The Church of Rome has always had a special place in its musical heart for the voices of pre-pubescent boys, whose pure, pipe-like tones are unlike any other sound. Alas, the window of pre-adolescence lasts only a few years, so starting in the late 1500s bilateral orchiectomies were performed on the particularly fine vocal specimens before they reached puberty. This snicker-snack enabled the castrati to remain in a man-made, perpetual neverland of boy-voicehood, but with the “lung power of a full-grown man.” While the procedure left the singers prone to being “fat, volatile, conceited, and almost impossible to get along with,” it was undertaken, in each instance, in the name of a higher calling:
The impetus for producing the castrato voice in western Europe came from the Church of Rome in the later 16th century. The development of complex polyphonic church music…required voices in the higher register; for this purpose the Papal church choir had used boys and adult male falsettists, mostly imported from Spain, since there was a Papal injunction against women singing in public….There is mention of a castrato in a Roman Church choir as early as 1553, but the first official announcement was in 1589 when Pope Sixtus V issued a Bull providing for the inclusion of four eunuchs in the choir of St Peter’s, Rome. Although the Sistine Chapel was for the private worship of the Pope, and therefore its constitution did not bind the Church as a whole, the practice spread rapidly so that by 1640 castrati were members of all the main choirs of Italy, and they continued to take their place in the Papal chapel for over three centuries….Some theologians opposed the practice, but the Church came to tolerate it on the grounds that the music so produced was for the honour of God…
The practice finally ended when the Papal States were conquered in 1870, but one particular specimen survived long enough to make the sound recording which I am displeased to present tonight. As one wag put it, ‘I’ve just heard the recording…and quite honestly I don’t think it’s worth having your b*lls cut off for that.” Decide for yourself: here’s a 1904 recording of Alessandro Moreschi desperately supplicating his way through Let Us Pray For the Pontiff (“Oremus Pro Pontefice”).
Drop off your Reader Tips in the comments.
A guide to Evil Dictator Facial Hair.
Aah the ultimate sacrifice! So do they get reunited with their gonads in heaven? I tried to listen, really! sounds like he was gettin’ his operation as part of the performance. Sad really I don’t think it was worth being butchered for.
Dennis Miller had a brilliant rant today on how the MSM continues to handle Obama with kid gloves. You can listen to it here.
So that’s where the MSM finds it’s “journalists”……
bilateral orchiectomies
I suspected it was lobotomies…….
“fat, volatile, conceited, and almost impossible to get along with”
…..I can think of a perfect fit…..Eric…damn… you know who I’m thinkin’ about.
And the first pope was Saint Peter?
Give me a break!
He didn’t, couldn’t, wouldn’t be the head of a church of creepos.
“The Church of Rome has always had a special place in its musical heart for the voices of pre-pubescent boys”.
Not just their hearts.
“Alas, the window of pre-adolescence lasts only a few years”
Words spoken by so many many ordained by God.
Robert W. – We know he’s right on the money here, both with Obama and Clinton, and he’s flabbergasted at how they get away with it. I know people today, plenty of them, who still don’t, or won’t see the obvious; they just absolutely refuse to admit these two are pathological liars and charlatans.
Gellen @ 10:56 – But Peter could, and did, deny Christ, not once, not twice, but 3 times! So did most of the rest of the Jews.
John Steele Gordon in the NY Daily News:
“The idea that the United States has a special place on the planet, and in history, dates back after all to Alexis de Tocqueville, in his famous book ‘Democracy in America.’ ‘The position of the Americans is … quite exceptional,’ he wrote in 1831, ‘and it may be believed that no democratic people will ever be placed in a similar one.’
“People on the right in American politics are quite comfortable with this concept. Indeed, they tend to accept it almost without question.
“Those on the left, however, typically deny American exceptionalism vehemently or cast it in as bad a light as possible…”
The whole thing here.
Interesting find; Moreschi sounds to me as if his voice is constantly breaking – Squeaky-Voiced Teen from The Simpsons (my only cultural reference, as it happens). The additional volume must have been a plus, pre-microphone, but beyond that I can’t see (hear) what’s to be preferred over a female singer.
I also think it’s immoral to castrate little boys. It’s a controveral position, I know, but I’m standing my ground on this one.
Perhaps tomorrow we can enjoy the subtle beauty of bound feet.
“And now, a few more reasons why women everywhere
are saying: You always get more, with Domino sugar.”
Yes, it’s the dirty 30s again, for sure.
Caroline Glick weighs in on the already infamous case in Brighton, England … and much more including Britain’s obsene “universal jurisdiction” travesty.
In Britain today, hating Israel has become a valid criminal defense. This week five criminal defendants charged with destroying property valued at some $285,000 at the EDO MBM arms factory in Brighton during a January 2009 break-in were found innocent of all charges. They were found innocent despite the fact that all five admitted to having committed the crime”.
Judge George Bathurst-Norman instructed the jury, “You may well think that hell on earth would not be an understatement of what the Gazans suffered in that time.”
Malmo Mayor Ilmar Reepalu:
As he put it to the Skanska Dagbladet newspaper, if the city’s Jews don’t wish to be attacked, all they have to do is denounce Israel. But he said, “Instead the community chose to hold a pro-Israel demonstration,” adding darkly that their action, “may convey the wrong message to others.”
Down Under:
An Israeli diplomat got expelled from Australia because Israel allegedly used Australian passports to kill a senior member of an organization dedicated to the eradication of Jewry. And an Australian judge ruled that a Nazi war criminal who actively participated in the genocide of Jewry can live out the rest of his life in peace in the bosom of his family.
Sorry, Wally – didn’t realize it’s such a sensitive topic.
Speaking of perception and humour, I came across a – kind of – amusing post (and comments) on German humour at An Englishman’s Castle. After noting Germans’ storied lack of funniness, the author posted the following jokes (among others) which aren’t actual German jokes but are sort of meta-jokes about the nature and form of German humour:
Q: Why do undertakers wear ties?
A: Because their profession is very serious, and it is important that their appearance has a degree of gravitas.
“A traveling salesman of medical equipment drives to Krakow and has a successful visit. On his return to Berlin, he stops at the border and picks up a hitchhiking prostitute. She is a college student. Unfortunately, between the border and Berlin, the driver encounters a patch of icy roadway which has not been properly cleared of ice. Traveling at high speed, the car spins out of control, leaves the road, and crashes into a tree. It is a pity that both of the occupants are killed.”
German humour: it’s no laughing matter.
The whole thread, including all the international misgivings and counter-accusations that go with it, here.
Thanks for that, Me No Dhimmi – that’s absolutely appalling.
It never really goes away, does it?
larben 11:12: That’s a strange response, and nothing to do with what I said (and certainly what I left unsaid) that I can see.
“… Opinions are nice. But everyone has one, as they say, just like a-holes. We are in a VERY SERIOUS period of change. It is NOT Capitalism that is dying, it is Socialism. As Margaret Thatcher said, Socialism works until you run out of someone else’s money. Well, that day has arrived. … ”
~Martin Armstrong, June 20, 2010
http://www.martinarmstrong.org/files/Are-We-Running-Out-of-Other-People-Money-What-Happens-Now-6-20-10.pdf
One might draw an analogy between the fashion for bilateral orchiectomies and that for anabolic steroids. Many devotees of the latter also became “fat, volatile, conceited, and almost impossible to get along with,” and to far less benefit to the world than that provided by the former. Perhaps we can think of Sammy Sosa or Jose Canseco as the Alessandro Moreschi of steroids era.
Wow, this is a thread that seems to have lost its way. Thought it was about Catholic choir boys.
Jews, socialism, Dennis Miller, German humour, American history….
It’s a Reader Tips thread, Dave, it’s not about “Catholic choir boys.” The Moreschi song was just the musical amusement that kicks off Reader Tips every day. Dennis Miller, German humour, etc., are linked tips; there’s no “thread” per se.
Christie Blatchford, in the G&M:
“From the glimpses gained on the video screen and hallway conversations, the (‘G17’ defendants) for the most part appear to be the middle-class progeny of the middle-aged urban professional class of this country. They are, in other words, reasonably affluent, lucky, mostly white kids with good teeth.
“Some are university students. Some still drive their parents’ cars. Some of their parents have cottages.
“Some of their friends in the courtroom are cut from that delicate yet entitled cloth so familiar to teachers who work in large Canadian cities.
“Two young women, for instance, were aghast when a Toronto Star reporter wouldn’t give up his seat so they could sit together. ‘I’ve got to do my job,’ the reporter said. ‘Your job? Your job?’ one of the young women said. ‘There are people here whose friends are in jail!’
“She was actually hyperventilating, and red in the face, she was so fraught.
“Fortunately, someone else did give up their seat, and the two women were able to sit together, though frankly, it looked as though what they really wanted was a room; they were constantly stroking each other’s hair, doing deep-breathing and clucking softly.
“Imagine: In this country, a kid rousted in a riot and facing a mischief charge is deemed a freedom fighter akin to Nelson Mandela.”
Gellen – I am not at all certain that the Church had a department wherein pre-teen boys were castrated, though I doubt it somehow. Perhaps they came to them that way, either through a birth defect or by their parents hand, hoping to give them a singing career (ouch). It is known that the Jewish people did circumcise all their male children and it is said that David took tens of thousands of foreskins from Philistines he had killed (at least I presume they were dead). Today, many children, even Gentile boys, are circumcised, either because their parents have been convinced by Jewish or Muslim doctors that it is somehow more sanitary, or because the doctors just took the matter in hand without asking, or because they are a bunch of creepos.
Remember when the MSM was sure we were all going to die because Chalk River nuke plant was shut down?? Blamed PMSH, of course.
It’s ready to re-open.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2010/07/06/14630151.html
BTW… I work in health care…our Nuclear Medicine department slowed down for approximately 2 days for equipment adjustments.
Nobody died for lack of treatment or diagnostic imaging.
Toronto’s “Pride”. A “study”.
…-
“Bloor barrier hasn’t affected suicide rate, study finds
Toronto Star – Wendy Gillis – 9 hours ago
Barriers installed along the Bloor Viaduct have prevented suicides at the site, but people are finding other places to jump, a study has found”.
Iowahawk becomes a ‘twaitor’. List of ways to bring down America.
http://iowahawk.typepad.com/
Huffington-Puffington Post front-page headline “EUROPE GRABS ITS BULL BY THE HORNS” with associated image of a cow!
But what else floats…..
http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/writing-for-pjm-helped-make-me-enemy-of-the-state-number-38/?singlepage=true
My old employer, Inco Sudbury (now “Vale”), is hopefully about to end a vicious strike that lasted nearly one year.
Reading through the unenlightened comments of the CBC readers, I came upon this one at 7:53am:
“We do so much more with less and then eliminate the things that are no longer useful. Since nickel is a small bit of what becomes nickel-metal-hydride and the progression of composites replacing steels of all sorts, it is unlikely that mining of nickel will continue much longer.
Therefore, shutdown is on the horizon. Take what you can while you can and scorn not when there is no alternative.”
This person offers no proof, just conjecture. But then concludes with an ominous prediction. I suspect that this is akin to those predicting that “we can easily get off of oil in 10 years”. Really?!? When I hear such comments I immediately ask these numbskulls whether they’re prepared to give up modern transportation & heat & plastics & [relatively] low costs of food.
Of course not, but that’s not important to them. All they’re concerned about is “feeling good” about “saying the right things”. For the correct talk highlights them as being “enlightened” and thus in league with all the right people … who happen to be all the Left people but let’s not worry about that little detail!
“The practice (castration)finally ended when the Papal States were conquered in 1870”
So then, how do you explain liberals and socialists???
Canada Backs Cops : Lorrie Goldstein
[ Listening to much of the Canadian media and our chattering classes in the wake of the recent G20 meeting in Toronto, you might be unaware Canadians, including Torontonians, overwhelmingly supported the police response to the demonstrations.]
I’m a Torontonian and I support the police actions in Toronto during the G-20: I only wish they’d come down harder sooner when the white kids with good teeth started trashing the place.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/christie-blatchford/g17-defendants-mostly-white-kids-with-good-teeth/article1631010/
larben ;
The Philistines worshiped on their alters foreskins in clay stopped jars, of men where their gods where placed. So Davis had to sneak into cities he betrayed, break into their temples & steal these foreskins dedicated to their gods. Much harder & more lethal to David than killing 200 Philistines. That was Saul’s plan to kill David.
Oppps forgot
http://www.tripatlas.com/Castrate
From ron in kelowna’s 2:32 pm link:
“76% of Canadians and 81% of GTA residents agreed ‘all things considered, the police did a good job during the summit’, compared with only 24% of Canadians and 19% of GTA residents who disagreed.”
So much for the notion that the difference between Kate’s (and SDA commenters’) opinions and those of Mike Brock and Kathy are evidence of an urban-rural divide…
This is an excellent website that I recently discovered: Australian Climate Madness
I was recently at a gathering where I spoke to a few people who are very well connected. They claim that Stephen and Laureen Harper are separated.
Does anyone here know anything about this conjecture?
Quebec separates? Left-liberal Gomery, he of the Liberal Ad$Cam whitewash, pushes the left-liberal grievances.
More, please.
…-
“Quebecor’s press council withdrawal affects credibility (3)
Quebecor withdrawing from the Quebec Press Council has far reaching consequences, said retired Justice John Gomery at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.
“The absence of the largest group of news media as a member brings the credibility, funding and usefulness of the Press Council into question,” Gomery said. “It is unthinkable for the biggest player on the media scene in Quebec to not be accountable to anyone.”
By withdrawing itself from the Press Council Gomery said the company is essentially breaking a social contract that binds it to the Quebec public.
“And we can not have 60% of Quebec journalists be subject to standards and strict rules of conduct and have the remaining 40% do what they want,” he said. “It would be unfair from a competitive standpoint and it is unacceptable in a democratic society.”
Last week, two Quebecor newspapers, Le Journal de Montreal and Le Journal de Quebec, bowed out of the Quebec Press Council. The two newspapers, published by Sun Media corporation, cited a lack of vision and a desire to limit freedom of the press on the part of the council.”
http://www.jacksnewswatch.com/2010/07/07/quebecors-press-council-withdrawal-affects-credibility-3/
Wow, lookout! That’s dynamite if it’s true — and so sad.
I’m surprised the rabid media haven’t picked up on it if it’s true.
Yes, I’ll be very sad too if this separation is true, and one WOULD think that the MSM would be all over it. My sources seemed reliable, but who knows?
larben: sorry, you still don’t understand my comment. It has nothing to do with your answer. No way Saint Peter is connected to the RC church. Can’t put it simpler. Not looking for a debate as it is my opinion.
The first Bishop of Rome is in no way connected with the Roman Catholic church? Just as well you don’t want a debate on that one, gellen. Tip: the best way to avoid debate on a point like that one is to not make it in the first place.
I say this kindly, gellen, I’ve got nothing against you.
Gellen – thank you for your clarification, because it is not debatable. Revnant Dream – how very odd! I mean of course – you. However your thread does lead to a statement that said the RC Church never condoned castration and considered the act, sinful; thank you for that.
Geez that’s gorgeous music, EBD.
Our elected representatives have already been castrated, so why don’t they sing better?
I think this castrati stuff is just a load of old balls, meself.
larben
Revnant Dream – how very odd! I mean of course – you.
Thats only because your a drone. Originality is not in your genetics. Easy to be condescending ain’t it?Ask a question…..