Herbert Howells. Now there's a sentence you don't see every day. And, given I'm presently under the influence of Shaw's music criticism, it's one I have to wrestle with. Shaw didn't care for British composers (his catholic view also embraced Ireland in this matter) though by the time HH started composing Shaw was into other things. Parry was said to be "sickening for another oratorio" and there were more insults. I suppose he could be excused since his avowed purpose at that time was to sell Wagner to a hugely resistant public and eventually he - or at least his views - prevailed. Which leaves me mired with knee-jerk reactions towards certain composers, now more or less forgotten in the concert halls. The best way is to come by them privily. Parry, to my mind, did the best setting of Oh Mistress Mine, a judgement imposed via my adoration of the blessed Dame Janet. And I rehearsed Crucifixion as a choirboy, though was absent for the performance. Sorry, I've got nothing profound to say here. Just waffle.
Posted by: Lorenzo da Ponte | May 30, 2012 at 04:05 AM
Unë e kam për qëllim të post për diçka si kjo në faqen time dhe ju dha një ide. Cheers.
Posted by: promotion website | May 30, 2012 at 05:08 AM
Your post and video caused me to read a bit about these protests. I am always sorry that though I live only 20 miles form the Canadian border I don't keep up with what's going on so close by. I will be interested in reading what you think about the issues of the protests, which seemed to start with arguments over tuition increases (and the whole question of public debt) to infringements on free assembly and expression.
Those were a fine looking group of people shown marching quite peacefully.
Posted by: Anne | May 30, 2012 at 01:28 PM
I'm so glad you are reporting on this. Thank you. Democracy Now is doing a pretty good job of reporting on this unrest, but there is nothing like an insider's view.
Posted by: Hattie | May 30, 2012 at 04:09 PM
Beth, you live such a rich life -- gardening, singing, drawing, publishing, writing, cooking.... Etc.!!! Reading your posts is always a deep pleasure and an inspiration. Merci!
Posted by: Claire | June 02, 2012 at 11:48 AM